Slow twist triple deuce?

[Pyscodog]

I have a Sako Riihimaki 222 and its an older one with the slooow twist 1-16. I haven't loaded but a few different weight bullets and results weren't terrible but I think it could/should be better. I tried 52's and 50's and groups were hovering +/- around an inch. Any suggestions on a bullet and powder combo that might give better results? I have some 40 grain Bergers on the way hoping they might improve group size. If it matters, it is a heavy barrel.
Thanks-Bill

 

[SeabeeKen]

Ive shot 60 gr fb in 14 twist with no trouble. 40 gr should work in a 16

 

[358WCF]

Going from memory, the Riihmaki I had really liked H4198 & 50-52 gr bullets. The 50s were either Hornady SX &/or Sierra Blitz & the 52s were various FBHP. IMR 3031 & W748 also shot pretty good with same bullets. Probably used WW brass & RP 7 1/2s back then. Seating depth may shrink groups rather dramatically.

 

[Pyscodog]

One issue I'm dealing with is the mag is very short. If I seat to touch the lands or even get remotely close the bullet won't fit the mag. So I have a choice of using the mag and short bullets or seating out farther and now its a single shot. If I seat to touch the lands a loaded round won't eject. I have to pull the bolt just to unload the rifle. I'm hoping to find a happy medium.

 

[AckleymanII]

If you can find any, the Sierra 45g Spt that is a high velocity bullet will work in spades, N130 would be tops on my list with a thick cup primer.

 

[Homerange]

Try 50gr Hornady #2240
Shoots tiny groups in the L46 we have here.

 

[Bronsin]

Any of the 40's is where I would be looking. My .223 likes all of them, and they all jump a lot. The bullet is completely out of the case before they touch the rifling, but they still shoot.

 

[mikecr]

Bazaar that they would make a barrel like that. Even 1:14 is extremely limiting near sea level..
What did Sako expect you to shoot?

 

[Homerange]

Bazaar that they would make a barrel like that. Even 1:14 is extremely limiting near sea level..
What did Sako expect you to shoot?

Things were very different in the 50's when the L46 was created.
The one we have hates anything with a boat tail.....

Hell, they didn't even have an adjustable trigger however a trigger shoe fixes that.

 

[AlNyhus]

Think bullet length, not weight. The JBM calculator will give you the stability numbers and is easy to use. -Al

 

[Mike Casselton]

Try the Hornady 50gr SX. My old Sako loved them.
I've also found if a rifle won't shoot them well, it probably won't like anything else.

 

[Krogen]

Try the Hornady 50gr SX. My old Sako loved them.
I've also found if a rifle won't shoot them well, it probably won't like anything else.

I have three Sako L46 .222 Remington rifles. They shoot extremely well with the 50 gr Hornady SPSX and IMR4198. The SX you mention and the SPSX are nearly identical save for the lighter jacket in the SPSX. In a .222, the SPSX is good for turning varmints into red mist.

 

[Rocky Mt High]

I have a Riihimaki .222 also. Early last winter I took it to the range with
a Remington 600 with a trashy looking barrel. All rounds were loaded with
the boring standard load of 22.2 of H322. Loaded the 50 SPSX and 50 V Max
and both shot under 1” (100yd), some touching. I also loaded a few 40 V Max, same result.
I did it different by seating all bullets deep til the ogive started to take advantage of the long neck (my theory cuz I’m not a BR guy).

 

[Pyscodog]

My Sako is a 1955 model if I'm correct looking at the date of manufacturer. It has, or I'm pretty sure it has, the 16 twist. A little later on they changed it to 14. It also has the trigger similar to a Model 70 Winchester. It could use a better trigger in my opinion but the guys on Sako Collector say to leave it alone its not a bench rest rifle. But...I prefer light triggers. Its also a heavy varmint barrel and I think it should shoot a little tighter groups than what I'm getting now But here again, I'm never satisfied until I get nice tight groups and the bullet holes are touching. Maybe I expect to much but that's what makes it fun isn't it? I figure I'll find a load that is good or wear out the barrel searching. Either way it keeps me occupied.

 

[AlNyhus]

My Sako is a 1955 model if I'm correct looking at the date of manufacturer. It has, or I'm pretty sure it has, the 16 twist.

Have you checked it to know for sure? -Al

 

[wboggs]

I have a Sako Riihimaki 222 and its an older one with the slooow twist 1-16. I haven't loaded but a few different weight bullets and results weren't terrible but I think it could/should be better. I tried 52's and 50's and groups were hovering +/- around an inch. Any suggestions on a bullet and powder combo that might give better results? I have some 40 grain Bergers on the way hoping they might improve group size. If it matters, it is a heavy barrel.
Thanks-Bill

Try some 52gr Berger flat base and H322. They have always worked for me in the older 222s

 

[kyotekiller25]

40g vmax with a stiff load of IMR4198 oughta do the trick...The old 700 ADL loved that combo.

 

[LCazador]

Like Alnyhus says think length not weight or in other words stick with flat base bullets they are shorter. Another dimension with the old 222's is most had a 3 degree leade so seating close to the lands is probably not going to work best. I think it was the late 80's before everyone went to the 1 1/2 degree leade. I'm pretty sure that old Rihimaki (pronounced reeheemaki) had a 16 twist since they also used the same barrel for the Hornet and the Bee (a real rarity).

 

[AlNyhus]

Along with their Sg calculator, this chart by JBM is probably the most overlooked and underutilized resource out there. Any questions are right there...waiting to be answered.

JBM - Bullet Length List

www.jbmballistics.com

Good shootin' -Al

 

[kiwijohn]

My old Sako shot the Hornady 55 grainers well, sunk them to the cannelure and about 23 grains of almost any powder worked well, you cant get much more in them.
I found that the older Sako's didnt like 60+ grain bullets, believe me i tried, they were a popular deer cartridge here for meat recovery. ( head and neck shots)