Solved: Advise re .222 Remington rifle

[Evan]

I have another piece of advice: if you're set on a used custom rifle (a good decision,btw) then switching calibers will make the search more fruitful.

6mm PPC (short range), 6BR or Dasher (longer range) are widely available in BR type rifles and excellent options if accuracy and consistency are your number one objectives. Based on what you've said so far, I'd recommend a 6PPC LV rifle.

223 is widely available in FTR type rifles and is a good option for that type of competition or just target shooting and having fun.

Finding a triple deuce will be a needle in a haystack.

 

[mefizto]

Hi dgeesaman,

no need to apologize, it is not your fault that I am an ignoramus. However, you are correct otherwise, hence my insistence on a two stage trigger.

The prairie dog hunt is on the table; my friend goes for a week every year.

Hi JSH,

are you a mind reader? Yesterday, I called few action suppliers, but the actions either were not in stock or a 5-6 months wait was indicated. Then, as I mentioned above, the Bob White custom was offered - "a killer deal" in your words - while I was doing my evening barn chores. ;-(

I was thinkig about the classifies, but I have been a little hesitant since all the people here appear to be very knowledgeable and if a newbie comes and puts up and adds with all the demands, may not be appropriate. I also would like to be more familiar with the prices, because the mentioned Bob White piece was, in my limited knowledge, below of what I would have thought.

Hi Evan,

switching the calibers accrued to me, however, as discussed with charlesasmith, the recoil and noise worries me. I am rally a whimp in this regards, I quit shooting skeet because of the, despite the fact that I was loading only .75 grams and had a heavy shotgun with a damper.

Kindest regards,

M

 

[Evan]

Hi Evan,

switching the calibers accrued to me, however, as discussed with charlesasmith, the recoil and noise worries me. I am rally a whimp in this regards, I quit shooting skeet because of the, despite the fact that I was loading only .75 grams and had a heavy shotgun with a damper.

Kindest regards,

M

A 6 PPC will be quite mild; it's a small case that is only marginally larger capacity than a 223. Barrel length is a great way to mitigate blast; a 30" barrel moves the blast that much further away from you. A 6BR in a BR type gun with a 28-30" barrel is way milder to shoot than any light weight 223 Sporter/carry type rifle.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

I have a couple "old" 222 Remingtons. One is in the Remington model 722 (a short action version of the Model 721 -the forerunner to the Model 700 Remington), and one a Model 725 (the deluxe version of the Model 721). Both have after market barrels although the factory barrels on these 1950s-1960s rifles were extremely accurate. Another old Remington model available in 222 Remington is the Model 600, 660 Remington series from the 1960s. They were the forerunners to the very popular Model 7 Remington - a current short action favorite. You can often find one of these at a pawn shop or an online source such as Gunbroker or Bud's Gun Shop for $200-$300 (carefully shopping), and get it re-barreled and bedded for about $400-$500 more. That is what I did and the result was great. The 222 is almost indistinguishable from the 223 Remington, (5.56 mm), and is extremely budget friendly to those like me who like to shoot a couple times a week.
There is a website devoted to the 222 Remington:
http://www.tripledeuce.net/

 

[1911nut]

If you’re handy you could build a Savage target action and Shilen barrel and put it whatever stock fits your needs. Stockade Guns is a Savage stock guy.

It gets pricy; action, barrel, stock, action wrench, barrel nut wrench, go - no go gauges, torque wrench.

Checkin three times, I fitted the barrel in 15 minutes.

Buy the tools and you can build a bunch of rifles.


The first one I built shot these 5 shot groups at 100 yds off a rest.

 

[nockhunter]

You could look at PT&G, get a blueprinted M700 or M7 action, send it to a good smith, have a barrel screwed on slap it into a stock of your choice and punch some small holes.

Mike

 

[mefizto]

Hi highplainsdrifter,

thank you for the reference to Bud's Gun Shop and the web-site. Can one find spare parts for the actions you mentioned?

Hi 1911nut, nockhunter,

I am slowly learning what i need. Form my discussion with a gentleman on p.m., I need the following:

1. Receiver;
2. Bolt with correct bolt head;
3. Trigger;
4. Bottom metal (?), i.e., the trigger guard, magazine well, etc.;
5. Barrel.

Anything I have missed or forgotten?

Kindest regards,

M

 

[dgeesaman]

Receiver and bolt should come together. If it’s a Remington action you get a trigger too.

Check whether the action has a scope/picatinny rail or not. For .222 I’d go with a “0” minute scope rail.

You shouldn’t need a reamer because the gunsmith should have one. It’s worth asking about the reamer though - whether it’s a no-turn neck and which full length sizing dies work best with it.

The bottom metal includes the trigger guard and mag well. The magazine is separate.

You do need a barrel if you’re not buying a barreled action.

Don’t forget a stock. It’s not on your list but surely you would not have forgotten it.

Might add a gunsmith to the list. Get an idea of their lead time. Make sure the smith will handle both the chambering and the stock work.

David

 

[mefizto]

Hi dgeesaman,

thank you for the confirmation. I thing that I will try to put add for these items in the classifieds.

Kindest regards,

M

 

[Evan]

Have you checked out these:

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...on-mini-action-lw-blue-222-rem-prod94646.aspx

Add a stock of your choosing and you're done!

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Hi highplainsdrifter,

thank you for the reference to Bud's Gun Shop and the web-site. Can one find spare parts for the actions you mentioned?

You sure can. I was having trouble ejecting, went to the local gunsmith and he replaced the ejector spring in 2 minutes. This was on the Model 722. Worked like a charm.

 

[nockhunter]

You could do a remage barrel also.

Mile

 

[mefizto]

Hi Evan,

yes, I have seen the Howas barreled actions for about half the price.

Hi highplansdrifter,

thank you for the confirmation, that enlarges the options.

Hi nockhunter,

sorry for my ignorance, what is "remage barrel"? Is it just finished, chambered, and threaded barrel? I am not worried about the barrel installation, I have a friend who has done it many times. I am still researching all the different terms, e.g., standard bolt face vs bolt face with numbers - i.e., bolt face 308, different extractor types - BF & M16, BF & Mini M16, BF & Sako (whatever the BF is), etc, so that I do not acquire non-compatible components.

Kindest regards,

M

 

[dgeesaman]

You could achieve the same results with a 223 Rem and have many styles / brands to choose from. I'd consider a Tikka T3X. These are excellent rifles and can be had in either the light weight version or heavy varmint version.

I just learned there is a two-stage trigger option for Tikka: https://kineticresearchgroup.com/product/midas-trigger/

 

[dgeesaman]

Hi Evan,

yes, I have seen the Howas barreled actions for about half the price.

Hi highplansdrifter,

thank you for the confirmation, that enlarges the options.

Hi nockhunter,

sorry for my ignorance, what is "remage barrel"? Is it just finished, chambered, and threaded barrel? I am not worried about the barrel installation, I have a friend who has done it many times. I am still researching all the different terms, e.g., standard bolt face vs bolt face with numbers - i.e., bolt face 308, different extractor types - BF & M16, BF & Mini M16, BF & Sako (whatever the BF is), etc, so that I do not acquire non-compatible components.

Kindest regards,

M

Savage mounts their centerfire barrels using threaded tenon with a few extra threads with no shoulder to tighten against. You then thread the barrel until the chamber headspace is in spec and tighten a locknut that covers the rest of the threads. With the locknut tightened securely against the action face, nothing moves. With a headspace gauge and locknut wrench, it's possible to change barrels on your own with less involvement of a gunsmith.

A "Remage" is simply the same barrel/locknut design applied to a Remington action using Remington size threads. This combines the parts availability of the Remington 700 platform with the Savage barrel nut.

Match shooters generally choose the standard Remington 700 style with threads on the barrel and the shoulder cut by the gunsmith to produce exact headspace for that action. To change barrels on a 700, you need a wrench that turns the action by the lugs and a barrel vise to hold the barrel still. Mechanically the 700 style is simpler, but each barrel is chambered to fit one specific action.

Dimensionally, an action should be sized for cartridge diameter (bolt face) and length (LA / SA). Any given cartridge will have a recommended bolt face and action length.
In bolt faces, .308 is about .470 diameter and is considered "standard". Some support the .445 dia PPC / 220Russian cartridges using the .308 face, others have a specific bolt face for it. .223 and .222 use a .384 bolt face. It never hurts to call and confirm.

I don't know much about extractors, but very few action suppliers would offer an extractor that does not extract. Some shooters prefer certain extractor designs over others, but I have never gotten into those details myself.

David

 

[mefizto]

Hi dgeesaman,

thank you very much for the education, especially about the bolt face nomenclature. I had answered several ads on different fora for "standard" bolt face, and always the answer was that it was not .223. Now I know why.

Kindest regards,

M

 

[charlesasmith]

Evan's suggestion of a 30" barrel is a good one in other respects in that it would add significant overall weight to the gun, less recoil, and could be easily rechambered to another cartridge. You do have to get a long case to transport it.

There is another possibility, but I suggest it with a caveat. You could also go with a silencer that significantly reduces the noise. However, it is a pinta as it requires a long wait time for governmental processing, requires the muzzle to be threaded, and is expensive. I can shoot my 222 with a silencer without ear muffs and not experience any pain.

I recommend going with your original plan as a starter gun for the varmint shooting experience. You will have confidence in its accuracy, easier reloading without complications (no fireforming cases), and have a short range capability. You will find that the 222 is limited in longer range shooting and wind sensitivity. When you go on your first varmint shooting trip you will find that your buddy has guns for longer range and wind shooting. I do not shoot my 222 over 300 yds. I have had to hold off one foot @ 100 yds in a 25 mph crosswind shooting my 40XBR and only shot to 150 yds on that day. Another caveat - If you like varmint shooting you will wind up with more than a 222. However on a varmint shooting trip, I never leave home without it.

 

[Evan]

I can shoot my 222 with a silencer without ear muffs and not experience any pain.

That's not good. Have you seen an audiologist? You probably have profound hearing loss.

A gunshot from any caliber is way way way above the permanent damage threshold. No one should shoot a gun without hearing protection outside of emergency/life-threatening situations!

 

[dgeesaman]

That's not good. Have you seen an audiologist? You probably have profound hearing loss.

A gunshot from any caliber is way way way above the permanent damage threshold. No one should shoot a gun without hearing protection outside of emergency/life-threatening situations!

I was going to make a similar comment: if pain is the threshold for putting in hearing protection, then hearing damage is happening.

I would offer firsthand info about a centerfire silencer but mine has been in process since May.

 

[Bugs]

to echo a couple of previous posts, if you happen to run into a used 788 in .222 don't pass it up.