Who Knows the 222 Remington?

[AccelR8]

The heyday of the 222 Remington was a little before my time. I read that it was THE bench rest cartridge, dominating the competition for years.

What barrel twist were those winning guns using? 14? What bullet was the best? I'm assuming something like a 53 grain SMK.

I plan to re-barrel an old rifle. I'm seriously leaning towards a 14 twist, which it has now, but sometimes wonder if there would be any down side to a 12. I'd like to shoot 40 to 50 grain bullets, maybe up to 55 grains.

 

[jds holler]

I've thought about this lately, and I think the the main advantage of the 222 and similar cartridges is the "mild" properties of that power level.

It's in the zone that specializes in 0 - 300 yard use, case life is long, report is friendly, it is easy and forgiving to reload, and it is -- mild.

Start going more powerful, even to 223, and you'll start jacking yourself out of the "mild" zone. You'll want faster twist, heavier bullets, more power for longer distance--

I love the 222, although I don't have one right now, having turned mine into a 20-222. jd

 

[Preacher]

A 52 @ 3000 is magic.....

 

[JEFFPPC]

The heyday of the 222 Remington was a little before my time. I read that it was THE bench rest cartridge, dominating the competition for years.

What barrel twist were those winning guns using? 14? What bullet was the best? I'm assuming something like a 53 grain SMK.

I plan to re-barrel an old rifle. I'm seriously leaning towards a 14 twist, which it has now, but sometimes wonder if there would be any down side to a 12. I'd like to shoot 40 to 50 grain bullets, maybe up to 55 grains.

About 20 + years ago when I transitioned from offhand competition to benchrest I started shooting IBS with heavy barrel M70 Win Stealth. I shot 2 seasons with it usually finishing close to the halfway or slightly less point in matches. Of course everyone else was shooting a custom benchrest rifle. That M 70 in .222 had a 16 twist barrel and with 50 gr Ballistic Tips and 748 powder was very accurate. I have often been tempted to try a 6PPC barrel in 16 but never have.. If I was to go .222, it would definitly be a 16 twist.

 

[1911nut]

I’ve read They were shootin 1:14” barrels in the 1950’s -60’s.

I’ve had good results with my 14” twist Shilen in 222.
Heres 5 shot groups @ 100 yds with 52 g bullets.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

If my memory serves me, a 52 grain Sisk bullet with 19.5 grains of IMR 4198 (this was before Hodgdon came on the scene) was the go to BR load with a 1-12 twist barrel.

 

[RGRobinett]

GO with the 1:12" twist and don't look back - make it a top quality barrel, and you'll have no regrets. RG

 

[lb-ft]

My very favorite cartridge.

1:14 Hart has been my very best. 52 SMK is exceptional. 50 TNT, 40 VMax are not very far behind. H322, H4198. Also, in a Contender length barrel, 2400 pistol powder with 40 VMax is THE load.

Do note, if you think you'll ever want to shot the 53 VMax (great BC for this weight bullet class), 1:14 will not do the job.

 

[rogina]

GO with the 1:12" twist and don't look back - make it a top quality barrel, and you'll have no regrets. RG

OK Guys, now show me your groups at 200 yards. The 222 rem is very accurate at 100 yards, but not competitive at 200 and 300 yards.

 

[RGRobinett]

OK Guys, now show me your groups at 200 yards. The 222 rem is very accurate at 100 yards, but not competitive at 200 and 300 yards.

You are way off topic from OP request: identify yourself and show us your creds and you may get some respect.

Relative to caliber/cartridge, I have no trouble competing in registered BR events - my woes are generally self induced . . . I am a maker/supplier of some of the finest BR quality bullets on the planet: my shop walls plastered with plaques garnered from registered IBS/NBRSA competitions - including, for my favored disciplines, several NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - and, people who had taken my heretical advice have piled up so many records and championships, I have lost count . . .

For ANY .22 cal, intended for 100-300 Yd. competition, using classic 50-55 Gr. bullets, I use & strongly recommend 1:12" twist: obtain a quality 1:12" barrels and be happy! RG

 

[BoydAllen]

Question for the OP: Is this rifle going to be used for varmints or will it be a target project? I have two .222s that I have owned for many years. One is a bench gun with a tight neck chamber in a Hart barrel, with a benchrest stock, trigger and scope. The other is a varmint rig, a push feed model 70 with a sporter weight barrel and medium power variable scope. I enjoy both of them. The thing that completely changed the caliber, at least for varmint work, was the advent of 40 grain plastic tipped bullets. When I made that transition, it was a whole new world. To the original question, both of mine have 14" twists. The best accuracy that I have gotten with the bench gun is with 52 grain FBHP custom match bullets. The ones that I am currently using are Barts. The latest powder that I have used in the bench rifle is H322 (light to med neck tension, bullets seated at jam) Another thing that you need to know is that the manuals top out at relatively low pressures because the caliber has been used with rifles that are not as strong as a modern bolt action. The case is as strong as the .223 (IMO only) so unless you are loading for some old break open combination gun, you might want to determine your own upper limits.

 

[SkinnerD]

Yes. I'm not a benchrest shooter. I hunt with two .222s, an older BSA CF2 and a new CZ 527. Just getting into the calibre and love it's accuracy and kill ability with placed shots. I chose it on the basis of research into 22 calibre centrefire and its early following as an inherently accurate cartridge. Partly also because it was a go-to commercial meat hunters choice for feral deer here in NZ in the 1980s when 1-shot kills to head and neck were desired. Fallow, Sika, Red Deer etc. So a bit of nostalgia in play. The Sako Vixen was the Apex Rifle from that time and they still fetch top dollar today in good cond.. Most hunting shots with 222 here would be under 150m with capability recognized out to a reliable max of a tad over 200. So seeing your target groups at 200 would be of some interest together with the loads used. 223 has kind of taken over for its extra meters of range and ubiquity of ammo and components as well as the semi-auto platforms- which are no longer legal here. While not an inherently accurate cartridge the diff between 223 and 222 in hunting conditions is if no practical matter. Watching with interest

 

[jobhopper66]

I am happy to see Mr. Robinett endorse the use of a 12 twist barrel. Some members on here swear up and down that a 14 twist is the "magic" twist to have. Bob Green did a 222 for me built on a Hart action that is an incredible shooter and it wears a 12 twist Shilen barrel. Like Boyd Allen I have had great luck with H322 and the Berger 52gr flat base hollow point bullets. This rifle is only shot from the bench so I really haven't tried any Varmint type bullets in this rifle.

 

[swadiver]

I’ve read They were shootin 1:14” barrels in the 1950’s -60’s.

I’ve had good results with my 14” twist Shilen in 222.
Heres 5 shot groups @ 100 yds with 52 g bullets.


View attachment 1144270

excellent! are these the Bart Ultras or the standard 52 Barts?

 

[1911nut]

excellent! are these the Bart Ultras or the standard 52 Barts?

Standard Barts.

I also tried Berger 52, Sierra 52 and 53g and Nosler 52g with IMR 4895 and 4198 and N133. The 52 Barts and N133 way out shot any other recipe.

I’ve shot more 5 shot groups in the 0’s with the Savage/Shilen barreled rifle than any of my other rifles.

 

[swadiver]

thanks. i am using N133 and Berger 52's. i am at 23 grs. it is also a Shilen 14 twist SM barrel on a Savage Target action. it shoots well but i think it can do better.

your COL measurement listed; is it base to tip or base to ogive? (or whatever point the Hornady gauge measures to.)

i will have to check, but it seems like i tried 22 grs of N133 but it was not successful compared to 23 grs

i am going to order some standard 52 Barts.

 

[bob936]

I started shooting a benchrest .222 in the 1970's before the advent of the PPC's. My rifle was a long sleeved Remington 700 action with a 14 twist Hart Barrel and wood stock. The gun was built by Clyde Hart Rifles. The sleeved action was for the mounting of a Unertl scope. I had not shot the gun competitively for almost 40 years. The past summer I loaded some Lapua brass, H322 and Berger 52 gr. and used it at a groundhog match at 100, 200 and 300 yards. I was surprised how well it grouped under minor wind conditions. It actually out shot a lot of 6mm's including one I also shot at the match. The .222 is such a please to shoot with minimum recoil and very good accuracy under the right wind conditions.

 

[afret]

thanks. i am using N133 and Berger 52's. i am at 23 grs. it is also a Shilen 14 twist SM barrel on a Savage Target action. it shoots well but i think it can do better.

your COL measurement listed; is it base to tip or base to ogive? (or whatever point the Hornady gauge measures to.)

i will have to check, but it seems like i tried 22 grs of N133 but it was not successful compared to 23 grs

i am going to order some standard 52 Barts.

Did you finally get your .222 Shilen barrel? How long did it take?

 

[1911nut]

thanks.

your COL measurement listed; is it base to tip or base to ogive? (or whatever point the Hornady gauge measures to.) .

I use the Sinclair tool that holds inserts to measure cartridge base to “ogive”, it measures on the bullet down from the tip but closer to the tip than where the lands mark the bullet.

My COL puts the bullets 0.001-.002” from touching the lands.

 

[1911nut]

thanks. i am using N133 and Berger 52's. i am at 23 grs. it is also a Shilen 14 twist SM barrel on a Savage Target action. it shoots well but i think it can do better.
.

My groups shrunk dramatically when I put the flame stickers on.. ...