Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 222 whitetail load

I need some ideas on loads to shoot out of my 222 for deer. I would like to get hornady superformance velocities out of the cartridge but can't find any of the load data with their powder. I had considered buying a box pulling the bullet and measuring it out. As far as a bullet goes I've looked at a hornady gmx and Barnes tsx but I've never used a lead free bullet. I'm looking for something with excellent expansion and weight retention similar to the Winchester fail safe.

Before I have have a bunch of people tell me that the 222 isn't suitable for whitetails let me explain my situation. I recently had some things come up and had to part with my more suitable rifles. I hung on to a savage model 24V (which is a 20 gauge over a 222) to put food on the table. I figured it was going to be my best option because I can shoot grouse and squirrel and hope for the occasional shot at a wild boar or deer. I live in North Carolina so the deer are small and the cover is thick limiting shot distance. I'm planning on being very selective with shot placement just as I do when I am bowhunting. I would love a great blood trail but I'm not expecting one from this cartridge luckily I own a excellent blood trailing dog. I'm not looking for reasons not to use it but good constructive comments on load data and bullet selection to aid me in a quick clean kill.

Anyone?

Assuming the std. 14 twist .222 Rem, Barnes lists their 53 gr. TSX at 3,100 fps over 24 gr. TAC. That would be a good place to start.

The 55 gr. Sierra Gameking or similar would be worth try.

See what the gun likes.

DF

The 55gr Hornady Spire Point is a good one.I got complete pass through on a 125lb sow I shot behind the shoulder 30yrs ago.It was an impressive DRT shot.Had a lot of bad experiences when I started hunting with the 222 about 50yrs ago.The bullets were so thin jacketed,they were bad about blowing up on impact.I quit shooting behind the shoulder and started shooting the neck and killed them quite well that way.I know there are much better bullets out there today,but I'd give that 55gr Hornady a shot again.

55 Sierra Gameking.

Baldhunter I agree that's what I'm trying to avoid. I definitely don't want something that the jacket will separate

Barnes don't separate...

DF

My thoughts exactly........

It's a deer (Blacktail I assume). They aren't armor plated and the big ones I used to see in the coastal range wouldn't be much more than 125 lbs. The Mule deer up in the Sierra aren't all that big either. Long as you stay away from bullets with a varmint jacket, I don't see how you should have any issues. 14 twist might not stabilize the longer all copper bullets so give them a try and if not, go back to the 55gr soft points. If you call the manufacturers their tech support should be able to recommend the toughest bullet for your application.

Lot of deer have been killed with .224 bullets.

ingwe will tell you it should be a .223AI/McFlame...

Shrapnel will insist on .222 Mag.

But as Big Stick loves to say, it's the bullet, not the headstamp...

Just saying...

DF

The Sierra 63 grain bullets stabilize in my 222 1:14" rifle. They dont shoot as good as the 50 gr bullets, but still average 1" groups.

I would love to shoot the 63 grain sierras but can spend a lot of money experimenting either

H4198 and H4895 worked for me.

my deuce doesn't shoot to well with the heavier class of bullets of 60 plus grains. It will do okay with the 64 grain Nosler solid base and 63 grain sierra. I trust the 63 grain sierra on neck and rib shots but I wouldn't shoot a big buck in the shoulder with one.

64 grain nosler bsb---varget, cfe223, or aa2520.
63 grain sierra flat base ---ww 748

If you really want my opinion I will tell you that you should go lead free like the 50 grain Hornady GMX or barnes TSX the former shooting nice but I haven't shot one into a deer. I shot about 6 of these into milk jugs and one of them failed to expand while the other 5 seemed to have text book mushrooms.

In the past I've shot a bunch of deer with the smaller tsx bullets in the .22 calibers and had problems with the pedals flying off of the bullets somewhere in the deer. I did try the 53 and 55 grain barnes bullets in the 1 in 14 twist but I didn't have consistant results.

The best combination of accuracy and performance that I seemed to find in the 1 in 14 twist was the 45 grain TSX and either h335 or IMR or h-4198. The 4198s can push the little barnes bullet into the low 3300's while the h335 can send it down range in the mid to upper 3300's.

My favorite load is a cci br4, a full length Remington case, 25.5 grains h335 and a 45 grain TSX seated so that I can just see the front drive band of the bullet. Runs about 3350 to 3380 out of my 24 inch barrel. Quick load seems to think that I should be getting 3360 for muzzle velocity at 23.5 grains of the h335 but my gun seems to need about 2 grains more powder to get into the pressure range where the load becomes more accurate and gives the stated velocity.

In the barnes manual they have a picture of a 45 grain tsx that was pulled from the shoulder of a huge buck. It looks like a text book mushroom yet I still don't have complete faith in the ability of that bullet to reliably anchor a really big buck that I shot in the shoulder. I do hunt late season doe with my .222 here in pa but if it's bear season or if I'm hunting where I expect that I might shoot a monster buck I don't take that .222 out....I have shot probably a dozen deer with the .222 since I was a kid (15 years) however I really think that it's a marginal deer round unless you have perfect shot placement with a non bonded bullet that you can shoot into the deer's ribs and get to expend all of it's energy(63 grain sierra).

On one occasion I shot a small buck in the neck with a 53 grain TSX and it was still alive when I drove my quad up to it 5 minutes later. That one took a second shot to finish it. Another time I shot a doe through the shoulder with an another 53 grain TSX. The bullet ripped out the shoulder punched a hole in the heart and exited out the other side of the deer. At the shot the deer took off across a road that was just over a hundred yards away and collapsed about 40 yards on the other side. That deer didn't really even appear to hit or leave anything could be called a blood trail. If I hadn't seen the deer running away on three legs I doubt that I would have known that I hit it and spent the half an hour that it took to find the deer in the swamp that it died in.

I would eventually like to work with a .222 that has a fast enough twist that I sling the heavier bonded lead core bullets. I think that they might be able to shed energy faster than the barnes bullets and as a result knock the deer down faster. But then again if I'm going to do that I might as well go out and buy a .223. On a side note the .222 slinging a barnes bullet really doesn't leave a lot of blood shot meat in a deer. You can almost eat right up to the bullet hole.

in short 45 or 50 grain barnes seat it to the front front drive band and put as much powder behind it as you can.

in short 45 or 50 grain barnes seat it to the front front drive band and put as much powder behind it as you can.

I used a Speer 70 gr. Semi Spitzer over H414.

I have kilt oodles of deer with 50gr Blitz and 22.2 gr of H322.

I was getting 3000fps. Speed kills.

don't complicate things



From your OP, I see you are in NC. Same here.

When the economy went to [bleep], and I liquidated my arsenal, I kept my 222, and unleashed unholy carnage with it. Head, neck, CNS. DRT.....

You want some 50gr Blitz's? I'll give you a box.

no doubt the barnes bullets will work but a 222 velocities you will have no issues with the 55 gran hornady Sp or the 63 Sierra either one. IMHO, the standard cup and core bullets kill a bit quicker too.

If money is tight you can buy 55 grain Hornadys for a fraction of what Barnes will cost

Anybody who doubts the 55 Hornadys effectiveness on big game should browse through Scenarshooter's posts

Rustydog,

I'd also be happy to send you some 55 Hornadys if you like. Pm me if you want some

The generosity shown by these 2 posts (plus the freely-given friendly advice in other posts), is what keeps me coming back to the 'Fire!

I'd send some bullets for you to test too, but sending bullets to the US isn't really possible (I'm in Sweden).

John

Over that distance, sending women would be more cost effective.

I'll pm you my address....

That's funny right there!

This post is a great start to another week and daily grind

I have used Sierra/Speer Bench rest bullets in a 222 to take a handful of WT deer. Key is to pick your shot, I took high shoulder shots and never had one run. Meat loss is to be expected within reason. Used IMR 4320 and kept speed around 3000, IIRC, it was many years ago. It will work, if you can shoot.

I would like in on this deal. Let me know what you would like in trade......

john,

I've heard that Swedish women are rowdy and fun. Any truth to this?

I appreciate all of the useful information for everyone. I've done very little reloading but to achieve what I want with this round I feel like it's my only option. I love the versatility of the gun is why I hung on to it

Reloading opens up new worlds, makes your rifle much more versatile.

Plus it's enjoyable.

May turn you into a screaming Loony...

DF

Ah, gentlemen the rumors about Swedish women (of which you have clearly heard) are true.

On a scale from frog to handsome prince, I'm much closer to the frog end of the spectrum and yet several attractive Swedish women have taken advantage of me...

However, I am sorry to report that when the USA put export controls on anything firearms-related (e.g. empty brass cases, fiberglass gun stocks), Sweden retaliated with export controls on Hot Swedish Babes.

I support this policy because I need all the help I can get!

John

Rustydog

While reloading is a great way to go, If you are not set up for it it's not totally necessary. A 50 grain soft point from remington, Winchester or federal will kill deer just fine in your 222. Just take a CNS shot or put one tight behind the shoulder. This may sound like heresy to some but it will work fine.

It is a BS policy...

Never owned a 222 but have shot enough deer with a 223 to know if you put a decent bullet where it belongs they work well. I'm a big fan of V max 50 gr in 223 shot a lot in Va on kill permits and in Wva in general season . Big disadvantage in any 22 cal is small or non existant blood trail. However shoot em right and no tracking required.

A 45gr Barnes X from a .221 Fireball dropped this little guy where he stood.

Rusty- I have seen two big mule deer harvested using a .222. both were shot below the ear. 55 grain soft point. there are many bullets that would work. placement was perfect by skilled hunters and very accurate rifles.

Scgunnut that's pretty impressive where did you place the bullet? I haven't killed a deer with a gun in about 6 years but have harvested several with a bow. I think I took 11 last year and I've timed it about perfect as I'm just now almost out of venison. I know how to be patient and place my shots. I'm hesitant on head/neck shots because if you don't hit them perfectly then you can have a mess on your hands. I like the behind the shoulder shot better as your margin for error is slightly larger. Come to think of it the last deer I harvested with a rifle was slightly over 300 yards and a head shot. Pretty certain it's the only head shot I've ever made on a deer. I do it quite often on wild boar.

I've killed a few mule deer with behind the shoulder shots and a 52 grain hollow point target bullet. Not supposed to work but it does, just fine.

He was quartered towards me at around 60 yards and I shot him on the onside shoulder. He never took a step. The bullet didn't exit and I tried to recover it but it ended up in the guts somewhere I guess. Would have liked to have seen how that little X expanded. I shot one with a 53gr X in a .225 Winchester and it exited and is probably still orbiting the Earth...

So here is my current hold up. Will I be better hand loading something such as a 50 grain X or shooting a V max in hornady superformance due to the increased velocity/energy

I've only shot small critters with the V-Max, but I think it's the last bullet I'd ever try on deer. It might work if you can slip it right down the ear, though.

I sooner go with the cup and core rather than a varmint bullet.

seriously, if you want some Sierra 50's, pm me.

I killed a rather large muley buck with a .221 fireball and 40gr vmax. It just happened be the only rifle i had going into deer season so i used it. Took a couple hours to get into position but put that little pill in the base of his skull as he was walking away from me at about 150yds. He fell so fast that i actually thought i missed him!

Rusty I have shot numerous southern whitetails (between 70 and 140 pounds with a 22 hornet and 50gr Hornady SP with 13 gr of hogdon lil gun just shoot em behind the shoulder. Any 45 or 50gr bullet will work. If you want complete pass through go with the Barnes for best reliability.

Not a long range proposition I keep the hornet at bow range 50 yards max with the 222 I would expect 100 yards max.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

Long time ago, folks in the west would reach for the Speer 70 grain SMP or the Sierra 63 grain SMP.. they worked then and still do today....

and were made to stabilize out of a one in 14 twist.

Finished up an antelope hunt in WYO, used 55 gr GK. My oldest daughter hit her doe behind the front shoulder, at 100 yds, bullet passed through and the lope stumbled about a half a dozen steps and fell over. I shot the remaining two does, one at 150 yd and the other about 175 yd, bullets passed through and the critters made a typical lung hit run for about 25-30 yds and piled up. Loads were 22 gr of WC844, chronographed at 2940 fps, settled on that combo as I could place 5 shots in 3/10 inch at 100. Tried several loads with the "X" bullets, they just will not shoot accurate out of my 788s, they are an older lot (bought almost 15 yrs ago) maybe the newer ones would show promise.

Currently I have two 222's and spent time with them working up a load through my chronograph this summer, both like about the same thing. Lapua brass,fed 205primers,VVN130 powder and 50gr SBK bullets....better in every way to the "superformance"