Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints tell me about the 222 remington magnum

Sako & Herters along with Rem produced 222 Rem mag brass..

my 223 AI works well enough for my needs

no brass shortage.....

I've never found the brass hard to come by, even during the "shortages". If there ever was, one trip through a 222 Mag. FL die turns a 204 case into 222 Mag. sized to a crush fit, if desired.
Its about as complicated as the 223 AI...
Having 7 rifles here so chambered, I've probably got 4,500 or more pieces of brass. I just bought 500 pcs. of Noslers before the election.

I'll bet a sugar cookie Starline will be making some in the future; seeing what they make for pistol brass and are making 358 Win. cases.

For a guy looking at a used rifle or building one, most weekend warriors could buy 500 and be set for a while.

Here's some:
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/72473/inline/1

The 17 Remingtom is based off the 223 Remington. Its shorter than the 222 Mag and necking down/shoulder push gives it slightly longer length than the 223.

Some case schematics and rough capacities:

HawkI,

Is the converting an AR as simple as reaming an existing .223/5.56 chamber with a .222RM reamer? Looks like the Magnum at max OAL will easily fit into ASC magazines.

Thats pretty much what I did; with a headspace check of course.

Hmmmmm.

Thanks.

We shot many of them plus the cousin the 6x47 Remington. You can not stand on the loads very hard because remington brass is soft and you will loose your primer pockets.

I had Hugh Hendrickson make me a reamer for the 222 Mag to run the 50's, and had a throater for heavier bullets. Brass would not last. I was shooting the 50's at 3700, where the accuracy node was, lost primer pockets in two firings, and I did have the reamer Ground to .002 over web dimensions of the Rem brass.

Contrary to most, I would run the 223 AI, use new LC brass, and never run back for colony varmints.

For giggles and grins, a 22-204 Ruger may be a better way to go, if you have found the hornady brass to be tougher than Remington, if not forget that one also...single load of course.

The 223 AI is one heck of a case to beat, good, tough brass available from LC and Lapua.

I had Sako 222 Mags for a while, short magazines would never allow you to seat the bullets to the lands, and Rem 40x's in 222 Mag. On one p. dog trip, I put 2000 rem cases down a p. dog hole due to enlarged primer pockets, popped 11 primers in a 1000 rounds, had to have my bolt tig welded.

Would be interesting to see Hawk's results.

OAL is going to be a bitch to deal with, but I don't mind single feeding. The 73 and 75g Hornady's are where the money is.

I am all ears!

That right there is why I had my barrel set back and rechambered to .221 Fireball. It really works great on the little Vixen action.

The ASC magazine doesnt do squat for the 223 in regards to the 75AMax, so it won't make the grade with 73/75 ELDs either. The AR action made the .223/55 tangent ogive a limited vehicle, for starters...the 222 Magnum (or 223 AI) wont fare any better in it. But niether does worse. Both have more boiler.

Same for the Vixen; its made for the 222, especially true if tipped bullets are used. 223s and 222 Mags with tipped bullets are a compromise if one uses the magazine.

My "fireform" and utility load for AR 222 Magnums eat 75gr. Hornady match bullets with a std. 222 Mag chamber...no special throating and 24.5 grs AR Comp seated out to feed without a hiccup.
Brass is either Nosler, R-P, or Herters. Never clocked em, but they hang on the 400 and 450 targets pretty much like the bolt guns do with my 15/Amax load for turret clicks.

Regarding R-P brass; Ive had lots that suck and lots that wear like iron. If using R-P brass, my best suggestion is to find some in the blue-green or all red boxes. Not Rem-UMC headstamp, but the ones right after..they will tolerate about anything and runout is nil. I'll get a pic up later to ID them if interested..
The same afflictions in R-P 221, 222 and 223 are about the same. Ive had great Remington brass in 257 and 308 too, only to have another lot suck ass in either lasting forever or having piss poor runout. Good luck with Remington, it can be a crapshoot.

I generally run a 50gr. BlitzKing with 27.5 grs in a 20" Sako for 3,500-3,545 fps in the old school Remington cases.
My ledger also shows 27grs. BMark with 10 shot avg. of 3,345 with a 53gr. MatchKing and Herter cases.
Another Sako 24" shows 27 grs. BMark for 3,550 with the 50 BlitzKing. I used gun/load this last year for PDs..
Another 24" Sako gets the 53 MK and 27 grs. BMark for 3,500 in Herter cases. I dont know how well any of the cases would hold up to 3,700 with a 50gr. Id be looking at a powder that could do so that fit in the case and keep pressures down. Dont use moly; that might get one some leeway. Id be hesitant even if it were a 5.7x50 rimless...


Mostly I use Rem. 700s and 75 Amaxes in 24"ish 1-8/1-9 twist tubes. One is a std. throat, the other seats out to fit the AMax throat.
The loads are 26.5-27 grs. Re15 and clock 3,050 to 3,100 fps.. Both use Finnish Herter cases Ive been gunning for five years now with no issues.

If one needs more brass options, Ive also used Norma, Nosler, Winchester and Hornady 204 brass to make 222 Magnums when I first wanted runout precision during my first foray into R-P brass crapshooting.

Hope this helps.

Keith: I have been shooting various brands and styles of 222 Remington Magnums for going on fifty years now and I have NEVER "lost a primer pocket" in any of my Remington manufactured brass!
In fact thats all I have ever used in any of my 222 Remington Magnums (and in my factory Remington 40XB-BRKS in caliber 6x47!).
Me thinks YOU are/were hotrodding or somehow harming your Remington brass during preparation/reloading?
I simply can not imagine any other reason.
In fact some years ago I ordered 1,000 pieces of Remington 222 Remington Magnum brass - I have as yet to have to delve into it - the brass "I" have been using seems to last forever?
My Browning "High Power" bolt action Rifle in 222 Remington Magnum for instance has a somewhat small (for me!) amount of Remington 222 Remington Magnum brass dedicated to it (60 pieces) - I am sure I have loaded it (carefully and with prudence!) at least 8 times apiece and no problems what so ever to date.
I am sad that you harmed your Rifle so seriously with your handloads but the only explanation I can envision is handloader hot-rodding (over max loads for your Rifle)?
Due to my "lifetime supply" of Remington 222 Remington Magnum brass on hand I have been secretly contemplating buying one last Varmint Rifle in caliber 222 Remington Magnum and that one last Rifle would be made by the fine folks over at Cooper Arms.
I have complete confidence in the Remington 222 Remington Magnum brass I would use in this expensive Rifle.
Quote from Ken Waters (from Ken Waters Pet Loads page 35) "As good as the 222 Remington and the 223 Remington undeniably are, it is the personal opinion of this writer that the 222 Remington Magnum is BETTER than either of them! And I don't say this out of narrow prejudice, I assure you of that."
And that is just the beginning of Mr. Waters praise for the 222 Remington Magnum.
I will include ANOTHER quote from Mr. Waters Pet Handloads page 37 this time: "Maximum loads in this cartridge often give accuracy equal to that of lighter loads - a not very common circumstance - but if the shooter/handloader will be content with a 10 percent reduction in powder charge (costing no more than a 5% loss in velocity), he can make his cases last for what seems an eternity"!
Long live the 222 Remington Magnum.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

223 AI = the 222 Mag, but you can make 223 AI out of fine LC brass, IMI, and Lapua brass.

Remington 222 mag cases have weak case heads, I have owned many.

Used a 22-204 for quite a few SD Prairie dog trips. Remington 204 brass and 75 grain Amax bullets at 3050 FPS. Never ever had a loose primer pocket. Decided it needed a longer neck and shortened the shoulder to 222 length and ran the 222 reamer in to headspace. Still using the original Remington brass. Think this called the 222 1/2. Dale

Re: Vixens - is it not generous with a straight deuce? I ran 40 vmax at 3700+ w Lil Gun in a 700. Seems the COL would be fine in a L-461with 40-50's - partner ran 52's in his A-1