Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Pet 40 gr. loads for 222 magnum?

I've been thinking about changing my load in my 222 magnum. I've been researching, and looking for a load using a 40 gr. bullet. Anyone out there have a pet load they use in a 222 magnum with a 40 gr. bullet? Looks like H335 would be a good powder.. Any info you could send my way would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Hunter01

I prefer heavier boolits in my 223 AI.......(close)

the 53 V max is the cat's azz.......

click linky......

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/competition-cartridges/

Yes, I usually shoot the 52s, 53s, and 55 grainers. But was just toying around with those little fast guys, (40 gr.) I need to look at the tables and compare the drop and energy of the 40s compared to the 50s, etc. Bigger bullets leave slower, but often catch up after a few hundred yards. Need to do some homework on that.

Just take a two off that and you won't have to reload:)

I've shot a ton of 40's in .223AI with 31 grains of H335. Great combo, but I have switched to 50's as they hit harder further out.

If you want the fastest velocity with a 40, RL 7 is the powder.... but its a non book load....

53 V max is one of the flattest boolits out there......

in its weight range...any powder such in the H4895 will work

fantastic.....W748..H335...BLC-2...Benchmark...VN133..IMR8208

29.5-30 grs. Benchmark.

H335 is my go to powder in the 222 Magnum, but prefer the 50 gr bullets in my 222 Magnum

Hunter01: I actually OWN and shoot two Varmint Rifles in caliber 222 Remington Magnum - its a fantastic and efficient cartridge that is capable of excellent accuracy.
But checking through my loading log for these two Rifles (and another 222 Remington I once owned and Hunted with but have since sold) it turns out THE lightest bullets I have ever used/tested were 50 grainers!
I use 40 grain bullets in several of my 223 Remington Rifles but again never did anything with the 40 grainers in any of my 222 Remington Magnums.
I wish I could help you out but can't right now.
I have a friend out on the west coast who loves 222 Remington Magnums for Varminting and I have a call in to him regarding your 40 grain inquiry - if he has any experiences/recommendations and gets back to me I will get back to you.
IF... you want to try a 50 grainer I have an exceptional load using the wonderful 50 grain Sierra Blitz (not BlitzKings!) bullets.
The last time I range tested this bullet/load in my Sako L-46 custom Rifle it produced a group (five shots at 100 yards) measuring .340"!
Are you seeking "splat" factor on Varmints or something else, with your turn to the light for cartridge 40 grain bullets?
Best of luck to you.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks so much for your input about the .222 mag. The .222 mag. and I go way back, and I have a very sentimental and close relationship with my .222 mag. It was my very first centerfire that I ever bought. I bought it with, my then, life savings from my lawn mowing money. I paid $140 for it in 1966. I bought it off of an Amish fellow. It had a Herters 2.5-8 scope on it, and had only a 20" barrel. Was loud. Over the years it has taken on a few changes. I've put a timney trigger on it with a Douglas 24" barrel, changed to an ole Weaver K12 scope, and refinished the stock a few times. It now wears a Leupold 12X. I have a few scores of guns in my safe, and if I had to get rid of all my guns and keep ONLY one, it would be my .222 magnum sitting in the safe all alone. I love that gun and round. I think it was the word, "magnum" that got this teenager's attention way back then. I've always shot 23.0 gr. of 4198 with a 55 gr. Hornady SX bullet. My .222 mag. and I have been together for over 50 years. Boy, if that gun could talk! Has worked well, but that was over 50 years ago, and I think there is a better load to be found for that .222 mag. today. Shooting the 40 grainers was just kinda a brain storm for me. I've never shot anything lighter than a 50 gr. in all my .224's, and after frying my brain the past few days, poking in different bullets weights, velocitys, etc., I'm pretty much convinced that 52-55 grainers will be the best bullet for my 'new' .222 mag. Starting a 40 gr. at 3800 fps, and a 55 gr. at 3400 fps, the 55 gr. overtakes the 40 gr. in speed at 300 yards, and has much more energy and is almost as flat. I'm having Gearld from Custom Blue put on a 26" barrel with 1-12 twist and mating it to a H-S Precision stock. I'm going to put on a 8.5-25x Leupold on it. I'm sure it will be a tack driver when I get it back. So after all is said and done, the only thing original will be the M700 action. But I'll still have my favorite .222 mag. Thanks again for your response. It made me look at things closer, and helped me make up my mind on which weight bullet to use in my .222 mag.

What is your starting powder charge of H335 and a 50 gr. bullet in your .222 mag.?

What is your starting powder charge of H335 and the 50 gr. bullet in your .222 mag.? thanks.

what is your starting powder charge for 50 gr bullet and H335 in your .222 magnum? Thanks.

what powder charge are you using with H335 in the 222 mag.?

VarmintGuy, After researching, I've decided to go with 50/52 grainers. I'm going to try 50 gr. Nosler BT and the Berger 52 grain. I've got some test loads made up, starting at 25.5 gr. up to 27.5 gr. with H335. Is that a good window to start with that powder? From all I have seen, that seems to be a good spread to go with. Of course I'll start low and work up, checking pressures, etc. We'll see what happens. I just got my M700 .222 mag. back from Custom Blue. Gearld put a Krieger 26" on it and tuned the trigger, changed it to a single shot, trued it up, and dropped it into a HS Precession varmint stock. Hoping it shoots lights out. We'll see.

I love the 222Mag!!!
Even though its damn close to a 223 but I love different
Mine absolutely loves 26.5 BLC-2 with a 52gr Hornady BTHP

50 grainers get 27-27.5 grs Benchmark.... Vmax and Blitz king.

The 53 SMK and 27.5 grs Benchmark shoots itty bitty groups in all of them; not the best for varmints.

I've been playing with aa2230 and plain Jane bulk 55 grain hornady'. I'm liking what I've seen so far.

25 grs aa2230
55 gr hornady sp
Fed 205
Formed hornady 204 ruger brass

H322 also showed promise

Let us know which one works out best - should suit my .222 Kilbourne nicely