Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Quick .222 question...

I just picked up some IMR4198, Remington 7-1/2's, and 50 grain ballistic tips for the Sako Riihimaki I acquired up not long ago. I was going to work up a quick load to use for groundhogs, coyotes, and crows around my farm this spring and summer. Following the Nosler recommended seating depth of 2.130", and double checking Hornady's recommendation for the 50 grain Vmax at, again, 2.130", I seated a bullet in a dummy case trimmed to the recommended 1.690".. the bullet ogive seems to be BELOW the case mouth. That doesn't seem right to me ...am I missing something or has that been the experience of others? Thanks guys. Joe

thats the way the new bullets go. very short base. see if your rifle will let you get a longer OAL that will fit in the magazine and not touch the rifling. Also learned that MY Sakp Riimiki has a 1 in 16 twist and will not stabilize anything over 45 grains. So I just went to the 40 grain V-Max and couldn't be happier.

The load for my#1 Riihimaki is max 4198, 50gr Vmax OAL 2.125, that shoots very nice little groups. This feeds well from the clip--with Riihimakis, OAL is usually a compromise between feeding and bullet seating for accuracy. I am assuming it is 1-14 twist, although I haven't checked it.

I have another Riihimaki that has been rebarreled to 1-12 twist that shoots the 50gr TTSX, with OAL at 2.148--this is cutting it pretty close for a functional OAL. It's still pretty short of the lands but for the TTSX this is actually desirable as long as accuracy holds up.

i likie to load .030 off the land for hunting. that length shoyuld help. if your sako has that slower twist i would use the lighter bullets. i have had great results using I4198 . high velocity and great accuract out of my 222 sakos and remingtons.

Yep, my old 722 in 222 likes them about .020 longer than listed in my manuals.