Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 50 or 55s in .222

I'm in the midst of loading up all my empty brass before moving and took a couple minutes to try something out. I've already figured my loads for my .222 (700 BDL) and though Xterminator consistently produces a bit tighter group, IMR4198 is available and does well enough with Hornady 50 gr sp and spsx as well as Win 50 gr sp. For gits and shiggles I tried some 55 gr Hornady sp for groups last week and I'll be damned if they didn't shoot really well, again a bit tighter with Xterminator, but hell 1/2" at 100 with IMR4198 and just a bit higher POI than the 50s. Figured I'd better not bitch. So long story short I wanted to try the 55 w/ cannelure against the 50 sp to see if there was any appreciable difference in performance. Both loaded with 20 grains IMR4198 shot into water filled milk jugs at 15 yards. Not a whole hell of a lot of difference, but a bit. The 55 was a bit wider of a mushroom, and the lead was still in the jacket when I poured it out of the 3rd jug. The 50 was in 2 pieces, and the mushroom was smaller, the jacket material had peeled further back and it barely made it into the 3rd jug. I threw them on the powder scale, and the 55 weighed in at 29.4 grains and the 50 at 23.1 grains.

I thought it was kinda neat and thought I'd share.

BGG: My deuce shoots both weights as well...but I gotta admit it definitel The difference is slight and wouldn't matter hunting, but its there. FWIW Mine is a Rem. also and it LOVES the cheap Varmint Nightmare bullets from Midsouth.... favors the 50 grainers..

Your post a couple years back on the possiblities of the 55 for deer got me thinking, inspired me you might say. Going to order some 45 grain Barnes on my next Midgay order and have it on standby. If we had any phoucin B tags this year I was going to try the deuce for giggles.

I waited waaaaayyyyy too many years to get my deuce. I'd love to chop a couple inches off the tube and have it be a perfect mate for my '06 BDL, but it shoots so damn well I can't bring myself to do it.

FWIW it shoots the 50 gr TTSX too......

Ive got two deuces, both Rem 700s, one is a build, the other a BDL sported. Both slightly favor the 50 grainers.
Just built a Heavy BDL for a pard and used a 1 in 12 Bbl from a .223...that thing LOVES 55s!


Both of mine are 1 in 14s and its my #1 goph getter



Currently contemplating a lighter weight deuce with a 1 in 12 Bbl Ive got laying around......

Mines the sporter 24". And the irons are sighted in.

With the Barnes, I just like the added security of slinging them as fast as possible to make sure it opens. Now that would be a cool test, the tipped 50 agin the 45 non. Might be I'll try that.

First rifle I ever shot groups with that made me go WOW were with my uncles Vixen in .222 as a kid. But I like the Rems.

I have been shooting 50 grain Remington PLHP bullets in mine for years. I am talking in the thousands. I still have plenty loaded to keep me shooting for awhile, but after finding out how well the plastic tipped 40's shoot in my Hornet and 222 magnum, I have changed my mind.

All the talk of fast twist and heavy bullets is wasted on a 222. Velocity is what makes these guns kill and that 40 will zip along better than the 50 ever thought of. Borrow some and try them before you settle on any 50 grain bullet..

Ha, you know Shrap I've most of a 250 count box of 40 gr Vmax's on the shelf I've been meaning to try in it and just have never got around to it. I really should though.

Initially I tried the 55s to see if they'd shoot for economics. I run the 55s out of my AR and my son's #3, figured if the deuce shot them I could just buy in bulk.

Let me add, I've seen what 40 gr vmax's do (or rather didn't do) to a coyote out of a .223. I'm thinking the 50 sp or 55 would do a better job, but for goofers or pdogs I may well have to try the foties.

Think 40 grain noslers, gruff.....

tuffer eh?

yassuh.

In my experience it's hard to beat the 40 Ballistic Tip as an all-around varmint bullet in smaller .224 centerfires.

I agree. I'm not sure yet why I keep trying others.

40gr b-tips and don't look back

I think my favorite rifle is a custom 40X in .222 ,I always thought the perfect bullet weight to be 50-52gr bullet.......wrong. in my rifle I found the perfect bullet to be the 40gr Blitzking, most days it shoots better than my 6ppc benchgun (would shoot it instead of my benchgun but it is a bit heavy) .

Had a friend that thought I might be over stating this a bit until I gave him a box to try.......I have to buy them from him now as he has a stock pile of thousands

"Solid base"

OK, how about a poll . 40grn VMAX, 40 GRN BT, or 40 GRN Blitzs, I have only tried 40Vmaxs in my hornet and duece. I like them but are the other 2 better?

I shoot 40 gr V-Max's in my .222. I tried various 50 gr bullets, but could not get any accuracy. 40 gr V-Max's were the answer.

John, do you notice any difference in the Ballistic Tips and the 40 grain Varmaggeddon Tipped bullets?

have a couple thousand Ballistic Tips in 40 grainers, but also picked up a couple thousand or three of the Varmaggeddon Tipped this past spring...

in the field I thought their performance was pretty much the same... but we are only talking sage rats, so that might not make much difference...

Tried and field tested, V-Max performs...

Now I know why the forties are scarce around here.

I shoot the VMax forties in everything. Hornet, Fireball, Deuce, and 22.250. They shoot very well in everything I have ever tried them in.

Related to the original question, I've found the ancient 50-grain Sierra Blitz to be quite accurate in several .222s. Generally (though not always), I've noticed slightly better accuracy with 50-grain bullets as opposed to the 55s.

I've had the best accuracy with the 40 BlitzKing in 5 222's, on average, but the diff is minimal.
One rifle I have prefers the V-max; I think barrels with a little wear often do, since they mike slightly larger.

The V-Max and BlitzKings have a tendency to unglue a bit more than the BT in a 222 on little stuff.

The old Sierra 50gr. SMP is also a great shooting bullet that expands decently at 222-223 speed if mag length is a concern.

Seafire,

You won't see much difference betweem the Ballistic Tip and Varmageddon on sage rats or prairie dogs. But the Varmageddons are thinner-jacketed, so don't penetrate as much on bigger varmints.

The BC of the Varmageddons is also slightly lower, since they're not boattailed, but there isn't any difference in trajectory, at least in practical terms, certainly not as much as the difference between tipped and hollow-point Varmageddons.

I've also shot plenty of 40-grain Hornady V-Maxes and Sierra BlitzKings at varmints as well, and will again when I find a bunch on sale. But the last two big "sale scores" I've made on plastic-tipped 40's have been on Ballistic Tips and Varmageddons, so those are mostly what I load. The only one of the four that seems to perform differently on animals is the Ballistic Tip, because of the heavier jacket.

21.5 reloader 7 Winchester cases that are neck sized and either a ww or cci primer. 40 v max right at 3500 fps

20.6-21.2 imr 4198....40 v max 3350 3550 fps

25.5 grains h335 in full length Remington cases cci br4 primer and the 45 grain tsx seated so the front drive band is almost touching the case mouth. 3350 3380 fps

all do half an inch or less from my 700 and should do in everything from woodchucks to deer or small piggies.( I have never even drilled a piggy so that part is just speculation.)


to be honest I have tried all of the cheap 55-63 grain bullets in my deuce and they either won't stabilize or I don't trust them to penetrate a big buck on a hard shoulder shot.

Thanks J.B.!!!

The Varmaggeddons seem to work for me out to 250-300 yds.. which is about as far as I can reliably hit those darn sage rats...particularly fueled with Blue Dot or SR 4759...

don't get to go out and do much coyote calling.. so sage rats and the occasional "black bird" and nuisance tree squirrel are about all I shoot with the 40s....

The neighbors seem to get upset when I use them on their nuisance cats.... ... but that is what the 17HMR was invented for, at least I've been told...

seafire..your using the 223 with reduced loads on prairie dogs at 300 yards? seems a fair ways with wind added in..

I can't ask for better performance in my L461 H&R than what I get with the sierra 50 sp. I shot a 5 round group with them today that was right at 3/8", outside-outside.

I also shot at least one 2 1/2" group at 200, but I'm old, blind, and shaky...

Rem brass, 7 1/2 primer, 20 gr 4198, and 50 sp...
It's like magic...

I do weigh each charge, for this rifle. I tried thrown charges, but accuracy suffered...

well here in Southern Oregon, wind usually isn't the problem that it is elsewhere...

and even these are called reduced loads, the correct description should be reduced powder charges, but using faster powders...

with 40 grain bullets, these loads will average about 3200 fps..
using 14.5 grains of Blue Dot...

with the 35 grain Lead Free Bullets, 10 grains of Unique will yield 3300 fps in a 24 inch barrel...

SR 4759 will yield in the same velocity range with the 35 and 40 grain bullets...

and I am shooting these at sage rats...

plus I use a target turret on top... along with making my field of fire with survey markers I walk off from 150 to 250 to 300 yds
marked with a little florescent spray paint or staple a florescent ribbon on them...which lets me know which direction the wind is blowing...

after you walk out and mark the area, 15 minutes of sitting by the truck eating a sandwich and they are out and running again...

when I don't take the time to do that, I keep my shots to about 200 yds... which I usually post a marker at 150 and 200 yds..
gives a point of reference on a barren flat field..

I don't have pdogs or sage rats to shoot at. I do shoot ground squirrels, but use a .22lr for them.

My .222 is my rifle of choice when I'm walking mixed cover and rolling fields for coyotes.
The 50 sierra sp kills quickly and leaves a dime or nickel sized exit...

If I ever feel like it lacks anything, I will try a faster 40.
I love a speedy bullet, but all things are relative...

If I ever run low on the sierras I might try something else. This is the more likely scenario...

still pretty good shooting there seafire.

Thanks, but ya know... ya get out there shooting em, and end up going thru 400 to 600 rounds of centerfire ammo.. your eye gets pretty good on picking them out... and it coordinates with your trigger finger better and better as the day goes along...

go out by where some of those distant rats were shot and look back at where your shooting position was.. and then it brings into perspective... dang, that WAS a good shot..

I'd rather shoot sage rats than go elk hunting or deer hunting...

you can't eat them, but the red mist factory is an addiction that I don't think anyone can ever get over... and I don't think anyone wants to...

thanks for the kudos..

Been shooting 55's in my savage 340 for years. Takes the head of a Chuck at 125 yrs and makes mush! Have tried many bullets, various weights and now shoot only 55's. Went from IMR 4198 to IMR 3031 and some old brigidier 3032, less pressure, drops a little velocity but doesn't seem to hurt at all. Try the 3031 but work up loads. A little powder makes lots of pressure in small case.

My SPS chambered in 222Rem likes Benchmark behind 52SMK's.
I started with Benchmark because I had an eight pounder on hand and 52 Sierra's because I like em. It shoots as well as some premium barrels I've owned and better than the Sako Vixen I had in 222 so I haven't looked any further. Cleans up easy too.
I did buy a couple of boxes of 40gr V-Max to try last spring but never got around to it. Maybe next year.


Remington 700 SPS chambered in 222Rem limited edition.

Billy, lots of good info. here.. The .222 is one of my favorites...
Got the first one when I was about 15. Well over 50 years ago.. There have been few years since then that a .222 has not been in the house.. Have two at present.. A Rem. for varmints
and a custom stocked Sako for turkey..

I would go with the guys supporting 40 grains for the .222.. Shot everything from 35 gr. to 70 gr. bullets in the old Rem..
The 50 gr. used to be my favorite for all varmints, but as many have said, the 40 gr. Vmax is the one for me.. I haven't shot any 40 gr. BTBT, but bought a bunch when I was at the Nosler plant.
For varmints, I would load up with 40's and the powder of your choice..
We may head east to visit my wife's daughters and other relatives.. I think I will be doing some hunting near Gazzem (?) Run.. Will say hello for you...

Just for grins, what is your SPS twisted?

Im thinking of turning a SPS .223 barrel back......

i also thought about a 1 in 12 twisted deuce. i have found that only 1 in 3 of my families in 1 in 14 twist deuces will shoot the heavier deer bullets like the 53 grain tsx and the 64 grain nosler bsb.

If you make it over there please convey my regards. Dunno when I'll make it back.

I'll probably just leave this gun as is, once I get ahold of a different scope. I'll give the 40s a whirl this spring for goofers and pdogs if it likes em. But I'm plenty happy so far with the 50s in that regard. I would like a shorter barreled 700 in a Mcmillan with a fixed 6 and dotz just for a porch gun. It's such a neat round.

I prefer to handload most everything, but my 40x single shot 222 just loves Remington factory 50gr. It is equipped with a custom walnut and maple laminated stock and an old 12x Redfield, 26" heavy stainless barrel. The gun will put every bullet into one ragged hole at 100 yards if the wind is not blowing very hard.