Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles .223AI - Best Varmint Cartridge of all time!

I have dozens of varmint rifles from 22RF to 338 Lapua AI, I cant say that any of them is the best of all time. But I can say that no matter what I am hunting there is always a 222 in my truck

I love your 223 "Practical", says it all. May I steal it to add to my signature line?

drover

The 22-250 will never be topped for a coyote rifle.................................................

I can dig a 22-250, but a .243 steps it up a notch or two.

17 HMR for ground squirrels

.22/6mm and .243 Win for coyotes

We really like long range prairie dog shooting. First 22-04 was a 12 twist that was loaded with 40 gr plastic tipped bullets. It ran out of gas around 500 yards. Next one in 8 twist, 75 gr Amax bullet at 3140 really shined in the 6 -900 yd range. This winter I set it back and ran the 222 reamer in to take 204 length brass with the 222 neck. Time will tell if the long neck is worth it or not. The 22-04 with many rounds showed no alligatoring or burning in the throat. That said an Ackley 223 would be a lot simpler but who likes easy. An eight twist 22 BR is almost not fair for long range PDing. Dale

What bullet and how fast in the 8 twist 22 BR Dale?

Mistake on the 22-04 that is at 3040 fps not 3140. Three of us shoot 22 BRs with 8 twist barrels, they all shoot 75 gr Amax at 3250 fps. Two are on 700 actions and one is on a Bat SV. We have a gong in camp at 1180 yards . Actual come up from a 300 yard zero is 27 minutes. Dale

I can push 75's out of my .223AI's at 3,150 fps.

It's impressive stuff.

Highbean,
Pushed the 22-04 faster too but the 3040 node is accurate and has not loosened primer pockets in dozens of firings. The new chamber in 222 1/2 makes basically the same speed so pressure has to be higher. Using Norma 204 brass which has very tight primer pockets. Dale

Right on man.

I think I have 10 or 11 on my Rem brass in the .223AI that I shoot the most. Pockets are about toast, but honestly, I can't see that being a bad deal. I certainly put them to good use.

Wore the throat out of a 223 ai....I set the barrel bak and chambered to 222which has become my favorite...but the 20 tax is a close second....depends on the day I wouldn't want to be without either...both sako 461s......also never leave without a standard 223..for me the gain just wasn't worth the effort..not saying I didn't like it as I did...judo in the field shooting prairie dogs....the standard 223 was just as effective at the same ranges...not on paper but in the field I couldn't tell much diff.

I've tried a few from 17hmr, 17 Ack Hornet thru the .22's up to 22-250. For jump shooting rabbits I enjoy a 17 HMR. For calling coyotes, a Sako .221 Fireball has served for decades. A 22-250 has always been too loud for calling scenarios and too hot for extended shooting, but fun anyway. I'll settle for a little more power than a .221 Fireball and a lot less blast than a 22-250, so I'd be happy with any of the tweeners in the 222/223 range. If I shot like some of you guys do I'd be concerned about case trimming, but I don't so can get away with vanilla factory offerings. I just recently bought a couple .222's, a Remington 660 and an Anschutz 153. They should be about right.

I'm easy to please.

If I was Seafire, I'd own a 22-250 and load it up down and sideways and be happy!

What would Flave do?

Flave would whip out his .17 Rem. and turn gophers to goo and slay coyotes with no pelt damage!

And enjoy viewing the show in real time through the scope.

I like the 223, my sons friend is a firearms instructor, he gave us a 55 gallon barrel of Lake City brass. I size, trim, ream primer crimp a few at a time.

What did Garth Brooks say" I have enough money for my kids, my grandkids and their kids". I have 223 brass for a thousand years.

a 55 gallon drum of 223 LC brass............

money in the bank............

you just never know who may be the next POTUS.............

What??? No one picked the 225Win??? tsk, tsk!

If I had needed a 224 cartridge with more horsepower than my 222s, I would have this. The 225 has nice lines. Might still get one.

But the barrel twist would have to be 1 in 10 or 1 in 12. For the heavier bullets. 60 to 70 gr.