Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Competitive Shooting .222 or .223 is one more accurate?

I hope I can bother you all by asking a quick question:
I plan to rebarrel a Ruger compact 77 and am considering chambering it in .222 Rem. or .223 Rem.
Can I expect a bit more accuracy from a .222? Thanks for your help.

FWIW I would not waste the time on the 222 unless you have brass/dies etc..... 223 is plenty accurate and extremely versatile.

Accuracy-- easy to get half inch at 100 and under given right loads. My best accuracy tests reveal that even in an AR the 223 will shoot 10 shot groups around an inch at 300 with the right ammo and best 5 shot groups at 600 will net 1-2 inch groups at 600. I think you would be happy, assuming the barreling job is correct.

Before you start, thing what distance you are going to be shooting vs the twist rate. My 6.5 twists shoot up to 90s and down to 52s.... Not advising that twist, simply I prefer to err on the stable side and it usually doesn't hurt the shorter bullets much if any. That being said if you want to spin out 40s only, consider that twist and make sure your chamber is well thought out for what you are going to do.

Jeff

Thanks for the advice. My plan so far is a Lilja barrel with a 12" twist. I plan to shoot 50-55 grain bullets.
I also plan a finished length of 18". I have an option
of 3 or 6 groove barrel, I was leaning toward 3, do you
have an opinion? Thanks so much for your help.
I have always wanted a .222, but I already have all the brass and dies for a .223. I still don't know what to do.
I have a couple of months to think as I await the barrel.

go to a 1 in 8 twist so you can use 70 gr for deer. 223 or 222 is as good the barrel you buy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Love 3 groove barrels personally. Doesn't mean they are the best though but odd grooves keep me happier for some reason.

I sure might be tempted to go to 10 twist though, gives you a better shot at the 68/69/70 grain bullets if you ever need to stretch its legs some.

Of course if you are convinced you'll only be shooting light bullets, regardless to wind drift or distance issues, 12 is just fine.

Were I to go 12 twist with those bullets I"d be looking at flat base bullets for great accuracy. And 60 Sierra flat base HPs are cheaper and never any slouches.

Final line, if you really want a 222, no reason not to do it. Pleny of us want something for some personal reason, when there are better, IOHO, options.

Jeff

Go 223...plenty of components and shoot just as well if set up right...

Hey westerner,

The .222 is a highly refined and very forgiving little cartridge. Think of it as a super hot .22 hornet with benchrest accuracy.

It is just as versatile as the .223, though the .223 does edge the .222 in velocity with all bullet weights. It is also easier to find factory ammo for (nowdays) but once you see how easy the .222 is to load for, you probably won't be using much factory stuff - except in your .223.

You are probably going to end up with both anyway, but if you like the appeal of classic cartridges, vs. generic military stuff, then you may want to consider the .222 at some point.

forepaw

Correcting my last post, the .222 is as versatile as the .223 in terms of most sporting uses (varmints, long hikes looking for varmints, smaller species of big game e.g. turkey, javelina), general purpose, and also benchrest competition. However, for tactical and high-power rifle competitive shooting, or any use where an autoloader is necessary, the .222 is not a contender.

The .222 can be made more useful by getting one with a faster twist to allow use of 60, 64 and heavier bullets.

forepaw

I sure appreciate the advice. I am really leaning toward the .222 for a rather unique reason. I'd like one to honor in my mind Mike Walker. I have 3 .223s and have never had a .222. I do like the idea of a faster twist, some day my daughters may want to use the rifle for our little whitetails outhere. Will a 10" twist stabilize Noslers 60 grain partition? Will a quicker twist hurt performance with 50 grainers? Thanks again.

YOu've answered your question, with plenty of 223s in the safe, do this one in 222!! YOu'll be happy I promise.

10 twist in 223 will stabilize 69s so should easily stabilize 60 noslers. FWIW I have a 12 in my 22-250 and it stabilizes 60s easy, of course its got more speed too.

If you'll recall I shoot 223 and mentioned running 6.5 twist barrels to stabilize 90s for 1000 yards, same tube runs 52 bthps at 3400 fps and drops em in .5 moa groups at 200 yards. Not BR accuracy, but has not hurt me in matches either.

So I suspect that 10 will work fine, though for 60s I also bet that 12 would work, AND in a bind you can go to a 52/53 whichever it is, TSX for the 12 twist. TSX is equal (IMHO better) than the mentioned 60 nos part.

Jeff

Thanks again for the help, I just ordered a SS 6 groove barrel with a 12" twist. I ordered a heavier than factory contour and will finish it at 18" long. Will chamber in .222, your cartridge is still alive Mr. Walker!!!

I own a Cooper Classic chambered in .222 Remington and it will stack 40 gr VMax's into 0.3-0.4" all day long at 100 yds. I rarely take it out anymore because it just gets too predictable and boring <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

222 mag...

If you go back to the origional question, If loaded properly a 222rem will outshoot a 223 10 times out of 10, it will lag behind a 100fps or so in velocity depending on bullet weight but as far as accuracy it is a no-brainer.
B

while the 223 is more available in factory ammo, i just can't let the triple deuce die! to me, it is one of the very best varmint calibers out there. look back at former benchrest records and the 222 reigned king. mike walker had a winner then and now! that being said, most people are going to go the 223 route. i like the other posters idea about the 222 mag. it is what the army should have gone with imho. just my .02 but there will always be a place in the world of accuracy for a caliber that has three 2's in it.

Westerner - You just made me ashamed of the fact that my forty year old .222 is way in the back of the safe. Soon as the weather cleans up it's coming out!