Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Redding bushing die question

I cannot believe I've gone this long without trying a Redding bushing die but there it is. I'm a slacker.

My question is, can I buy a bushing die for a 222 and change the expander/decapper and bushings out to accommodate wildcats on the 222? 20-222, 6mm-222, and 25-222. I've not had one in hand, but looking at the construction of the die, at least in pictures, it looks like that would work. I appreciate any thoughts and input.

call Redding and ask for a engineer they have always been very helpful for me. matter a fact i just purchased a Redding 6.5 Creedmoor bushing die and got bushings to make it a 25 Creedmoor and they were very helpful again too. Pete53

You should be just fine so long as they are simply necked up/down wildcats and no changes otherwise to the parent case. Also, with properly sized bushings, there is no need for an expander. Lastly, decap prior to sizing and you eliminate that stem entirely.

Proper bushing size is loaded neck dia minus .001-.002"

Thank you guys. Yes, all are no changes other than neck diameter. I have a 6mm-222 and have had a another lefty mini Mauser action standing by. Well I scored another one yesterday on GB and got the bright idea to build rifles in 222 and 25-222 to match the 6mm-222. Same barrel length and contour and the same stocks and all wearing identical scopes. The only difference will be stock color. If I find another lefty mini action I'll do a 20-222. I don't know if it shows but I'm fond of the 222 and its progeny.

Yes that will work, and I did similar with a lot of different cartridges

I just ordered a Redding type S bushing die. I'll figure out what bushings I need and order them after our move. Thanks guys.

Did you modify a die just to decap?

Lee Universal Depriming die in it's own dedicated press.

Squirrel Daddy decapping pins are a solid upgrade for the dies.

One of the reasons I use turret presses is the ability to keep a Lee decapping die in one of the holes--which makes reloading a lot easier.

On the 25-222(25 copperhead) you might have to open the top of the die slightly to allow the larger neck through the opening. I had to do this with my 25-204. Also if you want to use the expander ball in the 20-222 you will need to get a smaller stem as the 20 cal. ball won't fit on a 224 stem. I had to get a larger stem for my 204 Ruger Redding Type S FL Bushing die to load 22-204, 6mm-204 and 25-204 set. Luckily I was able to use the 204 stem in my 223 Rem bushing die to load 20 Practical, I also load 223 Rem and 6x45mm on that same die. I don't turn necks so I use an expander ball.

I love the 222 Rem case it is one of my goto's for coyote hunting. A 20-222 Rem makes a lot of sense but if your necking up, it seems like your looking for more UMPH so I'd personally go with the 223/223AI or 22 Nosler case if you want to keep the .378 bolt face or use the 204 or even 5.6x50mm case(quite popular in Australia in 6x50mmm for roo shooting) if you are not using a mini action. The 5.6x50mm case comes in a rimmed version if your working with a single shot action. The 257 Kimber(25-222 Rem Mag Improved)25-223 AI/25-204/25-5.6x50mm will all duplicate original factory ballistics of the 250-3000 and 257 Roberts well proven deer medicine..

That would be handy. I have an RCBS Partner press that I got, NIB, at a yard sale for $20 set up as decapping duty. I like to decap prior to SS tumbling and clean the primer pockets at the same time.

Funny, when I last spoke to them they told me that all enquiries were to be directed via their distributors.

Erich,

I appreciate the input. I'll look at the die and get it opened up if needed for the 25-222. I already have a 6mm-222 and am quite pleased with it. I spent many NY winter nights reading about Fadala's 6mm-222 and Wooters' 25-222 Copperhead and always wanted to play with them. I'm not looking to maximize the performance of the .378 based cases and I am aware of what I'm getting into performance wise. I'm not trying to duplicate 250/257 performance. This project scratches a nostalgic itch and will make at least three walking varminters, four if I add a 20-222 to the mix, that will be identical except for stock color. I'll press them into service for some antelope and deer hunting as well.

On another note, the mini Mauser magazine allows 6mm and 25 caliber bullets in a 222 case, to be seated further out than what the 223/204/222RM cases do. Have to bury a lot of bullet in the case to fit in the magazine with the longer cases. The 222 case is perfectly suited for the mini Mauser action and magazine.

I do have a 6x45 on the way, though not on a mini Mauser. I sent off a Ruger Mini 14 to Accuracy Systems to be made into a 6x45.

With our upcoming move to Idaho, I'll have greater opportunity to spend time afield with mild mannered, walking varminters. I think my choices fit the bill well. They seemed to work well for Wooters and Fadala.

Mart

The 6mm-222 should work for the 25 and all the others with changes noted for sub calibers. Usually there is no issue with the bushings but the Wilson bushings have a slight radius to match the radius of the neck shoulder junction of the case. If you have donuts the Wilson bushings help to keep them from coming back.

Same as you always wanted a 6x47 or 45mm. in a Yugo mini. Please post photos. The plane 222 is quite a cartridge, I like it for Turkey, and doe culling. Shot I believe my third deer when I was eight years old with one, a sleek SAKO vixen.

Tejano, per your request, here's a picture of the 6mm-222. I currently wears a Leupold M8 7.5x.



Here's a look at the action and some of the rounds I considered. The first two on the left are the 6mm-222 and the 6x45, both with an 80 grain Speed spitzer seated to fit the magazine. The third round is the 6x45 seated to the base of the neck and the fourth the 6x47 seated the same. The middle group is the 25-222, 25-223 and 25-222RM with an 87 grain Hornady, and the last group same parents, minus the 222RM, but 6.5mm Speer 120 grain HPs.



And you can see the 6mm-222 is a good ft for the mini Mauser action.

That’s pretty danged cool Mart. Can’t wait to hear about them in action.

I've had the 6mm-222 for a few years but work and my wife's health (three surgeries in four years) have kept me from getting afield for much other than moose and caribou seasons in August and September. We are bringing our Alaska adventure to a close and moving to Idaho. We listed the house last week and will head down to ID the 26th to start looking at homes. Etta is doing much better, though the winters and humidity give her a lot of trouble with her back. She had a ten level fusion complete with titanium rods.

I am looking forward to getting back into the fur calling and varmint hunting as actively as I did before we moved to Alaska. Hopefully we'll be moved before the fall is too far along.

I have another lefty mini Mauser in 17 Remington away getting stocked. I had intended to do a wood stock on it but since I've not had time to do that, I sent it off to MPI. The 6mm-222 wears an MPI and I've been well pleased with it. I should have it back in time for some coyote fun this winter. I'll post some pics of both of them in action. I'm going to send the last two minis to Pacnor for barreling to 222 and 25-222 later this summer. It'll be next year before they get any field time I'm sure. Of course I'm always watching for more lefty mini Mauser actions. I wish I had bought a dozen of them when they were being imported.