Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 222 and 221 fans......

How’s that shoot?

Love the pics here fellas keep me coming!

Interesting FB - nice rifle to put it on. Can definitely say I’ve never seen one of those - is that the Rudolph model (sorry couldn’t help myself)! I like the concept and the reticle what does the little red bulb do?

PennDog

As mentioned earlier I have a CZ 527 in 222 and Love it.............CZ dropped the 222 in favor of the 7.62x39 ???????????
Horrible decision by CZ
IMHO

Along with the 17 Rem, and the .221.

Here you go...

Same load in two rifles. I know, only 3-shot groups but I'm pretty sure that the rifle and shooter can duplicate these results "all day long".

Pretty sure...

Cooper M38 .221 FB for mine with a 4.5-14x40 AO Leupold. Kind of wish that it was a .222 in retrospect because factory ammo is everywhere. The .221 FB is like the Rodney Dangerfield of cartridges getting no respect yet it spawned the .17 FB and .300 Blackout, both of which are available where the .221 isn't. Mine prefers the 40 grain NBT.

The different colored windows change the reticle color when you spin the eyepiece. The orange bulb intensifies the light gathering and unscrews so you can move it from one window to another, or not use it all if you don't want to. I just leave it on the white window and it gives the reticle a bright red glow as you can see. Works well.

Been resisting the urge to rebarrel to a 17 fireball for years because this one kills so well. If I could find another Sako vixen action or beater rifle I'd be all for a 17 version.

65BR: I have BUNCHES of both 222 Remington and 223 Remington Rifles - both factory, custom and 40X types.
I also have a pair of very accurate factory Rifles in 221 Remington Fireball (Kimber heavy barrel Ultra Varmint and a Remington 700 Classic).
I have enjoyed the inherent accuracy from my 222's and 223's for MANY decades now and of more recent my 221 Fireballs.
In my experience though the 223 Remington IS capable of excellent accuracy in quality arms.
I have posted about this before but it is relevant now - a few years back I was out to my friends private range on a rare (around here!) windless day. I had along for sight in verification my wonderful Remington XR-100 in caliber 223 Remington.
This Rifle has a Leupold 8.5x25 scope on it and with my carefully made handloads using LaPua brass and Berger 52 grainers I shot a group (5 shots at 100 yards) that measured .121"!
That is the smallest group I have made with a non-40X, non-custom all factory stock Rifle, to date.
Given my lengthy experiences with both the 222 Remington and the 223 Remington I would give just a very SLIGHT edge accuracy wise to the 222 Remington.
But my observation/suggestion is to NOT sell the 223 Remington cartridge short in the accuracy department.
And this "one of" or for instance, experience my good friend Jack from Yelm, Washington had several years ago.
Jack had a wonderfully accurate Ruger 77 MK-II in caliber 223 Remington. Over the long wet winter there he got the urge to have his Rifle re-chambered to 221 Remington Fireball. He had the 223 barrel shortened a tad and re-chambered to the Fireball - against my pleadings - because his 223 was so accurate the way it was!
Anyway once back from the Riflesmith (Dan Cowen of Renton, Washington) the new Rifle (with the same barrel!) shot even better when in 221 Remington Fireball!
Long live the 222 Remington family (born 1950!) of cartridges!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have a Sako AI factory singleshot action, with Sako Target trigger in 222 topped by a 16x40 Mark 4 Leupold scope.

Somewhat accurate....

Here you go...







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Ingwe how much damage does the 221 FB do to a Grey Fox pelt? I've considered shooting them with my 22 Hornet and thought better of it cause I thought destruction would be too muck for taxidermy.

Appreciate your opinion.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

Ive not used the 221fb but its so close to the 222 I don't think it matters. I have shot scores of grey fox with the 222 and found by far the most 'fur friendly ' combo is a basic 50 gr Hornady Soft Point, downloaded to 2600 fps, it will of course exit but the exits are very small, and easily repaired.

It is the speed, as much as the bullet construction that ruins pelts. On my last hunt I had some 50 gr. Hornadys fully loaded at 2900fps + and it left a largish exit. Same load with a 50 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip left a mess....

I have also had good luck with 60 gr NBTs slowed down to the velocity ( 2600 fps) if your rate of twist will allow it.

Thanks I'm shooting a 45g HSP from my 22 Hornet at what can't be much more than 2600 12g 300mp and a cci 450. I think I'm going to give it a try if Ican find some to do the taxidermy.

For traditional slow twist centerfire .22s, I haven't found a better bullet then the Sierra 50 Blitz. I use it in .222, .223, and .220 Swift.

Grew up shooting a 222, it started life as a Marlin Varmint King. Dad didn't like the stock so he made one and then we shot the barrel out. The micro-groove barrels didn't take long to burn out. A Douglas Air Gaged later and we were back in business. Still wears the original Lyman scope too. In my world it never needs to change, perfect the way it is. Trigger has enough creep for a half dozen guns but it spoiled me on accuracy growing up. I still use the "old school" load of 19.5gr 4198 and Sierra 52gr HPBT with CCI primers. Brass has probably been reloaded 10x or more. Killed too many woodchucks to count.

Dangit kicking myself for selling my SG&Y 221 I found used - as new, and a BDL sporter I found New, and a 600 Mohawk that was used. All shot great.

On the 223 info above, I’ve only had Rems, Win, and Howa’s in 223. All shot 5/8 but none consistent under 1/2. All my 221 and Deuce shot .2s - 3s.

Oh, and a Sako A1 I passed with great wood. Wont even say the price. 222.

As much as I like the 6BR and the new CM looks great the small 22’s have a lot of appeal.

Enjoying all the replies and pics! Looks like many fans! Thanks folks!

Oh, there was a time where I almost ordered a Cooper in 17 MK4 ...or 221. Even a 222 would have surely impressed 😁

I'm thinking the same thing!

I don't want one, I need one.

Couple more teaser pics for you then...the deuce on the killing fields ...