Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Accurate 222 Rem loads

For the 222 it is very hard to beat BL-C2. My 40 X loves this powder with the 50 gr bullets.

Thats funny I shot an almost identical load today in my 788. The only thing that I changed was the bullet and it shot around .26 .25 for 5 shots.

i-4198 21.5 40vmax ; or 20.5- 50 balistic tip. lapua or norma brass. any primer that fits.

Dats my load with a 50 grainer....

Awfully close to mine at 21.7 I4198 with 40 gr BT and 20.7 with 50 gr Hor SP. Both go into 1/2 or better.

About 18 years ago at a small gun show in Texas, I saw an example target from a guy that was selling a "custom" 700 .222: 50 grain Nosler BT over 25 grains of AA-2520 with a Winchester small rifle primer. Not the usual powder recommendation for a .222, but I had lots of 2520 for use in .308 match ammo, so I gave it a try in my SAKO AI Mannlicher carbine. I've never messed around with any other handloads in that rifle since that time, because I don't know how it could get any better.

In the late 50's, I was a high schooler and a buddy would pick me up to go shoot crows in the rural community where I was raised. He had a .222 Rem. 722 with a K-8 Weaver and I was learning to checker at that time. I did a skip a line pattern, popular back then, on that gun, as it was pretty plain looking. Years later, I traded him a pistol for that rifle. The barrel had seen better days by then and I had it fitted with a med heavy SS Hart and it now wears a 10X Zeiss I bought used. It shoots about like you would think it should.

+1 for Ball C in the .222. That was our favorite powder back then, using 50 gr. Sierra's. Actually most any reasonable load will shoot pretty good in the .222. It's one of the most forgiving calibers to load for and a good one to begin with.

Gun is the middle one in this photo.

DF

Ah those 722s .... like Timex ! (on the top)

Started life as bone stock A model, Got rebuilt to 60s benchrester (shielen bbl, RR Tie lam stock, Canjar SST), then got a 700 SA Hogue and bottom metal topped with a 10X Lyman, now a 700 SA lam thumbhole with S&B 4-16x50 Varmint and ATV non skid camo tape to hide that high gloss blue barrel from p-dogs.

Has always shot bug holes and now still does with 55 NBTs and 4198.

I was able to adjust the factory trigger on this one to a crisp 2# pull. Otherwise, it would be wearing an aftermarket trigger. I pillared, glassed and free floated it. I'll shoot under a half inch, probably better if I spent some time with it. I do have some neck turned Lapua .222 brass. I've got too many other projects pushing this one to the back burner. Maybe one of these days...

DF

I have a load for my Tikka H.B. that is a bit out of the ordinary but is the best shooter in this gun. R-P cases, R6 1/2 primers,18.1 grains I4227 powder over 40 gr. Vmax bullets. Have never chronographed it since I only shoot it at paper.

Normally you don't see a powder this fast mentioned for the .222.

Jim

That is unusual. 4227, both IMR and H are good in the .45 Colt. I shoot 300 gr. lead and jacketed bullets in my 26" Marlin Cowboy .45 Colt with a max charge of 4227. Great 'diller rifle with a Bushnell Holosight, especially in dim light.

I've had great groups by using Unique in 222 and 22 Horny...

I've never had BL-C work worth a hoot in any 222 I've had, probably because most of the great 222 loads were with BL-C(1), not the 2) version that has been available for so long.

Just my two pennys...

When I had a 222 the best load was the Sierra 52 gr HPBT matchkings with 19.5 Gr Imr 4198. Good velocity and great accuracy.

.

Hey Hawk1,

I have never been able to get BL-C(2)to work well in my rifles. I am going to try Unique and surprise my self. Unique works great in my 30-30 and 38-55 rifles.

.

Haven't seen any mention of WW 748
I'm getting 3 in one hole with 55 H Vmax on 25.0(MAX!!) 748 and it meters great out of the powder measure (no need to tickel and it fills the cast to the top) I use Fed. standard primers (Many manuals recomend Mag primers but I have never had a problem with the Fed.)
Also bin using IMR SR 4759 reduced loads
45gr Hornady HP Bee bullet and 8.5 gr 4759 1/2" group 9" low at 100 yds 1800 FPS Great load when close to barns and live stock when after Pa. groundhogs. Hits them like a hammer.
I have tryed AA 2015 BR but .550" groups is the best I could get.

have you ever shot any tree squirrels with that reduced load? Was wondering how it would do on them.

I recently finished building a .222 Remington on a Sako L461 short action with a 24" Douglass Premium barrel. I was fortunate to find an original Sako stock to complete the project. I put a 4x12 scope on the rifle with original Sako scope mounts. Does anyone have any thoughts about the accuracy of a 24" barrel on a .222? I noticed many people like 50 grain bullets, would they still be a good choice for this rifle? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Having tried many handloads in several .222s, it seems that 50 grain bullets are generally more accurate than 55 grain bullets. My current favorite load is the 50 grain Sierra Blitz (#1340)and 20 grains Reloder 7. Not top velocity, around 3,050, but very good accuracy. I normally use CCI small rifle primers, but the Fed. 205 Match and the Rem. SR BR work about as well.

From an accuracy standpoint, the 50 Blitz is the single best .22 varmint bullet I've found. I use it in all my other .22s as well, including the .223, .22-250, and the Swift.

Second that on the Sierra Blitz, they are just amazing for being a plain jane softpoint. Even my fireball loves them. T.S.

+1...

and not that i've seen too many sorry loads with any combo, but for me, 4198 is the powder...

my loads are averaging 19.1 gr... and that is because i made a powder scoop to load them with and that's what it holds when scooped and struck off with a business card...

most of my bullets are the sierra 50 gr spt....