Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Accurate 222 Rem loads

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What is your most accurate 222 Rem loads? I have been using 20 gr. Reloder 7 with 50 gr Hornady V-Max. CCI Mag primers work best with Rx 7 in my guns. What else works?

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I've had great luck with almost any 50gr bullet and 19.5grs of IMR4198. I've tinkered with many other powders, but never bested the results of 4198. I don't try to make the little Deuce into something that it's not, and just enjoy the mild report and exceptional accuracy.

I have always gotten consistanly accurate loads with H-322, H355, and IMR-4198 and ocassionally BL-C(2) has performed well.

For pure accuracy I would start with H-322.

The CCI BR4 primer and IMR4198 are a good recipe for this cartridge. If the accuracy isnt what you expect, try the Speer 50gr TnT or the Nosler 50gr BT. I have gotten good accuracy from the 40 and 55gr V-Max bullets, but not the 50 gr. The Nosler and Speer bullets shoot really well for me.

40gr. BK,BT,VM or Berger 24 grs. RL-10X WW case Fed 205 (3,600fps)

50gr. Sierra SP (not the Blitz) 24.5gr. B-Mark WWcase Fed 205 (3,280 fps)

50gr. BK or VM 22 grs. RL-7 WW case CCI BR-4 and CCI 450's (3,180)

My loads posted are hotter than average. H4198 is a darn good powder too, and easier to work with than the IMR.

Old school accuracy loads were around 50-53gr. pills using RL-7, IMR 4198 and BL-C (1).

I read that Mike Walker last insisted on IMR 4198 as the best powder; thinking he'd know....

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Thanks everyone, I'll try each one and see if it shoots well in my rifles (Rem 788 and Rem 799 mini-mauser). BTW, the Remington 799 or baby Mark 10 made in Serbia, is one fine little rifle. A great "walking varminter". It's very accurate until the barrel heats up and the barrel on my gun is mirror smooth so almost no copper fouling - cleanup is quick and easy.

Hawk1, your 50 gr Sierra and Benchmark is my favorite 223 load. A true one hole group load. That in a Rem. XR 100 so most any load shoots well.

22 gr. Rx 7 is a little too warm for my guns. I have used 21 grains but the groups begin to open up. 20g of Rx 7 works best.

Now, I want to try some of the other loads listed above.

Thanks again.

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JBLEDSOE: I have achieved exceptional accuracy in my all stock Remington 40XB-BR 222 Remington Rifle using H 322 powder, Federal brass, Federal 205 M (match) primers and Berger 52 gr. BR bullets!
As you have posted here on the Varmint Reloading Forum, then, I also want to suggest the 52 gr. Speer H.P. Flat Base bullet for when you are strictly Varminting.
Wishing you continued success and best of luck with your 222 Remington!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: I have read recently that the fine folks at LaPua Brass will begin manufacture and sale of 222 Remington brass AGAIN, next year!
That is a true plus for 222 Remington shooters.

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Tkanks VG,

I don't have any H-322 on hand so I will need to correct that oversight. The bullets I have but no LaPua brass...yet.

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VarmintGuy and jbledsoe:

The Lapua brass is worth the trouble to get! I just bought 5 boxes of loaded ammo (fmj for capercallie hunting! just to get that excellent brass.

My .222 Rem brass is almost all Lapua because I have gone to the trouble of weighing different brands of cases, and measuring runout on my RCBS Casemaster.

Norma cases are next best, but then it is a long way down to Winchester and Remington cases as regards concentricity and uniformity of mass (and of flash holes).

John

JBledsoe,

I hope it is a good rifle and they sell more than a few in 222. Fortunately I snagged a 700 BDL in Feb. '08. When Remington officially changed hands it was no longer catalouged. Glad I ordered it when I did; went through two dealers and one came through...
It likes a 40 BK or 40 V-Max and 24 grs 10X....just like the other two!
I agree, the Berger 52gr. MATCH bullet is a scary shooter; the 52 Berger Varmints are as well. I didn't have very explosive results with PD's and the match bullet, but they were the most accurate bullet I had fired in my first 222.

I found that Ramshot Exterminator has about the same accuracy as imr 4198 in my CZ with 50 vmax's. I use it for loading up lots of varmint rounds.

Well I've had several .222's the load you have here minus Mag primers has worked best in all of them across the board. If it ain't broke don't bother fixing it.

I'm always looking for a better (read that faster, more accurate) load but I keep coming back to the Rx 7 load. There are some interesting loads in this thread that I want to try.

Hawk1, I like your Rem 700. I tried to find one with a heavy barrel a few years ago but to no avail. Then tried to buy a Rem 799 in 222 cal. when they were first advertised. No luck. Then last year I found one in a small gun shop. It followed me home and I love, it's very accurate and well made.

222Rem, who or what is a Caribou Barbie?

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my favorite load that I have been using the last few years: Lapua case, Fed205 primer,23.0gr N130 powder with a 40grBK bullet. fast and accurate.
B
glad Lapua will start making these cases again next year

Thanks, boatanchor! I have about 2 lbs of N130 and 200 Lapua cases so I will give this a try!

Is a "BK" bullet the Sierra Blitz King? I can't think of any other "bk" bullets...

John

yes

Thanks boatanchor.

There are bullets for sale in the US & Canada that are not marketed here in Sweden, so I thought I'd check.

John

JB,

I don't think Remington had chambered a HB Varmint since the early/mid '90's. Too bad, that platform was made for the PD/paper shooter. The LVSF has/had 222 Rem. written all over it too.

Saw a M70 HB in 222 several years ago, cheap! Shoulda woulda coulda.

Caribou Barbie is Sarah Palin.....

Thanks Hawk,

I have a 700 VLS in 22-250, it would be great to have a 222 just like it.

I was in the process of buying a M70 222 a year or so back. Got it home and discovered that some "Bubba" had rechambered it to 223. I got my money back but was disappointed that it was ruined.

I guess that I love Caribou Barbie, too !! (grins)


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Yep, any 222 rechambered to 223 IS ruined!

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.

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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.

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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....

21.5 re 7 40 v max win case and cci primer .4-.5 five shots 3508 average

20.8 imr 4198 3420 average win case and cci primer. .3-.5

did some shooting over the last few days. Gun is a remington 700 with a 24 inch barrel. Does anyone think I can hit 300 yards with this combo....I think I might be able to.

The gun can....can you? (grins)

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25 gr. 748 Hornady 50 gr SPSX. Been my go to load since the early 70's

23.3 gr Ramshot Xtermintor
50 gr Sierra Blitzking
R-P case
Fed Br primer

data 68 and a 40 ge x max (sako L461)

Thanks to all who shared information on .222 loads. After a year I finally took my Sako .222 to the range and fired it using 50 grain Sierra Blitzking bullets and 19.1 grains of IMR 4198. And, for those of you who use that combination, you were absolutely dead-on. I achieved 3/4" groups on the first try and I am now looking forward to tinkering a bit to see if I can shrink the group a bit. Thanks again. MS899

25.0 BLc-2, just about any 50gr Bullet (Max load)

23.5 AA2015BR 40 NBT

whoops, i just realized this is a year old.