I have always regretted not owning one and may decide to correct the situation. Does anyone own a rifle in that cal. and what are your thoughts about it.?

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

Won't do anything the .223 won't do better including reloadability and availability of factory ammo. It may barely shade the .223 in accuracy.

I love the .222 but it is outdated.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I shot the primers out of three empty shot gun shells at 100 yards with my .222 in a Remington 40x. Sid#1388

I have owned several .222's, most of them Savage 340 or the Sears Ted Williams or Western Auto Revelation clones. My current .222 is a CZ 527 American. The .222 is a very accurate cartridge and a pleasure to shoot. I have six CZ 527 rifles and highly recommend them.

I've owned two Sako Riihimaki .222's. Both were extremely accurate and fun. Time marches on.....

I have no interest in the .222 cartridge. But for the historically challenged (anyone who can't remember when zip codes supeceded zone numbers) a half century ago, the .222 was an extremely popular .22 centerfire cartridge until it was overshadowed by the military 5.56mm round.

The day I turned 18, I bought a Remington 788 chambered for the .222 cartridge.

A pleasure to shoot. No recoil to speak of. Didn't make your ears ring.

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Life Member NRA Since 1985

One a Sako Vixen my father purchased in Germany in '63, the other a minimally used Rem 700 BDL. Both are very accurate. The Sako has iron sights, front and rear, something I have not seen on one here in the US. Never understood why there was a front blade and no rear sight on the US guns. As stated earlier the .223 can do it further but maybe not quite as accurate but with sporting rifles, as the Reverend Jackson would say, the question is moot. Great squirrel rifles as you do not have to cut off the head, the bullet has done that for you. My father shot Reh deer and the Norma 55 gr sp blew a big hole through the chest. essentially no heart left. Of course the deer were about the size of a German Shepherd Dog. Lots of good memories with the Sako.

My dad has a Rem 700 varmint model and I have a Rem model 788, both are extremely accurate. It is a caliber that is hard to find now but is easily reloaded. Believe it is better in the ballistics than the 223, which I admit I shoot more than the 222.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Prior to the invention of the PPC cartridges, the .222 was THE benchrest caliber of most choice as it is one of the most inherently accurate rounds ever designed. Yeah maybe the 223 is a little "hotter" but you are really splitting hairs as far as that is concerned. If you reload Hodgdon H322 is THE powder to use in 222.

I always figured the .222 would be an 'icon' cartridge like the .308, .30-06, .270 etc...however it sure has declined in popularity the last couple/three decades..

A friend had a .222 magnum...and it is a cartridge that is about dead!

I also have a Sako Riihimaki L461 in .222. I can't imagine how many rounds have gone down it's tube, but it will still shoot under a 1/2" @ 100 yds. Out to 250+ yards is an outstanding Prairie Dog gun. Speer 52 Gr. HP over 19.9 gr. 4198 and you can pick your spot. I'd use it on most any varmint, but not larger game than coyote's. But then I wouldn't use a .223 on anything larger than a coyote either.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks for your replies. We had planned to move to Weatherford OK(home of the Tin Star Range with targets out to 250 yds, plus lots of coyotes) to be near our daughter but some medical and legal problems have put that on a temporary hold. In the meantime I will be looking.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

I reloaded some 222's for a friend. Had a Hell of a time finding brass. I had some on hand but not enough. Found some at gun show. Loaded 100 rounds & all OK.

The .222 Remington is, as has been previously stated, one of the most inherently accurate cartridges ever developed, and was the only competitive caliber in bench rest competition from the time it came out until the relatively recent introduction of the .22 PPC. The .222 Magnum was developed from it (slightly larger case), and the .223 was developed from it! Brass is readily available (Winchester makes it, Remington makes it, Privi Partisan makes it, heck, almost everybody makes it), and, if you can't find some, you can make it by resizing .223 cases (probably not a good idea if you have a rifle in .223, though). Yes, the .223 is a bit hotter, but it does not have the accuracy of the .222, and the net effect downrange on small to moderate size critters is the same. The primary reason the .223 became so popular is that, for quite a few years, military surplus ammo was available for the .223 at dirt cheap prices. I like my .222s, they are so nice to shoot, and extremely accurate. If I anticipate shooting out beyond 300 yards or so, I use a .22-250, which has a lot more oomph than the .223. Yes, the .222 Remington is a classic cartridge which will pay off with extremely good accuracy.