Pet Load for .222

[elpac3]

Anyone have a favorite load for a .222 Remington? Looking for a 50-52 grain bullet target load.

 

[klausinak]

IMR-4198; IMR-3031 & H-322

Any of those near the top end work very well for me

 

[caromrk]

My father in law started me in the reloading game. His favorite caliber for shooting was 222 Rem. He is a knowledgeable fellow and said 23 grains of BL-C(2) under a 50 grain Sierra Blitz bullet was the ticket for his favorite caliber. I have found it to preform very well in the 4 222 Rem rifles I have owned.
Hodgdon list a starting charge of 22.5 grains, with a max charge of 25 grains. This is a devastating bullet on small game, even at the modest 2800 fps or so this 23 grain load delivers. It is also a very accurate little bullet that can pull double duty for varmint hunting and target shooting. Kind of an old school load for an old school caliber.
The velocity freaks will shake their heads and wonder why even bother with such a "slow" load, but give it a try, and you will not be disappointed with the performance delivered.

 

[Hairtrigger]

I use IMR4198 and Calhoun bullets
I have found this combination very deadly on Northwest Ohio woodchucks

 

[Magload]

.222 was a favorite varmint when I was a kid. The Remington model 600 carbine came out and my friend bought one. Had a free floating rib like the 870 pump gun. Trouble was you needed to wear hearing protection when hunting with him. Then it was considered a 250yd gun for fox hunting and most of us switch to .243. Don

 

[rockquarry]

As for target bullets, I've seen better slightly better accuracy from the Sierra 53 grain Match King flat base bullet than the 52 grain Match King boattail, but this may vary from gun to gun. I use 19 grains Reloder 7 with the 53 grain.

The 50 grain Sierra Blitz already mentioned is a varmint bullet, but about as accurate as the match bullet, not only in the .222 but other .22 centerfires as well. I use 20 grains Reloder 7 with this bullet in several .222s, but H322 and IMR4198 will about equal the accuracy of Reloder 7.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Any and all the advice from posts before me is good stuff. Personally, I like H4198 with any bullet from 40 to 52 grains.
The 222 is probably the most forgiving center fire cartridge ever invented. It just doesn't take alot of tweaking to find what you rifle will shoot well. Enjoy!

 

[weatherby]

I used the new CFE 223 and 50 Grain blitz king.....GREAT combination for me pushed hard

 

[caromrk]

I have played with other combinations, and I like the 53 grain flatbase match bullet as well. Like just another 22 shooter said, It is a very forgiving round. My biggest problem getting consistent small groups and staying on target, is my less than stellar rifle skills.

 

[varmint243]

not being funny or sarcastic
my 222 contender seemed to like anything I fed it
3/4" 5 shot groups at 100yds is what I considered decent results

 

[webfarmer]

My load is 22.0 grains H322 behind a Sierra 52 grain HPBT bullet ignited by a CCI-400. Everybody's guns shoot differently but this load in my old Remington 788 routinely and easily makes 0.480" 5 round groups (center to center) at 100 yards. It's devastating on woodchuck, raccoon - well everything. Well, that's my pet load

 

[klausinak]

To expand a little on my previous post; I mostly use a 55 gr FMJ for hunting fur. I do not shoot benchrest or other competitions.

I have found that, (@ least in my rifles), the bullet/brass combination is more critical than what powder I'm using. For example using mixed headstamp brass, my 700 typically shoots in the .75-.50" range. When I shoot Lapua Match brass that drops to the .40-.26" range, (providing I do my part ). This is with Lapua 55 gr FMJ, (about the only FMJ I've found that shoots well).

I've played around with Sierra 52gr MK's, with similar results. Bottom line: If you're looking for 1 MOA or so, (i.e dead coyote),then 22shooter is correct. IOT make one really walk & talk, (@ least in my experience), you need to spend some money on brass.

-Klaus

 

[old 1911 fan]

My 1979 .222 Remington Varminter will shoot a 5 shot .27" group at 100 yards. We do this with a Hornady 55g SX with 19g of RE7. When it gets under 20 degrees F the groups open up, moving up to 19.5 closes them up. All cases neck sized, weighed, cut to length and flash holes chamfered.

 

[Bastogne71]

23.0 grains of H-322, Remington 7 1/2 primer, Nosler 50 grain Balistic Tip, in either Norma or Federal match brass. I seat the bullet longer than 2.13" because my Sako Vixen has a generous leade and shoots better that way. Averages slightly under 1/2" at 100 yards in my rifle. The Sierra Blitz is almost as accurate as the Nosler, but I think it' a better game bullet on groundhogs.

This is a maximum load, so back off and work it up.

 

[Gamecock]

I can't help you with 50ish grain bullets.

My favorite .222 Rem load is 23.8 grains of IMR 8208XBR with a 40 grain V-max. Hornady #22241. An absolutely delightful load to shoot.

 

[tndrfttom]

I've got a 1955-ish Remington 722 in .222 that likes 4198. I don't know what the twist is but it seems to shoot 50 to 53 grain bullets best. I've been using 18.5 to 19 grains of 4198 but you should consult a loading manual.

I weigh/trickle my charges because 4198 doesn't meter well in my powder measure. I've used H-322 with good results and it flows well in my powder measure but Hogden powder wasn't as easy to find as the IMR-type powders in my area.

 

[M29since14]

Sometimes I think you can hardly make a bad load for the .222, but I suppose it can be done.

I have, or have had, quite a few friends who shot .222s and the three loads I remember hearing about most often have always been:
20.5 IMR4198,
24.0 BL-C2,
25.0 IMR4895,
with whatever 50-53 gr bullet the individual preferred - the IMR4198 load being mentioned most often, by far. The IMR4895 load was always a good one in my guns, and fast, but a real nuisance to load. It barely fits into the case.

H322, H335, IMR3031 are also good. My Winchester Model 70 HB Varmint slightly prefers 25.0 H335. My two Sakos favor IMR4198.

Sierra Blitz and Hornady SX bullets always seem to work well in .222s, as do Remington's plain old 50-gr PSP. I tend to slightly prefer the various 52- and 53-gr BTHPs, mainly for target shooting at longer range.

I have used all of these loads myself. They are close to maximum, if not maximum, published loads in various manuals. In spite of that, they have all shot very well for me, but any third-party info like this should always be verified before attempting to use it, etc., etc.

 

[Gamecock]

When I was shooting groundhogs in Goochland 40 years ago, I loved the 50 grain Hornady SX bullet.

Punching targets today, I like the V-max. Even the 35 grain.

 

[Drm50]

50gr sp bullet/ 25.5 gr. BCL-2 , standard load for my 722 since
60s. Also used in Sako, Vixen with great success on G-hogs.

 

[garbler]

Don't jump in here much anymore but this cartridge was the king of the bench rest world a while back. Chambers and rifles dictate the best load but I had two 40X 's and a tricked 788 Rem all of which loved RE-7 or BLC. I worked close to fifteen pages of loads for the 40X's but RE-7 was hands down the most consistent in all match conditions and never twitched even on prairie dogs in extreme Summer heat. It's a real easy powder to work with compared to others.

BTW Mike Walker himself swore by RE-7 in the little deuce

wrf