222 Remington

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Potashminer

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So, I am not looking for your recipe - I doubt that you had my rifle or my components to pressure test, but I am looking for ideas what to use. I recently came into a BSA CF2 rifle chambered in 222 Remington - so that is going to be "old" (pre-1960), as is that cartridge, I think - so I am presuming some brand of 50 grain or less bullets - the Internet says this rifle should have a 24" barrel with 1-14" twist, although I have not measured this one yet. I have some Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips on hand, some 52 grain and 55 grain Speer "Varmint" and some Hornady 55 grain V-Max - I was hoping to start with the Ballistic Tips, if I can figure out a suitable powder for that little case. I would like to get "tiny" groups at 100 yards from sandbags, but the rifle will probably mostly be carried in "walk-about" for small game "targets of opportunity" - specifically not Deer - it has a 3-9x40 Elite 3200 scope on it now.
 
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^Yep! I think I caught on that it is the bullet LENGTH that goes with the twist rate - especially when comparing one brand to another - how I ended up with the 52 grain Speer Varmint - I am under the impression that they are SHORTER than many other brand's 50 grain.
 
I have used IMR3031 IMR4895 BLC2 and IMR4198. BLC2 used to be my favourite for accuracy in many of my 222 Remingtons but my current old 700 does not care for it but it does love IMR4198. For projectiles I have used Sierra 50gr Blitz, 50gr HornadySX, 50grSpeer TNT and my preference for them in that order. Primers I like best are CCI small rifle (not magnum and not necessarily benchrest. These are my findings over the years.
 
Here's some data from Quickload that might help with the powder selection

Cartridge : .222 Rem
Bullet : .224, 40, Nosler BalTip 39510
Useable Case Capaci: 25.106 grain H2O = 1.630 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.130 inch = 54.10 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 54000 psi, or 372 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 104 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

19 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-10x 104.0 22.7 1.47 3575 98.1 53769 5994 0.884 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 5744 86.4 19.1 1.24 3563 98.8 54000 5816 0.886 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Buffalo Rifle 88.4 19.1 1.24 3563 98.8 54000 5816 0.886 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 200 100.0 22.6 1.47 3558 98.8 54000 5906 0.895 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4198 102.9 21.4 1.38 3557 98.9 54000 5623 0.871 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H335 100.5 25.4 1.64 3554 93.7 54000 6105 0.879 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder TS 11 99.2 22.1 1.43 3540 99.0 54000 5604 0.879 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N120 100.9 21.3 1.38 3526 100.0 54000 5226 0.884 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N125 95.2 20.5 1.33 3525 100.0 54000 5253 0.885 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4227 93.0 19.7 1.28 3519 99.9 54000 5327 0.879 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-7 97.1 21.7 1.41 3517 98.6 54000 5654 0.891 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748 104.0 25.9 1.68 3504 90.2 51255 6125 0.905 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Blackout 81.9 19.8 1.28 3499 98.7 54000 5434 0.881 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 1680 89.3 21.6 1.40 3496 96.1 54000 5659 0.887 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4227 92.2 19.5 1.26 3494 99.6 54000 5286 0.882 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H322 104.0 23.4 1.51 3488 93.8 49815 5948 0.898 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World AR Plus 101.9 25.3 1.64 3475 91.2 54000 5830 0.908 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4198 98.5 21.4 1.39 3462 94.6 54000 5492 0.887 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N530 104.0 24.2 1.57 3450 89.0 50668 5911 0.918 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant AR-Comp 104.0 23.3 1.51 3444 97.5 44489 5946 0.925
Vihtavuori N110 88.3 17.3 1.12 3441 100.0 54000 4611 0.896 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot X-Terminator 104.0 25.7 1.66 3434 87.5 54000 5742 0.900 ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Tactical Rifle 100.5 24.8 1.60 3431 89.1 54000 5620 0.896 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N130 104.0 22.5 1.46 3430 97.3 50763 5513 0.911 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon CFE BLK 96.8 23.8 1.54 3408 90.2 54000 5533 0.904 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2 104.0 26.3 1.70 3387 87.0 46750 5980 0.943
Hodgdon Benchmark 104.0 23.7 1.54 3385 90.0 50763 5599 0.917 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant BLUE DOT 80.4 15.1 0.98 3374 100.0 54000 4331 0.895 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 8208XBR 104.0 24.1 1.56 3367 87.8 47772 5698 0.927 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot TAC 104.0 26.0 1.68 3333 81.8 50117 5569 0.939 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4895 104.0 24.1 1.56 3328 85.4 44865 5798 0.965
Norma 202 104.0 23.7 1.53 3308 90.1 43175 5704 0.956
Shooters World Match Rifle 104.0 24.8 1.61 3280 88.0 41667 5738 0.984
IMR 3031 104.0 22.5 1.46 3266 90.3 38743 5776 1.002
Norma 201 104.0 23.5 1.53 3244 86.0 43496 5576 0.993
Vihtavuori N133 104.0 22.0 1.43 3242 93.6 42431 5213 0.965
IMR 4895 104.0 24.1 1.56 3230 82.1 40479 5674 0.997
Vihtavuori N540 104.0 24.3 1.58 3227 88.6 40810 5562 0.979
Vihtavuori N140 104.0 23.6 1.53 3216 89.5 40933 5378 0.976
Ramshot BigGame 104.0 25.6 1.66 3190 80.3 41023 5459 0.995
Alliant Reloder-15 104.0 24.1 1.56 3184 80.5 39827 5499 1.008
Hodgdon CFE223 104.0 26.2 1.70 3182 78.1 41225 5462 0.994
Norma 203B 104.0 24.1 1.56 3171 81.1 39069 5494 1.014
Shooters World Precision 104.0 23.4 1.52 3141 83.7 38810 5362 1.028
Hodgdon VARGET 104.0 23.3 1.51 3105 79.6 39127 5107 1.000
 
Potashminer said:
So, I am not looking for your recipe - I doubt that you had my rifle or my components to pressure test, but I am looking for ideas what to use. I recently came into a BSA CF2 rifle chambered in 222 Remington - so that is going to be "old" (pre-1960), as is that cartridge, I think - so I am presuming some brand of 50 grain or less bullets - the Internet says this rifle should have a 24" barrel with 1-14" twist, although I have not measured this one yet. I have some Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips on hand, some 52 grain and 55 grain Speer "Varmint" and some Hornady 55 grain V-Max - I was hoping to start with the Ballistic Tips, if I can figure out a suitable powder for that little case. I would like to get "tiny" groups at 100 yards from sandbags, but the rifle will probably mostly be carried in "walk-about" for small game "targets of opportunity" - specifically not Deer - it has a 3-9x40 Elite 3200 scope on it now.
Click to expand...
CF2 were made from 1972 to 1986, good strong actions with good steel, they used 1 action length and 1 barrel profile to keep costs down.
Fairly heavy rifles for the little 222Rem but should shoot quite well.
Forgot to post a couple pics of mine in 222.
 

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I have been reloading for the triple deuce for many years….both in varmint and BR rifles. I believe all the rifles were 1-14 twist. I originally played with the lighter bullets (35, 40 and 45gr). Got great speeds but accuracy often wasn’t stellar. Once I discovered the 52gr Berger FB Target and Varmint bullets, I never looked back. My favorite powders include N133, H335, H322 and RL15. I also discovered that the CCI450 SR magnum primers worked the best and resulted in more consistent all-temp ignition and speeds. Finding out how much of a difference those primers made was a pleasant surprise.
 
Shot a LOT of .222 (burnt off 3 barrels). Favorite loads were 20.5 - 21.0 IMR4198 or 23.0 H322 / Quality 50gr. flat base bullet. These loads shot in the "ones" if I did my part. Bonus was that the cheap axx Hornady 50 SPSX was crazy accurate and shot just as good as anything else. Literally launches gophers also. Used Fed 205 and/or CCI 400, never proved to myself that there was any difference with the magnum primers.
 
Last edited:
Potashminer said:
So, I am not looking for your recipe - I doubt that you had my rifle or my components to pressure test, but I am looking for ideas what to use. I recently came into a BSA CF2 rifle chambered in 222 Remington - so that is going to be "old" (pre-1960), as is that cartridge, I think - so I am presuming some brand of 50 grain or less bullets - the Internet says this rifle should have a 24" barrel with 1-14" twist, although I have not measured this one yet. I have some Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips on hand, some 52 grain and 55 grain Speer "Varmint" and some Hornady 55 grain V-Max - I was hoping to start with the Ballistic Tips, if I can figure out a suitable powder for that little case. I would like to get "tiny" groups at 100 yards from sandbags, but the rifle will probably mostly be carried in "walk-about" for small game "targets of opportunity" - specifically not Deer - it has a 3-9x40 Elite 3200 scope on it now.
Click to expand...
With a 14 twist I'd recommend sticking to 50s/52 - 55s will work okay though too. My best performing powders in 222 have been N133 and Win748. Win748 is the easiest to meter and work with.
 
Mine likes nothing heavier than 50gr, vMax work fine, flat base soft points are the best for accuracy in my gun.

Work up your load, 4198 is awesome but also hard to find now.

If you cannot find 222 brass you can make it from 223 brass, size and trim, 222 is the parent case of the 223.
 
Hitzy said:
CF2 were made from 1972 to 1986, good strong actions with good steel, they used 1 action length and 1 barrel profile to keep costs down.
Fairly heavy rifles for the little 222Rem but should shoot quite well.
Forgot to post a couple pics of mine in 222.
Click to expand...
You're certainly correct about the weight of this thing - it came in heavier than I expected!!

44F6FB43-D1EB-49C9-9C9C-66839085857B_1_201_a.jpeg
 
Fox said:
Mine likes nothing heavier than 50gr, vMax work fine, flat base soft points are the best for accuracy in my gun.

Work up your load, 4198 is awesome but also hard to find now.

If you cannot find 222 brass you can make it from 223 brass, size and trim, 222 is the parent case of the 223.
Click to expand...
222 rem magnum is the parent cartridge
 
I use Varget or IMR4064 with the 222 and the cheap 55gr bulk Hornady FBSP, always shot great, slightly compressed load.
 
The .222 mag was the prototype round for Eugene Stoner's creation that later became the 5.56 upon acceptance . The .222 Rem existed prior to this .
 
mbogo3 said:
The .222 mag was the prototype round for Eugene Stoner's creation that later became the 5.56 upon acceptance . The .222 Rem existed prior to this .
Click to expand...
The 222 mag was a well used cartridge before the 5.56 adoption, they were actually looking to use it first but it was a bit too much and the 222 a bit too little for whatever reason, the 222 rem mag was not a prototype.

The 222 had the record for smallest grouping for a long time, still as accurate now as it ever was.

222 Rem - 1950
222 Rem Mag - 1957
223 Rem - 1962
 
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