Modern 222 bolt action/varmint barrel?

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Good morning guys-I think I might be about to put the 222 idea to bed, other than Anschutz I'm not seeing any modern, 222 rifles for sale, especially anything with a varmint-weight barrel. Seeing lots of Remington old 788s, Savage 340s (know basically nothing about either) the odd European gun with lots of triggers. lol I would have been pretty content with a nice 527, but either they didn't make many or not many are in Canada. I've mostly been a Tikka guy in recent years and that would probably be my top pick on a new gun, but special order/14+ months.. A Google search brings-up the Savage 110 Varmint, but 222 isn't listed. (?) Saw a re-barreled Kimber single shot on GP, always assume people that keen have put a lot of miles on their guns...so not a candidate unless I knew everything about the condition of the chamber/bore.

To get ahead of the "why 222?" question-I don't actually have any need for another varmint rifle, I either have or have had every caliber I've wanted to try except 222. I do remember putting a ton of effort into loading 223 lighter/faster (within spec) without really knowing I could have achieved a really light, 22 CF option had I just started with 222.

Reluctant to re-barrel or build anything, my reading on that topic over the decades suggests that unless I had some specific barrel twist/barrel length or weight in mind I couldn't get in a factory configuration, I might as well buy the best factory rifle out of the gate. Anschutz in this case, or maybe STEYR. (poking around Nordic Marksman)

Any ideas/direction would be great. I'd be more likely to order a Tikka through Stoeger than an expensive SAKO Vixen in good condition, but more for familiarity reasons than questioning the quality of a SAKO.

TIA
 
I've owned a half dozen .222 rifles. They don't need a heavy barrel to shoot very well. My current favourites are older ones, A CIL M900 (a rebranded Anschutz 1531) and a CZ ZKK601. I'm not especially skilled off the bench rest, but both my rifles will shoot well under 1" groups with ammo they like. A new Tikka T3 shouldn't be too hard to find in sporter weight. A buddy has one, it also shoots amazing tight groups. You could probably order a T3 from current warehouse stock. The older Sako A1's and L46 / 461 series are really nice too and are the model that made the cartridge famous. I've owned two of those, a 461 sporter and a 461 heavy barrel, should never have sold them. Very few of the old, well used .222 rifles are shot out, the .222 is very kind on barrels. My first .222 was a Rem. 700, accurate, but I didn't like how it fed cartridges from its oversized action made for .308 length cartridges. Jammed sometimes.
That's a five shot group below, typical of my my CIL/Anschutz



IMG_2903.JPG
 
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many great options out there for a 222 find a donor action 20 " bbl 1:9 twist and you will have the best varmnit cal ever designed
i have owned just about every rifle manufactures rifle made in 222 they all are tac drivers the 788 rem is still the best kept secret out there i bought one last fall 500$ it had less than 60 factory rounds fired out of it it was the last gen 788's 1980's production benchrest accurate
 
I know you answered it the original post but I’ll be that guy. What advantage does 222 have over 223? I can think of half a dozen disadvantages, mainly being ammo and brass availability. I personally wish there were modern options in 22 hornet 17 hornet and 25-20 but those are all half the power level of 223 and a better choice on sone game where 223 is overpowered. Maybe 5.7 will catch on. 222 is almost the same capacity and power level as 223
 
Ungrateful said:
What advantage does 222 have over 223?
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The bottom line is accuracy.... out to 200 yards (short range benchrest) with all other things being equal a .222 Remington is far superior in accuracy... and easy to load for. Until the short range benchrest cartridges based on the PPC case fully developed the .222 Rem was king of the hill and world records stood for years.
Today it is a great little cartridge very easy to load with exceptional accuracy... 52 grain match bullet usually the heaviest used.
 
dan belisle said:
I see Rem 700 varmint rifles on sale on the ee every so often. They're good rifles, I have one as my heavy 222. - dan
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Like Dan says,
find yourself an older remington 700 BDL Varmint Special,and you'll love it,no modern rifle will be as good,not to mention,they keep going up in value,the new stuff just goes down,i have a collection of varmint Specials in all short action calibers made,including a couple .222's and i can tell you,the .222 is by far my favorite and most accurate of all of them,a minty one wont be cheap.but you will never regret whatever price you pay for it,
 
The new Sako 90 Varmint and Hunter models are being chambered in .222Rem.
https://www.sako.global/rifle/sako-90-varmint.

I’ve tried to get one but Stoeger has not opted to bring them into Canada at this time. Maybe with some additional incentive (calls requesting this caliber) they might be more inclined.

I picked up the Anschutz 1771 in the GRS stock configuration. It’s a sweet rifle with a medium contour barrel. Five shot groups often run 1/2” at 110 yds. I’ve used it on gophers to great success out to about 300 yds.

Other than the Tikka, the choices of current issued rifles are limited.

Other older options (but still modern style firearms) that might fit the bill are the Sako L461 Vixens and A1. I’ve got one of each. Both heavy barrels. One is a single shot and the other is a repeater. Accuracy is superb in both.

Another rifle that is on my bucket list is the Cooper (of Montana) M21. I’m keeping my eyes open for one of these.
 
Any love for Savage 25 Walking Varmeter in .222?

I have same in the thumbhole stock/heavy barrel version but haven't had a chance to scope/try it yet.
 
guntech said:
Any bolt action .223 can be custom barreled to .222 Rem. That's what I would recommend if you want a .222.
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I did this for my 222. IBI barrel with a 1:12 twist instead of the 1:14. As many have said the 223 can do much of what the 222 can do but it is a fun cartridge. Why be average, be an outlier :cool:
 
On occasion, a really nice Brno Fox will become available. These were highly sought after when I was young for fox and jack rabbit hunters.

 
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