loading for 222 rem

StevieK

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For those of you that load for 222 rem, what bullet weights have you found give the best results? I am thinking of trying 50gr, but thought the 40gr might be fun for some extra velocity. How is the accuracy of 40gr bullets? I'm not sure what twist rate my barrel is.
What kind of knockdown power does the 40gr have on coyotes? In my area of hunting a 200 yd shot would be long.
 
For those of you that load for 222 rem, what bullet weights have you found give the best results? I am thinking of trying 50gr, but thought the 40gr might be fun for some extra velocity. How is the accuracy of 40gr bullets? I'm not sure what twist rate my barrel is.
What kind of knockdown power does the 40gr have on coyotes? In my area of hunting a 200 yd shot would be long.

The 52 & 53gr match bullets by Sierra & Berger really shine in the 222 rem, hunting hard to beat the Nosler 55gr Balistic Tips
If your going to shoot target with the 222 get yourself some Lapua brass,it lasts and the best quality available.
Win 748,VT 133 H 4198 will be good powders and many others.
manitou
 
A 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip over H335 has been what I've been feeding my Sako Vixen .222 for many years. It shoots bughole groups and I believe is clocking somewhere around 3550 fps. While an overly light bullet according to many, I've shot many (MANY!) coyotes with this load and have yet to lose one. And it's also a very ... umm, "dramatic" ... load for gophers.
 
I really like the 40 gr. nosler ballistic tip in all three of my .222 rifles. Accurate and deadly. Does not exit most coyotes. I have a friend who is a sort of coyote calling specialist. He shoots 40-50 each winter for the furs. His favourite cartridge/load of all his coyote rifles is the .222/40BT
The Sierra match 52 gr. is a good bullet for accuracy in some rifles.
I suggest that you try H4198 and W748 powders fired by Rem 7-1/2 primers.
 
50gr SPSX Hornady

^^^^^
These over 20.5gr of 4198 powder.
Dozen's of threads started about loads for the 222. 20.5gr of 4198 pushing 50gr Hornady SPSX bullets is a long time proven load, that seems to work well in most every 222 rifle.

I have had good luck with the same bullets, using a max load of CFE223, it will vapourize the SPSX's in hot weather though.
 
When shooting coyotes at 300 yds or less, it's the best round out there if you plan on keeping the pelts. No recoil, no big holes to sew and like stated before your round hardly ever exits.
 
^^^^^
These over 20.5gr of 4198 powder.
Dozen's of threads started about loads for the 222. 20.5gr of 4198 pushing 50gr Hornady SPSX bullets is a long time proven load, that seems to work well in most every 222 rifle.

I have had good luck with the same bullets, using a max load of CFE223, it will vapourize the SPSX's in hot weather though.

I've used this combo with IMR 4198 in the past with great success. (IIRC my maximum was 19.0 grains though)

Another good one is using the Winchester 46 grain HP designed for the 22 Hornet.
Load 25.0 grains of WW 748 under it for devastating effect.

I am sure these will be proper DRT loads for 200 yards and under for these varmints. The only time I had a coyote run off and die later with the 222, is when I pushed it to 300 yards with the 50 grain SPSX.
 
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Well I'm going to pick up some 4198 powder, as my local supplier has 8lb on sale for $110, then I'll look around for some different bullets and see what my gun likes best
 
My most accurate load for the .222 was 23 grs H335 with a 55 gr Hornady spire point. 3 shots under 1 inch at 100 yds and a 3 shot 2 1/2 in group at 400 yds.
 
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