222 Rem (triple deuce)... why is this cartridge slipping into obscurity?? Or, is it?
- Thread starter The Kurgan
- Start date
Love my Sako vixen .222,
was my only rifle for years, during a time when meat hunting and culling Deer, goats, pigs, were one of the ways, I made a living, thousands of deer, goats, pigs, chamois have befallen to this little rifle, Dad bought two of them in late 60's when in NZFS (New Zealand forest service), culling and hut building, this one was his spare, I got given it about 1988, Had a bad fall in the Pohangani river, and smashed myself and rifle up, patched up the stock, and ordered a new Sako stock, and kept on hunting, rifle didn't shoot as well, with the new stock, so put the original back on, that was over 20 years ago,
It will still put's 5 shots, in a thumb nail sized group, 50-55 gr soft point don't much matter, the weaver K4 is original, glass is pretty poor compared to modern rifle, I've carried that rifle so much, that even now, twenty years since I was meat hunting/culling, I can pick that rifle up, and it feels like it is a part of me, an old Faithfull friend, one with many memory's, the bluing is badly worn from the barrel ,were I carry it reverse position over my shoulder, the checking is worn to nothing, on the left side from scuffing against my woollen bush shirt,
oh for a few more morning's with an old friend, steam rising from a tin mug, while putting wet socks, into wet boots, in the gray misty light of dawn, to stretch and rise to the first red stags moan, setting out for the dawn hunt, thumbing six down, in the little vixen.
was my only rifle for years, during a time when meat hunting and culling Deer, goats, pigs, were one of the ways, I made a living, thousands of deer, goats, pigs, chamois have befallen to this little rifle, Dad bought two of them in late 60's when in NZFS (New Zealand forest service), culling and hut building, this one was his spare, I got given it about 1988, Had a bad fall in the Pohangani river, and smashed myself and rifle up, patched up the stock, and ordered a new Sako stock, and kept on hunting, rifle didn't shoot as well, with the new stock, so put the original back on, that was over 20 years ago, It will still put's 5 shots, in a thumb nail sized group, 50-55 gr soft point don't much matter, the weaver K4 is original, glass is pretty poor compared to modern rifle, I've carried that rifle so much, that even now, twenty years since I was meat hunting/culling, I can pick that rifle up, and it feels like it is a part of me, an old Faithfull friend, one with many memory's, the bluing is badly worn from the barrel ,were I carry it reverse position over my shoulder, the checking is worn to nothing, on the left side from scuffing against my woollen bush shirt,
oh for a few more morning's with an old friend, steam rising from a tin mug, while putting wet socks, into wet boots, in the gray misty light of dawn, to stretch and rise to the first red stags moan, setting out for the dawn hunt, thumbing six down, in the little vixen.
I bought one about 40 years ago. It always been very accurate and easy to reload for. I had a 223 Tikka heavy barrel and could not make it to shoot close to my tripe deuce. Sold the Tikka and kept the BSA 222. I shot woodchuck, gophers, coyotes with it. Easy on pelts, low recoil and somewhat quiet compared to some of the varmint calibers like the 22-250.
leadchucker62
CGN Regular
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Good Day: The .222 rem is my all time favorite cartridge. I have a 660, first year 788 and a bdl/cdl with engraved reciever 700 all in .222.
I gave my other 788 in .222 to my son.
Great shooting round.
Z
I gave my other 788 in .222 to my son.
Great shooting round.
Z
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
I’ve never owned or shot one but two past hunting buddies had them. One really liked his, the other not so much. He wanted a bit more oomph for the varminting direction he decided to focus on (wolves) and for a while went to a 22-250 and eventually on up to a 7mmstw. I always thought it was an impressive little cartridge though from the hunts I was on where they put it to use.
Although I'm a late comer in this thread, I must participate. I love the .222 Rem because of it's longer neck than that of a .223 (which I also own and like). My .222 rem rifle is a Remington 788. I've fully customized it and accurized this rifle. Pillared and glass bedded full length the receiver. I've trued the action and engine turned the bottom of the magazine, and all action screws, lightly lapped the 9 recoil bolt lugs to the receiver for smooth action and bolt closure. The scope bases are actually bedded to the receiver profile. The rings are lapped for a stress free scope mount. I wears a Vortex 3-9X Viper. I still need to engine turn the bolt body. I also milled out a recess in the bolt knob to include a Lapua .222 head case. I've also Dura-Coated the barreled action flat black. My magazine spring is a bit weak, but I plan to make a new V-spring for it. It is my go to gun for coyote hunting here in Alberta.
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I like and have owned all the members of the .222 family with the exception of the .222 Rimmed. Of the three, .222, .223, and .222 Magnum, I like the .222 Magnum the best. It has the powder capacity and performance of the .223, and the long neck of a .222. I'm not sure why it slipped into obscurity so quickly after its introduction, but it likely had to do with a limited brass supply, and the fact that target shooters at the time were married to the .222, AR shooters to the .223, and serious varmint hunters preferred the .22-250. Today I own two .223s, an AR and a CZ-527, but none of the others, primarily because the logistics of a single cartridge is easier and less expensive. The fact of the matter is that quality .223 brass is more readily available from more sources, there is more .223 load data and ballistic information for a broader range of bullet weight and styles, compared to it's bothers, and the short .223 neck has in no way proven to be the detriment to accuracy or performance, that at one time was considered a basic truth.
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I think that you meant "wouldn't" in your post. If so, I'm totally on board with you. Yes I do shoot a .223 as well. The triple deuce shoots just as well out to 200 yards. But the .223 wins beyond that because mine has a faster twist than the deuce which allows for heavier bullets.
My experience with the 222 is nada, however the reason it has faded is obviously the prevalence of the 223.
The 223 is more common, and does everything the 222 does but faster. On top of that, 222s tend to have slow twist rates which don't play nice with the heavy for caliber high bc bullets most people like these days.
I would totally buy one for the right price, I don't see much point in spending more than what I would for a 223 though. If I was to get a 222, it would likely have to be an older rifle, something that just oozes class that wouldn't feel right in 223...
The 223 is more common, and does everything the 222 does but faster. On top of that, 222s tend to have slow twist rates which don't play nice with the heavy for caliber high bc bullets most people like these days.
I would totally buy one for the right price, I don't see much point in spending more than what I would for a 223 though. If I was to get a 222, it would likely have to be an older rifle, something that just oozes class that wouldn't feel right in 223...
