222 Rem (triple deuce)... why is this cartridge slipping into obscurity?? Or, is it?

Mine was the first rifle I ever bought, still have it, a Rem 700 I got used about 35 yrs ago. Learned to reload on that very forgiving cartridge. I think the twist on my barrel is 1:14 but it shot 60 gr Sierra sp's very well. My main load is a Sierra 52 gr hp with 19.5 gr imr4198, although this past summer I bought some 55 gr Sierra hp's for my .223 that didn't work out. I loaded a few test rounds for the .222 and had it shooting under 3/4" groups in no time.

It is one of the few rifles that can reach out a bit, but still allows you to watch your bullet hit through the scope :eek:. It's also a relatively quiet round.

Sadly, with a lack of ground hogs in my area, I haven't used it much for many years. Right now I have the .223 at the back door to thin the crows out of the back field. I think I'll change things up thanks to this thread. :cheers:
 
I have four .222 riles at the present, and every time I am tempted to buy a .223 I just give my head a shake. I can't do anything with a .223 that I can't do with a .222, and I like classic cartridges as a personal preference anyway. The .222 remains in high regard in Europe because European hunters aren't influenced as much by the American military and their equipment. The Canadian marketplace is dominated by USA manufacturers, fashions, and preferences. I appreciate the European options. I'm happy with my two Sako rifles, my Anschutz and my Heym. Sold off the Remington long ago.
 
Any good cartridge that remotely falls into the same ballistic category as a US military round will ultimately find itself waning. This is obviously due to the overwhelming availability of cheap and plentiful ammo. The 300 Savage is another victim of the same scenario. Ranges are littered with brass free for the picking and commercial rounds just cannot compete financially.
When I had a 222 I found it lacking badly in the wind where I hunted rabbits and gophers and badgers east of Calgary. I ended up using my 243 mostly and then went on to a 22-250. Both were far superior in the wind. However in a more favoring climate with much less wind the 222 would be my choice over the 223, mostly because I dislike military rounds and the firearms designed to use them, not because of any ballistic superiority.
 
I like the selection of used rifles in .222
Some of the finest Varmint rifles you will find are available in .222
To me .222 and .223 are essentially the same cartridge, so I go with the nicer rifle, pride of ownership.
I have owned many, I have kept my Sako Vixen and it is just lovely with a Leupold 4-12x40AO, 50gr SPSX with H4198.
For factory ammo I like the Prvi 50gr, give it shot, very accurate at a good price.
For me a .222 has to have the scaled mini action, without that they make me cringe.
I love the triple deuce.
Cheers!
 
Most of the guys I hunt with have Remington 788 .222. they have had these guns for 30+ years and they have shot many coyotes/foxes and ground hogs.


All these guns still shoot like lazers! I would buy one in a heartbeat if the price was right. Shooting 50g factory ammo
 
I currently have two triple deuce rifles and have had several others, the swetest being a Custom Deluxe from Clackamas Oregon.
The newest one is about 7 yearsold and is a new at the time Steyr Fullstock, with the glossy bluing and exceptional wood with a single set trigger.
Groups beautifully with 40gr Vmax bullets on CCI450 primers covered with 21.5gr of reloder 7 powder at 100 yards, and tight at 200 yards.
I have shot more than my fair share of gophers with a wide variety of fine varmint rifles and calibers an HS Precison HB in 204 ruger to a 19 Calhoon on a CZ 527.
All are fun to shoot, accurate and easy to load for. For my shooting I am not attemtping many shots past 200 yards 222 handles this with relative ease in a superb choice chunk of walnut.
dead is dead lads, it don't matter to me if the bullet arrives a milli second sooner from a 223....... which I have one of too.../..lol
 
My 222 Rem is a Ruger Mini 14. I don't shoot it nearly as often as I should. Others have mentioned that some places don't allow firearms of military calibers, and my understanding is that Ruger made a few Mini 14's in 222 for that market.
 
Have a Remington 660 in 222 love it, a treat to shoot. Have a Leupold 6.5-20 on it. My kids loved to use it at the range, no recoil and they could see their shots. Would like to have a 700 Classic to go with my other Classics. Eagleye, anyone know who has one?
 
Grey_Wolf said:
I've had at least one 222 in the cabinet for as long back as I can remember. Has to be my favourite factory chambering. The 223 I gather is a touch faster but I tend to think of it as a cartridge that the spray and pray crowd enjoys. I'm not interested in cheap surplus ammo (one common reason I hear for preference of 223) as I reload so can get the very best out of my gun. There currently is two in the safe. Re-barrel to a faster twist if yours doesn't have enough to spin the bullets you want to use.
Click to expand...
Couldn't have said it better.
 
I've had several .222's... currently only have one in a Ruger M77 MKII. It is an elegant little cartridge, efficient with powder, forgiving and accurate in every rifle that I have owned. I currently shoot standard Hornady 50 SP's into half an inch... no complaints whatsoever.
 
The triple deuce is inherently accurate but getting clobbered because everyone wants cheap. I could make this a political rant but keep buying your Chicom crap and your East Bloc MilSurp..!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom