Torn between the .222 and the .223

[yodave]

I have the next barrel of mine down to a 1 in 9 twist match grade stainless steel barrel. The problem is I am torn between the old triple duece and the 223 rem. I am also torn with the length of the barrel. I mostly shoot out to 500 meters so I really think 52 grain match kings are my flavour, maybe 50 grain v max as I have had good results from them in the past as well. So what caliber and barrel length would you choose and why? Someone please say .222 with a 26 inch barrel as it will make my decission easier to make

 

[brenden270]

I have had two .222's with 24 & 26 inch barrels. They were my most accurate guns period. If you have a choice the .222 should win hands down. The .223 is good but the .222 is great. ALWAYS choose the .222 because "only accurate guns are interesting" and your likely to have a better shooter on your hands in .222.


Just my 222 cents.......er I mean 2 cents.

Brenden

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

the .222 i suggest you get , if you are staying with the lighter bullets. I have both .222 and .233 and the 1 in 9 twist in the .223 sure likes the heavier 75 gr bullets. the 55 gr fmjs are easier to find and cheaper. and they seem just the cats meow for the .222. Gophers dislike them. The Savage 12fvss .223 has a 26" heavy barrel for the really long ones out to 1000 yards but the BSA .222 handles very well to about 500. It has the shorter tapered barrel. Both very nice guns to shoot and about the same cost wise to reload. But I guess the .222 would win out in the carry dept.

It comes down to what you look for the gun to do.....targets or fields? Carry or bench ?That is why I have both....

 

[smak_daddy]

I you have access to enough brass I would say go for the .222.

I love that round.

 

[KDX]

The 20 Vartarg is worth looking into. If I rebarrel my .223 it's probably the route I will take.

20 VARTARG
The 20 VarTarg (VARmint/TARGet) is another 20-Caliber cartridge designed by Todd Kindler for varmint hunting. This cartridge is based on the 221 Fireball case and is probably the most efficient of the 20-Caliber cartridges. It is also extremely accurate. Like the 6PPC, it has the optimal bore to case capacity ratio for max efficiency. The VarTarg is popular with varmint hunters because it provides good range (up to 300 yards) and uses relatively little powder, so your barrel doesn't heat up quite as fast. With the 20 VarTarg, long barrel life can be expected. Check out the Load Map below and you'll see that the diminutive VarTarg pushes the 32gr pills up into the 3750+ fps range with much less powder than is used by the .204 Ruger or 20 BR. The VarTarg achieves this performance by using fast, high-energy propellants, such as H4198 and Vihtavuori N120. Todd Kindler reports great accuracy with N120 and the Sierra 32-grainer, running close to 3800 fps. The VarTarg may be the smallest 20-Caliber cartridge in our survey, but it comes up big in efficiency. (Photo is 100% scale.) Currently, Cooper Arms of Montana and Dakota Arms offer factory rifles in 20 VarTarg. Click Here to download a .pdf version of Todd Kindler's 20 VarTarg article (from Dakota Arms).

No special dies are need to form 20 VarTarg brass. Simply run a .221 Fireball case through a 20 VarTarg full-length sizer die--then load, and shoot. There is virtually no difference performance-wise between virgin brass and fire-formed 20 VarTarg brass, so you don't need two different loads. Right now Remington is the only source of parent .221 Fireball brass. Most 20 VarTarg shooters are satisfied with the quality (and price), so long as the Rem brass is weight-sorted and prepped before loading. There was some hope Lapua would produce 20 VarTarg brass for Dakota Arms, but that deal is off the table. If there is enough consumer demand, Lapua might bring out 20 VarTarg or (more likely) .221 Fireball brass on its own--but don't hold your breath. John (SnakeEye) of VarmintsForFun.com hopes Lapua does produce 20 VarTarg brass: "That will open up a whole new world in the little 20s. I've always thought that the 20 VarTarg would make a very accurate benchrest round with good brass. It seems to be a good combination of case capacity and bullet. Also this will be perfect for the 17 m 4 as all you would need to do is run it in a 17 m 4 FL die, no other forming."

http://www.6mmbr.com/20Caliber.html

 

[smak_daddy]

Thats really interesting KDX. I'm going to check that out.

 

[maynard]

I think if you put the .222 with 52 gr bullets up against a .223 with 75-80 gr bullets at 500+ yards the .223 would be king. That being said 1:9 would be the min. twist, 1:8 or 1:7 will handle all bullet weights. Being a target shooter (iron sights) I always try to get the longest sight radius I can which means a 28-30 inch barrel.

 

[manitou210]

I have both love the deuce going to shoot it today at informal match at club I shoot at.
We shoot hunterclass targets at 100, 200, & 300y both guns are stock remingtons with some tweeking, bedded, 2oz Rem trigger in deuce and Jewell in 223, speedlock systems in both. use 32x Nightforce that I interchange on Ken Farrell bases
The deuce I can shoot as well or some most times a shade better than the 223 with 53gr Sierra's at 100 & 200 but the 223 with 69gr & 75gr bergers is better at 300y with a 1/9 twist and also us it to 1000, the duece just doesn't work well with small bullets after 300+ yards in any wind.for hunting the 223 holds 2.5 more grains of powder than the deuce and thats gives the 69s almost same speed as the 55gr balistic tips for hunting.
Saying all this I won't get rid of the deuce I love the cartridge.
and it still holds the crown of the smallest group ever shot at 100 yards by any centerfire.
manitou

 

[Barks]

I too have both cartridges. My .223 is a Savage LRPV 7 twist and my .222 is a Remington 700 HB BDL 14 twist. I prefer the 700 over the 12, but for what I use them for, I can't part with either. As mentiond above the .223 works well at longer ranges with the heaviest bullets available in 22 cal. The duece is fantastic out to 300 yards or so. The bullet weight makes all the difference at distance.
Accuracy wise they are pretty much on par with each other. My .222 is bone stock short of a reworked trigger and it has been bedded. Seems to favour the 53 grain flat based SMK. I found amazing accuracy with the cheapo Winchester 46 grain HP component bullets too.

I never had a problem finding brass and was even lucky enough to get 500 FREE at a match a few years back. Its mixed mind you but free brass is free brass. I have yet to try Lapua brass for the .222. It has recently been reintroduced for production...........but COSTLY.....

If it means anything at all, the .223 seems to be a dime a dozen. They're everywhere. Not everybody shoots a duece though.....

 

[pazzo]

I LOVE my triple deuce!!!
30 - 300 yds with ZERO MOA adjustment (of course I wasn't grouping the shots at 300, but shooting at coconut sized targets)
How's that for flat shooting!!

Brno Fox .222

 

[struff55]

222rem with 24'' bbl . would be my choice .

 

[bigstickpilot]

triple deuce wins

a great little cartridge. Mine loves 40 to 52 gr Sierras, but HATES 55 gr and up. If you don't have a .222Rem yet, look at mine for sale in the EE Hunting and Sporting. (I have two, but only need one).