Varmint bullet advice

The rifle is a 222 1 in 14" twist, loves 50 grainers, I just wanted to know which bullets would be most effective at total disintegration at the speeds the 222 launches them at. Most bullets work very well at 223 to 220 swift ranges.

Just looking for some input from those with experience using varmint bullets within that speed range.
 
From my exp.

50gr Sierra Blitz = spectacular red mist and super accurate, my favorite .224 projectile but very hard to find in stock around here.
53 gr hornady V-max = lots of red mist, very accurate, easier to find than the Blitz and cheap (I know they are over your 50gr requirement, but man I love these they are my do all)
50gr Barnes varmint grenades = very long for weight, so so accuracy (MOA or a little over) inconsistent fragmentation, I've had a few exit. I have not tried the 36gr grenades but will soon.


Edit: just read your last reply. The 50gr Barnes varmint grenades will not work in your 14" twist. I would try the 36gr grenades.
 
Even the 36 gr varmint grenades probably wont stabiliz well in the 1-14 twist barrel. I never could get them to stabiliz in a 1-12. My favorite is 50 gr vmax over benchmark. The gophers launch .
 
Try Berger 40gr Match Grade Varmint FB's. Deadly accurate and explosive down range. You can shoot paper and hogs with the same bullet.
 
i tried the 50 grain v-maxs in my 222 but they would not stabilize really well.they shot moa but the 50 grain sierra flat based bullet will shoot sub moa.my 222 is also 1 in 14 twist.it shoots 45 grain round nose/flat base sierra bullets somewhere in between the v-max/spitzers at 100 yards. but the long range 200+yards ballistic suck.the 45 grain round nose bullets are .224 diameter hornet bullets.
 
I will be using this 222 for 300 yard maximum, other than a little playing on paper over 300 just for chits-n-giggles. I have other options for long range. I could buy a box of everything but barnes in the 53 grain and lower category, but thought I would ask here first and attempt to narrow it down. I have some 50 VMAX, and was leaning towards the sierras or noslers for accuracy, but I also want a bullet that will vaporize at 222 speeds.


Thank you all for replying!
 
I have a 222 that just dotes on the Honady 50 V-Max.
Groups at 100M are often under ½", and under 1½" at 300.
This bullet expands well at 222 velocities. <3150 fps

The most explosive bullet I use is the Hornady 50 grain SP-SX.
Almost as accurate as the V-Max, but quite a bit more dramatic on gophers, etc.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
My .222 shoots the Berger 50gr Match Varmint FB extremely well. If I do my part 5 shot 1.25" groups at 200 yards are possible.
I used them on groundhogs this past weekend out to about 150 yards and they certainly dumped their energy on impact, leaving 2"-3" diameter exit wounds and no survivors.

Dan
 
dead meat said:
I use the Hornady 50gr.sx in my 222. Good performance and accurate. The Barnes V grenades did not reliably expand at 222 velocities.
Click to expand...

I've read some pretty mixed reviews of the VG's out of all sorts of calibers, that said that every now and again you'd get a flyer, or a failure to initiate.
Add that to the need to run much lighter weights, in general, unless you have a fast twist barrel (longer bullet, needs faster twist) and many guys are not reading and heeding that bit of advice that is printed on the box.
Generally I think they are a good idea not quite worked out yet.

Cleftwynd, why would you think that you could not shoot anything in a .222, that you could not shoot in a .223? For all intents and purposes, if you are sticking to the 'old school' bullet weights, they are pretty close to identical as far as a coyote or groundhog is concerned.
Try any of the 35 grain to 55 grain bullets, and use the ones that shoot for you. The only thing that reliably blows up a gopher, is hitting it!

Cheers
Trev
 
Most 223's have a 1-12" twist, not the 1-14" of the 222, that plus the couple hundred FPS advantage gives the 223 the ability to stabilize longer bullets such as the Barnes, or 60 grain partitions. IN my limited experience anyway.

Just looking for input from those with experience with the slower twist and speed like the 222 has.
 
Don't remember any reload or factory load I've used that wasn't devastating on woodchucks.(with the qualifying "I've shot") My favourite load that shoots really well in my not very picky M700 is with 50gr V-MAX: I always choose bullets of 50gr in .224. Rifle shoots the SP and SPSX perhaps tighter. With these three bullets, I expect 3/4moa with the pet recipes, best group I have managed was with the SP, about .130moa. (again the qualifying "if I do my job) Favourite powder for this is IMR4320, followed by Re10X.
 
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