So it seems like rifles chambered in the triple deuce are well sought after, perhaps even commanding a premium. With the 223 on the scene, is this purely a nostalgia/have something different/classy old thing sort of attraction, or does it do something above and beyond that?
What is the 222 attraction?
- Thread starter Joel
- Start date
Nostalgia I figure. Bit of a cult flowing with coyote hide hunters too. It’s sort of a historic cartridge from back when varmint cartridges were a bit of a novelty and a collection of odd-ball things many of which had rims. It sort of wilped those out much like the 7 Rem put a lot of limited production and obscure 7s to bed for good. It had a real benchrest following until the PPCs put it to bed.
Other than that, they tend to shoot. I like mine, a build on a 788 with McMillan stock. It really shoots but I mostly bought it because it was 300 bucks with 300 rounds loaded in new Lapua brass and Redding comp bushing dies.
Other than that, they tend to shoot. I like mine, a build on a 788 with McMillan stock. It really shoots but I mostly bought it because it was 300 bucks with 300 rounds loaded in new Lapua brass and Redding comp bushing dies.
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
Definitely nostalgia and a bit of a cult following as well. I've always liked the 222 Remington, low recoil, extremely accurate and just dagg-on cool.
I had a custom Remington 700 stainless built by my gunsmith in 222 Remington. She's beautiful, shoots like a laser and can kill predators like the "Hammer of Thor".......
LOLA lot of us had an ole' Remington Model 722 or model 788 back in the late seventies or early eighties, it brings us back to our youth when we felt free, the bible was still available at school and there was no LGTBQ rhetoric.
The 222 Remington will always be a favorite of mine, although it took over 45 years for me to bring it back to reality!.....
It is a more accurate cartridge than a .223, but it is a shorter range cartridge of the two. Extremely easy to find an accurate load. 50, 51, 52, 53 grain match bullets are best. It was once used extensively in short range benchrest until the PPC based cases took over. No downsides to owning one.
I think part of it is those calibres that are not as common, have nostalgia and a cult following, will often be provided with 'more than base factory' stocks, bedding, actions, barrels and so forth; and hey get cared for and custom reloaded for as well: this results in more than average accuracy.
Add on to that the 222 Rem seems to be 'naturally accurate' in the case design right from factory and you get an amazing combination.
The .222 appeared with the Remington 722, what, 75 years ago? It rapidly earned a reputation for outstanding accuracy. It proved its excellence in benchrest competition.
When the .223 was adopted for miliary use, as the 5.56x45, it rapidly outpaced the .222 in popularity.
The .222 may have a slight edge for accuracy, its long neck, versus the .223's short neck, is an advantage.
I have a vintage heavy benchrest .222. It was built by Hart - 1A action, Hart barrel, Hart 2oz trigger. Frustrating rifle to shoot - if you see more than one hole, you know you've blown the group.
When the .223 was adopted for miliary use, as the 5.56x45, it rapidly outpaced the .222 in popularity.
The .222 may have a slight edge for accuracy, its long neck, versus the .223's short neck, is an advantage.
I have a vintage heavy benchrest .222. It was built by Hart - 1A action, Hart barrel, Hart 2oz trigger. Frustrating rifle to shoot - if you see more than one hole, you know you've blown the group.
Absolutely not, especially in 2024 when there has been decades of mass .223 popularity for pretty much every purpose from plinking at the range to long range precision.
I think the appeal these days is more to guys that already own one or get one passed down. Or like Dogleg who has lots of rifles, likes to experiment and play around a bit and stumbled into a screaming hot deal.
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All other things being equal a .222 Remington with 50 to 53 grain match bullets will be more accurate than a .223 with 50 to 53 grain match bullets... the majority of the time.
For many years the .222 Rem. held the world record for the smallest five-shot group fired at 100 yards: a 0.009-inch cluster from Mac McMillan's Light Varmint-class rifle. Once thought no one would beat that record... but
this has been surpassed recently with a Benchrest .30 caliber at .0077".
For many years the .222 Rem. held the world record for the smallest five-shot group fired at 100 yards: a 0.009-inch cluster from Mac McMillan's Light Varmint-class rifle. Once thought no one would beat that record... but
this has been surpassed recently with a Benchrest .30 caliber at .0077".
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I've always wanted to try it, I've known guys who have been a bit obsessed with 222. Bought my one buddy this shirt from Eric @ Varminter;
https://www.smallcaliberstore.com/product/222-remington-shirt-triple-deuce
Closest I've come is .204 Ruger, which is a 222 necked-down to .20.
https://www.smallcaliberstore.com/product/222-remington-shirt-triple-deuce
Closest I've come is .204 Ruger, which is a 222 necked-down to .20.
Actually, the parent case of the 204 Ruger is the 222 Mag.
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
Get a 221 Fireball, you will not be disappointed!.....
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
Correct, this!......
222 Remington Magnum is the parent case to the 204 Ruger.Never had a 222 but several 223's. Maybe the advantage of the 222 is that it never had the makeover like the 223. Chambers on the 222 are made for the lighter side of bullets up to say 55gr? The 223 especially with 1/8 twist is chambered for up to long 80gr bullets leaving a huge jump for 40gr. The 223 T3's in 1/8 seem to have a reputation to not be the most accurate with light bullets...just ok. With say 75gr it all comes together.
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