.222 or .22-250?

[Sonicdmb73]

A triple is a fantastic rabbit gun as well. A 250 is over the top for that, and expensive.
I used to head shoot bunnies with my triple out to 200 effortlessly. It would shoot sub-1/2" groups at 200 yards, and that was off a car bonnet with me on the end of the butt waving it about. Never tried it in a sled but I imagine it would have been driving tacks still at that range. And moderated it sounds no different to an HMR.
I found mine didn't like to be pushed though. I could easily get up to 3500 fps with 50 grain bullets but they were never accurate whatever the recipe. The sweet spot was always 3100. 3200 with 40 grn.

Never used mine on roe being in England but it bang-flopped foxes past 200 yards with total reliability so it should have no difficulty with roe at 150.

3500 with a 50grn is easy, RL15 and if memory serves 36.3 grns with CFE 223 even faster but check Hogdon data i forget atm. 22-250 used

I can’t find any data that backs up 3500fps from a 222 with 50gn bullets

More like 3100fps if that from shorter barrels, as the test barrels tend to be longer than our usual sporting rifles.
I would be very wary of anyone who loads rounds to that speed.
I knew someone who loaded pistols to extremes god knows how many he blew up. You certainly didn’t fire his guns twice.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I can’t find any data that backs up 3500fps from a 222 with 50gn bullets
View attachment 175730View attachment 175731
More like 3100fps if that from shorter barrels, as the test barrels tend to be longer than our usual sporting rifles.
I would be very wary of anyone who loads rounds to that speed.
I knew someone who loaded pistols to extremes god knows how many he blew up. You certainly didn’t fire his guns twice.

Just to add Gordon’s Reloading tool predicts 3618fps at a whopping 72859psi. I certainly wouldn’t want to pull that trigger.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

I recently made a return to the .222 and the love affair continues.

If it was legal for all deer species I would own no other rifles.

I managed to get my hands on a semi custom Sako A1 from Ed at Edinburgh Rifles.

Cloverleafs Norma factory ammo all day long.

Other calibres are available but there is nothing that will put a smile on your face like the deuce.

 

[TURNBOLT]

Had 222 ,223, and 22-250 . 22-250 by a country mile.Not as accurate as 222 tell that to mine .Just as accurate as smaller ones and hits harder with 55 grain too.Virtually Swift performance and that is the king of 224s.

 

[dropmdead]

I would say hands down 22-250
It will be more than accurate enough out to any distance that is humane for a consistent result.
It has the energy to match at that distance over the 222.
Anything else is academic...

 

[25 Sharps]

Just to add Gordon’s Reloading tool predicts 3618fps at a whopping 72859psi. I certainly wouldn’t want to pull that trigger.

I think daddy skunk is quoting 22-250 data as 36.3 gr is very close to hodgdon’s start load for a 50 gr

 

[HandB]

Oddly enough the Sierra Gameking 55gr .224 bullet despite its name is actually an FMJBT, and it gives decent accuracy at 600yds when driven hard out of my 24" barrelled .222 BSA Hunter. If I get to use this combo at 900yds I will report back how it performs.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I think daddy skunk is quoting 22-250 data as 36.3 gr is very close to hodgdon’s start load for a 50 gr

quite possibly but Finch stated 3600 with his 222, and Daddy the Skunk's comment was ambiguous if not misleading. This is potentially dangerous to those with less experience of reloading.

 

[antsa]

My 222 is a Sako AI from the late 70's. Bought it second-hand off of a local farmer. It has the floor-plate magazine. My pet load at the moment is a 50gr Hornady Z-Max over 20.3gr of ADI AR2207 (close to VV N130) in Lapua brass with CCI400 primers. MV = 936m/s (3070fps). Magnificent little foxing rifle out to 200-250m.
One thing I found out the other day was that I can comfortably fit seven rounds in the mag well. Perfect for a walk on the hills - no need for more ammo in your pockets.

Cheers

 

[NP435]

We’re talking .222 here not 22-250, 26.3 gr of cfe223 beings hodgdon’s max load for around 3260 FPS.

36.3 gr ain’t gonna fit

correct as I corrected in my second post said it was for 22-250

 

[NP435]

Ok seems I managed to confuse a few here. All of the data I mentioned was for 22-250 not 222. I shall try to be more clear and thank you all for double checking and not doing what would very probably be dangerous in the 222 case.

 

[25 Sharps]

Oddly enough the Sierra Gameking 55gr .224 bullet despite its name is actually an FMJBT, and it gives decent accuracy at 600yds when driven hard out of my 24" barrelled .222 BSA Hunter. If I get to use this combo at 900yds I will report back how it performs.

For shooting birds and pelt hunting, still doesn’t make it a 900 yard bullet. Out of interest what speed are you driving it hard to?

At 600 yards it is probably still supersonic

 

[25 Sharps]

Ok seems I managed to confuse a few here. All of the data I mentioned was for 22-250 not 222. I shall try to be more clear and thank you all for double checking and not doing what would very probably be dangerous in the 222 case.

The post you were responding to was quoting a post that claimed 3500 for a 50 from .222......

I know someone who nudges 4000 with a 55 gr v-max (don’t try at hole folks) in 22-250 so as you say 3500 is a doddle.

I can get 3600 with my .223 AI and 50 gr v-max, foxes don’t like it much

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Ok seems I managed to confuse a few here. All of the data I mentioned was for 22-250 not 222. I shall try to be more clear and thank you all for double checking and not doing what would very probably be dangerous in the 222 case.

I did see that you had corrected or rather added that you were referring to 22-250.
Unfortunately your first post and another which was referring to 222 were quoted in such a way that made it look like 3600 was achievable in 222.
The problem nowadays with reloading many people don’t read the books and compare data from manufacturers. They google it and call it right, a recipe for disaster literally.
I load for some common rounds 222 6.5x55 etc, but I also have a 20 Tac.
Finding data for that with REACH compliant powders especially when the guy who designed it is known for “hot” loads anyway. Takes a lot of sifting through and sorting out the sensible from the downright insane.

 

[HandB]

It produces about 3170fps out of a 24 inch barrel, so pretty close to replicating the velocity of a standard .223 FMJ load. In contrast to my other rifles which group better with milder loads, this load groups decently well at 600yds (approx 0.5MOA; see attachment) so I will be interested to see how it gets on at longer range.

 

[25 Sharps]

I did see that you had corrected or rather added that you were referring to 22-250.
Unfortunately your first post and another which was referring to 222 were quoted in such a way that made it look like 3600 was achievable in 222.
The problem nowadays with reloading many people don’t read the books and compare data from manufacturers. They google it and call it right, a recipe for disaster literally.
I load for some common rounds 222 6.5x55 etc, but I also have a 20 Tac.
Finding data for that with REACH compliant powders especially when the guy who designed it is known for “hot” loads anyway. Takes a lot of sifting through and sorting out the sensible from the downright insane.

You need quick load, very useful for my 25-45

 

[25 Sharps]

It produces about 3170fps out of a 24 inch barrel, so pretty close to replicating the velocity of a standard .223 FMJ load. In contrast to my other rifles which group better with milder loads, this load groups decently well at 600yds (approx 0.5MOA; see attachment) so I will be interested to see how it gets on at longer range.
View attachment 175778

Very Nice group, you are right that’s a hot load, over max. You can’t really compare a standard .223 load to hot .222 load to be fair.

I suspect you need it to be fast to stabilise the 55 gr boat tail bullet in your 1:14 which suggests it is on the edge of stability so again will struggle Transonic and subsonic.

As I say would be interested to see how you got in at 900 but suspect your 1/2 moa will increase a lot, particularly if there’s any wind about

 

[Sonicdmb73]

You need quick load, very useful for my 25-45

I have been looking at Gordon’s reloading tool. Although I have worked up some decent loads based on 223 data and Todd Kindler’s from the Terrific Twenties book. That and a chronograph I have done ok so far. But I don’t push it too far speed wise.

 

[25 Sharps]

I have been looking at Gordon’s reloading tool. Although I have worked up some decent loads based on 223 data and Todd Kindler’s from the Terrific Twenties book. That and a chronograph I have done ok so far. But I don’t push it too far speed wise.

Well if you need anything give me a shout

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Well if you need anything give me a shout

Thank you I appreciate the offer.