.222 reloading?

wildfowler.250 · Feb 16, 2026

Hi folks, I was wondering if anyone could shed an opinion on these potential loads in the .222. It’s my first time reloading for this particular caliber.

I’ve got 2 really good groups that are almost one hole. With everything in between being about 0.5” - 1”,(I haven’t measured them).

Typically these good groups are at the lowest and highest end of the charge range from the viht app.

Low charge group was 21.6 grains of N133

&

High end group was 23.4 grains N133

This is with a standard 50 grain lead spitzer, lapua brass and CCI small rifle primers.

This is to be my roe load. I don’t have a chrono available. I wasn’t seeing any obvious signs of pressure but that was only from 1x of 4 shot groups.

I’m not deliberately trying to load ‘hot’. Is the low end a likely capable deer load? Or anaemic? Or load up the 23.4 grains which was probably where I was leaning?

Opinions greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Bowland blades · Feb 16, 2026

just find the biggest / widest node if its for hunting then work on seating depth

3595wilk · Feb 16, 2026

I use RS36 over N133 for monolithics. Seems to have more gas than N133. The 50 gr TTSX with tips pulled makes Eng and Wales minimums for smaller species. Definitely north of 3000 fps.

N133 and 50 grain Vmax works well. Have used it for Hornady SPs too. Think my loads are/were not as stout as yours, through my 20 inch T3.

wildfowler.250 · Feb 16, 2026

Thanks folks. Do you think the 23.4 grains is too much? Accuracy wise for either load is fine. I just don’t want to stumble into problems.

Would I be right in thinking the 21.6 would be near a mid range factory level? Roughly 3000 fps?

And the second would be nearer 3200?

This is very approximate but I’m just trying to gauge what to aim for. The standard sako factory loads certainly worked

Smellydog · Feb 16, 2026

I'd go with the max if I was happy with the accuracy.

wisp · Feb 16, 2026

I’ve used N133 24 g. under a 40 grain B/tip for over 20 years
N only just gone over to 50g Hornady 21.3 g N133n both loads stopped everything I ever need to
Like you I don’t have a chronic although I test them once about 18years ago n have never bother sinc

wildfowler.250 · Feb 16, 2026

wisp said:
I’ve used N133 24 g. under a 40 grain B/tip for over 20 years
N only just gone over to 50g Hornady 21.3 g N133n both loads stopped everything I ever need to
Like you I don’t have a chronic although I test them once about 18years ago n have never bother sinc

Tried the 21.3g load on the smaller deer? Assume no issues?

wisp · Feb 16, 2026

No problems them went down n stayed down

Craigsaun · Feb 16, 2026

50g vmax 21.5g N133 works a treat for me , go for accuracy. If the cooler loads are more accurate I tend to go with them , no point burning the barrel

wildfowler.250 · Feb 17, 2026

Craigsaun said:
50g vmax 21.5g N133 works a treat for me , go for accuracy. If the cooler loads are more accurate I tend to go with them , no point burning the barrel

Thanks Craig. I wasn’t quite sure where the sweet spot for N133 is but certainly this slower load was hole inside hole. Possibly this is better from a bullet frangibility point of view as well if it’s going slower.

Happy to hear any other opinions. A very rough look at sako game head 50g loads look to be doing around 3100 fps so that’s possibly more akin to my higher end load?

old 30-06 · Feb 17, 2026

50 grain V-Max with 25.5 grains of CFE 223. Fast (3200fps) and accurate (under one inch groups). Lovely.

Edinburgh Rifles · Feb 18, 2026

wont matter
its a treble
they will all shoot!

ran 40, 45, 50, 60gr loads in four different .222
some of teh homeloads from one went straight into the other

21.4gr N133 and 60gr Hornady
22.6gr N133 and 50gr SP

Factory federal 45gr was insane. would definitety look to load something like that for pure foxing
4" paddle on a steel roe
100 and 200m aim straight at it
300m aim at the top!

point and shoot fox liquidiser

cjs66 · Feb 18, 2026

A chronograph would help. I can't advise on your choice of powder; I use N130 to get great results.

cjs

HistoricBore · Feb 18, 2026

wildfowler.250 said:
Thanks folks. Do you think the 23.4 grains is too much? Accuracy wise for either load is fine. I just don’t want to stumble into problems.

Would I be right in thinking the 21.6 would be near a mid range factory level? Roughly 3000 fps?

And the second would be nearer 3200?

This is very approximate but I’m just trying to gauge what to aim for. The standard sako factory loads certainly worked

From my reloading book:

21.5 grains of Viht N133 with a 50 grain Sako bullet chronographed at 2,940 fps
22.0 grs of the same gave 3065 fps
22.5 grs of the same worked well, but I did not record the velocity, perhaps 3120 fps ??

At that point I stopped. All these were fired from a Tikka M55 with 24" barrel.

23.4 seems like a lot to me. Hope this helps.

HB

wildfowler.250 · Feb 18, 2026

old 30-06 said:
50 grain V-Max with 25.5 grains of CFE 223. Fast (3200fps) and accurate (under one inch groups). Lovely.

Thanks. Not too familiar with CFE but will look into it

Edinburgh Rifles said:
wont matter
its a treble
they will all shoot!

ran 40, 45, 50, 60gr loads in four different .222
some of teh homeloads from one went straight into the other

21.4gr N133 and 60gr Hornady
22.6gr N133 and 50gr SP

Factory federal 45gr was insane. would definitety look to load something like that for pure foxing
4" paddle on a steel roe
100 and 200m aim straight at it
300m aim at the top!

point and shoot fox liquidiser

Cheers. I was just worried the 21.6 grain N133 might be a bit loupy or anaemic but it sounds like it’s alright?

cjs66 said:
A chronograph would help. I can't advise on your choice of powder; I use N130 to get great results.

cjs

Completely. At the moment it’s just another £500 that hasn’t been a priority but definitely on the list

HistoricBore said:
From my reloading book:

21.5 grains of Viht N133 with a 50 grain Sako bullet chronographed at 2,940 fps
22.0 grs of the same gave 3065 fps
22.5 grs of the same worked well, but I did not record the velocity, perhaps 3120 fps ??

At that point I stopped. All these were fired from a Tikka M55 with 24" barrel.

23.4 seems like a lot to me. Hope this helps.

HB

Thanks bud. Did wonder if the top load was a bit hot. I’m basically using it for roe so looking at 50-150 yards. Maybe 200 at a push. Generally speaking, if the pressure is on or it’s windy I can take a bigger caliber. It’s more of a ‘nice’ caliber to use

.222 reloading?

wildfowler.250

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Bowland blades

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3595wilk

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wildfowler.250

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Smellydog

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wisp

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wildfowler.250

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wisp

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Craigsaun

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wildfowler.250

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old 30-06

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Edinburgh Rifles

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cjs66

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HistoricBore

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wildfowler.250

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