.222 or .223

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Zetter

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I was planning to put in for a variation for a rifle to use on the gun club range rather than shooting my .243 or .270 and fancied something a bit less powder hungry for reloading/ cheaper to shoot at the range.
My head is saying .223 as its a common cartridge and there are a lot of them about. However I am attracted to out of favour calibres as I like something a little bit different Also there appear to be some cracking deals on .222 at the moment as it is out of favour.

Any opinions either way?
 
I don't reload so maybe that completely skews the argument
I went .223 because of the availability of cheap factory ammo but I'm thinking I might have made a mistake. I managed to pick up a couple of boxes of M193 surplus in a private sale, and there's PPU available in some places, but actual off the shelf prices and availability at my local RFDs are a bit disappointing. And the Deer Act of 1990 (England and Wales) prevents me making use of that caliber for stalking.. so I'm finding it's not getting the use it should be.
I might have enjoyed a 204 or 222 more for the novelty of being a bit more off the beaten track
 
For everyday use on the range go for a 223 with a fast twist barrel, it’ll handle just about everything you can buy commercially including 5.56 milsurp

That said, I have a 222 & probably wouldn’t ever swap it for a 223 but then I have plenty of brass & many thousands of bullets plus powder & primers to reload with so buying factory ammo isn’t necessary for me.
 
Donkey Basher said:
For everyday use on the range go for a 223 with a fast twist barrel, it’ll handle just about everything you can buy commercially including 5.56 milsurp

That said, I have a 222 & probably wouldn’t ever swap it for a 223 but then I have plenty of brass & many thousands of bullets plus powder & primers to reload with so buying factory ammo isn’t necessary for me.
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I can reload for it and do have a shed load of spare small rifle primers and a full tub of powder from another project going spare at the moment so its just brass and bullets to get.
 
.222 won just about everything in Benchrest for years until the PPC cartridges came out and held the record group for about 40 years, set by Mac Macmillan 0.009" C to C, that is some shooting!
 
If you reload then I suggest you go for .222 as it is so economical with powder. I get almost 3,200fps from my .222 reloads with 55gr bullets and 22gr of N130 with minimal recoil. My rifle is a battered old 1954 BSA Hunter which has lost its rifling in the middle third of the barrel due to pitting but still shoots about 1MOA at 600yds. I only neck size my .222 brass and don't bother cleaning it so it is also the most labour-saving cartridge for reloading I have encountered.
 

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If you’re only using it for range work and reload then 222 takes some beating.
However given the move to non lead heads a 223 with a fast twist might be a better option.
 
Zetter said:
I was planning to put in for a variation for a rifle to use on the gun club range rather than shooting my .243 or .270 and fancied something a bit less powder hungry for reloading/ cheaper to shoot at the range.
My head is saying .223 as its a common cartridge and there are a lot of them about. However I am attracted to out of favour calibres as I like something a little bit different Also there appear to be some cracking deals on .222 at the moment as it is out of favour.

Any opinions either way?
Click to expand...
If I am not mistaken Edinburgh rifles has a very nice 5.6 x 50 magnum with
dies and 200 rds of ammo.
 
I recently bought a new tikka .222 and at the same time my brother bought the same rifle in .223.
We zeroed them together down on the water meadows and I was chuffed to bits to see that the .222 was shooting a 50 grain projectile flatter than the .223 was shooting the same weight!
Different ammo (me using Remington him using Winchester) so it was obviously the win ammo that was a bit limp wristed as the .223 is capable of shooting faster than the .222 but just goes to show not all ammo is created equal! If you reload there is really nothing in it, however you can buy some very cheap .223 factory. Not to say .222 is expensive but if a few quid a box matters then that sways it for you.
 
Donkey Basher said:
For everyday use on the range go for a 223 with a fast twist barrel, it’ll handle just about everything you can buy commercially including 5.56 milsurp

That said, I have a 222 & probably wouldn’t ever swap it for a 223 but then I have plenty of brass & many thousands of bullets plus powder & primers to reload with so buying factory ammo isn’t necessary for me.
Click to expand...
Can you use military surplus 5.56 in a 223.
 
Before using 5.56 in a .223 do a bit of research. Generally 5.56 in a .223 is not always a good idea, I’ll not bore you with the technicalities.

Personally I would opt for, if I had a choice, a .223 Wylde chambering. When applying for a variation state .223/5.56 so you cover all bases.
 
.222 is a lovely calibre, especially on muntjac. Smooth and little meat damage.
I don't head out without the .308 now, so my .222 isn't getting the use it deserves.

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I’ve never been a 223 fan so you realize which way I’m going . A 222 was THE FIRST centerfire rifle I ever fired . At the age of 8 or so I fired the Remington 722 in 222 REM that my grandfather bought new in 1958 . And FWIW I still have that rifle , it’s nothing special to most folks but of course I have a sentimental attachment to it so most likely it’ll be one of the last ones that leave my possession . For what I’d be doing with a 222 , 223 or 222 REM Mag in practical application I don’t see much if any difference .
 
To you knowledgeable non lead bullet nonsense afficiardos..
Would the Barnes 45gn be stabilised by a 1/14 twist at 222 velocities, say 3500fps.
 
223 - ammo readily available including affordable bulk target / mil surp type ammo.

Faster twist barrels allow longer BC bullets better for long range shooting.

222 - cheap ammo not so readily available. 1 in 12 and 1 in 14 twist rates top out at c60gn lead bullets. Still plenty good enough to longer ranges.

If you reload six of one and two threes.

.222 is very sweet, .223 a little barkier but also sweet.

223 many more options in rifles and rifle types

222 classier rifles perhaps.
 
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