222 zeroing

[J.kerslake]

@mikesy have you got a ballistic app? I’ve used the iStrelok app which I think is quite good, if you put in all the info which ever app you choose will give you a table with drop at various distances.

 

[J.kerslake]

Unfortunately no buddy, the first load I worked up was using the 40g v- max, they shot so well that I decided to go with them, View attachment 188531

Show off

 

[mikesy]

I'll give that a look. Cheers

 

[mikesy]

Unfortunately no buddy, the first load I worked up was using the 40g v- max, they shot so well that I decided to go with them, View attachment 188531

 

[WSSX]

I load 40g v-max with 21g of N130 giving 3440fps , zero at 50 gives 30mm high at 100, zero again at 160 and 40mm low at 200 which is as far as i shoot both of my.222’s out to on foxes

Those are good numbers - possibly even beating the Hornady data. I get a little under that velocity using 22.2gr of N130 with the 40gr V-Max, but my barrel is only 20in.

Probably my favourite gun to shoot, it's a joy. Seems to be a very forgiving cartridge when it comes to load development, too - nothing shot badly!

For what it's worth, I agree with everyone else. Zero it high and increase your MPBR.

 

[User00036]

160-175 yds zero seems to work for me. Also for sighting in on a calm day will tell you more than 100yds.
Works out at about 30mm high at 100 yds, either way its a dead skulker!
BTW the width between a foxes eyes is about 6cm.
Over 175 yards I feel more confident with a Remington Varmint 50 gr & Norma Vmax 40 gr, than with my favourite round (Norma SP) 50gr, just seems flatter. Maybe ballistic tip bullets hold line better at distance.

 

[Rob1562]

Not the same cartridge but should help.
I shoot 50grn v-max homeloads in 22BR with a velocity of 3650fps. I used to zero 1" high at 100yds but now zero bang on at 100yds.
This gives me 1" low at 50yds and 1" low at 200yds and about 6" low at 300yds......to me, this gives me point and shoot out to 200 yds and top of back at 300 yds.
All this confirmed with Strelock pro and as above 300 yds is also top of vertical post on reticle. Happy days !
Hope this helps.
Regards, Rob.

 

[mikesy]

Hi Rob,
nice flat shooting there but I dont think a 222 will reach anywhere near the same velocity hence the reason the 1" high at 100m seems to be most popular.

 

[Triggermortis]

Beg to differ, even factory ammo can exceed that figure, tha attached is for hornady superformance 35g

 

[mikesy]

Well there you go, all the load data that I looked at never came near that figure for the 222. I suppose the bullet weight is the main factor or is it solely down to the powder load?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

@mikesy

The reticle.in your scope is also something that can help with determining a 'zero' distance.

If you have a 'German No.4' (as pictured):View attachment 188467
or similar reticle then you can use it to your advantage for reference points. Take note of the three thick lines, two horizontal and one vertical.

With a little trial and error, these can be used to both gauge the size and distance of your target(say a fox) and correspondingly adjust your aiming point relative to the reticle.

If you know where your shots land at a given distance relative to the reticle, then you know where to aim on the target.

Hope that helps.

further to that:

the distance between the outer posts, the thickness of the outer posts, the thickness of the inner crosshair, all have relevance to measuring and rangingIn practice the top of the thick post is a 300 yard hold point for most stalking cartridges

 

[WSSX]

Well there you go, all the load data that I looked at never came near that figure for the 222. I suppose the bullet weight is the main factor or is it solely down to the powder load?

A bit of both possibly, but largely the bullet weight I expect (and the fact that you can probably knock a good few fps off the often optimistic factory quoted figures). You'll not get there with 50gr bullets in .222, but Hornady data suggests you can (or near enough) with 40gr and a max load of a couple of powders in a 24in barrel!

I imagine those 35gr jobs get blown about a bit but they might be fun!

 

[Foxyboy43]

From the viht guide for 40gns sierras

Maximum load
Type	Weight	Velocity	Weight	Velocity
[g]	[grs]	[m/s]	[fps]	[g]	[grs]	[m/s]	[fps]
N110	0,92	14.2	942	3091	1,12	17.3	1056	3465
N120	1,32	20.4	922	3025	1,43	22.1	1004	3294

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Might have been me, I generally start at 50m ish (sometimes less) because it’s not unknown for an initial set up to be off an a4 paper at 100m. Testing loads the other day I was 6 or so inches high at 100m.

50 gets you roughly an inch high at 100 which works well but it’s worth checking - never going to be vastly out though and will work, don’t spend too much time worrying about it

 

[Klenchblaize]

What about if you crimp your loads?

K

 

[Firefly]

From the viht guide for 40gns sierras

Maximum load
Type	Weight	Velocity	Weight	Velocity
[g]	[grs]	[m/s]	[fps]	[g]	[grs]	[m/s]	[fps]
N110	0,92	14.2	942	3091	1,12	17.3	1056	3465
N120	1,32	20.4	922	3025	1,43	22.1	1004	3294

Just to be pedantic , I think your units are misaligned ? Need moving along one column.

 

[mikesy]

Thats an area way beyond my understanding

 

[flatliner]

I think your units are misaligned ?

Yes,theyare. By coincidence I'm working on a 40gr load using N120 at the minute.

 

[Neddle]

Inch high at 100yds works fine with 50gr Vmax, zeroed my T3 that way for years, you need to understand the MPBR range of your rifle/ammo combo, on foxes you've a 3" kill zone, so if you can guarantee that you can place the bullet in that 3"circle your flying. Practice on claypigeons placed face on, if you can break them, you'll drop a fox.
Zeroed inch high at 100yds it's point and shoot out to 200 yds with a 222,windage is a different animal altogether, something you need to learn for yourself

 

[paulybrynmoel]

Good reading great info appreciated