Accuracy expectations of .222

[RCS Deer Management]

I’ve never seen a .222 that needed bedding to shoot clover leaf groups, and I’ve had a few!

I’d leave bedding to last IMHO.

Couldn’t disagree more. Lost count of the amount of rifles that I have magically fixed for people just by bedding. My sako a1 .222 and Weihrauch .222 were both dismal before bedding. Both now shoot sub 1/2moa with 50gr vmax. I shoot close to 2000 rounds a year through my .222, it’s my go to rifle

 

[bowji john]

Curious

Does .222 give anything extra that .223 doesn’t already cover?

I already have .223 - that’s why I ask

 

[Stalker62]

Does .222 give anything extra that .223 doesn’t already cover?

 

[HonestJohn]

Couldn’t disagree more. Lost count of the amount of rifles that I have magically fixed for people just by bedding. My sako a1 .222 and Weihrauch .222 were both dismal before bedding. Both now shoot sub 1/2moa with 50gr vmax. I shoot close to 2000 rounds a year through my .222, it’s my go to rifle

Likely also due to people trying to free float them then realising they suddenly need bedding. Or buying one that’s been free floated but not bedded.

Yes, plenty of those about indeed! But factory spec sako’s needing bedding in a .222 ..

 

[User00040]

Curious

Does .222 give anything extra that .223 doesn’t already cover?

I already have .223 - that’s why I ask

Would be cool to try the 220 Russian

 

[bowji john]

Would be cool to try the 220 Russian

That’s a new one on me

 

[User00040]

That’s a new one on me

220 Russia is the grand-father of the 6mmPPC, 6.5 Grendel, 6 ARC... and now full circle with the 22 ARC

 

[RCS Deer Management]

Yes, plenty of those about indeed! But factory spec sako’s needing bedding in a .222 ..

Not at all if you are happy with groups that are floating around in the moa range… if however you want a truly accurate rifle then yes, sako factory wooden stock rifles need bedding in order to get the most out of them

 

[HonestJohn]

Not at all if you are happy with groups that are floating around in the moa range… if however you want a truly accurate rifle then yes, sako factory wooden stock rifles need bedding in order to get the most out of them

I’ve had a 75 and a rihiimaki, both cloverleafed, as did my 3 Brno Fox, and as does my Remington 722. Never bedded one. But fair enough, this is a small sample, but, still, never personally seen a 222 need it

 

[Acm]

Unbedded factory tikka t3x with hornady 40grn v max over reload Swiss 36. 5 shot group
Pic is from load development, not zeroed!

 

[pete evans]

I got the ppu as all the other flat based 50 grain bullets implied they were varmint style loads and I want something that could chest shoot muntjac or roe in Scotland. I shot a muntie with the ppu and the bruising was quite bad despite not hitting bone. What are other guys using out of .222 for deer? The Sierra varminter and Speer tnt both shot quite well but put off by the fact they are marketed as being destructive

 

[HonestJohn]

I got the ppu as all the other flat based 50 grain bullets implied they were varmint style loads and I want something that could chest shoot muntjac or roe in Scotland. I shot a muntie with the ppu and the bruising was quite bad despite not hitting bone. What are other guys using out of .222 for deer? The Sierra varminter and Speer tnt both shot quite well but put off by the fact they are marketed as being destructive

Try 50g Sako gameheads, or even 55g, they have always shot almost one hole groups for me in my .222’s

 

[Will the chippy]

I think as a .22 bullet most bullets are branded as varmint. They were never designed as a deer calibre, although they are more than capable. Most of the soft points should be fine.

 

[Rake Aboot]

As has been said , try Sako gameheads
They shot one hole groups for me in pretty much every situation, including howling wind.

In answer to your original question, yes .222 is that accurate so something your doing needs changed.

 

[User00040]

I got the ppu as all the other flat based 50 grain bullets implied they were varmint style loads and I want something that could chest shoot muntjac or roe in Scotland. I shot a muntie with the ppu and the bruising was quite bad despite not hitting bone. What are other guys using out of .222 for deer? The Sierra varminter and Speer tnt both shot quite well but put off by the fact they are marketed as being destructive

Despite the name, the Sierra does three different types of flat-based, 'Varmiter' type bullets, both intended for the 'traditional' 1:12"-1:14" barreled .222 or .223:

.22 CALIBER 50 GR. SPITZER BLITZ - Sierra Bullets

If you shoot a rifle in 222 Remington or 223 Remington, this may be the ideal varmint bullet for you. This bullet is designed for the velocity levels typical of these two popular rifle cartridges to give maximum terminal performance. It can often give accuracy rivaling even our famous...

www.sierrabullets.com

.22 CALIBER 63 GR. SMP - Sierra Bullets

In rifles, the semi-point design allows this style of bullet to expand faster than a spitzer style due to a generous amount of exposed lead at the tip and the slightly larger opening in the jacket. Capable of outstanding accuracy, this bullet can be an excellent choice for varmints and small...

www.sierrabullets.com

.22 CALIBER 50 GR. SPT - Sierra Bullets

In rifles, this bullet is fully capable of producing 1/4 minute of angle accuracy at velocities that would destroy most other bullets. Each bullet has the Spitzer point shape and a flat base. This bullet is the choice of many accomplished varmint hunters. It features precisely drawn jackets to...

www.sierrabullets.com

Worth having a read of the detailed bullet discriptions. Don't dismiss the 63 grain offering!

 

[User00040]

I think as a .22 bullet most bullets are branded as varmint. They were never designed as a deer calibre, although they are more than capable. Most of the soft points should be fine.

Many thousands of deer killed with .22 bullets, world record bear at one point was taken with a .22 short!

.222 was the NZ deer cullers favourite at one time, as 500 rounds of .222 weighs about the same as 200 rouds of 308.

 

[pete evans]

Try 50g Sako gameheads, or even 55g, they have always shot almost one hole groups for me in my .222’s

I can only find loaded rounds in sako not bullets. I think I’ll try some scierra varminter and get some reloader 7 as I got better groups with this.
It’s just almost every thread I have read regarding.222 is any bullet and powder combination shoots well. My 243 and 308 both developed really accurate loads without much trouble my 270 pretty fussy but eventually got there with 130 gameking. I suspect I’ll get a good load with .222 but it’s proving more difficult than I expected.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Yeh . It’s likely thanks to Sako that I know nothing about reloading

 

[pete evans]

Many thousands of deer killed with .22 bullets, world record bear at one point was taken with a .22 short!

.222 was the NZ deer cullers favourite at one time, as 500 rounds of .222 weighs about the same as 200 rouds of 308.

Yes, no doubt. Pity it’s not roe legal in England. Just that most of the bullets seem to be aimed at the more frangable end of the spectrum unless you are buying loaded rounds

 

[cjs66]

I've a Sako 75 in 222, there's no bedding been done to it and it shoots 40 and 50 grain bullets very well. My most accurate loads all use N130, I've tried other powders but came back to N130. Sierra 50g Blitz and 50g SPT, Nosler 50g BT and the Hornady 50g Vmax will all shoot ragged holes at 100 yards. Had my barrel shortened to 18" so mv is down a tad, around 3000/3100 fps, depending on bullet used, but still accurate.

cjs