What lead free bullets for a .222 ?

[paulux]

I love to hunt roe and fox with my three .222s and would like to continue with lead free bullets. All have a 1:14" barrel twist rate.

My only experience has been with factory Sako Powerhead II rounds (Barnes 50 gr ttsx). Groupings were not great. Five shots gave 5 cm and 3 cm groupings at 100 m from respectively a CZ 527 and a Blaser K95 (both 60 cm barrels). The Barnes website actually mentions that 50 gr ttsx need a 1:12" or faster twist rate.
Anyhow my only hunting experience with them wasn't too encouraging. A lung shot adult roe buck, shot at 60 m, bolted 80 m before collapsing, with no paint and pins nor any blood trail at all.

I handload so am considering trying Fox 45 gr (Ed from Edingburgh Rifles mentions in a post that Fox 50 gr won't stabilize in .222).
Am also considering Barnes 45 gr or 50 gr tsx which should stabilize according to the Barnes website, but I fear they won't expand enough in a fox or roe.
Another option would be Lapua Naturalis 50 gr, which Lapua factory loads in .222 rounds.

Have any of you shot or hunted with lead free bullets from a .222 ? Which did you use ? What accuracy did you get ? How was the performance on game/deer ? I'd appreciate you sharing your experience.

 

[takbok]

I've tried the 45gr TSX @3400 fps and couldn't get it to shoot accurately out of my Sako 75 .222, 1:14 twist. Very erratic

You could try the 50gr TTSX with the tips removed (very easy with pliers) to shorten the bullet for better stabilisation, unless the likes of Fox has a shorter 50gr or 45gr bullet etc.

I've just seen that you're in France. The best bullet for your .222 will be the 40gr GS Custom (224040HV057) bullet from Tiemens in Holland. It will give you excellent performance on Roe and fox.

GS Custom - T2Ammo

Tiemens & Tiemens is een erkende wapenhandel uit Apeldoorn en is uw specialist op het gebied van premium munitie voor de jacht en schietsport. Uiteraard vindt u bij ons nog veel meer. Maak eens een afspraak, kom langs en laat u aangenaam verrassen door ons vakkundige advies.

www.t2ammo.com

Sorry I suggested 50gr bullets above as that is the minimum weight required in Scotland for Roe.

 

[paulux]

I've tried the 45gr TSX @3400 fps and couldn't get it to shoot accurately out of my Sako 75 .222, 1:14 twist. Very erratic

You could try the 50gr TTSX with the tips removed (very easy with pliers) to shorten the bullet for better stabilisation, unless the likes of Fox has a shorter 50gr or 45gr bullet etc.

I've just seen that you're in France. The best bullet for your .222 will be the 40gr GS Custom (224040HV057) bullet from Tiemens in Holland. It will give you excellent performance on Roe and fox.

GS Custom - T2Ammo

Tiemens & Tiemens is een erkende wapenhandel uit Apeldoorn en is uw specialist op het gebied van premium munitie voor de jacht en schietsport. Uiteraard vindt u bij ons nog veel meer. Maak eens een afspraak, kom langs en laat u aangenaam verrassen door ons vakkundige advies.

www.t2ammo.com

Sorry I suggested 50gr bullets above as that is the minimum weight required in Scotland for Roe.

Thanks for that Takbok. Are you sure about the 40gr GS Custom bullet ? Their website doesn't mention it as suitable for a .222 with a 1:14" twist rate. See GS CUSTOM BULLETS - Specifications for use

 

[Steff]

I am in the same fix. I could get neither the Barnes TSX nor the Fox bullets to shoot accurately.
And I am honestly surprised to see that even the 40 grs. GSC seems to be too long. WTF should we be using in the .222 then. 20grs. bullets?
I do have quite some experience with lead frees in larger calibres. And that tells me do go down in weight compared to leaded bullets, which makes perfect sense as the lead free ones are longer at a given weight.
So realy I see a certain tendancy towards larger calibres if we want to maintain bullet weights. Or we adapt twist rates, but this would require new barrels. And I am not aware of any .222 factory barrel being made with a 1 in 10 or 1 in 8 twist.

 

[Cottis]

I am in the same fix. I could get neither the Barnes TSX nor the Fox bullets to shoot accurately.
And I am honestly surprised to see that even the 40 grs. GSC seems to be too long. WTF should we be using in the .222 then. 20grs. bullets?
I do have quite some experience with lead frees in larger calibres. And that tells me do go down in weight compared to leaded bullets, which makes perfect sense as the lead free ones are longer at a given weight.
So realy I see a certain tendancy towards larger calibres if we want to maintain bullet weights. Or we adapt twist rates, but this would require new barrels. And I am not aware of any .222 factory barrel being made with a 1 in 10 or 1 in 8 twist.

I have a 1 in 10 twist .222rem off the shelf. Admittedly it is a Schultz and Larsen so not crazy popular but it is truly a versatile tool. I know the deuce was really designed to shoot 50 grain standard bullets and they all do that very well generally but the standard 1 in 14 barrels limits them really which is a shame, as they are capable of handling all sorts.

 

[Steff]

I have a 1 in 10 twist .222rem off the shelf. Admittedly it is a Schultz and Larsen so not crazy popular but it is truly a versatile tool. I know the deuce was really designed to shoot 50 grain standard bullets and they all do that very well generally but the standard 1 in 14 barrels limits them really which is a shame, as they are capable of handling all sorts.

This is interesting. Thanks. Have you tried any of the lead free bullets? And do they shoot well?

 

[Cottis]

This is interesting. Thanks. Have you tried any of the lead free bullets? And do they shoot well?

Not in anger as it is not a rifle I use to target deer but I have shot the odd muntjac with it from an opportunistic point of view. I shoot 53g varmegeddons through it primarily as an all round pest control rifle but tend to keep a couple of Sako Gameheads in my pocket should a munty wander past.

I did try some of the barnes bullets mentioned here that a friend had issues with (a 1 in 14 twist like you guys have mentioned) and mine shot them fine. Not as well as my Noslers but they literally put bullets on top of each other but certainly inside an inch @ 100yds.

 

[Steff]

Looks like it is time for a custom .222 barrel for my beautifully stocked (Safari style with very nice wood) R93.

 

[LuckyEddie]

I do have quite some experience with lead frees in larger calibres. And that tells me do go down in weight compared to leaded bullets, which makes perfect sense as the lead free ones are longer at a given weight.

I would have thought that it would be the other way round
Given lead has a high density compared to other metals; then the lead bullet would be shorter unless you use something that has a higher density than lead?
This may lead to certain rifles being scrapped as they might not be able to accommodate a larger round to meet deer requirements.
Ed

 

[jimbo1984]

Why exactly do you want to go Lead free ?

 

[paulux]

Why exactly do you want to go Lead free ?

Thanks for asking, but that is another debate and I don't want this thread to go that way.

 

[Steff]

I would have thought that it would be the other way round
Given lead has a high density compared to other metals; then the lead bullet would be shorter unless you use something that has a higher density than lead?
This may lead to certain rifles being scrapped as they might not be able to accommodate a larger round to meet deer requirements.
Ed

This is what I said. We are 100% in line with each other.

 

[LuckyEddie]

This is what I said. We are 100% in line with each other.

Sorry my mistake I misread the sentence

Ed

 

[Steff]

Why exactly do you want to go Lead free ?

Upcoming legal requirements in Europe, maybe. But I like to be prepared.
Currently I may still use regular bullets in the .22 calibers, Higher up I have to shoot lead free already.
This is Northrhein Westalia in Germany.

 

[Freeforester]

Bix'n Andy can do a custom barrel for Blaser R93

 

[Steff]

Bix'n Andy can do a custom barrel for Blaser R93

I know! But the delivery time will bring me into 2021 I‘m afraid.

 

[takbok]

Thanks for that Takbok. Are you sure about the 40gr GS Custom bullet ? Their website doesn't mention it as suitable for a .222 with a 1:14" twist rate. See GS CUSTOM BULLETS - Specifications for use

You're right that they don't recommend the 40gr for the 1:14 twist barrel. They are very conservative with their recommended twist rates. The length of the bullet is similar to other jacketed bullets that shoot well. Case in point is that my .270 shoots the 110gr HV bullets well yet shows a similar stability number on their graph to the 40gr bullet for the 1:14 twist. The GS manufacturers have used the 40gr bullet in 220 Swift's with 1:14 barrels.

If you want total peace of mind then choose the 35gr HV. Don't worry about the low weight - the bullet will always exit the deer/fox and they won't run very far, if at all.

You won't be disappointed with these bullets. They really are fantastic. I use the 62gr HV in my 6x45 also. You'll need to use a faster powder than usual to get the best out of these bullets.

 

[Overlay]

I love to hunt roe and fox with my three .222s and would like to continue with lead free bullets. All have a 1:14" barrel twist rate.

My only experience has been with factory Sako Powerhead II rounds (Barnes 50 gr ttsx). Groupings were not great. Five shots gave 5 cm and 3 cm groupings at 100 m from respectively a CZ 527 and a Blaser K95 (both 60 cm barrels). The Barnes website actually mentions that 50 gr ttsx need a 1:12" or faster twist rate.
Anyhow my only hunting experience with them wasn't too encouraging. A lung shot adult roe buck, shot at 60 m, bolted 80 m before collapsing, with no paint and pins nor any blood trail at all.

I handload so am considering trying Fox 45 gr (Ed from Edingburgh Rifles mentions in a post that Fox 50 gr won't stabilize in .222).
Am also considering Barnes 45 gr or 50 gr tsx which should stabilize according to the Barnes website, but I fear they won't expand enough in a fox or roe.
Another option would be Lapua Naturalis 50 gr, which Lapua factory loads in .222 rounds.

Have any of you shot or hunted with lead free bullets from a .222 ? Which did you use ? What accuracy did you get ? How was the performance on game/deer ? I'd appreciate you sharing your experience.

I use the Sako power heads in my 222 Blaser R8 pro success with 22mm match barrel and it’s a tack driver, so much so I sold my 222 re loading kit as I didn’t need it, what barrel length is the Blaser

 

[paulux]

I use the Sako power heads in my 222 Blaser R8 pro success with 22mm match barrel and it’s a tack driver, so much so I sold my 222 re loading kit as I didn’t need it, what barrel length is the Blaser

Good to know the 50 gr ttsx works well in a 222. My Blaser barrel is 60 cm (15 mm diameter at the muzzle).

 

[paulux]

I use the Sako power heads in my 222 Blaser R8 pro success with 22mm match barrel and it’s a tack driver, so much so I sold my 222 re loading kit as I didn’t need it, what barrel length is the Blaser

Have you hunted with them and if so how did they perform ?