222 Remington-Powder-Bullets?

[Swift220]

I just acquired a couple 222's, 1 a Classic Rem. in a HS stock & the other a M70 Heavy Varmint with HS stock. I'm used to loading the bigger 22's, Swifts & 22-250, and don't have much experience with the smaller cases. I'm thinking about 50 or 52 grain bullets, maybe 40 Berger, & the powders I currently have I use in 223's. Bmark, N133, H322, X-Terminator, IMR 4198, & Pro Varmint. Where do you feel my best starting point is? Don't mind buying bullets but I've got a bunch of 52 Berger's, 50 Z-MAX's, & 50 CT ballistic silvertips. Thanks for your opinions & insight. Jim D

[dungheap]

I think it's hard to find some combination that won't shoot well in a .222.

Given the powders you listed, I'd look up the Hodgdon load data for H322 for whatever bullet weight you choose and start there. If that doesn't work, try literally any of the others listed and go to it. The .222 just has to be one of the most forgiving cartridges ever developed. JMO

[csterner]

N133 with 50's here.

[Bill K]

Never pass up and try the old standby for the 222 R. H 4895. with a good 50 grain bullet. Bill K

[Chuck Miller]

I don't see anything in your powder and bullet selections that shouldn't shoot. I personally don't shoot anything heavier than a 50gr'er in my 1-14" 222's. I can but it just does so much better with the 40-50 pills. So if I have a choice that's the way I go, especially if those 50gr+ are plastic tipped. My powders of choice are N133, H322, and RL7. No surprise those are all on the faster range of available powders and grouped pretty close together on the burn rate chart. All my 222's are Sakos and if there is any variance in twist rate it will be north of 14"

[long shot]

I use one that has not been mentioned yet and I sure like it. Accurate 2200 with a 40 grn. Nosler ballistic tip lit off by a cci 450. Both my old Sako and a Rem 700 with a Shilen tube shoot this combo very well.

Aaron

[PeterS]

Jim, You seem to already have most of what you may want absent the brass of course. N133, H322 and IMR 4198 are all excellent in my experience. The only other suggestion I would make are Sierra 53gr MatchKing #1400 bullets and perhaps H4198. As others have said, it almost seems hard to discern which is better than the other with a .222. Very forgiving and very accurate. My nudge would be the 53gr Sierra's, H322 powder and Winchester brass with Winchester primers. Set the bullets .010 - .015 off and give it a try. I use the data right off the Hodgdon charts. If you want to spend more $, you can go with Lapua brass and Federal match primers. For my part, I steer clear of any bullet heavier than the 53's in the .222. Leave the 55's for your 22/250 and Swift. Depends on your intended use I guess. I save the Lapua brass for targets and the Winchester for field & hunting. MatchKing bullets for the range and V-Max or similar in the field. In my opinion the posters before me are spot on.

Best of luck, Peter.

[moorepower]

Are you shooting paper or fur? The 50 spsx is really hard to beat shooting fur at .222 velocity, and mostly very accurate.

[Johnly]

When the 222 was the king of the benchrest world, one of the to go to loads was 21.1 gr. of RL-7 and their 52 gr. match bullet of choice. A max load no doubt, but then again BR shooters liked working at higher pressures.

[Swift220]

Thank all of you very much. To answer a few of the questions, I'm disabled & get to shoot a few varmint/predators out of the truck when my buddy's drive me around on the ranch but mostly it's paper punching. It's a hobby to see how small a group I can load & shoot. I've got plenty of the 52 & 53 Sierra's. I've also have 200 new Norma 222 brass, 200 new Lapua match brass that I was given to me, & I have 500 new R-P nickel brass (a bulk box of 500) that I've probably had 25 years & I'm kind of leery using the beautiful nickel brass. As far as primers, I've got lots of BR-4 & Federal 205M's.
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Why to stay away from tipped bullets in a 1-14 gun, the length? My buddy just gave me 500 of the brand new 53 grain tipped flat base Nosler Varmageddon bullets to try in my Swift's. Not sure what the length is, there out in my shop but sure are good looking.
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Again, thanks for all your help & experience. I appreciate it.

Jim D