Article by Layne Simpson on .222 and it's siblings

[Foxhunter223]

I caught that too. They were available here also, I had one in the late 70's it was an excellent shooter. I don't think that they sold very well because they were a push-feed long action, a very oversized action for the cartridge, I suspect that is what kept them from selling well.

drover

drover, that is exactly why I didn't buy it, but instead bought a little Sako L461 in 223. Still have that rifle today.

Pete

[Gerald D.]

I've had a couple of .222's, a 788 and then a CZ 527 American, sold them off eventually and now only have a 527 FS I've never shot...shame on me. Sure hope its a shooter.







Likely get some slightly lower rings and possibly swap out the bolt handle to the new style.

[georgeld]

Nice, needs to be shot now

[Bill K]

Nice European stock and full manlicher (?) very nice. Bill K

[Daryl]

OK- this question came up on another forum I frequent.
The accuracy of the .222 is well known, but nowadays the .223 is more popular I think, even in bolt guns.
Why have we not heard of the GREAT normal accuracy of the .223?
I know of only one heavy barreled rifle in .223 and it's accuracy was .6" to .75" at 100 meters. That was the best the fellow could get out of it.

[Gerald D.]

I have two CZ 527's in .223, one American with a killer stock and 1:12 twist shoots 40gr Vmax Fiocchi's into less that 1/2 MOA consistently, anything 55gr or more not so much. Frankly for Ground hogs around here that's all that's needed.



The other a laminated stock Varmint is unmarked as to twist (wish CZ had started marking all the rifles long ago), but given the time period should be 1:9, hoping it will handle 50-55 gr Vmax.



My old Varmint was the Kevlar stocked model with 1:9 twist and handled 50-77 gr bullets very well.



.223 in a good rifle is pretty danged accurate but no it's not a .222, I agree.

[TinMan]

Never had a 222, I have several (5) rifles in 223 Rem that routinely shoot under 0.5 MOA at 100 yds. Of those, the best group ever was a 0.232" group. For me, it takes careful brass prep, fire form to the chamber and then segregate the brass to the rifle and NS only thereafter, good commercial bullets, 40gr to 52gr bullets typically, and mostly use ball powders. Twists on those rifles are both 1:9 and 1:12, as I recall without digging out the data. I have never shot BR, but really like accurate rifles to rotate during PD shooting.

[moorepower]

Sierra now uses a .223 to test accuracy of their bullets. If all else was equal, I doubt 99.99% of the .223 would shoot better or worse than a .222. A good gun is a good gun.

[SBS]

Originally Posted by drover

I caught that too. They were available here also, I had one in the late 70's it was an excellent shooter. I don't think that they sold very well because they were a push-feed long action, a very oversized action for the cartridge, I suspect that is what kept them from selling well.

drover

That and also because they chambered it only after it was no longer a popular cartridge, being eclipsed by the .223. I had a .222 Mod. 70 in the XTR sporter and it was solidly under 1/2" with good handloads. Sold it to a friend decades ago and he still won't sell it back! I've never been without at least one .222 since the 70's, think I have 3 now still. Great PD rifles with the 40 V-Max.

[SBS]

Originally Posted by moorepower

Sierra now uses a .223 to test accuracy of their bullets. If all else was equal, I doubt 99.99% of the .223 would shoot better or worse than a .222. A good gun is a good gun.

Exactly. Benchrest shooters often quote the "3 B's" -- Barrel, Bullet, Bedding. I have had factory .223 rifles that struggled to shoot 1" groups and now own a couple of .223's that have no trouble shooting groups in the .2's. One is a custom barrel and one is a factory Savage HB. Both are fitted to partially trued actions bedded in good stocks with loads worked up for them.