222 load

[MM]

Anyone have any .222 loads to share?

[stokesrj]

My BD14 shoots the factory Lapua loads the best, both the 55 fmj and 55 soft point so I bought some supplies of both bullets and tried to see if I could duplicate the factory load. I did a matrix with N135, IMR8208XBR and H4895. The best was 23.3 grains of N135 which produced .25 MOA groups ant 3095 FPS which is slightly over max load as listed by Lapua but is safe in my rifle. The best with the H4895 was also 23.3 grains but was about 1/2" and 3050 FPS. I used Wolf Small Rifle Magnum primers and Lapua brass at 2.126 COL. None of my handholds shoot quite as well as the Lapua factory loads but come close.
Hope this helps,
Bob

[dieselten]

I have a D99 with a .222 barrel and it is extremely accurate with Lapua factory 55 grain ammo and even more accurate with Hornady Superformance 50 Vmax ammo. For handloads I would try IMR 4198 and H335. I tried one very mild load of 18.5/4198 with 50 grain bullet and it was extremely accurate and extremely mild (to try and minimize Turkey damage), it also printed at the same POI as the Lapua 55 grain at 100 yards where as the Hornady factory load hits 2" hi at 100 yards from the Lapua load.

FYI - Midway has the Hornady Superformance 50 Vmax ammo on sale for $16.95, I just bought 10 boxes. Chrono's at 3280 in my D99.

Nick

[MM]

Thanks. You have given me some good information. I have used super performance ammo with good results and I will pick up more at that sale price. I have also had best results with 55gr bullets but it is interesting that con entail wisdom and the reloading manuals tell you to stick with 50gr bullets and under.

[dieselten]

I think the manuals push the 50 grainers because a 55 with a boat tail probably wont stabilize in a 1-14 twist. You need to use a flat base and a soft point without a real long point. As you know, stability is all about overall length of the projectile.

[stokesrj]

My BD 14 really likes the Lapua 55 grain FMJ and SP bullets, even in my hand loads I have yet to find a better performing bullet. Many are sub MOA which is good enough for hunting. But for real precision work, none that I have found measure up.
I'm also starting to work with the 45 grain Barnes TX and 55 Hornady soft point with Channeler. I've shot several 3/4 MOA Groups with various powders but I know it can do much better.
I like the caliber well enough that I just ordered a high end R8 barrel chambered in it, a short fluted semi-weight. My hopes are that it will be as accurate as my 9.3X62 is in that configuration. How crazy is that? Yet if it is, I will be a happy camper.

[Chamois71]

A load that has been very accurate in my 1950's era Sako Riihimaki L46 .222:
22 grns BL-C(2)
50 grn Sierra Spitzer
Win small rifle primer
2.25 COL

Woodchucks within 300M don't fare well if I do my part.

[Chamois71]

I misread in my data book...COL=2.13 NOT 2.25....sorry bout that.

[stokesrj]

Here is an update on my .222 R8 barrel. It is the 20.5" semi-weight fluted with sights configuration that I have grown fond of. I shot it yesterday for the first time and it did not dissapoint. It shoots a wide variety of factory and handloads at 1 MOA or less. And like my BD14 .222 barrel it prefers the Lapua factory loads. Here is a pic of the first five shot group I shot with the 55 grain Lapua Sceenar soft point factory load. This is after only five shots with Remington factory loads to get it somewhat zeroed in. These shot low and right compared to the Remington loads but grouped much tighter. This one measures just under 1/2" for the five and you can see that I probably blew the group with the flyer, so I think it will be capable of sub .5 MOA accuracy once I get it broken in and fine tune load development.

I just ordered a case of the factory loads from Graf and Sons since they had them on sale for $19.99 a box which is pretty cheap for Lapua ammunition. I also ordered a thousand of the 55 grain soft point bullets since both my BD14 and R8 show a clear preference for this bullet and since it seems to work pretty well on game. It held together through both shoulders of a mid sized wild boar I shot with the BD14.

[Oscar]

Must have been the day .for the 222. Spent the day out the range yesterday doing load development. Specs as per below -

Rifle: Tikka 590 - 22inch barrel
Projectile: Nosler 52 gr SHOTS
Powder: AR2206H
Primer:CCI small rifle
COL: 54.1mm
Starting weight: 22 gns (average speed 2840fps)
Finishing weight: 23.5gns -compressed ( average speed 3120 fps)
Smallest group 5 shots: 0.22MoA
Largest: 0.95MoA
Average: 0.57MoA

Will try to give it a field test on Monday on some small game. Quite happy with these speeds because using 2207 have not been able to get above 2950fps without pressure issues?.

[stokesrj]

Update, I'm continuing to look for an economical practice load for my R8 222 Remington 20.5" fluted Semi Weight barrel and I think I've found one that will do the trick. It is with the Hornady 52 grain BTHP match bullet the version with the cannelure. I had both versions of this bullet with and without the channelure and the version with channelure is far more accurate in my gun. Luckily I bought 5,000 of these at Camp Perry back in 2012 for 8 cents each.
The load that I worked up was 25.4 grains of CFE 223 powder, Wolf small rifle magnum primer, Lapua case with the COL set to 2.150"
I shot five groups of five shots each this morning and the average was right at 1/2 moa for all 25 shots. Here is a pic of one typical five shot group. I think this load is more than accurate enough pro training.