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It looks like I am getting a 222 Rem rifle. The gun has a 1/14" twist barrel. I am looking for suggestions for a load. Which bullet weight seems to work best for this caliber and twist?
Thanks,
Thanks,
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With a 1-14 twist you will be looking at lighter weight bullets. From 40 grs. to maybe 55 grs as being the heaviest bullets you can use. The most popular load for many years is the 50 grs. class bullet using IMR 4198. Start about 18.5 grs. and top load at 20.5 grs. The 222 has always been an accurate round from the start back around the early 1950's. Makes a great chuck gun and other four legged varmints. -
I have 11 M700/M722 222 Remington's, 6 benchrest rifles with all the bells and whistles and 5 others ranging from varmint to target. These rifles are extremely accurate when fed 4198/H335/H322/VV133/Benchmark and some loads I have use IMR4895.
For benchrest, H322 at 23.5 gr's using a 1410 Sierra HPBT. Yes it's over the suggested max, but no pressure signs with any of my rifles. I was told by an old benchrest competitor that used the 222 that you can load up the 222 to where you see pressure signs and back off until you don't. Actual load I stopped at was 23.8 where primers were flattening. I dropped it 3 tenth's and the primers looked normal after firing, no pressure signs. Now that was a long long time ago, 30 plus years and the load still works perfect. One hole groups at 100 yards is common and expected. Also, using a Lyman M die will keep your bullets starting straight in the case when seating and using a Wilson inline seating die will ensure perfectly seated bullets.
Matt"When you tax away the rewards of effort, you destroy the motivation to achieve"Comment
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My best loads are with 45-50 gr bullets and 18.5-20.0 gr IMR 4198. Tuna is right on with his recommendation. That combo has been a winner for MANY years.Comment
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IMR4198 and H4198 indeed work quite well and as it's almost impossible to purchase powder right now, if this is what you have, then that's what you have. VV133 in my opinion is probably the most consistant powder for the 222/223. H322 would come in second, Benchmark 3rd and the 4198's at the tail end.
I have shot the 222 since I was 8 when my father gave me his Remington 722 which was my first centerfire rifle back in 1958. This rifle received a new Douglass barrel, stock, pillar and bedded, new Leupold scope and was teflon coated! This was presented to my daughter for her 16th birthday back in 2005 and is still shooting tiny groups with IMR4198. However, when fed H322 and VV133 this rifle will produce one hole groups that are smaller than when using the 4198's. That's been my experience and it's just keeps going as I enjoy shooting the my 222's for target and varmint hunting.
Matt"When you tax away the rewards of effort, you destroy the motivation to achieve"Comment
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