17 Rem vs. 222 Rem

[Peter M. Eick]

The new issue of Rifle has a review of the CZ527 for 22 hornet and they mention ed that the 527 can be had in a 222 remington. I have been thinking about buying a Savage 12VBSS in 223 Remington and rebarrel it to either 17 Rem or 222 Rem.

Either gun will just be a range toy or rare varminting. Basically just a fun toy for plinking paper. I handload so commercial ammo is not an issue. The costs to shoot are a wash practically to me.

So I keep coming back to the age old question of 17 rem vs. 222 rem. In my mind the 17 is unique, light bullet, very fast little beast that is generally going to be more work to clean the barrel. Ballistically it will be similar to my 22-250 in general but with less recoil.

The 222 is known accuracy, long neck for reloading, easier to reload with bigger bullets and less "precision" required. Less report, more recoil (if that is even a remote issue on such a heavy gun and such a small round).

The 527 is a mini-mauser action. Small and svelte, if I were to take it from the bench it is smaller and lighter, but the stock is not really made for bench work. The VBSS is just like my 22-250 VBSS, so I know I can shoot it well, lots of fun and easy to clean and shoot well. It is a big heavy bench gun but it can be shoot in the field. Not a field gun in general but a shooting beast on the range.

So the smart money would be a 527 in 222 or the VBSS in 223 and have a local smith set the barrel back and rechamber to 222. (Lets avoid the 223 issue. I just don't have an interest in the round).

The fun money would be on the vbss in 223 and just rebarrel it to 17 rem and go to town.

So what is your opinion of the 17 rem vs. the 222 and the CZ527 vs. the Savage VBSS?

 

[rcmodel]

I have a .223 CZ-527 American, and it will consistenty shoot sub-MOA with any load I put in it.

If bench shooting is your only interest, get a heavy barrel rifle with a flat botton forend.

But if carrying it around in the hunting field is in the cards, you can't beat a bone stock CX- 527.

BTW: The CZ single-set trigger is a wonderful thing for shooting small groups!

rc

 

[Coop45]

Shhhhhhhhh!! Don't give away the secret before I get my 527.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I know the feeling. I have glanced at the 527 several times just becase of the looks and style but knowing I can get it in 222 really appeals to me.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Uncle Grinch]

I have a .17 Rem and a .222, both on a Rem 700. If I had to keep only one it would be the .222. I find it much more usable, both in the field and at home (reloading, cleaning, etc).

The .17 Rem, while very fast is sensitive to wind and drops at longer ranges, but to me the cleaning is my big hassle. I just hate that little bitty bore size. New cleaning rod, jags, patches, brushes, powder funnel, and seating that little bullets.... it's "too much sugar for a dime", as my momma used to say.

Keep it simple and stick with the .222.

 

[DM~]

I have a .17 Rem and a .222, both on a Rem 700. If I had to keep only one it would be the .222. I find it much more usable, both in the field and at home (reloading, cleaning, etc).

The .17 Rem, while very fast is sensitive to wind and drops at longer ranges, but to me the cleaning is my big hassle. I just hate that little bitty bore size. New cleaning rod, jags, patches, brushes, powder funnel, and seating that little bullets.... it's "too much sugar for a dime", as my momma used to say.

Keep it simple and stick with the .222.

I agree, i had a 17 Rem., shot it several thousand rounds, it's long gone!

I still have my .222's though!

DM

 

[jmfc606]

I still have both calibers and probably wouldn't get rid of either. My 17 is a stock Rem 700 BDL with a 4x12x40 AO Leupold. There is nothing like putting a crow in the crosshairs, pulling the trigger and watching the crow explode through the scope. I love my 17!!

 

[VAPOPO]

.222 for the win. Accurate, Check Easy on barrels, Check Ease of getting reloading components, Check whats not to love. A SAKO vixen in .222 is a dream rifle of mine that I will own.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The .17 Rem is still a useful niche cartridge; The .222 is obsolete due to the slightly faster and exponentially more common .223.

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Obsolete???

The .17 Rem is still a useful niche cartridge; I would agree...

The .222 is obsolete due to the slightly faster and exponentially more common .223.

My thought is any cartridge is obsolete only when reloading components are no longer available.
__________________

 

[MachIVshooter]

My thought is any cartridge is obsolete only when reloading components are no longer available.

Thst would be flat-out dead.

obsolete

adjective

No longer in general use; fallen into disuse

Of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date

Out-of-date: superseded by something newer, though possibly still in use

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a 24" heavy barrel AR in 17 Remington and it is a hoot to shoot.

I also have a light barrel Remington 700 in 17 Remington that is accurate until he barrel heats after 3 or 4 rounds. Still fun to shoot. A good walk around critter gun.

The 222 Remington has a top notch reputation for accuracy and will probably will be added to my stable at some point down the road..

So, I do not think you would do wrong with either.

I guess I am no help.

 

[Skyshot]

I have a CZ527 in .222, it's the perfect walking varmit rifle. I've killed a bunch of coyotes with it. When loaded with 40 grn bullets you can dust off ground hogs with it well beyond 300 yards. It's nice little sporter weight rifle that will shoot sub MOA.