Help me decide: 222 or 243?

[Hokkmike]

Henry seems like the best brand to me. 243 trumps .222 for deer. Around here .222 is HARD to find. To be honest, I don't know what these rifles look like. So, which one feels best in your hand and is the best condition. Also - surely you could add a scope to the Henry, right?

 

[MarshallDodge]

Just spoke to my good friend who loves 222 and has a literal tackdriver built by Dan Dowling.

He said H322 and 4198 are his two favorite powders, and the Speer 50 grain TNT shoots well above it's price point.

 

[MacAR]

Also - surely you could add a scope to the Henry, right?

Yes, there is a scope mount available from Henry. Had I gone with that rifle, I'd have most certainly scoped it. In the words of a famous film "my eyes, no good".

He said H322 and 4198 are his two favorite powders, and the Speer 50 grain TNT shoots well above it's price point.

I will make a note of these powders. Reloading is new and overwhelming to me. Thanks for the information, though.

Mac

 

[semperdog]

Depends on your situation. If you can afford the ammo or reload, go 222. If $ are tight, go 243.

 

[MacAR]

Just an update: I gleaned a NIB Lee Loader (the whack-a-mole style) in .222 from ebay for $20! The local Rockchucker press was sold, but there was a decent MEC 600Jr set up for 12 gauge there for $25.00; unfortunately it is missing the powder and shot bottles. None the less, it came home with me. Now I just need to source powder, bullets, and primers for the .222 and parts for the MEC and I suppose I'll be in the reloading business.
Mac

 

[tlf65]

I have 2 rifles in 222 a Sako Vixen I bought while in the Army and a Remington 700 I bought from a friend. They both like IMR 4198 and up to 55gr bullets. If you use 55gr bullets stay away from the polymer tip ones, I have read where they are too long for the 14 twist used in most 222 barrels. I have killed groundhogs at 300yds.

 

[LoonWulf]

It appears i dont have the .222 dies anymore, thought I still did.
I did find a box of 75gr Amax i didn't remember I had....not that those are helpful lol.

Ill keep looking let you know if I turn it up.

 

[MacAR]

If you use 55gr bullets stay away from the polymer tip ones

Thanks for the tip. I'm looking at 50 grain Barnes and Sierra hp's. Seems a lot of people like them for varmint work. And honestly, I'm not a big fan of polymer tipped bullets.

Ill keep looking let you know if I turn it up.

Thanks, Loon. My cousin told me this evening that he had an old press and some dies, and I was welcome to them. Don't know if he has any .222 dies though. If you come across anything, I'd appreciate it.

Mac

 

[MarshallDodge]

You can shoot the 40 and 45 Vmax, not sure on the 50, but definitely not the 53. The 53 is long and lean, is one of my favorites in 223 and has a nice BC for it's class, but won't stabilize in a 1:14 twist.

 

[Sniper66]

243 has much more flexibility with ammo. I've loaded 55gr Sierra BKs at 3800 FPS for varmints and 100 gr for deer thru 2 different rifles. For a practical shooter the .243 is the one. But, the other two would be great fun too.