I have always wanted a 222. Should I now consider a 223 instead?

Laphroaig said:
So .222 has a reputation for stellar accuracy. Is there any science behind that, such that the cartridge itself leads to better accuracy? Another way of saying that, with 2 rifles with
exactly the same components, same case headstamp, primer, and bullet, will the .222 always shoot tighter groups than .223?

My thinking is it shouldn't if everything else is the same, but I've never owned a .222.



That seems to be the choice in bench-rest rifles.
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The difference is in the longer case neck on the .222 Rem.
The 'Duce" neck is almost twice as long=This seems to make for less "Runout" on most loads..
I would say a QUALITY handloaded .222 Rem. will most often shoot tighter groups than the same .223 Rem due to this reason...
The .223 Rem. round was designed off of the .222 Rem. round==The Duce was first....Bill.
 
@Litetrigger thank you for showing us those beautiful rifles. I will be completely honest I had a horrible day and that photo made me forget about it. So thank you again it brought me much joy. I find it soothes my soul to see Old World Craftsmanship and how the Masters of a bygone era did things. In this very sterile day and age of Chassis rifles🤮🤮🤮 No give me Wood and Blued Steel for it brings joy to my heart. Back when even the lowly Rem 722 was treated With Care and dignity! The advancements in rifle technology may mean they can shoot smaller groups now, yet I will never be truly happy with such cold mechanical things for they have zero Character.
 
I recommend a .223 accley improved so you can shoot .223 Rem and .556 NATO

I meant to say .223 wylde.... I've punished my brain severely for its dereliction of duty. :mad:
 
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My .222 rem is a B.S.A , it's similar to a mini-mauser ,it has open sights though there is a scope on it now. The bullet weight ,50 grains, is stamped on the barrel which I believe is the bullet weight the open sights are regulated for. Some factory load are almost as fast as .223 rem. Loads are..
The 223 rem. Is more common and probably more versatile, both rifles should shoot bug holes with hand loads ,depending what you decide to buy
 
I would go with a .223. It's slightly more powerful but similar enough. If your plan is (was) to shoot something around 55 grain'ish, just make sure you don't get a twist rate too fast. 1:7 is common in the AR15 platform. 1:10 to 1:12 is probably ideal if you keep your pellets small.
 
Im sorta waiting for the 22 Creedmoor to get more established… seems like a amazing cartridge
 
It did not take too much for me to get good at converting 223 brass to 222 brass. My gun was happy with the brass with no neck turning required. Given how easy it is to source a bucket full of once fired 223 consider doing a huge batch conversion. As such, it would not take that long or that much money to assemble a lifetime supply of ammo.

On the other hand the 223 is not so bad at doing most things you would use a 222 for.

I find the blast from typical 223 ammo on the nasty side from some guns and know that the 222 would be better in this regard.

Another good point is that nearly any 222 gun was made for a target buyer that values accuracy. Many 223 guns are made without this focus. However a good bolt in 223 should be fine for most people.

Another option you may want to consider is a single shot in either caliber if you can find one.
 
I always wanted a Remington 700 in .222 Remington in my younger days. In my fantasy world it would have been the perfect ranch-truck gun-rack rifle for bumping about the pastures during lambing/calving seasons.

IMG_8865.jpeg

A .222 looks like a mini .30/06, which is just about the perfect sporting rifle round in my eyes. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I always wanted a Remington 700 in .222 Remington in my younger days. In my fantasy world it would have been the perfect ranch-truck gun-rack rifle for bumping about the pastures during lambing/calving seasons.

View attachment 1246312

A .222 looks like a mini .30/06, which is just about the perfect sporting rifle round in my eyes. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
The .223 looks like a 300 wm. The most harsh rifle I've owned. Through the wonders of handloading it identified as a 300 savage. I loaned it out and left it that way.
 
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Show Me said:
The .223 looks like a 300 wm. The most harsh rifle I've owned. Through the wonders of handloading it identified as a 300 savage. I loaned it out and left it that way.
Click to expand...
Yup, all shoulder, no neck. (Sounds like an offensive lineman! 🤪 ). I have no idea what a .222 Rem Mag emulates. 7x57 Mauser maybe?
(.222 Rem Mag at right)
IMG_8866.jpeg

Stay safe.
 
I,m in the group that if I want something I buy it.
Most of my gun stuff is 99% used, so if or when i get over owning it i sell it and generally recoup my investment.
The OP wanted a 222, just go buy one and be happy.
What ever you need for a 222 is readily available, just buy the rifle that fits your fits your needs.
It shouldn't take long to find a decent rifle in the right make and model.
------------------
Years ago my doctor wanted a Savage over & uder for deer hinting.
He found a 222 over a 20 gauge, that he was thinking of buying.
He doesn't reload so i found him a 223 over 20 gauge out of Alaska.
If I had a use for that 222 over 20 gauge I would of bought it.
 
In the end, with the ballistics being mostly identical I would choose the .223, simply because of the different platforms this round can be used in from a bolt action to an AR platform.
 
I now have pops 222 sako working up so loads now, I have mixed brass. I remember Pops picking up 223 brass at the rage by the bucket loads literally and working them into 222. I have shot this rife since I was four, love it. It hammers prairie dogs at 250. Been using 55 gr Sierra BlitzKing. Pops use 50 gr sierra spitzer #1330 they don't make it any more still have a 100 count box, He used 3130 or 4895. I'm working with V-max Hornady 55 with 24 gr H335. I'm 61 and love the classics, Pops is 90 now and dementia has set in. Sad I can't reminisce with him. so it passes to me working with the RCBS JR and all the old manuals the first time I reloaded, I used the old powers and bullets, I noticed that the new manuals for the same powders are different so I loaded to his old manuals. He loved his 300 savage model 99. I guess this is where I think gunstocks should be wood.
So in all that I would say 222 its the gentlemen's rifle classy.
 
This has been a great thread for me. Thanks to everyone that contributed.

I am going to go 222 now, with a 223 next Winter/Spring. Those that really prefer the 223, I will join you in that caliber soon, not to worry. Mostly because of some of the reviews here. For now, It came down to fulfilling the childhood dream of owning one, combined with the nostalgia. But with all the great posts of the 223, and knowing myself as I do, I'll want a rifle chambered for 223 within 16 months time.

So, 222 NOW. 223 in 12-16 months. 😊👍
 
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