Why isn't the 222 Rem Dead?

[Mowgli Terry]

Even so, too many old farts still love the .222

Old what! The 788 is also a great rifle. This country side is hilly. We could hunt in open fields. For the most part shots were limited to 200-300yards, . Hope you can find a VS that has not been rechambered. The VS in 222 was not exactly common in the day. Also work on the respect for your elders. Hope your girl does well.

 

[Milt1]

I used to have a Remington 722 in .222 and wish I still had it. Loved that cartridge!

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Because it's a classic, as long as there are us around that grew up with it the Deuce will be around.

 

[horsemen61]

Triple deuce is never a bad choice

 

[loose noose]

I've got a Savage 24V in triple deuce over a 20ga shotgun, I haven't had it out in sometime, but when I did it was ideal for quail hunting with the 20ga. and would definitely take care of the occasional coyote that was destroying our coveys of quail. Mine has a beautiful walnut stock. Truth be known I once almost had it re-rifled into .223, glad now that I didn't. Naturally I reload for it, makes me now want to take it out and just shoot it.

 

[horsemen61]

Hell I bought a set of dies for the triple deuce just last week because I want to get one one day!

 

[mshootnit]

So women flock to men who own a 222....

Yes....yes they do.

 

[Offfhand]

Asking why the .222 Rem. isn't dead is about like asking why the .30-06, or .22 RF isn't dead. It is immortal for all the reasons already stated in this thread and many, many more: Beginning with the fact that it is the root of the family tree of several other successful cartridges such as the .223 Rem. The .222 has succeeded in a wide variety of venues and applications, as illustrated by four rifles shown here: at top is a .222 made by Shilen for Benchrest competition, which .the .222 was the dominate caliber for a generation until displaced by a rule change. Next, a simple Remington .722 sporting rifle in .222, in which, like many other brands and models of .222's its accuracy punched above it's weight, and as a class act it has always fit comfortably in classy rifles like this Ruger No One single shot, and was/and is the perfect companion for trim little sweethearts like this Mannlicher style SAKO Vixen..

 

[troy fairweather]

i love that sako

 

[adcoch1]

i love that sako

Me too. Pretty much my dream gun right there...

 

[old heeler]

I started varmint shooting with Rem 722 222mag and later got 222. When I was shooting BR it was towards tail end of the 222 and some of the wildcats used.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/competition-cartridges/

I didn't shoot BR with it, but build varmint rifle and purchased reamer for 222x40 .242 neck. 6PPC was wildcat to start, also back then lot of shooters chambered their own rifle and that's who chambered my first 222x40.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I’m a pump gun kind of guy and a handful of Remington 760s were chambered in .222.

I’m on the casual lookout for one......under $1000. Magazines will go for upper $100s.

There are small numbers of Ruger Mini-14s out there too. One came up for sale locally recently but it is not my style.

 

[WVRJ]

I only have a Contender in 222 right now,but the first rifle I ever had was a Rem 788 in 222.That rifle would shoot very well,and I have regretted selling it to be able to afford a 243.I want a 788 so bad I can taste it,but the only one I've been able to afford is a 22-250.The long neck and gentle shoulder angle of the 222 make for an inherently accurate round.Look at the 308,there is an obvious similarity in the overall shape.If I put a 10X scope on my Contender,it will put 5 into a group that will be well under an inch.A 50 grain Sierra Blitz makes for a good groundhog load out of the 14" barrel.But,sadly,groundhogs in this part of WV have became as rare as a lot of 222's.It's a great round,and has been eclipsed by the 223,but I will say that the two rounds in two identical rifles would have the 222 beat the 223 in the accuracy department.

 

[telomerase]

Because the aliens are deliberately sabotaging humans by maintaining hundreds of "different" calibers, most of which are exactly the same in performance but aren't compatible (and consume resources by diverting case manufacture to obsolete or even imaginary "rounds" like the .222, .256 magnum, and of course "5.56 mm").

 

[BullRunBear]

I have a Contender barrel in 222 Remington. It is just a fun cartridge. This thread reminded me to check my supplies. Midwayusa is having a sale on Starline 222 Remington brass so I placed an order for some and some 22 Hornet brass as well. Great topic.

Jeff

 

[Kp321]

Accuracy! There are some very accurate 223's out there but the 222 has better accuracy potential due to the very long neck. Keeps the bullet straight and the base out of the powder space.

 

[Slamfire]

I was talking to a bud in the gun club about his 222 Rem 700, manufacturing date 1964. He is having the thing rebarreled to 223 Rem. He claims the barrel twist is 1:14" on the 222 Rem. Both of us have shot outstanding scores, with AR's, with 1:8 barrels, and with 53 JHP bullets. Neither one of sees a reason to have a 1:14 twist barrel that won't shoot 69's, 75's, or 77's, when we can have a 1:8 twist barrel that will shoot sub MOA with 52gr, 53gr, through 80 grains bullets.

I do have Colt AR15 magazines stamped on the bottom "222 Remington" I purchased them during the first assault weapon ban, there will be another rolling around in the future, they feed 223 rounds just fine.

 

[BullRunBear]

This thread brought up a nice memory. I continue to haunt gun shows for odd accessories for guns I already have. Things like original Bianchi holsters for the Ruger Old Army or old, round model Lee hand priming tools. (I found the holster, by the way.) At a show a while back one table had piles of Lee Loader kits, whack-a-mole types, that had been looked over by lots of people. At the bottom of a pile was an unused Loader for 222 Remington that no one wanted along with one for 22 Hornet. Got both for five bucks. Lee still makes their 3-die set for these calibers but haven't offered the Loader kits for a long time. I like to have a Lee Loader kit for each caliber I shoot so this was a darn nice find.

Jeff

 

[Picher]

For many years the largest deer shot in Maine was shot with a .222 Rem. Saw that information at Maine State House display. It was about 300 lbs., as I remember.

 

[hdwhit]

Dr. T asked:
Why isn't the 222 Rem Dead?

Well, at the risk of sounding flippant, it is because people still have - and are shooting - rifles chambered for 222 Remington.

 

[Milt1]

If we keep this up we're going to revive this old soldier!

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Simply, because it’s one the best shooting rifles that I own. This my 722 222 from 1952 with a Fajen stock on it.

 

[loose noose]

Offhand, would truly love to have a Ruger No.1 in .222, you are an exceptionally lucky person, been looking for one, that seems like forever without any luck.

 

[chsparkman]

I just picked up this Savage 24V in .222 over 20 gauge. Taking it through load trials right now. Hoping to use it for squirrels next fall.

 

[adcoch1]

I just picked up this Savage 24V in .222 over 20 gauge. Taking it through load trials right now. Hoping to use it for squirrels next fall.

View attachment 822133

That is a beautiful firearm!