222 remington powder loading

[wolf308]

hey anyone use varget in their 222 rem??? my sierrra manuel does not list it,or any of my manuels for that matter.

my load for it so far is 24.5 gr blc2 behind a 50 gr sierra spitzer

but ive found top notch accuracy with varget in my 204 and 22-250, just wondering if theres a reason why varget aint on the list for the trip duece.thought id ask some words of wisdom here b4 blowing my self up.

thanx for looking

[Lefty-Canuck]

Message duceman he will know....if it is anything like a 223 you cannot get enough Varget in the case...

LC

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Message duceman he will know....if it is anything like a 223 you cannot get enough Varget in the case...

LC

I don't use it in the .222, but I sure use it in my long range loads for my .223 as do other long range match shooters!
My main powder is either .4198 or H322 for the duece....
Cat

[Lefty-Canuck]

Checked online and found a load that uses 25gr of Varget with a 50gr bullet....I don't load for a 222 so take that with a grain of salt.

Best to listen to someone like Cat who loads for it....

LC

[wolf308]

yeah copy that.

guess its too slow for the duece. just checking.

[DaleJ]

Yes, Varget does quite well in the deuce. H-322 is another one that should give great accuracy.

[wolf308]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

Yes, Varget does quite well in the deuce. H-322 is another one that should give great accuracy.

ok. my 222 is pretty fussy it seems,i would have to look back but pretty sure it did not like the 322,only blc2 so far has showed potential in mine. ill try some varget in it and see how it likes it. 24 gr-26 gr should be fine with a 50 gr pill i figure.

never know what might happen, once just for ships and giggles i tested out varget in the 204 after allready having a less than 1/2 moa load(28.7 benchmark i think) and voila 4 shots in the same hole at 100 in a sled. or sorry .098" group,could probably compete benchrest with that puppy.

it will be a while-going to work soon and loaded up all the 50s i have ,but will keep ya posted. i still have to see how fast my blc2 charge runs- just so i know ,its 2nd to accuracy.

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by wolf308

ok. my 222 is pretty fussy it seems,i would have to look back but pretty sure it did not like the 322,only blc2 so far has showed potential in mine. ill try some varget in it and see how it likes it. 24 gr-26 gr should be fine with a 50 gr pill i figure.

never know what might happen, once just for ships and giggles i tested out varget in the 204 after allready having a less than 1/2 moa load(28.7 benchmark i think) and voila 4 shots in the same hole at 100 in a sled. or sorry .098" group,could probably compete benchrest with that puppy.

it will be a while-going to work soon and loaded up all the 50s i have ,but will keep ya posted. i still have to see how fast my blc2 charge runs- just so i know ,its 2nd to accuracy.

I would change the bullet. Spitzers lack the ballistic uniformity that can be obtained with hollow points or open tips. They are also prone to damage from transport / warehouse operations. Speer 52 gr hollow points or Sierra 53 gr HP will give good results. If your dies are older the bullet seat plug may be deforming the lead tipped spitzers, these plugs are fairly easy to drill to a more suitable taper.

[duceman]

if you're looking for an economy bullet that shoots well, try the speer 50 gr tnt, lee

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by duceman

if you're looking for an economy bullet that shoots well, try the speer 50 gr tnt, lee

One of my goto bullets for the .222 for sure!
Cat

[bulletman]

Ive had a .222 since I was 14. Never tried Varget in it though. I'm using BL-C#2 in mine.

[gatorr]

Reloader 7 for sure. Tried all the powders you mentioned but R 7 gave the best accuracy and velocity. I use the 30 grain berger at 3800 fps for blowing up prairie dogs. Best group with that load was .486 5 shot group and very consistant.

[Faststeel]

I shot some 222 on sunday and with 50gr Speer TNT's I was using Vhitavouri 133 powder and I got some fantastic groups from the old HB Ithaca. And with the 222 Mannlicher classic I was loading 40gr vmax bullets with 21.5gr of reloder 7 and also shot very nicely. Maybe I'll get my buddy to put my target on this thread. FS

[lclund1946]

Originally Posted by Faststeel

I shot some 222 on sunday and with 50gr Speer TNT's I was using Vhitavouri 133 powder and I got some fantastic groups from the old HB Ithaca. And with the 222 Mannlicher classic I was loading 40gr vmax bullets with 21.5gr of reloder 7 and also shot very nicely. Maybe I'll get my buddy to put my target on this thread. FS

Here is the target FS shot. I may stand corrected but believe that target #3 with the Ithaca was N133 @ 22.8 grains. 133 has much the same burn rate as BLC2 but not as dense.
[IMG][/IMG]

The 21.5 grain load of RL7 works good in most rifles and best with CCI 450 primer but lot to lot variation can be a problem. The following targets shot in Sako 75.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I don't use it in the .222, but I sure use it in my long range loads for my .223 as do other long range match shooters!
My main powder is either .4198 or H322 for the duece....
Cat

Only tried Varget because Chargemaster hopper was full of it. Used in a recently acquired Rem M7 carbine with a Leupold M8 6X. The rifle is extremely light and barrel is thin. Five-shot 100 yard groups were from .600" to .700". Very happy with the accuracy of this combo. Hodgdon's load data shows CEF 223 and Varget producing the most velocity in the 50/53/55 gr bullets in 222 Rem. Didn't you at one time put that shat (Varget) on everything?

[toomanyhobbies]

My old Tikka likes Win 748. Ball powder so it's easy to measure.

[6.5 shooter]

Another vote for Win 748.

I use 23.5 grs. behind all of my 50gr. bullets in both the wife's Krico and my Sako.

I even used it for Barnes 36 grs. but found they didn't do, what they were advertized to do, so went back to Nosler BT 50 grs.

6.5
Shooter

[bulletman]

Starting load is 23, max 25 with 50, 53 and 55 grain according to the Hodgson on-line manual!

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

Only tried Varget because Chargemaster hopper was full of it. Used in a recently acquired Rem M7 carbine with a Leupold M8 6X. The rifle is extremely light and barrel is thin. Five-shot 100 yard groups were from .600" to .700". Very happy with the accuracy of this combo. Hodgdon's load data shows CEF 223 and Varget producing the most velocity in the 50/53/55 gr bullets in 222 Rem. Didn't you at one time put that shat (Varget) on everything?

I've never tried Varget in mine because i don't shoot targets with it and I had a mess of ammo already loaded before Varget came out, then ran into a deal for an 8 pounder of H322. but I may try it out this spring- it seems to work in everything else fairly well!

Cat

[DaleJ]

The 222, 223, 223AI, and 222 Rem Mag should burn fairly similar powders. I have been all over the place with load development and found IMR 4895 to be the ultimate powder for all of these when using 50 - 55 gr bullets. This powder fills the cases maybe even lightly compressing the charge. Never seen this powder recommended in any loading manual, however the data is listed. Maybe its an RKS barrel thing? Just saying that sometimes recommendations may narrow your vision when searching for suitable powder.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

The 222, 223, 223AI, and 222 Rem Mag should burn fairly similar powders. I have been all over the place with load development and found IMR 4895 to be the ultimate powder for all of these when using 50 - 55 gr bullets. This powder fills the cases maybe even lightly compressing the charge. Never seen this powder recommended in any loading manual, however the data is listed. Maybe its an RKS barrel thing? Just saying that sometimes recommendations may narrow your vision when searching for suitable powder.

Yeah, it's hard to know what one particular barrel is going to do!
My dad used to say " Any powder will do for the .222 as long is it's 4198"!!
Warren Page once noted that he had one measure that was permanent frozen on 19 .5 grains of R7.
Cat

[duceman]

actually dale, the sierra manual states imr4895 for its accuracy load in 222.
in fact, the heavy barrel sako i sold was lovin' the 4895 load right out of the book; the rem not so much.
i did a test of 5 powders the other day with my rem hb. will post a pic, but first try showed promise with r7 and n133 on top.
that said, when i try any new duce out, it's 20.6 of imr 4198 and 50 gr tnt, lee

[duceman]

some load tests from last week. got some r7 loads to try again, might give the 133 another go as well, lee

[wolf308]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

Only tried Varget because Chargemaster hopper was full of it. Used in a recently acquired Rem M7 carbine with a Leupold M8 6X. The rifle is extremely light and barrel is thin. Five-shot 100 yard groups were from .600" to .700". Very happy with the accuracy of this combo. Hodgdon's load data shows CEF 223 and Varget producing the most velocity in the 50/53/55 gr bullets in 222 Rem. Didn't you at one time put that shat (Varget) on everything?

LMAO. yeah cat kinda beat me to that punchline a while ago,i love varget. made me happy when a pound of it was in my stocking at xmas time.

copy that on the 50 gr tnt/speer bullets too. ill give them a whirl after the varget.

i think part of my problem is too, my 222 is a thin barrell and light rifle instead of my usual heavy/varmint stuff. just trying to get it ...you know 1/2 or less than 1/2 moa at 100. guess its harder with sporter barrelss

maybe ill try the rl 7 down the road.

ok another quick question. i just ordered a redding bushing neck die for .245" plus a full length die from sinclair and on the email/shipping reciept they have it marked as a full length sizer die redding 222 rem MAGNUM........ is it going to work fine on a regular 222 REM ???? thanx

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by wolf308

ok another quick question. i just ordered a redding bushing neck die for .245" plus a full length die from sinclair and on the email/shipping reciept they have it marked as a full length sizer die redding 222 rem MAGNUM........ is it going to work fine on a regular 222 REM ???? thanx

I would email Sinclair back and confirm what they shipped. The 222 Rem Magnum will not work with the 222 Rem. However, if they shipped you the wrong die I will take it off your hands for what it cost you. I'm trying to invent a way to make Wilson neck dies size the entire neck on a fully supported case.

[wolf308]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

I would email Sinclair back and confirm what they shipped. The 222 Rem Magnum will not work with the 222 Rem. However, if they shipped you the wrong die I will take it off your hands for what it cost you. I'm trying to invent a way to make Wilson neck dies size the entire neck on a fully supported case.

ok thanx dale ,will do.right now. ill get back to you buddy.

[kayaker]

I am really happy with Benchmark in my .223 and imagine it would be an ideal powder / burn rate for .222 Rem. Its quite dense and occupies less case volume than Varget. I also find it gives good performance with mild loads (more velocity than Varget with bullets up to 60grs) and thus would work well in the smaller .222 case, I assume.

It also meters very well into the small .22 case mouth as the granules are smaller than Varget (its looks like a 'mini Varget' in appearance).

[Faststeel]

Originally Posted by kayaker

I am really happy with Benchmark in my .223 and imagine it would be an ideal powder / burn rate for .222 Rem. Its quite dense and occupies less case volume than Varget. I also find it gives good performance with mild loads (more velocity than Varget with bullets up to 60grs) and thus would work well in the smaller .222 case, I assume.

It also meters very well into the small .22 case mouth as the granules are smaller than Varget (its looks like a 'mini Varget' in appearance).

Had a quick look through 3 manuals and no mention of Benchmark powder for any data for any bullet weight, then flip the page to 223 and thar she be, Perhaps it works better with 25 or more grains which is likely too much for a 222 case. FS

[kayaker]

Faststeel,

Hogdon lists it for 35-63gr bullets in the .222

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp