The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: Bolt, Lever, and Pump Action

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 15, 2012, 06:06 PM   #26
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
4runnerman, since I started this thread, I have found out some valuable info on this cartridge. First of all, there were lots of guns made in this caliber for many years. There are still lots of rifles in use chambered for it, and it is a well engineered cartridge. Maybe more so than the 223. Oblolete cartridges like the Weatherby 224 were only chambered for the 224 by Weatherby. The 222 magnum had a short life, and therefore not near as many rifles are chambered for this obsolete round. The 32 special is an other good example of a cartridge that has a lot of guns chambered for it. I don't believe there has been any rifles chambered for the 32 since pre 64, but there are two companies that still produce it. Also, I found 3 local gun shops that have 222 in stock where I live, but I will reload it I manage to buy the rifle.
coyota1 is offline  
Old September 15, 2012, 07:28 PM   #27
4runnerman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 16, 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,577
That's great guy. I know it is one sweet ,fast accurate shooting sun of a gun.
Good Luck i know you will be happy
__________________
NRA Certified RSO
NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional
4runnerman is offline  
Old September 16, 2012, 09:12 PM   #28
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
Who in the 1950's would have ever guessed that in 2012, this cartridge along with the .220 Swift would be "obsolete" but the .45-70. .22 Hornet, and .45Colt would make big comebacks.

You just never know.
B.L.E. is offline  
Old September 16, 2012, 09:14 PM   #29
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
The 222 and the 220 swift are not obsolete.
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 11:11 AM   #30
semtav
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2011
Posts: 8
I just bought a near mint 788 in 222 at a pawn shop.
Went to the sports shop and picked up a couple boxes Hornady 40gr Vmax since i didn't have any components to start reloading.
Fun gun

Now I think back to that new Sako heavy barreled 222 I passed up in HS cause I was into 22-250's.
semtav is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 11:20 AM   #31
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
semtav, I have purchased one also, and it is mint. I shot dime sized groups with it 50 gr bullets, and I am not about to let it go.
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 11:28 AM   #32
ammo.crafter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2006
Location: The Keystone State
Posts: 1,967
222Rem

My first center fire rifle...a Remington 600 which now has a 22-inch barrel installed.
As the others have said, a naturally accurate cartridge. Hold on to it and if you don't reload, start.
__________________
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson
ammo.crafter is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 11:45 AM   #33
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
I am a big 223 fan, but it seems to be a bit more "stable" than the 223. I started with a clean dry barrel, and the POI was the same after fouling the barrel.
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 02:12 PM   #34
semtav
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2011
Posts: 8
Just went and tested a few 4198 loads with a 50 gr Sierra.
shooting prone over a box. (not the steadiest) 3 shot grp
19 gr 3/8 "
19.5 gr two in the same hole and pulled the 3rd shot an inch right
20 gr 7/8 "

haven't cleaned the gun since before I shot up a box of Hornady 40 gr V maxes Saturday
can't beat that for an off the shelf Pawn gun !!!
semtav is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 03:20 PM   #35
Semper Paratus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 21, 2004
Location: Tidewater, VA
Posts: 155
Obviously not obsolete. Shooting Times features it this month
__________________
Semper Paratus--Always Prepared
Semper Paratus is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 03:35 PM   #36
TheBear
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 11, 2011
Posts: 303
I see less of them every year on the range...but there are still many guys who use it.
i think its going to be rare but not obsolete.
TheBear is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 03:41 PM   #37
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
Quote:
19 gr 3/8 "
19.5 gr two in the same hole and pulled the 3rd shot an inch right
20 gr 7/8 "
Which primer did you use?
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 04:31 PM   #38
semtav
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2011
Posts: 8
BR-4
semtav is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 04:55 PM   #39
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
According to my reloading manual at 19.5 gr 4198 you are getting about 2950 fps. I'll take the tight group.
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 29, 2012, 06:25 PM   #40
semtav
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2011
Posts: 8
semtav, I have purchased one also, and it is mint. I shot dime sized groups with it 50 gr bullets, and I am not about to let it go.

What kind of loads were you you using?

I'm about out of my old 224 cal bullets and have to get more.
I just had a partial box of Sierra 50 gr and Speer 55 gr spitzers.
Besides my case of BR-4s, I also have a case of Federal 205 primers but haven't seen anyone mention them for accurate loads

Last edited by semtav; October 29, 2012 at 07:24 PM.
semtav is offline  
Old October 31, 2012, 08:06 PM   #41
ltc444
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 3, 2011
Location: Vernon AZ
Posts: 1,195
I have a soft spot for "obsolete" guns and rounds. I cannot comment on the 222 round.

I can and will comment on the Rem 722. I chose it as the platform for my long range Varmint rifle In 1975.

I Still shoot my 257 Roberts after some 40 years.

Enjoy your rifle and ignore the gun scribes and those who are addicted to the latest and greatest.

Sometimes low tech is better than no tech.
ltc444 is offline  
Old October 31, 2012, 08:26 PM   #42
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
257 Roberts shares the same kind of fate the 222 has. Forgotten by many, but a great round.
coyota1 is offline  
Old October 31, 2012, 09:34 PM   #43
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
Remington still loads .222, so technically no, it is not obsolete.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old October 31, 2012, 10:01 PM   #44
semtav
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2011
Posts: 8
itc444 wrote:
I have a soft spot for "obsolete" guns and rounds. I cannot comment on the 222 round

I must too. bought a 222 Rem and 257 Roberts the last couple weeks.
semtav is offline  
Old November 1, 2012, 12:32 AM   #45
micksis86
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2009
Posts: 420
All the major ammunition companies still make ammo for it, Hornady even have 222 Remington superperformance (or whatever it's called) ammo I saw it in my LGS last weekl.
__________________
Never argue with morons, they will lower you down to their level and beat you with experience.
micksis86 is offline  
Old November 1, 2012, 06:31 AM   #46
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
I heard that someone is even offering rifles in .222 again. Maybe it will be rediscovered and regain popularity like the .45-70 and .22 Hornet did.

There are some ammo companies that still sell .32-40 ammo so I guess it isn't technically obsolete either.
B.L.E. is offline  
Old November 1, 2012, 08:23 AM   #47
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
Ammunition obsolescence is a squirrley concept when it comes to firearms.

I look at it as being a two stage process...

1. Makers quite making guns chambered in the round.

2. The big ammo makers stop providing loaded ammunition.

Many rounds are going into and out of obsolescence all the time as interests and tastes change.

Cowboy Action Shooting and the other "old west style" games like blackpowder cartridge rifle silhouette are probably responsible for the resurrection of more obsolete rounds than any other activity.

A couple good examples of rounds that fit in category 1 above are the .250 Savage and the .300 Savage.

Both were exceptionally popular in their day, and remain so, but have been overtaken by other rounds such as the .257 Roberts and the .308 Winchester. Every once in awhile someone will make a run of rifles for one or the other, and both still sell a lot of ammo, but they are slowly churning to a stop.

I figure in another 15 to 20 years, though, someone is going to "rediscover" just what an incredibly well balanced round the .250 is and it will stage a nice comeback.

I love my .300 Savages, but if I were choosing a single cartridge for eastern hunting, varmints all the way to black bear, I'd seriously consider the .250 in a bolt action.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old November 3, 2012, 10:43 PM   #48
johnwilliamson062
Junior member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2008
Posts: 9,995
Probably won't go much more obsolete than it already has. Right now you pretty much need to reload in order to shoot it much at all.
I bought one and then sold it b/c of ammo issues and having a 223 anyways.

Are you buying a bench gun? If you are I think there are better rounds for bench guns now.

Only has nostalgic value.
johnwilliamson062 is offline  
Old November 4, 2012, 02:46 AM   #49
coyota1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 663
Well, most real gun shops have a supply of 222. I see 32 special on the shelf and they have been relegated longer.
coyota1 is offline  
Old November 4, 2012, 10:56 AM   #50
semtav
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2011
Posts: 8
Been in several hardware stores lately and all had 222 Rem on the shelf.
semtav is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.12187 seconds with 11 queries