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Old September 13, 2012, 01:36 PM   #1
coyota1
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Is the 222 remington cartridge obsolete?

I am looking at another 722 Remington in 222, but I have been told by some that reselling the rifle would be a problem because the 222 is going obsolete. Is this a valid issue?
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Old September 13, 2012, 02:11 PM   #2
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If you handload and have dies, it won't matter if nobody loads it anymore: YOU can.
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Old September 13, 2012, 02:17 PM   #3
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Only if you are going to sell it.

222Rem is an EXCELLENT cartridge.

222Rem chambers have been reamed to 223Rem, but leaves a ring in chamber.
Correct way is to set barrel back 1 thread pitch and re-chamber 223Rem.

Please don't abuse that 222 Rem rifle - its a great choice as is.

Reload and have a more accurate round than the 223 or 22-250.

222Rem's held National Records for YEARS.
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Old September 13, 2012, 02:18 PM   #4
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Jimbob is correct. The .222 once ruled the benchrest game but since the introduction of the .223 for the military it has pretty much gone away along with the .222 Mag. You could always rechamber to the .223. I would go the reloading route.
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Old September 13, 2012, 02:42 PM   #5
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Yes, from what I have heard the 222 is inherently more accurate than 223. I hand load the 223, I just need the dies for 222. I just don't want a white elephant that won't sell due to unpopularity. I plan on keeping the rifle (722 Remington), but I look at a gun purchase as an investment. Not many people know anything about the 722 either.
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Old September 13, 2012, 03:11 PM   #6
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I wish I had kept mine - but as a kid I traded it for a 7mm RM in 700BDL.
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Old September 13, 2012, 03:27 PM   #7
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I wish I had bought the one I saw on consignment for like $200 a couple years ago..... gone now, and have not seen one since.
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Old September 13, 2012, 03:41 PM   #8
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of course it's obsolete... it became so, as soon as the 223 became standardized... unfortunately no one told my gun that, as it still will put 3 shots touching at 100 yards
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Old September 13, 2012, 04:07 PM   #9
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.222 is the easiest shooting, most productive little varmint round. A snap to reload, with a small appetite. Made for the precise shooter, just cheap and fun for the reloader, not so cheap otherwise. My 600 even stabilizes the milsurp 55 gr bullet, and that's inexpensive shooting.
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Old September 13, 2012, 04:46 PM   #10
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If you want a gun you can easily resell, get a .223. If you want a classic, historically important varmint/benchrest round that you can admire forever, and that will probably still perform well, get the .222. Sorry, but you can't have everything in the same rifle.
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Old September 13, 2012, 04:52 PM   #11
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If you want an investment, buy ammo and sell right before the election.

If you want a good .22 centerfire, at bargain basement price, a 722 in .222 would be the ticket.

It even eats less than a .223.

The only downside is that they did not use a very fast twist, IIRC- no heavy bullets ..... but if you can' kill a varmit with 55gr bullets..... I dunno ......

Also, the stocks on those will require a comb raising kit if you want to put very big glass on it, more than likely.
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Old September 13, 2012, 06:08 PM   #12
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Quote:
If you want an investment, buy ammo and sell right before the election.
I'm afraid it's too late for this. Ammo prices already suck.

As far as too slow of twist, I don't mind shooting 45 gr in my 223, so I wouldn't mind with a 222.

I just don't want the gun to depreciate due to it being a 222. I personally like the gun more than I like some of the new rifles.
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Old September 13, 2012, 06:18 PM   #13
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Quote:
I'm afraid it's too late for this. Ammo prices already suck.
You ain't seen nothin' yet.......
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Old September 13, 2012, 06:23 PM   #14
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Quote:
You ain't seen nothin' yet.......
Yes jimbo, I was thinking this as I quoted you in my post.
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Old September 13, 2012, 06:27 PM   #15
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IIRC, it should have a 1:14" twist ..... 55gr might work if you push it fast enough (rpm's high enough). Might be hell on scarce brass, though.
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Old September 13, 2012, 06:52 PM   #16
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A 50 grain is plenty for a varmint caliber. Make crow go poof!
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Old September 13, 2012, 06:58 PM   #17
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Just about any bullet, regardless of weight, going near 3K f/sec will make any small animal go poof! ......

I was just thinking that .55gr FMJ tend to be cheaper.
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Old September 13, 2012, 07:19 PM   #18
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Just about any bullet, regardless of weight, going near 3K f/sec will make any small animal go poof! ......
Well, there you go. You made my point. I know I can buy bulk 55 sp. Don't no about 50 though, but I usually buy Hornaday by the hundreds anyway.
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Old September 15, 2012, 01:53 PM   #19
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I wouldn't call the .222 remington obsolete. Savage just announced that they will be chambering their model 25 in .222 remington. I intend to get one when they become available.

Buy bulk brass from midway.com and reload, and ammunition will not be a problem. And if bulk .222 brass becomes unavailable, RCBS sells forming dies to make .222 remington from the ubiquitous .223 remington.
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Old September 15, 2012, 02:02 PM   #20
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I'm sure brass will be available for the next 40 years if they discontinue the round. That's the first time I have heard of a new gun chambering 222.
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Old September 15, 2012, 02:29 PM   #21
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@coyota1: Yep. It's the savage model 25, walking varminter and you can go to savagearms.com for more information. As I said, I intend to get one. With a savage barrel and the accu-trigger it should be a good shooter.

I once had a sako action rifle, with a douglas ultra-rifled barrel in .222 rem, which shot one hole, three shot groups. Years ago, I gave it to my son. I would be an ungracious giver to say that I wished I had it back, but I will say that I miss it.

The .222 rem was a dream to reload and frighteningly accurate with nearly any bullet/powder combination.

Oh, and your remark about, "...make crow go poof", was hilarious. I needed a laugh today.
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Old September 15, 2012, 02:38 PM   #22
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hammie, I'm glad I made someone laugh!

I just hope the rifle I have my eyes on will group as tight as the one you gave to your son.
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Old September 15, 2012, 04:44 PM   #23
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Heck, it's been kind of obsolete for decades.
At least as far as finding the ammo at the usual places.
Too bad, as that was the only reason I sold off mine a long time ago.
The fellow that bought it was tickled that a nearly full box of ammo came with it.
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Old September 15, 2012, 05:40 PM   #24
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You said in your first post you are concerned about resale...
That isn't a rifle you're gonna unload in a hurry.
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Old September 15, 2012, 05:46 PM   #25
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Never go OBS,but will maybe get to be a hassel finding brass for it. Was replaced by 223 years ago.Still avery nice rifle,but??.. I think at most you will have to order brass,ect on line as the stores will probebly drop it due to lack of sales.
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