.222 vs .224 bullets for a .222 rifle??

loggerhead · March 9, 2006, 01:22 PM

I bought some 22 caliber bullets the other day, hornady, and when I went to load some up to do a little plinking I discovered that they were .224 cal. My question is will that 2 thousandth really make a difference?? Will it damage my rifle? It is stated on the box that they are .224 but in the past I have measured at least that much difference in a batch of bullets.

Anyone have experience or just opinions????

caz223 · March 9, 2006, 01:31 PM

If you're loading a .222 then your nominal dimensions SHOULD be .224, the same as newer .22 hornet, .222, .223, .220 swift and .22-250.

loggerhead · March 9, 2006, 01:41 PM

Thanks caz223, I'll load um up.

Polydorus · March 9, 2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caz223

If you're loading a .222 then your nominal dimensions SHOULD be .224, the same as newer .22 hornet, .222, .223, .220 swift and .22-250.

I don't recall ever seeing a .222 bullet. But IIRC, .223 bullets were used in the .22 Hornet. Maybe pre WW2?

caz223 · March 9, 2006, 02:29 PM

That's what I've heard, never seen 'em.
That's why I added the (newer) in front of .22 hornet.

Jim Watson · March 9, 2006, 02:52 PM

.22 Remington Magnum ("Jet") originally shot .222" bullets. Not worth anybody making them these days, recent load data is for .223".
Early .22 Hornet and some semi-wildcats in rechambered .22 lr barrels shot .223" bullets.
.22 Savage Hi-Power and some wildcats shot .227" or ..228" bullets.
Everything else I can think of uses .224" bullets although you still need to select the right weight and construction for your cartridge.
.218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .220 Swift, .221 Fireball, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .224 Weatherby and .225 Winchester all shoot .224" bullets, cartridge names notwithstanding. Also .22-250 and some other .22 centerfires.

loggerhead · March 11, 2006, 08:39 AM

This is for you guys who have "never seen um" I bought these recently at a "new" sporting goods store and he might have bought some of his "stuff" from "going out of business" establishments. That might account for these if they are no longer made.

**Mal H** · March 11, 2006, 09:20 AM

Ok, I think I'm confused, but I'm not sure.

Is the box in the picture the box you were talking about in the first post?

caz223 · March 11, 2006, 10:08 AM

OK, now I'M confused...

loggerhead · March 11, 2006, 11:37 AM

Mal H: No, the box I was talking about in the first post has .224 on it and when I noticed the difference is when I made the Post. Turns out that I should have know that anyhow, since I have been loading those for around 40years and all of the reloading manuels has (.224" DIA.) at each bullet weight.

**Mal H** · March 11, 2006, 01:04 PM

Ah! Good, confusion lifted, and I can probably say that for caz as well.

March 9, 2006, 01:22 PM	#1
loggerhead Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Right of the Mississippi but South of the Mason Dixie line Posts: 132	.222 vs .224 bullets for a .222 rifle?? I bought some 22 caliber bullets the other day, hornady, and when I went to load some up to do a little plinking I discovered that they were .224 cal. My question is will that 2 thousandth really make a difference?? Will it damage my rifle? It is stated on the box that they are .224 but in the past I have measured at least that much difference in a batch of bullets. Anyone have experience or just opinions???? Last edited by loggerhead; March 9, 2006 at 01:24 PM. Reason: question mark

March 9, 2006, 01:31 PM	#2
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	If you're loading a .222 then your nominal dimensions SHOULD be .224, the same as newer .22 hornet, .222, .223, .220 swift and .22-250. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

March 9, 2006, 02:29 PM	#5
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	That's what I've heard, never seen 'em. That's why I added the (newer) in front of .22 hornet. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

March 11, 2006, 10:08 AM	#9
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	OK, now I'M confused... __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

March 9, 2006, 01:41 PM	#3
loggerhead Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Right of the Mississippi but South of the Mason Dixie line Posts: 132	Thanks caz223, I'll load um up.

March 9, 2006, 02:52 PM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	.22 Remington Magnum ("Jet") originally shot .222" bullets. Not worth anybody making them these days, recent load data is for .223". Early .22 Hornet and some semi-wildcats in rechambered .22 lr barrels shot .223" bullets. .22 Savage Hi-Power and some wildcats shot .227" or ..228" bullets. Everything else I can think of uses .224" bullets although you still need to select the right weight and construction for your cartridge. .218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .220 Swift, .221 Fireball, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .224 Weatherby and .225 Winchester all shoot .224" bullets, cartridge names notwithstanding. Also .22-250 and some other .22 centerfires.

March 11, 2006, 09:20 AM	#8
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	Ok, I think I'm confused, but I'm not sure. Is the box in the picture the box you were talking about in the first post?

March 11, 2006, 11:37 AM	#10
loggerhead Junior member Join Date: February 10, 2006 Location: Right of the Mississippi but South of the Mason Dixie line Posts: 132	Mal H: No, the box I was talking about in the first post has .224 on it and when I noticed the difference is when I made the Post. Turns out that I should have know that anyhow, since I have been loading those for around 40years and all of the reloading manuels has (.224" DIA.) at each bullet weight.

March 11, 2006, 01:04 PM	#11
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	Ah! Good, confusion lifted, and I can probably say that for caz as well.