.222 Rem. Reduced Loads?

jdscholer · November 25, 2009, 11:23 PM

I'm interested in reducing the velocity of my 222 in the interest of pelt preservation on called coyotes. I used to have an old Burnham Bros. recipe for just this purpose, but I never used it and must have filed it in the round file.

I'm using 40 gr. V-Max with 26 gr. BLC-2 for my standard load, which is very accurate and probably 3200 fps (guess), but it kills coyotes too hard at the ranges I'm shooting. I'd like to get the velocity down around 2000 or the low 2000's, but I want to do it with real data, not by guess and by golly. As I recall, the recipe I had used IMR 4227 but I'm not sure. I think I'm OK with the same V-Max bullet which is supposed to preform at lower velocities.

Thanks to anyone who can help. jd

williamd · November 25, 2009, 11:45 PM

Love the triple 2! My old Remingon makes the newer stuff stay in the safe when I am varminting. I use H322 but go high. Using SX or Blitz bullets I never have an exit hole! Plus, the shock factor kills them NOW!

Played with things from 221 to 375 on coyotes. Experimenting. The heavier, slower bullets did more pelt damage and the critters often ran some distance with holes blown through. Not with the high v 22's. And, the 222 remains my pick.

jdscholer · November 26, 2009, 12:07 AM

williamd, I'm with ya on lovin the 222, and often have no exit hole with my loads; but when I do----YIKES.

I'm thinkin that with this bullet, and a lighter load, I still will have plenty of non-exits and smaller holes if I have exits. My 218 Bee does well in this regard, but it's being used by my pardner right now. jd

rc · November 26, 2009, 12:56 AM

I think your biggest problem is using the wrong bullet for the terminal performance you want. A full metal jacket if it's safe to shoot in your area loaded with 4198 to about 2800fps will be less destructive than any vmax which is designed to blow apart. If you reduce velocity to 2000fps you might as well use a factory 22 magnum round.

jdscholer · November 26, 2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

If you reduce velocity to 2000fps you might as well use a factory 22 magnum round

Except for that I don't have a 22 mag rifle. jd

langenc · November 26, 2009, 11:10 AM

I dont do 222--but ifyou can find a good bullet weight load using H4895, loads with it can can be safely reduced to 60% of published load. See Hodgdon website for confirmation-'youth loads'. Do they recommend H4895 for222 ????

Info applies to any PUBLISHED load w/ H4895. So for your kids, new shooters and wives dont make em use 888 magloudensplitter.

**Unclenick** · November 26, 2009, 01:14 PM

4895 is going to be a bit slow for reduced charge with a light bullet.

I think the solution suggested earlier is correct. Get some FMJ's. Get Hornady or Sierra. They both seem to know how to make FMJ's that are reasonably accurate. Many others do not. Work with 4198 (either brand) or Reloader 10X to get the velocity you want.

jepp2 · November 26, 2009, 03:13 PM

A load that I developed for late season 100 yard squirrels was 18 gr. of IMR 4198 topped off with a Sierra 50 gr. spitzer bullet. It should run about 2700 fps at the muzzle.

What I found was this load worked very well with deer. I have never had an exit, and the bullet expansion is perfect. It is intact with great full weight retention. I don't know how it will perform on a lighter animal, but even with headshots on whitetails, no exit.

Walkalong · November 26, 2009, 04:30 PM

I used to use 700X for reduced loads in .222, .223, & .222 Mag.

Tom Matiska · November 26, 2009, 09:57 PM

Duponts SR 4759 is the powder you want. My Speer #9 (70's vintage) has 222 recipes for 4759 in the 1900-2000 range, some even slower.

http://www.imrpowder.com/shotpist.html

November 25, 2009, 11:23 PM	#1
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	.222 Rem. Reduced Loads? I'm interested in reducing the velocity of my 222 in the interest of pelt preservation on called coyotes. I used to have an old Burnham Bros. recipe for just this purpose, but I never used it and must have filed it in the round file. I'm using 40 gr. V-Max with 26 gr. BLC-2 for my standard load, which is very accurate and probably 3200 fps (guess), but it kills coyotes too hard at the ranges I'm shooting. I'd like to get the velocity down around 2000 or the low 2000's, but I want to do it with real data, not by guess and by golly. As I recall, the recipe I had used IMR 4227 but I'm not sure. I think I'm OK with the same V-Max bullet which is supposed to preform at lower velocities. Thanks to anyone who can help. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

November 25, 2009, 11:45 PM	#2
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	Love the triple 2! My old Remingon makes the newer stuff stay in the safe when I am varminting. I use H322 but go high. Using SX or Blitz bullets I never have an exit hole! Plus, the shock factor kills them NOW! Played with things from 221 to 375 on coyotes. Experimenting. The heavier, slower bullets did more pelt damage and the critters often ran some distance with holes blown through. Not with the high v 22's. And, the 222 remains my pick. __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich!

November 26, 2009, 12:07 AM	#3
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	williamd, I'm with ya on lovin the 222, and often have no exit hole with my loads; but when I do----YIKES. I'm thinkin that with this bullet, and a lighter load, I still will have plenty of non-exits and smaller holes if I have exits. My 218 Bee does well in this regard, but it's being used by my pardner right now. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

November 26, 2009, 01:14 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	4895 is going to be a bit slow for reduced charge with a light bullet. I think the solution suggested earlier is correct. Get some FMJ's. Get Hornady or Sierra. They both seem to know how to make FMJ's that are reasonably accurate. Many others do not. Work with 4198 (either brand) or Reloader 10X to get the velocity you want. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 26, 2009, 12:56 AM	#4
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,768	I think your biggest problem is using the wrong bullet for the terminal performance you want. A full metal jacket if it's safe to shoot in your area loaded with 4198 to about 2800fps will be less destructive than any vmax which is designed to blow apart. If you reduce velocity to 2000fps you might as well use a factory 22 magnum round.

November 26, 2009, 11:10 AM	#6
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	I dont do 222--but ifyou can find a good bullet weight load using H4895, loads with it can can be safely reduced to 60% of published load. See Hodgdon website for confirmation-'youth loads'. Do they recommend H4895 for222 ???? Info applies to any PUBLISHED load w/ H4895. So for your kids, new shooters and wives dont make em use 888 magloudensplitter.

November 26, 2009, 03:13 PM	#8
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	A load that I developed for late season 100 yard squirrels was 18 gr. of IMR 4198 topped off with a Sierra 50 gr. spitzer bullet. It should run about 2700 fps at the muzzle. What I found was this load worked very well with deer. I have never had an exit, and the bullet expansion is perfect. It is intact with great full weight retention. I don't know how it will perform on a lighter animal, but even with headshots on whitetails, no exit.

November 26, 2009, 04:30 PM	#9
Walkalong Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Location: Al. Posts: 196	I used to use 700X for reduced loads in .222, .223, & .222 Mag.

November 26, 2009, 09:57 PM	#10
Tom Matiska Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa Posts: 1,029	Duponts SR 4759 is the powder you want. My Speer #9 (70's vintage) has 222 recipes for 4759 in the 1900-2000 range, some even slower. http://www.imrpowder.com/shotpist.html