.222 magnum

ragwd · January 3, 2011, 01:59 PM

Happy New Year to all, and thanks for taking the time to read my thread. I have been reloading pistol for a while and .223/ 5.56 rifle a few times. I now want to try and reload for a .222 magnum, its a older remington 700 with a nice older Simmons scope. Shoots great but at 76 bucks per 50 store bought rounds I cant afford to shoot it much. So I want to reload for it, but the round is pretty much obsolete. I do have some reload data taken from Speer reloading #14. Using H335 with a magnum primer, I do have once fired cartridges and will buy powder and primers local to avoid the high shipping cost. I will try different weights of bullet and different grains of powder starting at minimum and staying below maxium but was wondering if anyone still loads this and where I might be able to find the correct bullets. I wish there was a source for bullets in 10 round lots so I could try numerous weights without buying 100 of each. Any help is appreciated. Have a great New Year.

jepp2 · January 3, 2011, 05:59 PM

"Loads" of data on the Hodgdon website for 222 Rem Mag. (sorry, couldn't avoid the pun)

I have one in a Sako Vixen. I normally stick with 50 or 55 gr bullets. Your twist rate will dictate how heavy you can go.

There is still new brass available for purchase.

ragwd · January 3, 2011, 07:43 PM

Thanks for the reply, I do have that info and a ton more. I was really trying to find out where everyone is buying the bullets. I do remember someone posting a web page where someone sold bullets by the 10's. The pun was appreciated too.

JASmith · January 3, 2011, 10:43 PM

My 1964 (or 66 - it's been a long time!) Browning .222 Magnum has a 14" twist.

The bullet that performs best appears to be the 52 gr Hornady BTHP. Doesn't work as well with either 50 or 55 gr bullets.

Walkalong · January 4, 2011, 10:19 AM

My Sako has a 1 in 14 twist and it dislikes anything over 55 Gr. 60 Gr stuff will shoot OK, but not well. Many .222 Mags have a 1 in 12 twist, which may shoot 60's OK. I shoot mostly 50 to 55 Gr stuff in it, although it will shoot lighter stuff very well.

H335 shoots well for me. It does a little better using mag primers. (205M is what I used) IMR 4895 also shoots well. No mag primer needed, but it doesn't hurt either. 2015 shoots really well. I only tried it because I had some, but was pleasently surprised. Same for primers. Either standard or mag works well.

ragwd · January 4, 2011, 10:42 AM

Thanks for the replies, I was very surprised at the performance of the 222 mag, out shot my ar 15 by alot. So I blamed it on the difference in glass.

. I will check the barrel roatation but I suspect it is 1 in 14. Thanks again, anyone have that link to a company that sells bullets by the 10s instead of 100s?

January 3, 2011, 10:43 PM	#4
JASmith Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2009 Posts: 157	My 1964 (or 66 - it's been a long time!) Browning .222 Magnum has a 14" twist. The bullet that performs best appears to be the 52 gr Hornady BTHP. Doesn't work as well with either 50 or 55 gr bullets. __________________ Nevermore... http://shootersnotes.com

January 4, 2011, 10:42 AM	#6
ragwd Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2006 Posts: 925	Thanks for the replies, I was very surprised at the performance of the 222 mag, out shot my ar 15 by alot. So I blamed it on the difference in glass.. I will check the barrel roatation but I suspect it is 1 in 14. Thanks again, anyone have that link to a company that sells bullets by the 10s instead of 100s?

January 3, 2011, 01:59 PM	#1
ragwd Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2006 Posts: 925	.222 magnum Happy New Year to all, and thanks for taking the time to read my thread. I have been reloading pistol for a while and .223/ 5.56 rifle a few times. I now want to try and reload for a .222 magnum, its a older remington 700 with a nice older Simmons scope. Shoots great but at 76 bucks per 50 store bought rounds I cant afford to shoot it much. So I want to reload for it, but the round is pretty much obsolete. I do have some reload data taken from Speer reloading #14. Using H335 with a magnum primer, I do have once fired cartridges and will buy powder and primers local to avoid the high shipping cost. I will try different weights of bullet and different grains of powder starting at minimum and staying below maxium but was wondering if anyone still loads this and where I might be able to find the correct bullets. I wish there was a source for bullets in 10 round lots so I could try numerous weights without buying 100 of each. Any help is appreciated. Have a great New Year.

January 3, 2011, 05:59 PM	#2
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	"Loads" of data on the Hodgdon website for 222 Rem Mag. (sorry, couldn't avoid the pun) I have one in a Sako Vixen. I normally stick with 50 or 55 gr bullets. Your twist rate will dictate how heavy you can go. There is still new brass available for purchase.

January 3, 2011, 07:43 PM	#3
ragwd Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2006 Posts: 925	Thanks for the reply, I do have that info and a ton more. I was really trying to find out where everyone is buying the bullets. I do remember someone posting a web page where someone sold bullets by the 10's. The pun was appreciated too.

January 4, 2011, 10:19 AM	#5
Walkalong Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Location: Al. Posts: 196	My Sako has a 1 in 14 twist and it dislikes anything over 55 Gr. 60 Gr stuff will shoot OK, but not well. Many .222 Mags have a 1 in 12 twist, which may shoot 60's OK. I shoot mostly 50 to 55 Gr stuff in it, although it will shoot lighter stuff very well. H335 shoots well for me. It does a little better using mag primers. (205M is what I used) IMR 4895 also shoots well. No mag primer needed, but it doesn't hurt either. 2015 shoots really well. I only tried it because I had some, but was pleasently surprised. Same for primers. Either standard or mag works well.