Author Topic: to .222 or not to? (Read 5650 times)

mjbgalt · « **on:** January 16, 2008, 12:30:10 PM »

i have a chance to buy a brand-new remington 700 bdl for $529...this little gunshop in the middle of nowhere has not changed its pricing yet and i think i would like to jump at the chance to buy it at this price.

i have zero experience with the .222, other than knowing it's extremely accurate. can anyone who has used it, give me more info? i would use it mostly for targets and 300 yard and less varmint shooting. anything i should know about loading for it or what to use, etc?

-Matt

beemanbeme · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2008, 01:30:24 PM »

Anything good that you can say about the .223, you can say about the .222. Supposedly the .222 is slightly more accurate than the .223 but I have both and can't prove or disprove that. .222 brass is readidly made from .223 brass. That is NOT something you want to do if you have both. Also, if you have both, a .222 case will fit and fire in a .223 chamber.
A pound of H322 will go a long ways and the rifle will do nicely with 50-55gr bullets. It is not a barrel burner. You can expect mid to low 3000's in velocity. Plenty to get the job done.
At one time, the 222 was THE rifle to shoot in bench rest and held many records.
I think your rifle has a good price and you're getting a fine rifle.

Mike Pearson · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:15:50 PM »

The .222 is a great little cartridge in and of itself but really, does it make any sense to buy a rifle for a cartridge that is on it's way out? Price of ammo and availability of such can only climb in the future. Resale value of the rifle would seem to take a beating too for the same reasons.
The .221 Fireball is every bit as innately accurate as the .222 and is even milder in report. The .223 is truly ubiquitous and one of the most economical centerfire cartridges one could ever hope to have. Seems like either would be a better choice than the (great) .222. Forty years ago, it would have been a different story. For varmints, these two cartridges can cover the .222 ground very well. And for benchrest, the .22 PPC or .22 Remington BR would be better choices nowadays. ---Mike

beemanbeme · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2008, 05:23:01 AM »

But the rifle for sale is not in 22ppc or 22rembr. It's a .222. That it's not the fad of the week doesn't distract from its effectiveness.

With 100 cases and a set of dies, the round could be obsolete for 100 years and he'd still be shooting. I would challenge the remark that the .222 was on its way out. At the last factory match I shot, two of the rifles on the line were .222's.

Where's this little gun shop at?

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2008, 05:33:05 AM »

Everyone should own a 222 at some point in their life. OK every varmint hunter need to.
My first 222 was a Ruger Mini-14, I still have that rifle, unfortunately it is nolonger in new condition. Others on the list that I have had are a Rem 700, Rem 788, Sako L461 and then a year ago I found a new Ruger M77MK2 stainless that I needed!
I do own a couple of 223's but I like the 222 .

Mike Pearson · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2008, 04:50:50 PM »

Quote from: beemanbeme on January 17, 2008, 05:23:01 AM

But the rifle for sale is not in 22ppc or 22rembr. It's a .222. That it's not the fad of the week doesn't distract from its effectiveness.
With 100 cases and a set of dies, the round could be obsolete for 100 years and he'd still be shooting. I would challenge the remark that the .222 was on its way out. At the last factory match I shot, two of the rifles on the line were .222's.
Where's this little gun shop at?

You present really good points, points I can't deny. I know the .222 is a great little cartridge. I guess after my experience (in the '70's) with the 5mm Remington Magnum, I've been a whole lot more sensitive to cartridges being here today and gone tomorrow. Still, as I said, you make unassailable points (gotta respect that). The only thing I would mention is that the cartridge is chambered in very few rifles these days. In a way, that alone could be a selling point for the poster. His choice of the .222 as opposed to the ubiquitous .223 could be the source of many a good conversation!;0)
Anyway, great debate! ----Mike

kevthebassman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2008, 04:42:00 AM »

The .222 is spoken highly of and still shot by a lot of old varminters. Nice little round to have.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2008, 03:32:29 AM »

I ALMOST bought a 5mm. That's why I've been kinda leery of these .17's.

flabbydan · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2008, 12:53:04 PM »

Matt,

For that price, BUY IT!!!!! I wish I had bought one a few years back. I currently have a CZ 527 varmint in 223 (not available in 222). I plan on shooting the snot out of it and then having it rebarrelled to 222. I had a Contender carbine barrel in 222 a while ago, and I could really kick myself for selling it.
Part of the reason I like this round is that while it's different enough not to be "ordinary", it still has a good selection of ammo and reloading stuff available for it.
Don't let a bargain like that pass you by!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan

giturgun · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2008, 02:59:05 PM »

Get that .222 I have a contender in a super 14 with a burris 10 x and it will outshoot a lot of rifles. Had a 788 rem in it to . I am presently waiting on a reamer deal in a 222 to rechamber my 223 savage barrel with. I have 2 223's and have had 1 other. 1 of these is in a handi rifle. I don't see the 222 going out and if it does , so what , ammo is easily made from 223 brass which will never go away .

A lso if you ever want to change it just get a 222 mag or a 223 reamer and have at it.

As the 5mm was a rim fire , there wern't many options for it . Altho I have read of them being converted to some type of centerfire .

MOGLEY · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2008, 08:57:26 AM »

flabbydan
Are you sure cz does not offer the 222?. Ibought mine a few years ago and love it. It's a lux though not sure if they had varmint back then. I was thinking cz was one of the few that still offered that caliber.

MOGLEY · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2008, 09:08:34 AM »

Just checked the website www.czusa.com and found the 527 has the 222 but not in the varmint as you said but they do in the 17 and 204 ( and 223) man I would love to have the 17 and the 204 as well.If I did I would have the 17, 20 and 22 calibers covered. So far I have the 2 17 mach 2, 17HMR, nef 204,nef 223, and a cz 222. I relly like the small calibers and the accuracy these have. My advise is definetly get the 222 it is a nice mild shooting accurate round. Low recoil and the brass is not stressed like the hotter calibers.

Catfish · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2008, 12:31:03 PM »

A cousin of my wife has a .222, 722 Rem. if I remember right, that he bought in 1960. He carried it in truck from the day it was new and killed alot of groundhogs over the years. Several years over 200. Anyway in 2000 I ask him how many groundhog he had so far this year and he told me that he had shot out the barrel and it just didn`t shoot any more. He gave me the gun to bing home and work on. To start with I ran 50 patches of Sweets 7.62 down the barrel and number 50 was just as blue as the first was. As I was tired of cleaning I took it out and shot a 1/2 in. 5 shot group at 100 yrds. with it. I figured that was good enough and I would clean the rest of the copper out in another 20 years or so. I gave the rest of the gun a good cleaning and put another coat of finish on the stock and took it back to him. As far as I know the gun is still a good shooter and has had several 1,000`s of rounds down the tube. I have never seen a .222 that was shot out.

chris112 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2008, 03:05:03 PM »

I have one and would like another. A good caliber.
Any idea when Remington started making the 700 BDL in 222 again? Hadn't heard that they had.

Hairtrigger: are you sure of 222 in a Mini 14? Never heard of it in other than a 223.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2008, 05:52:13 AM »

Quote from: chris112 on January 20, 2008, 03:05:03 PM

I have one and would like another. A good caliber.
Any idea when Remington started making the 700 BDL in 222 again? Hadn't heard that they had.

Hairtrigger: are you sure of 222 in a Mini 14? Never heard of it in other than a 223.

Give me a couple of days and I will post pics. I also have a Mini in 223, I do know the difference

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2008, 12:39:08 PM »

Here it is. I did request and receive a letter from Ruger on this rifle. There are some out there but not a huge number of them

chris112 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2008, 05:29:19 PM »

Thank you. Hope it is a lot more accurate than the Mini 14 that I had was.

markp · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2008, 02:26:07 PM »

I would not have believed it. a ranch rifle in .222. thanks for posting the pic. somday this has got to be worth some money.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2008, 10:23:03 AM »

Not to highjack the thread but the 5mm Rem mag will soon be available again.

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:32:49 PM »

The triple deuce has been whack'n Prairie dogs long before the 223 was a gleam in some ones eye.

GatCat · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2008, 10:24:53 PM »

.222 in Ruger Mini's....I think the reason they were made is for possible export to countries that do not allow civilians to own a rifle in a military caliber. Also, if I remember correctly, a very early batch of Mini's were made in .222 for use in some State ( not sure of which, maybe Texas ) Prison System. Be neat to own one.
And yes, everyone NEEDS at least one .222
Mark

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2008, 08:28:42 AM »

As a teenager in the 1960's I had a .222 in a Rem. 722 and I wish I still had it. A few years ago I ran across a new 700 BDL for just under $500 and I wish I had bought it. I bought a 700 ADL Synthetic at Wally-World instead. It is just a "so-so" rifle in every respect but the price was right.

If you are going to reload, get the .222. If you plan to buy factory ammo, get a .223. That's my take on it.

Brithunter · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2008, 10:01:39 AM »

Hi All,

France is one place where you need a special licence to own a .223 or 5/56mm rifle but 222 is another matter and a french citizen can just walk in a buy a 222. Believe that I have a old Kettner's cat which has Ruger ranch rifles in it for 1996 it is.

Argonaut · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2008, 12:33:47 PM »

I came across a .222 in a heavy barrel BDL. It even had a Weaver K12 scope on it. 500 bucks. bought it then and there. My local Sportsmans warehouse has .222 brass. 100 for 25 bucks. (18.95 a year ago). just buying a bag a payday i have 900 cases. 800 not even used yet. it consistently shoots 3/8 groups at 100 yards all day long. allot of times even better.

The .222 is easy on barrels. uses the least expensive bullets. I get Hornady 50 SP for 12.50 for 100. if you cast bullets. (I do) you can even cast bullets for it. Talk about a squirrel rifle! I think the .222 is a great rifle cartridge and doesn't deserve to die. The Report of the round is also much less objectionable. something to consider as all of us are ending up with more and more politically correct neighbors.

If you shoot the throat out of it. (unlikely) you have it rechambered for .223. or even better a .222 Rem Magnum. Now there is a Dead Cartridge!

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2008, 01:47:49 PM »

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the .222 but with the ready availability of inexpensive .223 ammo and brass there is absolutely no reason for me to get a .222.

kimberkook · « **Reply #25 on:** October 12, 2008, 04:45:19 AM »

Quote from: mjbgalt on January 16, 2008, 12:30:10 PM

i have a chance to buy a brand-new remington 700 bdl for $529...this little gunshop in the middle of nowhere has not changed its pricing yet and i think i would like to jump at the chance to buy it at this price.

i have zero experience with the .222, other than knowing it's extremely accurate. can anyone who has used it, give me more info? i would use it mostly for targets and 300 yard and less varmint shooting. anything i should know about loading for it or what to use, etc?

-Matt

Well, it's nearly 10 months later and some of us are wondering if mjbgalt bought that Rem 700 BDL. It's true, Remington discontinued the 222 BDL/ADL versions in favor of the imported 799 (or 798 ?) cheapo series so chambered. Sad. Well, it's a great round and, for us handloaders, it trumps the short necked 223 every time for accuracy. There's nothing wrong with a 223 (or 221 Fireball for that matter) if you're willing to compromise. As one said, the 22BR is better yet, but as someone else said, that not really the point. Hope you got your 222 mjb

mjbgalt · « **Reply #26 on:** October 12, 2008, 05:03:24 AM »

well the bummer of it is that i went back and someone bought it.

it had sat there for months and when i decided i wanted it, apparently someone else did too.

-Matt

Brithunter · « **Reply #27 on:** October 12, 2008, 10:09:00 PM »

Ahhhh snooze and you lose

Been there done that

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #28 on:** October 13, 2008, 02:46:41 AM »

Me too, been there and done that. A few years ago a store in Bozeman, MT had a new Rem. 700 BDL in .222 Rem. for under $500 as I recall and there is no sales tax in Montana. I passed on it once and found it gone the next trip.

There is hope, however. Earlier this summer I bid on a used Rem. 700 Classic in .223 Rem. on GunBroker, woke up in the middle of the night with bidder's remorse, and was relieved to find I had been outbid. The next day I had loser's remorse. Low and behold another pre-owned 700 Classic .223 came up on GB in a few weeks.

This time I took the "Buy Right Now" option as I would be in church during the last few hours of the auction. My final cost was just a couple bucks over my bid on the previous rifle. When I received my "new" rifle, I found out it had never been fired or had a scope mounted. It really was a new rifle.

Hang in there, learn from your mistakes, and if you are meant to have a .222 it will happen.

roxalt · « **Reply #29 on:** October 17, 2008, 11:29:52 PM »

i bought a rem 788 in .222 back about 1980 that i shot some. my dad and i traded it back and forth for an evinrude a few times, until dad got tired of that game. i gave it to my son about 5 years ago, and now he & i are working on some sort of trade for me to get it back.... some bear recurves, or maybe an sks. to complicate things, he told his brother i was trading it for my Ruger mrk 1 pistol, which my other son wants, so he's working on me for that. its time for my 222 to come home again.