22 caliber fetish

W

William Suter

Well-known member
I must be addicted to 22 caliber rifles. I have enough of them and came home with another one today. I have three 223's, now three 22-250's, a 22 Hornet and a 22PPC, not counting rimfires. I went looking for a 6 ARC and ended up with a minty Sako 579 Varmint in 22-250. He had a decent looking 220 Swift but I ran out of money so I had to leave it on the table.
 
William Suter said:
but I ran out of money so I had to leave it on the table.
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This whole working for a living is a load of BS!!!

The 22’s are just too economical to shoot for one. The caliber is my most shot and the 223 is the workhorse for me on a prairie dog town doing at least 70% of the work. They take their fair share of coyotes throughout the season also. My list consists of 221 fireballs , 223’s , 22-250’s , and am now adding 22 GT’s to the mix. I have both slow twist and fast twist barrel examples in all if them except for the 221.
 
Most of Ya'll know I've been playing with 6mm bores lately. Honestly I'm getting to the opinion that the .22 bore would actually serve my varmint pursuits better.
Not because of ballistics so much as cost per projectile for a quality bullet. Both of the two 6mm seem to lean toward the longer projectile hence a few cents more per bullet. While most will go it's only 20 -30 cents more per bullet. Well yeah, load up 1K to 3 K of rounds and see just how much $$ that actually is. Not griping just setting the stage for the .22 bore strength, and why some of us just go there eventually, even over better bullets in a slightly larger bore.

So yes I see why in some respects why some lean towards the .22 bore sizes. Heck I'm almost there with Bill. Looking at the Creedmoor and Ackley chambering I'm thinking the Ackley could be another .308 in it's long action, the 722 in 6mm Creedmoor could be a 22-250 or 22-250 AI. Be close to the 22 CM, yet easier to hold a conversation with the smith that is chambering than explaining why the Freebore needs to be shorter than is currently offered in the creedmoor family. Of course I'll want to shoot out both the 6mm bores I have first. But yes I'm getting to the same fetish with ya Bill.
 
I have a Colt M4 in 5.56 and I do reload for it. Then I ran across some Krico bolt guns in .222 Remington and I am thinking about getting one of those. But is it better just to stick with 223? It might be fun to fool around with the 222 reloading and shooting a very accurate round.
 
I personally think the .222 would be worth it. Buddy has one it's accurate as daylights he basically just giggles especially suppressed.
 
222's rule

Sako Fullstock Vixen
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Rem 788
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Valmet 212
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Win mod 70
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Egg Shoot winner and PD destroyer
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A Howa Mini, Rem 660, Model 7, Mini Mauser in 222 Rem are on my watch list.
 
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dbonstl said:
I have a Colt M4 in 5.56 and I do reload for it. Then I ran across some Krico bolt guns in .222 Remington and I am thinking about getting one of those. But is it better just to stick with 223? It might be fun to fool around with the 222 reloading and shooting a very accurate round.
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While I have always had a hankering for a 222, I've never had one, unfortunately.

However, I believe a good 223 will no doubt shoot with a good 222.

But no way would it stop me from getting one.;)
 
I've been shooting both since the mid 1960's, the one thing I've found it is far easier to find a good load for a 222 than a 223. In fact it seems hard to find a load that won't shoot. Powders from 4198 to 4320 all produce accurate loads 40gr tipped to 55gr flatbase all shoot good in a 1-14 twist. My favorite is the 52gr Speer Flatbase HP over 2230 and 748.
 
I've been shooting small cal for years now. Started with a 222 when I was a kid but my dad sold it, it was his gun and he had come across a deal on a 270 win. Later as I grew up I got a 223, a 204, 20vt, 221, 222, 223AI 22-250, 22-250AI and the latest a 22Arc Howa mini and a 22Arc criterion barrel for 1 of my Savages. I think they are more fun to shoot, cheaper and have less recoil what's not to like. So far I really like 22Arc with the 53 gr vmax @ 3500 and still below max in a 22" barrel or 75gr amax @ 3200 in a 24" barrel still below max
 
AWS said:
I've been shooting both since the mid 1960's, the one thing I've found it is far easier to find a good load for a 222 than a 223. In fact it seems hard to find a load that won't shoot. Powders from 4198 to 4320 all produce accurate loads 40gr tipped to 55gr flatbase all shoot good in a 1-14 twist. My favorite is the 52gr Speer Flatbase HP over 2230 and 748.
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Is 1-14 the usual twist rate or are there faster twists for heavier bullets?
 
Why would you want a heavier bullet. That's like towing a travel trailer with a pinto. The 222 made it's bones with 40-55gr bullets and set records with a 14 twist, get a 7 twist 223 if you want to lob heavies. Let the 222 do what it does best. A 222 won't kill any better or shoot more accurately with heavies.
 
AWS said:
Why would you want a heavier bullet. That's like towing a travel trailer with a pinto. The 222 made it's bones with 40-55gr bullets and set records with a 14 twist, get a 7 twist 223 if you want to lob heavies. Let the 222 do what it does best. A 222 won't kill any better or shoot more accurately with heavies.
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Better explain what a Pinto is. Not all of us are vintage enough to remember the two-door rolling Roman candle.😁
 
why said:
I've been shooting small cal for years now. Started with a 222 when I was a kid but my dad sold it, it was his gun and he had come across a deal on a 270 win. Later as I grew up I got a 223, a 204, 20vt, 221, 222, 223AI 22-250, 22-250AI and the latest a 22Arc Howa mini and a 22Arc criterion barrel for 1 of my Savages. I think they are more fun to shoot, cheaper and have less recoil what's not to like. So far I really like 22Arc with the 53 gr vmax @ 3500 and still below max in a 22" barrel or 75gr amax @ 3200 in a 24" barrel still below max
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The 22 ARC is a favorite of mine right now to. I'm getting 3700 out of a 27" Xcaliber with 50 gr NBT's. Dinging steel is easy at 750 with 70 gr. Nosler RDF. I have a 24 inch 22 ARC that shoots everything sub MOA. Good little round.
 
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