Round for a .222

I had a 222 until a guy I considered a friend stole it from me and sold it. Best shooting sporter rifle I've ever owned.

I took the rifle out calling a few times and was getting runoffs after shooting critters square. I went to the Sierra Bullets factory when they were in Sante Fe Springs in California. I worked about 1/2 block away. I told them about the poor results I was having putting critters down, bobcats and coyotes, and they suggested I try using a 50 grain Spitzer Blitz (not Bitzking) bullet which I did. I used IMR 4198 powder and that projectile for a few years before losing the rifle. I know both Speer and Hornady make hunting bullets for the 222 that are frangible yet not so frangible that they wont penetrate the animal. The Spitzer Biltz leaves an exit hole the size of a golf ball. Keep your shots under 175 yards.

BTW.....this projectile isn't made for a high velocity 224 like a 22-250 or Swift. They won't make it to the target in one piece. Sierra warns you to keep the velocity under 3400 fps.
 
I've had a few 222 Rem over the years. My go to bullets for almost all my predator hunting with it has been the 52gr Speer FB HP Varminter. It seems to work in just about everything from the 222 to my 22-250, accurate, knocks the snot out of them but doesn't wreck fur.

I do like the 40gr NBT as it is flat shooting, accurate and wreaks havoc on GS's and PD's. I haven't used it on coyotes in the 222 Rem but it is my goto bullet for the 22-204 at about 4000fps for pelt hunting coyotes. The 40gr NBT in my 222 Rem is what I used at the Egg Shoot last year.
 
If it isn't a combo gun the Hornady Super Performance 50gr Vmax works pretty good. In a combo gun I've had the primers flow into the firing pin and make opening it difficult, they are hot.
 
I have a Remington 722 in the 222 that is the funnest little rifle to shoot and will drive nails all day long. The bullet I have used for years is the 40 gr Nosler BT and I have had great luck with it.
Last year I loaded some Barnes 36 gr Varmint Grenade bullets for it and they worked well also. I don't shoot it a lot as I always seem to reach for my 220 Swift when I open the safe but when I do I am reminded why I will never get rid of it... it is just fun!
 
I killed a lot of predators with various Rem 788's in 222 and one Remington 700. I loaded the Sierra 45g SPT, 50g lead tip blitz, 50g spt with IMR 4198 and what you would now call LT32 powder. Great round, killed coyotes at 250 yards with regularity with the 50g bullets which show their power at 175 yards and beyond. Terrain we hunted was open dessert, rolling hills, scattered grease wood bushes, sand washes, river beds. Scope I used was a old Weaver El Passo 4x12x Steel Light or a Leupold 3.5x10x with A.O.

I tried some 40g Sierra HP, but had more nippers and spinners at longer range, so changed up the bullet to a heavier bullet. We killed around 100 or so with the 55g Sierra #1365, with no issues what so ever, about 3100 fps, they just flopped.

Forget trying to find any in a local store, but if you see any of the Rem factory 50g core loct, buy them all. Stick with Win, Rem, if you want good brass, Lapua brass trumps all if you don't eject the stuff off in the weeds. Plenty of factory loads out there, do a google search...ALL ON LINE.

The 222 is one of the very easiest cases to reload for.
 
Originally Posted By: YellowhouseThe old Hornady SX is hard to beat!

The Hornady SX (Super Explosive) is the equivalent to the Sierra Spitzer Blitz. Speer also makes a similar bullet. All are good in the 222.
 
Originally Posted By: YellowhouseThe old Hornady SX is hard to beat!

I reloaded the Hornady SX in the first Remington 722 in 222 caliber I had back in about 1979. I remember loading them up just to the point where they would not disintegrate after exiting the barrel. Every once in a while I would have one come apart but not often. I send many a sod poodle to the hitherlands with that combination and it was very accurate.
Today, I shoot the Nosler 40 gr BT or the Barnes 36 gr Varmint Grenade in my 222.
 
Used this bullet in my first 222 with BLC-2, I shot the 50gr, very accurate and killed game quickly.Originally Posted By: YellowhouseThe old Hornady SX is hard to beat!
 
I have an old 722 in 222.

With Fiocchi 50 gr V- Max, my 8 year old shot a 3 shot ragged hole group at 100 yds. After shooting 1 hole groups at 200 yds,I quit reloading for it.

I haven't shot anything but groundhogs with it. But the V Max should do the job on the larger animals.
 
Last edited:
40 Ballistic Tip would probably be okay but I am betting on exits on cats or foxes. 40 grain Sierra Blitzking should work fine on all 3 and doubt you will see any exits.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top