.222 Remington suggestions

[Bodydoc447]

I just scored a Remington 722 in .222 Rem caliber. I found that it is currently cheaper to empty cheap factory loads than it is to buy brass. After working up a j-bullet load (going to try the standard 4198 and 50 grain bullets) I would like to make this a boolit shooter, mostly for paper targets and golf balls. I have several NOE .22 caliber moulds and the Lee Bator mould. I have read several threads of folks using the Lyman moulds, too. Any special favorites?

Thanks,
Doc

[quilbilly]

I have been enjoying the Bator in one of my triple deuce rifles as well as in a Contender 10". Accuracy with the Bator has been good at MV's between 1900 and 2000 in the rifle or about 1700 in the Contender. That long neck makes it an easy, forgiving cast boolit caliber. I have loaded it with 4198, Unique, Bullseye, RE-7, and a couple others and all have shot well. I wouldn't try to push it too much harder than 2150 fps but then every rifle is different.

[Larry Gibson]

I also have several different 22 caliber moulds. Bar none my hands down favorite, especially for the .222 Rem, is the Lyman 225462; the 55 gr Loverin design. In your 722 with a 14" twist with quality cast bullets you should retain excellent accuracy up through 2500 fps and perhaps even at 2600+ fps. I suggest H4895 and Varget powders for such.

Larry Gibson

[castalott]

We ( a couple of buddys and I ) went in a slightly different direction with our 222's. We wanted to build a reloadable 22 lr/ 22 mag. Because I wanted more than average groove diameter on the boolets, a NOE .228 flat base mold was procured. The very soft alloy boolets are sprayed with Hornady One shot and sized base first to .224 or .225.

I'm struggling a little with my new CZ as per groups but Ray with his older Rem 700 HB is shooting sub 1 " outside to outside 5 shot groups at 38 yards. His loads are subsonic and lubed with Ben's lube.

I really want a 1500 fps load that expands ( I can do that now...the boolet won't shoot thru 2 milk jugs and expands to over 30 caliber) but I work for 1/2 inch at 50 yards.

I'm no expert but to shoot all day ( you know....shooting groups with the guys) for 2 pounds of alloy and a few $ of components is thrilling... And still having fun with the scientific inquiry of getting the loads to shoot...

I will try for a faster load later but now I want a squirrel load. The 222 is a fun little round. You'll be glad you bought it....

[Bodydoc447]

Thanks, Gentlemen. I will try some of those ideas.
Doc

[GabbyM]

Last week Sinclair had Winchester 222 brass in stock.

[Iowa Fox]

If you get in a pinch for 222 brass just make it from 223. I don't turn or ream necks when I have made it to use in my Rem 700.

[Bodydoc447]

I bought 5 boxes of Privi Partisan ammo for less than the cost of new brass, so I should be set for now. Thanks for the responses.
Doc