Thread: .222 Reloading

Hi guys, a friend and I have acquired a couple of old rifles in .222 and are thinking of doing some reloading to see what they shoot like.

Are there any recommendations out there for an all round good 'starter's load that we can use as a base/starting point?

The rifles are a Sako (1962) and BSA Monarch


Cheers
Rich

Here are a few options for 50 grain projectiles in the .222, ar2207 / IMR4198 - 20 grains, ww748 24.5 gns, BM1 - 21 grains, RL7 - 20 grains.

These are not over max loads but
Start about 1.5 grains below and work up in .3-.5 grain increments.

They will have twist rates of around 1:12 to 1:14 (unless the barrels have been replaced) so stick to flat base bullets.

Short range accuracy will be better with them anyway.

24gn's 748, 55 or 60gn flat base projectile. Yell out if you need some sample projectiles to play with - have a few spare you can have to get those 2 old classic's shooting.

I have an old BSA CF2 in .222. Heavy old girl beautifully made, bit too heavy for the bush and the hills but I take it out after goats and rabbits and plinking. It is a total tack driver with good quality 55 gn pills, including cheaper Hdy flat Base Soft Points. Less accurate but still tight and definitely minute of goat are Frontier FMJ 55gn flat points, flat base, available from Rusa for around $150/1000. The jacket on these I think is more of a copper wash. They penetrate well and the flat point gives an very good wound channel. I've had not difficulty dropping goats at 200m with shots behind the shoulder. Bullet passes through. I find published load data from ADI and Hogdon works best at the mid to 2/3 max load. At max load the 4 shot pattern tends to widen. Around the 2650 to 2750 fps gets me good results. At Rusa prices I can shoot all day. Fun calibre. Hit a rabbit in the hind quartes at a measured 125 m - not much left of the rear third. Yes I was trying for a head shot. No I wasn't good enough.

Hey for an "all rounder" i load those Hornady "Z max" zombie things, 55grainers and AR2207 for around 2700fps.... slower than the traditional .222 loads but it gets used for 200m Fox shooting often in headlights/spotlight on flat ground and has taken some fallows an larger brown ones too.. recovered projectiles and for under the 100m, its deadly..

a lighter, faster projie, not so good for the mid sized game, larger than goat.

fyi, tis in a older sako a1

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Hi guys, a friend and I have acquired a couple of old rifles in .222 and are thinking of doing some reloading to see what they shoot like.

Are there any recommendations out there for an all round good 'starter's load that we can use as a base/starting point?

The rifles are a Sako (1962) and BSA Monarch


Cheers
Rich

Mines an old Sako and I ended up after a bit of trial and error with 19 gr 2207 behind Hornady 50gr Soft points. Average around 3045 fps

i had one easy to load for i was using 2206h and those bulk 55gr soft points real accurate then did a dumbarse thing and sold it and got a 223 loved the 222 for some reason just cant get into the 223 stuffed if i know why...

Originally Posted by northdude

i had one easy to load for i was using 2206h and those bulk 55gr soft points real accurate then did a dumbarse thing and sold it and got a 223 loved the 222 for some reason just cant get into the 223 stuffed if i know why...

Yeah im the same man..... so many modern options for .223 speaking Rifles.......... an ammo on the bulk...... but i cant warm to it for now. Triple Duece it is

Originally Posted by Husky1600

24gn's 748, 55 or 60gn flat base projectile. Yell out if you need some sample projectiles to play with - have a few spare you can have to get those 2 old classic's shooting.

Someone is cheating. Put 60gr Hornady at the front of 24gr 748 and you are laughing with tiny holes all day.How did you know about that recipe? LOL.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Someone is cheating. Put 60gr Hornady at the front of 24gr 748 and you are laughing with tiny holes all day.How did you know about that recipe? LOL.

Just one of them loads I run up way back when I first started loading for the 222. Worked great with the 60gn projectiles I was using for the 22-250 so figured it would work for the 222 - it did! Have never changed it, if it aint broke, dont fix it. Wanted to try some 55gn flat base projectiles for shits and giggles, performed just the same so didn't even change the powder charge. But it may be a bit hot in other rifles, I dont know. But it certainly works in mine with no issues.