Thread: Reloading 222

Hi all,

Have finally got one of my bucket list rifles, a Vixen in .222. What projectiles/loads are people using on deer, and where are you shooting them? E.g. I was thinking of giving the 53gr TSX a go, but unsure whether it'll open up on chest shots, or if it'll put a deer down reliably with shoulder shots. Otherwise I'll just work up an accurate load with a cup 'n core bullet and stick to head/neck shots.

Will the TSX stablise in 1:14 twist?

2206h and 55gr hornadys

Originally Posted by northdude

2206h and 55gr hornadys

I use 2207 and 55gn Hornadys. Neck/Chest shots on Sika, Fallow and Whitetail no worries.

50gn SP Hornady and BM2

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

50gn SP Hornady and BM2

Or 55gr Hornady. They used to stabilize in my Vixen. Full case of BM2 works well.

I have over a dozen 222 cases sitting at home if you want them, free of course. Have load data for my old 222 as well but used 50gr vmax. Factory fed blue box 50gr soft points(believe they are the cheap speer hcsp projectiles) worked a treat for accuracy and killing power.

I had a Sako vixen and used 50grain SP Nosler and BM2 easy to load and very accurate, I think the load was 1/2grain below max.

I've been using 2207 and 55gr Hornadys in my Vixen but gotta say, the groups aren't that flash.

Got hold of some 50Gr TSX so have loaded some up, again with 2207, seated a little further out so will see how they go.

Originally Posted by Bos

I've been using 2207 and 55gr Hornadys in my Vixen but gotta say, the groups aren't that flash.

Got hold of some 50Gr TSX so have loaded some up, again with 2207, seated a little further out so will see how they go.

If all else failed with the .222 I turned to BLC-2. Same burning rate as CFE223.

Originally Posted by Walker

Will the TSX stablise in 1:14 twist?

I've read that the 53's will, 55's won't.

You could use a 45 grain tsx if 53 won’t work, or 55 Sierra gameking, 63 gameking, 70 grain Speer. You’ve got a few choices!

53 grain TSX's will not stabilise. Too long. Or put it this way, it gave me around two inch groups, and I did shoot a deer with one anyway.
The Barnes 50 grain TSX, (not the plastic tipped TTSX) however did stabilise in my Vixen.
I used
55 grain Hornady SP,
50 grain TSX.
60 grain Hornady SP - this will stabilise and shoot well.
Sierra 52 grain BTHP match bullets shot well too, but I didn't shoot a deer with them, although I am told they work on deer too.
All of these bullets shot at an inch for five shots or below.

People say that sometimes the 70 grain Speer will stabilise, but in mine it shot atrociously.
Any of the other bullets heavier than I have mentioned will not stabilise, although I am told the 63 Grain Sierra semi -pointed will, but I never tried it. I would have tried the Winchester 64 grain power point because apparently that works in a 14 twist too, but I couldn't find any.

I used max loads of mostly 2207, but 2208 will also work well and give about the same velocity. (Although you have to trickle it in and tap the case to get it all in and then compress it.)

By the end of all this, I sort of settled on the 55 grain Hornady w/c. Killed as well as the expensive bullets and was just as accurate, and cost the least.

Back in the day when I used the 222 a lot I used the Winchester 50 grain bullet and Win 748 powder, that bullet worked well on deer. When I was culling we used factory ammo in our Vixens, mostly Sako 50 gr SP, and some Norma which worked well, the Sako stuff was hardish and would penetrate well but still worked OK.
I used all sorts of projectiles back then like Hornady, Speer, Winchester but mostly 50 gr or 52gr. A great wee caliber well capable of killing beyond what you would expect of it.

Hi Mitch

Never shot the Barnes 53gr TSX but there are lots of other choices e.g. 55gr HDY SP + 25gr AR2208 (compressed load but hits like a hammer on goats), 55gr HDY SP + 23gr AR2206, 55gr Sierra BK + 26gr W748, 50gr HDY SP + 21.5gr AR2207, 50gr HDY SP + 22.5gr IMR 3031 (current load). All loads produced great accuracy (don't know about velocity).

Foolishly traded the Vixen for a younger/sexier AI that will not stabilise 55gr projectiles. Go figure...