Thread: .222 turning back the clock

I’m glad I’ve seen this post!

I have only two rifles, both being BSA hunters. One is a .222 and the other now a 6x45. My mind has been wandering and I was getting close to moving the .222 on, but thanks to all those that have posted on this thread, I’ve realised that would be a bad idea.

Like @Tahr mentioned hunting just feels better to me with an efficient and accurate little cartridge, housed in an appropriately sized little rifle. I totally get the ‘old school’ keep it simple vibe too, I’m going through a similar journey away from all the BS that the hunting and shooting market tries to tell us is necessary. I’m using 1/2 the gear and having twice the enjoyment!

For what it’s worth, in your .222 @Nathan F the 55gr Hornady SP is hard to go past for a one stop shoot everything bullet.

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

I’m glad I’ve seen this post!

I have only two rifles, both being BSA hunters. One is a .222 and the other now a 6x45. My mind has been wandering and I was getting close to moving the .222 on, but thanks to all those that have posted on this thread, I’ve realised that would be a bad idea.

Like @Tahr mentioned hunting just feels better to me with an efficient and accurate little cartridge, housed in an appropriately sized little rifle. I totally get the ‘old school’ keep it simple vibe too, I’m going through a similar journey away from all the BS that the hunting and shooting market tries to tell us is necessary. I’m using 1/2 the gear and having twice the enjoyment!

For what it’s worth, in your .222 @Nathan F the 55gr Hornady SP is hard to go past for a one stop shoot everything bullet.

Thank you. I can’t wait to get shooting with it

Great thread loved all the old photos keep them coming

Great thread thanks all.. I'm a latecomer to centrefire .22 calibres. Fraid I was in the classroom when some of you were out in the hills. You have perhaps had the better part I think...Anyway I now have 222, 223 and 22-250, so far taking only goats. Got mates who were cullers back in the days, still with their old beautiful beat-up and sometimes rebarreled 222s. I was interested Zimmer in your experience with the 22-250. How it compared. I've taken goats with mine out over 200m with 55gn Sierra SP doing 3350fps. Dandy until one hit on bone and splatted. Second shot between ribs did the trick. Same pill from 222 doing 2600-2750 just makes a nice hole through the rib and a good mess inside. Wondering if it was just a bad projectile or that that projectile was not up to the higher speed. Have tended to stick to the 222 and 223 since, taking closer shots and going for neck by preference. I hunt for meat so neck shot is goodness for me but closer is definitely better. So how did you find the 22-250?

Not Zimmer, but I shot with a 22.250 for a while. For shots through the ribs or on small animals I found the 50 grain BT worked fine, but the best deer load I used was the 70 grain Speer SP. I never recovered a bullet on anything I shot, and it did the business on some big reds.

As a bonus, it shot to the same POI @100 as the 50 BT's and later 55 VMax.
From memory it was pushed by a fair spoonful of N160, and did 3400.

You were lucky not all 22/250 have a fast enough twist for 70 grain bullets.

Standard Remington 1:14 - the 70 Speer is a semi pointed bullet designed for slow twist barrels. And really accurate. The only reason I didn't use it as the only load for that rifle was you'd have to line up a Otago paddock load of rabbits to stop one.

Originally Posted by 17brno

Great thread loved all the old photos keep them coming

Not an old pic but definitly an old Vixen still doing the biz

Early December 2020. First shot in the early morning gloom was rubbish. It needed a finishing shot.

Sako A1 (50gr HDY SP + 21.5gr AR2207).

Finally my rifle has shown up. Will sight it in this weekend.

Originally Posted by Nathan F

Finally my rifle has shown up. Will sight it in this weekend.
Attachment 163013

The drops on the box look interesting


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Originally Posted by Pauli

Early December 2020. First shot in the early morning gloom was rubbish. It needed a finishing shot.

Sako A1 (50gr HDY SP + 21.5gr AR2207).

Attachment 162807

Why the suppressor on a 222 that has little recoil and noise? I love the balance of my Sako and couldn’t do that to it..... each to their own but curious.


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Quite simply to protect my grandsons' hearing when they are out with me.

I use one on a 223 - reasons being, less of a crack so don't need to bother with hearing protection, confuses the animals as to where the shot came from, so often provides a chance at another animal, also a chance of another animal not that far away.

I would still recommend hearing protection with these small cases. The shot is still by far loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage. You can however get away with a smaller and lighter suppressor.