About 35 years ago I purchased a second hand Rem. 700 in .222 Rem. The previous owner assured me that the rife was a tack driver. My first trip to the range with it proved him right. It's been one of my all time favourite rifles. All my kids started on a .22LR to start and then graduated to the .222, before moving on to the .243 Win. and then the .270 Win. It's been an ideal start in centrefires. The whole idea was to avoid flinch by starting mild before moving up. I tried to get the kids concentrating on hold, breathing control and trigger control without worrying about the "Boom!"

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a very good strategy to build up good shooters.

In 73’ I did a lot of work with my Rem 788 in 222Rem. I4198 was the best powder and W748 was right behind it. At that time I was shooting Hornady 50SX bullets. Later Sierra came out with their 50gr Blitz which proved to be a little more accurate but not as explosive on ground squirrels. If going for accuracy on paper I used Sierra 52 & 53 Match and Benchrest bullets but performed poorly on game. I used Remington 7 1/2 primers, Remington cases and downloaded to 19.3 grains. For best accuracy out of my rifle. Fifty years ago I think 20.5 was the top load but now around 19.3! Don’t know what changed. I had put a Canjar trigger in the rifle and bedded the cheap birch wood stock. I could cover five shot groups with a dime all day long with that 100$ rifle in 1972 dollars. 37$ for the trigger in 73’. In 88’ put it in a fiberglass Beavertail stock and accuracy improved a little but the main difference was being able to go from my dry climate to a humid one and not lose point of aim. In the wood stock it would shoot tight groups but could be off as much as 2” left or right. The glass stock took care of that. Early 90’s I tried Nosler 50 Ballistic tips and they would not group. I pulled my work ups and went back to my old proven bullets. Lot of new stuff out there since the early 90’s lol. I go by if it works don’t fix it 😂 Nice video thanks for sharing

@jimnagel5611

Ай бұрын

I STILL HAVE DADS 222 HE BOUGHT IN 1962 -- HAD ONE BOX OF FACTORY AMMO THRU IT - ALL THE REST HAVE BEEN VARIOUS 50 GR BULLETS & MOSTLY 4198 - ALL LOADS HAVE BEEN JUST UNDER FACTORY SPEEDS -- STILL SHOOTS GREAT - BACK IN THE DAY A ONE INCH GROUP WAS CONSIDERED DAMN FINE ACCURACY -- NOWADAYS EVERY PERSON OUT THERE HAS A RIFLE THAT WILL SHOOT HALF INCH GROUPS ALL DAY LONG !!! 🦄

Awesome, great to see some 222 footage!

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to do more with this rifle but it was not mine and has been returned to it's owner.

You did an excellent job of demonstrating both good, great and poor. Well done.

@314299

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feed back. That was a nice shooting rifle.

Love my Sako Vixen deuce . So much that I don't want to shoot out the 1986 barrel so I've just bought a T3x in 223 and will only bring the Vixen out on special occasions.

@314299

Жыл бұрын

Fortunately both the 222 and 223 are quite easy on barrels since both burn modest amounts of powder. As long as you don't over heat the barrel you should get a lifespan of 15 to 20 thousand rounds out of them.

The Tikka is an outstanding rifle for a right out of the box gun. The cast bullet loadings are fine dispatchers of cridders were a semi high velocity at short range in needed, (Farms and places like that) and the accuracy you reviled is all that you need. Good Video. -Dave.

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

I would love to add one of the Tikka's to my armoury, perhaps I'll come across one at a decent price some day.

That Tikka has a nice easy movement.

@314299

Жыл бұрын

Yes, they are quite smooth operating.

by far the best 22 caliber hands down have been handloading and shooting it for 30 years you dont need anything else inside of 300 yards

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

Yes 222 is a fine caliber.

I’ve got a Remington model 600 and was first rifle and loved ground hog’s but have taken at least 35 white tail and always a meek shoot and my longest shoot was 303 yrds and facing me and put cross on top of his head skinned his chin went threw his spine and bullet was under the skin on back of his neck and I bought this gun when I 17 yr old and I’m 68 now so just to show you how much I love the 222 bad ass little round

@314299

Жыл бұрын

That's certainly a lot of real world experience with the 222. Personally I have only shot coyote with the round. May I ask what part of the world you live in? I'm guessing in a southern place such as Texas. In the north the deer are generally a lot bigger and 22 center fire rounds like the 222 are generally considered of insufficient power for clean kills.

That was interesting, again. Thanks for this.

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Reg. Missed your comment but a reply a year later is better than never!

@regsparkes6507

3 жыл бұрын

@@314299 Haha,.. there's truth to that!

Just took my Tikka T3x Varmint 223 to the range yesterday to sight the scope. Such a sweet rifle, slick bolt, crisp trigger. Only dislike is sometimes it wont grab the next round from the magazine, takes a couple of tries. A bit annoying. But that being said, with Hornady 75grain it had no problem with 1" or less groups. Didn't like the cheaper, 55grain stuff as much. Tikka is good stuff.

Nice work. Depending on the purpose and range, the 222 is a great choice. I sold a 22-250 and bought the .222. Quieter and at 200 yards shot as well.

@314299

2 жыл бұрын

Yes 222 is a great round, I think of it as a 300 yard round. As you say much quieter than a 22/250, and uses less powder and has better barrel life.

what a great shooting !!!!!! 👌👍

@314299

2 жыл бұрын

Tikka does make an accurate rifle.

lovely rifle, and that brought back good memories. I think the .222 is my favourite overall cartridge to reload. My .222 is a Remington 700 bdl. Favourite load for foxes is Remington Benchrest Primers, Vihtavuori N20 powder, and Speer 50gr TNT bullets, for a muzzle velocity of just over 3,300 fps, and nicely just under pressure signs. Average case life for Winchester cases at around 100 reloads, annealing necks after 10 reloads. Worst cases for reloading, IMI which even with annealing, were prone to neck cracking. Could have been a large bulk brass batch not quite right with the alloy. All other big brand brass cases were pretty good, never had much consistency success with Primers other than Remington though, even with other calibres and Powders + /- 6fps was fine by me. All the best, and good shooting. Bob. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 eta. Best Dies I found by far, were standard Hornady, mine were better than other Brands Benchrest Dies. My .243 and 7mm-08 Dies were just as good from Hornady too. 👍

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, certainly this is a nice rifle, it's unfortunate that the owner did not look after it very well. Interesting that you mention Remington primers, the only bad batch of primers I ever had was a carton of Remington small rifle primers, they would pierce with any load at all, in any caliber I tried them in.

I use Hornady V-Max 55 in my AR-15 for Jack rabbits. Well made bullet on the cheaper side of varmint bullets. Devastates the hare.

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

I bet that makes a bit of a mess of them.

Every time I watch your videos I just imagine how wonderful it would be if you lived in a place with American gun laws. Either way, love the content. Keep up the good work!

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

I just hope your country does not go into the shitter like mine has.

I'm glad the rifle shot something well. Personally, I would have field tested a non-personal firearm with factory loads only to set the benchmark. If I bought one of these fine rifles, it wouldn't have stacked bases on top of the Tikka rail with cheap Weaver rings and a cheap Bushnell scope. Accuracy is built in from the rifle's foundation up. Premium Tikka rings and a much better scope would have to happen, along with a proper bedding job, which is also needed according to the groups shown here. Old Savage 340's with a one lug bolt are firing 1" groups with factory ammo and cheap side mounted scopes. Any .22 bolt action centerfire rifle should be capable of firing into 1/2" MOA @ 100 if an AR 15 can shoot 1" all day with Ball ammo. I would like to see some tailored handloads for the rifle and go for 1/4".

@314299

Жыл бұрын

As I said in the video, it's not my rifle.

The imr load is what my rifle likes to but i use wsrm primers and lake City fromed brass and yes my rifle is a old Savage 340 in222 rem have not shot it in a long time need to get it back out and play with it some more.

@glennseripinas873

4 жыл бұрын

I got some cast lead 22 Cal tryed them in my 222 my thinking was that the rifleing would like them did about the same as the Tikka did maybe a different powder or charge weight?

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

@@glennseripinas873 Perhaps the velocity was a bit high for the bullet and alloy? You might try reducing the velocity a bit to see if that helps.

I always use 19.5 grs IMR 4198 powder with a 55 gr Sierra Spitzer, shooting 1 inch groups and smaller, at 100 yards, that’s with an old Savage Model 340, 24 inch barrel, 6 power weaver scope…..

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

The old Savage 340's will shoot with loads that they like.

The new age Sako answer to 788. 😮

222 is an excellent calibre. My pet load for my cz is Sierra 50gr Varminter Blitz over Reloder 10X, slow but ragged hole accuracy.

@314299

4 жыл бұрын

I've never used Reloader 10X. What sort of speed are you getting?

@222triple

3 жыл бұрын

IMR 4198 , Remington BR primers,Sierra Blitz for ground squirrels or 52-53gr Sierra Match or benchrest. Old school lol. Rem cases

According to the internet, .222 is about 5% more accurate than .223. Who knew?

@gmcallsuk

3 жыл бұрын

Just seen this video now and yes I would confirm that. A group of us with different rifles from 22 Hornet .222 Rem .223 Rem .220 Swift & .22-250 all agreed to come up with our best home loads and .222 Remington was in fact the''tack driver'' it edged all the rest in the accuraccy tests. Not popular nowadays I know but a fovourite of mine. That experiment went on for a few months it was great fun but my friend with .222 could edge out us with consistant groups at different ranges. We all tried one anothers rifle and the result held.

@222triple

3 жыл бұрын

Longer neck on the 222 helps.

@nigelbase1196

Жыл бұрын

222 is no more accurate than a .223....I've never owned one yet that would out shoot any of the many .223's I've owned...just As good, but just lacking the legs and versatility of the .223..

Do you glass bed your rifles? That’s something I’ve always done. In my opinion really makes an accurate stronghold, with floating barrel. Nice vid

@314299

9 ай бұрын

I only ever glass bedded one rifle (a Rem 700 .222), when I was done it shot worse than before I did it. Floating the barrel is not always the solution for accurate shooting, some rifles, like that 222, shot better with upward stock pressure on the barrel. I'm sure glass bedding can help many rifle/stock combinations, but it is not necessarily needed or desirable in every case.

@sekaf4125

9 ай бұрын

@@314299 makes sense. I’m thankful every rifle has shot better when I did it. There are always different cases

I'm a V-Max fan myself. Run them in .223 and .22-250 with quite good results.

@glennseripinas873

4 жыл бұрын

I'm a big fan of the 55 gr v max and h 380 in 22-250

@314299

4 жыл бұрын

V-Max bullets are very good and priced decently as well. I like the 55 grain that comes in the 250 count box.

My 1st rifle is a Tikka in .222 awesome rifle

@314299

4 жыл бұрын

That makes for a nice first rifle.

@erichuntter2437

4 жыл бұрын

@@314299 definitely 👍, I've shoot a lot deer and foxs way it

Nice group with the hornady's ! What happened to the crown, it seems corroded ???

@314299

4 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately there is some rust on this rifle. It is not mine. The owner purchased it new and stored it in a cabinet in an unheated garage. He wanted me to sight it in for him and when I got it it had quite a bit of rust "speckling" on it, most I managed to clean off without much damage but there was a rather nasty bit at the muzzle that could not be removed. What a shame! I zeroed it for him and gave it back to him with a bit of a lecture on maintenance.

@br4713

4 жыл бұрын

@@314299 I asked this question because I have 2 tikkas, one stainless and another in steel (chrome moly I think). The one which has the steel barrel had a bit of rust pitting on the muzzle but it didn't loose its accuracy. I suspect there was something in the barrel steel matter that caused this problem but I dont really know. Tikka make high quality rifles for the money (great accuracy and everything is functioning flawlessly), Average groups @100 meters are usually between 1/2 and 1/3 MOA with the right ammo.

Very accurate rifle ! What was the range ?

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

100 yards.

My favorite cal for chucks

@314299

4 жыл бұрын

the 222 is certainly an old favorite.

@numbnutz9398

4 жыл бұрын

I hope you mean woodchucks and not guys named Chuck who are trying to date your daughter🤣

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

@@numbnutz9398 He used a small case "c" so all the large case "C' Chucks ought to be safe....

My Rem 788 with a 22" barrel will pump 5 shots into a 5/8" hole.

@314299

Жыл бұрын

Sounds like a keeper.

The 2230 is great powder for both 222, and 223.

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

I used to use a lot more of it years ago when it was better distributed here in Canada, however for a long time there was no one selling the stuff.

Youse guys just like me, many have used IMR-4198 and 50 gr SX bullets. Now try out 46 gr Winchester round nose, HP Hornet bullets with WW-748 powder loaded at book formula, 222. Is lower recoil. Is very accurate in my 788. Terminal effects are different than 50 gr SX. It's as if a giant picked up that ground squirrel and turned it inside out to a bloody sock. Bullet impact sounds like a loud popping noise. Very odd. Very destructive. Won't go into low orbit like 50 gr SX but destructive none the less.

try a 52 grain hornady boat tail hollow point match with h 322 powder lights out will shoot in the .3 moa range

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

Those are a good shooting bullet, I have used them in .223.

I shoot v max 55 grain factory loads in my Cz 527 .223. I’m getting .75 groups. For factory loads I’ll take it. It’s devastating on chucks.

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

In my experience Hornady V-Max bullets are quite accurate, so I'm not surprised that the factory load shoots so well for you.

Interesting that around the 3 minute mark group three shots had muzzle flash and two didn’t. Your group was three in one area two in another. I bought my first center fire rifle in 72’. A Rem 788 222. In 73’ did a lot of work trying powders, primers and bullets after bedding the rifle and putting in a Canjar trigger. That removed a lot of error ( except the nut behind the trigger). I settled on IMR 4198 and Hornady SX 50 gr bullets for ground squirrels. Also used Remington Benchrest primers. Later went to Sierra Blitz 1340 I think is the code. For punching paper used Sierra 52-53 Benchrest & match bullets. A little more accurate than the Varmint hunting bullet but not suitable for game. That rifle spoiled me for accuracy. Could shoot less than dime groups all day long. It’s been in a Lee Six Beavertail stock since 88’. Will never part with that one. Also have a 788 in 22-250 mostly original. Good shooter too

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

One cannot rely on the video footage for capturing muzzle flash as the frame rate of the video will mean that a muzzle flash will get missed by the camera even when it was evident when viewed in person. I expect that if viewed in person all the shots had the same "flash". I've never had a 788 myself, would love to have one in 30/30 Win for a cast bullet gun, but they don't seem to come up for sale very often, I guess people hang on to them.

@222triple

3 жыл бұрын

That 222 spoiled me for being accurate. 30-30 788 are hard to come by. The 788 223 didn’t come out until 75’. 788’s were to be the cheap option for those who couldn’t afford the 700. I heard trigger lock time was fast so what helped accuracy. The factory trigger wasn’t very good. Chet Brown ( one of the originators of fiberglass stocks) told me he once won a Benchrest shoot with a 788 222 with match barrel and one of his and Lee Six stocks. Wind was switching back and forth and he waited for a lull and fired his five shots rapidly before wind came back. Showed me a large silver plate trophy for that match. They had a lot of funny stories

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

@@222triple Reading the wind and acting appropriately on it is often the recipe for success.

Have you ever shot any 45g barnes tsx?

@314299

2 жыл бұрын

No I have not.

@jeffowsley2545

Жыл бұрын

I have, didn't shoot very well in my rem. 788, which shoots everything else really accurately.

Group therapy

@314299

Жыл бұрын

The best kind!

That rifle can shoot but didn't like the 2400.

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

I think the groups would have been better with the charge of 2400 had the bullets been different. I would not expect fine accuracy with cast at 2200 fps and the 50 grain jacketed bullets were old CIL ones that are of not the best quality.

3 shot groups all that is necessary for a rifle especially off a bench rest. Any more is just wasting ammo and burning up the barrel needlessly. 5 shot groups are for pistol shooting to take the luck out of the group. I like shooting too but give me a 2 litre with the 4th and 5th shot for fun. A .222 hollow point will vaporize a paper 2 litre or 1 litre juice box very dramatic. Give it a try! Call me cheap but I also zero the scope with the first shot. If the second shot is on target then the third for assurance.. that is it.. time to blast things after that punching holes is boring... great vids always appreciate your efforts!

@314299

3 жыл бұрын

One does not "burn up" a .222 by firing five shot groups. A .222 or .223 barrel will shoot accurately for around 20,000 rounds. Most rifles out there only have a few hundred rounds fired in them in decades of use. Also three shot "groups" are really of no significance in determining the accuracy of a rifle or a load, in fact five shots is also not ideal, one should really shoot seven to ten shot groups to determine real accuracy. kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZpicsrafYZvFndo.html

@danielleclare2938

3 жыл бұрын

@@314299 most animals are never shot with a 5 shot group so I do not follow your logic.. paper punching accuracy is fun but can be done with .22 rimfire... 6 inch or 2 inch group at 200 yards or so is fine for bragging but makes little practical difference... yes .222 is mild but a 10 shot group or 25 shots is pointless paper punching... now free stand and hit a water bottle at 200 yards with anything and you are getting somewhere.. if you cant hit that accuracy on the bench is worthless IMO. Like your vids always watch them.

@Steve_G88

3 жыл бұрын

Daniel, You dont have a clue what youre talking about.

@danielleclare2938

3 жыл бұрын

@@Steve_G88 Is that all you have? It takes one to know one so try harder than that if you want to make a relevant point.

@johngnipper8768

3 жыл бұрын

@@314299 I agree , thats why they shoot 5 shot groups in benchrest. Excellent video