Cartridges That Killed the 222 Remington
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- čas přidán 15. 04. 2021
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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion - the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me - from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.
Produced by: @red11media
Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely. - Sport
My father and mother were professional crocodile hunters here in Australia in the 60s and early 70s. The .222 was my father's professional choice for hunting crocodiles. It hit hard enough to pierce a huge Australian Salt Water Crocodile skull, was deadly accurate and also made a tiny hole, so you didn't wreck the hide. My parents had some truly crazy stories from that era.....they certainly made them different back then.
The .222 Rem. what an accurate round, I had forgot all about it, I have a family member who still reloads his, to this day, Great Show...
About thirty years ago I bought a Remington 700 in .222 from a guy I knew from the local gun club. He assured me it was a tack driver and boy, was he right. It's one of my all time favourite rifles now. With very mild recoil and stunningly accurate, it's just a pleasure to shoot. It's been the first centre-fire rifle all my kids learned on when stepping up from the .22LR.
The guy that got me into reloading had a 222 and I believe it was a Remington as well, told me his 222 was a tack driver also. Told me he'd never sell it and still owned it until his time of death.
The Triple Deuce isn't dead with me! I pick up discarded .223 brass, size it down, neck turn it, and viola! More .222 brass! Most accurate rifle I have in my safe; 1953 Remington 722 with 5R rifling.
This was my Grandmother's rifle, and one of my most prized possessions.
.222 Remington will NEVER die with me.
You're an inspiration.
Bonjour a vous du Canada Mr Jerry 1911 Sometime i do little mistake with great effect when
i try to speak English but it's same for you you write and viola error you must switch i & o
give voila what is viola =rape at the past tense it funny this little détail
I have two .222's a Rem 722 and a Anschutz 1530
Thanks Jerry for the tip. While I have plenty of Norma brass for the .222, it must be must easier to make more from .223 brass than it is for me to make .219 Zipper brass from .30-30.
.222 is dead dude....
Nothing “killed” the .222. Great round, and I owned one in a beautiful lightweight Win M70 back in the day. Supremely accurate with BLC-2 powder and a 50 gr. Speer HP. It worked very well within the constraints of the caliber, i.e., it won’t shoot as flat or as far as .22-250. But at 250 yards, it ruled. People quit using it and moved to higher powered chamberings for the same reason they believe big pickup trucks are better than small ones.
Right on! When the .220 Swift first came out people really went for it because of it's 4K fps MV. Then they realized that it quickly shot out their barrels. Yes, I do own a small P/U, mostly because I don't have room to turn a big one around in my back yard. Besides, the big Dodge Ram is now (thanks to Obama) an Italian Fiat.
I own one in Remington model 600
My first center-fire cartridge. I still have it to this day!
Agree! Nothing killed 222, its an awesome cartridge, i have shot 90 roe deer with it (farthest 305m), zero loss. I cant even put a number on foxes, etc. I would shoot everything with it, except trophy games. Everytheng else into earholes or between the eyes and drop dead.
I agree rico567. Not sure why so called experts title their videos with such a ridiculous statement.
Listening to Ron reminds me of when a teacher would tell stories in elementary school. We would all sit and listen and you could hear a pin drop ! Thanks Ron !!
Thanks DB.
I agree, you can tell when someone is an authority. Respect with a capital R.
@@RonSpomerOutdoors No, Thank you Ron ! Love your videos !!
To bad he is not more accurate the 222 is still used in many countries and I can buy ammo for like any other rifle.
No lies told there, I'm glad I found this channel. 😎
Don't forget the .20 Vartarg. And the .222 may not be the hot seller anymore, but those who still have them aren't letting go of them- for good reason.
Just got a used 222 rem rifle. Shoots tight as hell. 4x scope at 100 meters, around 1cm spread
Don't change the subject. That seems to be going around lately. Stick to the point please.
True.i still have my vintage .222 Rem
222Rem is still hugely popular here in Aus.
I have 3 788 Rems in 222 all tackdrivers,
@@shanemckenzie9081 SAKO A1 here in .222. Shoots far better than its long skinny barrel really ought to.
It is but not as popular as it used to be. At least in percentage terms compared to the other small bores.
I still enjoy them for roos and smaller game mate. Very enjoyable to shoot.
Had a Remington 722 1959 model it was great too.
Every farmer used to have one but I see more 223 and 22-250 these days. Far from dead though.
Owned Remington 788 in 222 was an absolute tack driver, sold it to a guy who offered me ridiculous money too good to refuse, wish I’d kept it now
I have that rifle in a Heavey barrel .222
Guns are assets that always appreciate in value. I regret trading one gun for a piece of ham radio equipment and sold another when I wanted to buy an oscilloscope. Lesson learned: While the value of guns is constantly going up, the value of electronics equipment is constantly nosediving.
Years ago i bought a Remington 788 with a Burris compact 3x9 scope , in .308 for $140, ill never sell that rifle , its ugly but the perfect bolt action carbine .
@@johnwallace1729 - Hang on to it, it's worth keeping. You will never see a $140 value on it again, inflation has taken over. With inflation added to the fact that guns are appreciable assets, it would be very unwise to get rid of any guns.
I have a pair of 700 rifles with heavy bull barrels. One in .223 and the other in .308. The .223 has a hinged floorplate, but unfortunately the .308 does not. My plan is to get a hinged floorplate for the .308 when I replace the cheap plastic stocks with real wood stocks.
788 were cheap, mass produced and shot like wildlife. It was do to the stiff tubular action.
They built benchrest rifles on that action. Talk about bang for the buck.....!
Learning about the lineage and history of these cartridges is an absolute pleasure. Thank you.
Ranchodeluxe1 I have seen as many poorly placed bullets out of a magnum lose deer as a center-fire 22. A hunter that is comfortable with the smaller rounds is every bit as effective as the guy who flinches everytime he pulls the trigger on the big boomer.
222 Remington is highly popular in Spain and France where 223 is subject to restrictions. It's not going anywhere.
Communist countries
My partner's grandfather worked for the forestry dept here in New Zealand in the 60s-90s and shot literally tens of thousands of deer with the "treble 2" he swears by it , still uses it till this day puts it clean through the eye of a deer .
Put a round through a reds lungs, and its all over
Agree! Certainly isn’t dead in NZ and Australia 🇦🇺 👍👍👍
In 13 states in the US, it is actually illegal to hunt with .224 rounds of any sorts. Americans tend to go the opposite way and buy deer rifles more appropriate for moose or elk - one guy I know uses a 458 Winchester magnum!
@@Duke_of_Prunes the .222 can kill deer and so can a .223 but it still isn’t a great idea. Some states have 200+ plus size whitetail and you have little room for error. Shot placement is always key but when you are hunting, animals don’t always cooperate. 7mm-08 is as small I go personally.
@@adamelam6385 No, I agree that 222's and 223's are a bit small for White Tail -- might work fine on those tiny deer they have in South America. My favorite (and only) deer rifle is a 250-3000 (250 Savage) bolt rifle from Savage -- bought it about 30 years ago. Very efficient cartridge.
That was an absolutely fantastic video Ron. I love your enthusiasm for history. It made it worth it to watch from beginning to end. I am new to your channel though I know who you are. If you have more videos like this I will be sure to watch. If not.... you should make more. It was fascinating!
.222 still has cult following in the UK as alt to the masses, used on our smallest deer and varmint shooting. I bought a good under used 4 year old sako 85 last year, shoots very well, light to carry and moderates well to quite pleasant shooting platform. It replaced my .17HMR for ground game and close in varmint. We can’t just own a rack of rifles here so versatile is a key thought, and who wants what every one else has got... keep up the great content Ron
Good move! The only rimfire caliber worth having is the .22 RF LR. Anything else that is not reloadable is a waste of money.
I have both 223, and 222. My vote goes to the 222. More inherent accuracy, and slightly less muzzle blast. It's the best.
Agree.
I agree on the 222
It’s amazing what a .22 size bullet can do with the right loads
Until you get a little wind
@@greybone777 no man has ever claimed .22 to be a wind bucker , but used under the right parameters its just fine .
@@johnwallace1729 Not to mention the fact that shooting means learning how to gauge windage as well as elevation...
@@NickFrom1228 yes sir
Excellent Ron! About three years ago I picked up an old Rem 722 in a nice dark walnut stock with a Hart barrel that somewhat copies the old Remington Bench Rest rifles and man does it shoot. Nothing but fun, and prairie dogs out to 250-300 yards are in deep trouble, unless the cross wind is more than I can calculate. Love that gun and only wish I had got one years ago. Nothing wrong with the 223s, but just something special about the 222.
I still have a soft spot for the .222 Rem. My first rifle I bought was a 2nd hand Tikka in .222. Absolutely brilliant rifle to shoot. Ammo was reasonably priced and boy, was it spot on accurate. still sad I sold that rifle at times.
Enjoyed your video Ron, I have a Ruger m77 stainless in 222rem a super combination my favourite cartridge and rifle very popular in the UK and Europe for roe deer glad to say it's not been killed off this side of the pond. Keep your good videos going.
Ron the 222 was my very first center-fire in a wonderfully accurate Savage rifle.It changed my hunting world all together.Not a ground hog, turtle,or whatever was safe.Many precious memories of that great round.The rifle is long gone but those memories still bring me great joy.God bless.Thanks for what you do.
Thanks for watching, Dave. Good memories.
Where I grew up in Central Texas, many Savage .222 were used for deer. I still have my first "deer" rifle, a savage model 840 in .222.
Keep these videos coming I really enjoy the history and the obscurity of these oddball cartridges
@Dartgame 340 Depends on who you ask
I have a .222 Remington from the 70’s. I just shot it last week (very effective killer) and it’s still one of my favorite guns. Taught me how to shoot good and my first son too. Next will be the youngest to learn this year. It’s just so easy to shoot.
Great video Ron! I thoroughly enjoy absorbing this great history and information that I did not know even tho I’ve loaded and shot some of these 22 calibers for years. Loved the swift but settled on the 22-250 some years back. Always look forward to your videos. God bless!
Many thanks John.
Oh man, you bring back good old memories. I poured over ballistics and cartridge history from the old shooting magazine sages. I'm 61. Please dont stop your style.
Thanks David. We'll keep on keeping on as long as we can.
The triple 2 is used in New Zealand for red deer later the 223 but what’s interesting is the fact we use suppressors many cut the barrel down to help with balance and length but at the end of the day they ended with a 222
Yes I have seen videos on new Zealand hunts using a 222 Remington on roebucks
222rem is very popular in sweden, i think it's more common than 223
Popular hunting caliber in Norway to. Its just a super sweet light accurat rifle and very easy and cheap to reload. I love my 222.
@@tordjohnsen6941 It just doesn't do anything that the .223 doesn't do a little better.
A good friend of mine has a rifle chambered in .222. He would not part with it for anything.
@ Blaser long Range. Its still pretty common. I own a Sako A1 myself and it shoots really well. But to be fair, you dont see any new guns chamber in 222r.
@@missano3856 - The .223 does do two things a little better.
1. The higher velocity wears out the bore sooner.
2. The popularity of the AR-15 autoloaders makes it more likely to be banned by the democrats.
Great history on one of my favorites!
I think a lot of .222 fans might think Ron is putting the caliber down, but I take it as him speaking to commercial success. Of course, anyone who already has one will be very happy with it and want to keep it forever. My dad has more guns than he knows. He literally has to ask my stepmom if a particular gun is his or one he is holding for a friend, and she checks the serial number. But he only gave me one. I didn't get to pick, but this is the one I would have picked. I love my Remington 788 in .222. He glass bedded the action in a thumbhole stock. He told me that the guys at the competitions would see him pull that rifle out, and say "Well, I guess we're competing for second", and he has the trophies lining the shelf in his reloading room to prove it.
I dont think anyone is putting Ron down at all, just saying what it is. Obviously in the US it doesnt have the popular following/and commercial success it still has as Europe and indeed Australia 🇦🇺
This channel is one of the best online forums for guns and shooting but will all due respect even Ron doesnt know everything- and he would be first to say so!
Thanks again Ron for a wonderful information platform 👍👍👍👍
@@jeffestrada6857He didn't say people were putting Ron down but that some people might would mistake Ron for putting the .222 down , which he wasn't . He was just stating why the .222 was overtaken , commercially , by the .223 . Actually I think both those cartridges were Remmington cartridges so sounds like Remmington is trying to hurt itself....maybe we need to Baker Act Remmington .
I’d love to see you make a video on what killed the 35 Remington. When I was a kid growing up and hunting in the northeast everyone I knew had a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. I now own too many guns to count but more often than not I grab my old 35 with an old Redfield low profile wide view scope.
I love my old Marlin 336SC in .219 Zipper with Redfield Jr scope mounts and a Weaver K6 scope. Your ammo is undoubtedly easier to find than mine, but I am certain that we are both handloaders.
While there is no replacement for a 336 in .35 Remington, there is another option. Henry now makes a lever gun in .243 & .308 that has a detachable box magazine that allows you to load pointed bullets. Unlike Winchester and Marlin, Henry did not bend over for the democrats by installing a useless cross bolt "safety." Henry uses a transfer bar.
I'm one of those guys in the northeast that still uses a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. It's topped off with a 4X Bushnell Scope Chief. I would like to see Ron do a video on the 35, too.
@@justsittinhere72 I used my Dad's 35 Rem in the NE and now I use it in the Southeast mountains. It's a 1953 model and I love it!
@@pensnut08 Mine, I believe, is from 1969.
Still use my .222 Rem Savage and have been reloading since 1980s. It was my first Lee hand loader kit. I bought a bunch of .222 Rem virgin brass a long time ago so I have plenty to reload. Only difficulty now is getting powder and primers since the ammo shortages.
Thanks for sharing about the Triple Duce... for the record Howa reintroduced the round in their mini action (2019?). I bought one, it shoots way better than I do. Last September I walked into my Walmart and there was NO ammo to be seen except for 6 boxes of .222. It just goes to show this round will never die...lol. Keep up the good work, I really enjoy the videos. Loel
Got a lovely Kimber .222 and I love it. I use it walking around and whilst spotlighting. For foxes, feral cats and Roo's it does a great job.
While I love a lot of your vids this one was super interesting and very informative. Where I'm from "OZ" we call it the "tripple 2" and was the go to round here when I was younger. One of my best mates still shoots one, I had a preference for the 22-250. Thank you for telling this great story, loved it.
The .222Rem is still very popular with hunters here in Germany!
The .223Rem is also increasingly outstripping it, but so far it is more likely to be found among sport shooters!
greetings 👍👍👍
Really enjoyed this presentation. Great stuff! Thanks.
Thank you Alan.
Bravo! Great segment Ron! I wish the .222 Remington was still in the main stream.
I can't remember where I read it. But, from what I understand is that the original AR-15 prototype was chambered in the 222 mag. However, it didn't function very well for some reason. With a slight change in the design of the cartridge case they came up with the 223/5.56. This seemed to solve the problem.
I read something similar in the M16/AR-15 complete guide by Duncan Long
Thanks for the good clip Ron! The 222 is still fairly popular in Northern Europe. I believe Tikka still chambers rifles for it. I am waiting for a used Sako A1 in 222 Rem as I type, actually. I sold the R8 22-250 barrel and “replacing” it with the Sako. There are tons and tons of Sako Vixens over here as well as Brno Fox’s in 222 so it’s still a pretty popular round 👍🏻
how popular are .223 in europe?
@@kyle18934 Very popular 👍🏻
I have seen videos from new Zealand hunts ( for Roebucks) ,in some cases they use a .222 Rem. I still have my 222
@@NordicRifleman how about a 204 Ruger?
@@gradyhernandez4699 I’d love one! The problem is that here in Sweden, you need at least 40 grain bullet to legally hunt red fox. It’s true 🤦🏼♂️ And most 204 barrels can’t stabilize those kinds of heavy bullets. That’s why I use V-Max 40 out of my 222 Remington.
Good stuff. Thanks, Ron.
Thank you this is an excellent program. Regards from the McKenzie Country in the South Island of New Zealand. Wow and thanks again
I have a good friend that owns a Sako vixen in 222rem , absolute tack driver ....
I am handing mine down to my son this season.
The only good reason to part with it.
My Sako L461 is not as accurate as I had hoped it would be. It was put together by someone else, and I think the stock needs to be re bedded. I should check the headspace too. My tack driver centerfire .22 is a Marlin 336SC in .219 Zipper. Who would have guessed?
My Great Uncle had a Anschutz 153 in .222 Rem that he used for everything , literally . He lived in Virginia and it was legal to hunt Turkey with a rifle , and he did . It wasn't legal to hunt Whitetail with a .224 cal , but , he did . ( never lost a deer , and only had to shoot one twice ) . He did usually use neck shots . The numbers of Groundhogs and Crows taken would have been legion .
But that little Anschutz ( he had an old Weaver straight 10x with fine crosshairs ) was a tack driver ! He did eventually have to send the gun off to be re-barreled . If memory serves me right , it wasn't easy to find a replacement barrel .
He started out using an old Lee hand loader ( he eventually worked up to just about everything RCBS ever sold) and he swore by Norma brass , IMR 4198 and the " Bullets in that Green Box " . I bought him some Nosler match grade once , made me return them for his beloved Sierra's .
He passed back in 2016 at 83 , and I think of him everyday . Especially when someone talks about the Triple Deuce .
What a GREAT Cartridge! Thanks for the memories.
Love his enthusiasm for the subject.
Great information Ron, thanks!
Im a big fan of the mighty 222 rem. Ive had a few over the years including a Gevarm (very rare), Rem M700, and still have a Model 70 and an Anschutz. Its a lovely little cartridge and inexpensive to shoot since I load my own.
We bought a French Gevarm B/A rifle in .222 with detachable magazine back in 1970 in Deal in Kent. It was the rifle belonging to the daughter of an ex Purdy gunsmith called Smith. With Norma 50g soft point, it was fiendishly accurate and I also hand loaded rounds for the owner for some 47years until his untimely passing some 6years ago. The rifle was topped with a Leupold 4.5-14 x 50 Gold Ring scope with duplex crosshairs and accounted for innumerable fox on Romney Marsh and subsequently also roe deer in Scotland. As I recall it had a twenty inch heavy barrel. It was sold a couple of years ago to a local gun dealer Gordon Smith
@@thaenuwar1732 Thanks for sharing your story! I wish I still had mine, sounds like it was a similar set up. Im in Canada and have not seen another one like it.
Stoner asked Remington to lengthen the case and blow the shoulder forward to meet the steel helmet perforation requirement, which they moved the goal posts on after it easily perforated at 400yds.
They called it the .222 Remington Special, which was later type-classified as the 5.56x45mm for the US Army, Air Force, and USMC. This was pre-NATO standardization.
The commercial .223 Rem came a few years later.
.222 Remington Magnum would have required the receiver set, magazines, and bolt carrier to be slightly lengthened in the AR-15, which already met the steel helmet perforation with .222 Remington Special.
Ron your videos are always good. Keep them coming.
I knew a retired commercial hunter in NZ who took over 1000 Red Deer with a 222. He liked using the Remington Carbine because it was light and compact, perfect for working in hilly country.
Wow!
Yes I have seen videos from NZ..using a 222 rem on roe bucks
Excellent review Ron. The Triple Deuce is one of my all time favorites. Savage chambers the 222 Rem in their 25 WALKING VARMINTER and the 25 LIGHTWEIGHT VARMINTER-T.
Thanks Mornin. I didn't realize Savage was still chambering for 222 Rem. Whoo hooo! Maybe it's staging a comeback. Hope so. Fun little round to load.
Tikka t3x
I did a lot of bird hunting in winter with the 222. Here in Sweden, we have someng called top hunt. In winter, birds like capercaillie and Orre (I have no idea of the English name, but in Latin it's Lyrurus tetrix) sit in trees to feed during the short days. We are on skis when hunting. It is more often then not fairly large distances when taking a shot, and the 222 made exellent work. Nowaday I use a 6,5x55 mm from Mannlicher.
Still running my 222 love it
Thank you Ron for a thorough and absolutely superb presentation on the wonderfully accurate and balanced.222Rem ..........and it’s many terrific siblings / off-spring 😅😂🤣
Really appreciate the effort you go to with these presentations - you earned my subscription a long time - just wanted to thank you
And encourage you to please carry on just as you are - don’t change a thing Kind Sir
Your sheer enthusiasm and intelligent articulation is contagious and inspirational............even for many of us ‘old-timers’ out here with decades of experience reloading precision firearms, hunting and range target shooting
Huge thumbs up 👍 for you and your wife’s efforts in supporting African wildlife conservation - will have a look at purchasing some of that high tensile fencing wire !!!
May God continue to bless you and keep you safe and well Sir
From an old mate and ally Deep Down Under in sunny Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺 🇦🇺🇦🇺🦌🦌🦌🦘🦘🦘🦆🦆🦆🐗🐗🐗🐪🐪🐪🐃🐃🐃🐏🐏🐏🐫🐫🐫🦃🦃🦃🐇🐇🐇🦫🦫🦫
Whoo hoo! Tasmania. Never been there. Must try to make it. Thanks for the support and kind words, Tony. Cheers, mate.
Another very informative and entertaining video Ron! Thanks!
Thanks Rev. Steve.
Ron’s presentations are remarkable !
222 is one of my favorite cartridges. I buy brass whenever I see it (once fired). It’s a great little efficient cartridge, also super accurate. Remington 722, with a 10x unertl, it’s a sweet old school cartridge. My favorite load is 24.5 grains imr 4198, with a Sierra #1490 hpbt. I can’t seem to find them for sale ever, if I do I turn around and they’re sold. Great video
I maxed my .222 loads @ 20.5g, 24.5 sounds hot, do you show pressure signs?
@@alfredneuman7665 you’re right. I don’t know why I said 24.5, I also tried varget and 4895, but 4198 seems to work best
@@MFitz717 I inherited my fathers rem722 with 26" barrel, his favorite load was sierra 50gr semipoint 20gr 4198, 6x weaver fixed, it would shoot 1/2" groups all day @ 100 yards, explosive on crows and woodchucks, very early rifle with low serial numbers
Thank heavens for wildcatters. Men such as Ackley and Keith. Men that practically had gun powder oozing from their pores.
Ackley and Keith.......Yes, they influenced me.
Experimented with a few wildcats, thanks to Ackley and never blew up a pistol thanks to Keith.
My EDC is a 2.75 inch Smith 66. I safely get 1400 fps average with 125 gr. hps. Unheard of nowadays.
Too bad many younger shooters aren't familiar with these guy's wisdom and experience.
@@kellywalker8407, You have helped to inform the next generation. Thanks for the input.
Absolutely still use and love my .222 bought it in a savage with accu trigger about 10 years ago. Just as you said it’s my go to fur gun, my best shooting gun period.
Another great video, Sir. Much appreciated.
The humble triple duece will always have a place in my safe and in the rifles of many people i know, it gets the job done without any fuss or fanfare.
The .222 Remington is still alive and well in Australia !!! I recently had a Howa rebarreled into a .222 and it shoots brilliantly - 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with monotonous regularity ( when I do my bit ..) With a 24 inch barrel, velocities aren't far behind my .223. I had a 1:12 twist s/s fitted, so it can stabilise 60 - 63 gn bullets for medium game.
@@buckrussel3808 I disagree with the .223 being boring - I recently bought a Weatherby with a 1:9 twist and I'm about to experiment with 65-75 gn bullet weights ... the .222 was rebarreled with a 1:12 twist Bergara barrel.
@@buckrussel3808 No offence taken !!! I grew up using a .222 Remington , so it's got a special place in my heart too .. I just disagreed with your statement because I'm doing experimentation with bullet weights I haven't had any experience with ... ( I could have rebarreled with a 1:8 twist , but it wouldn't have been the same ...)
Good
@@buckrussel3808 25 06 good choice
I have been following your many videos for a while, and have learned quite a bit from you. One topic I would like to have you co mb e is the effect scope moiunting height has on effective point blank range. Check the difference between a scope mounting height of 1" and one of 2". The higher mounting gives you a considerable advantage over the 1" setup. The old habit of mounting your sights as close to the barrel as possible appears to be outdated, especially with the faster rounds available today. (I got my calculations from a Lyman's reloading manual). Thanks for all the good info!
Tyvm for your video alot of great info and learning about cartridges i never heard of.
Thanks for uploading. Always wondered about the .222. You never see it any more, at least not in quantity. I do on occasion see it on the shelf though. This is way back in those good ol' days when you can actually find ammo on the shelf.
I have a 222 rifle,ammo too.
Love both my .222, & .222 Rem Mag.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I enjoy this content.
Glad you enjoy it!
Another awesome vid Ron. My grandfather here in Australia shot benchrest back in the day, a classic Rem 788 which I've since inherited. My wife's favourite gun.
Thanks Paul. Glad you enjoyed. The 222 is getting lots of love in Aus.
@@RonSpomerOutdoors Yep, super accurate for Kangaroo shooting here. So many season shooters would get a brand new rifle/scope package, shoot the 4/500 rounds per season then hand it back in for a new rifle for next season.
222 is a tack driving lazer beam and perfect for what's needed for cats/dogs/foxes/kangaroos here.
Love the video! Can you talk about your personal favorite cartridges of all time overall?
We'll consider that idea, Hopeful. Thanks.
I purchased a new M700 BDL chambered for the .17 Remington just before they packed up and moved south. It shot reasonably well. There were no poly tip bullets available in .17 either for reloading or factory loaded form back then. I was getting five shot 100 yard groups of just over one MOA. They were moving at about 3900 fps. When the .204 Ruger was introduced I had that .17 rebarreled for .204 as it was faster with a heavier bullet. It did not foul like the .17 either; the factory barrel of the .17 needed to be cleaned about every 20-25 rounds to maintain accuracy. Just my passing thoughts.
Had the opportunity to buy a 700 BDL Varmint in .222, but decided to go with a BDL Varmint in 6mm Rem instead, super accurate and drops deer before they know they're dead.
I have a 222 rem in a Mohawk 600 used it in Colorado prairie dog hunting around 10 years ago. And it out shot about 6 other rounds we had with us. I fell in love on that trip.
You have quite a few videos that are so good that I watched them more then once, but I think this is my new favorite. Smaller calibers don't get the attention they deserve, I think. The way I see it, most decent shooters started out with something small that was just right for them. For that reason, I really like videos about smaller calibers.
I still load and shoot a 222 in a Rem 700 Classic. It is a one hole rifle! I also shoot the 17Mach IV and a 20 Tac and 20 VarTarg. Great little rounds.
My dad will turn 80 this year. When I wanted to buy a .22 Hornet at a gun auction (about 25 years ago), my dad suggested I look at a .222 instead. I never bought a .222 (because I went from .22 Hornet to .223 to .22-250). But it’s interesting to hear the history.
I was waiting on his comments for the 22-250. Got mine in 65 with a Weaver 4-10 metal butt
I have 1 rifle, and I don’t reload. But I find your channel and explanations to be incredibly fascinating. I watch every one of your videos I come across because you are so engaging.
Thanks Daniel.
I shopped for a remington 700 222 in 1962 . The only one I found was a 700 Adl in 222 remington magnum cost was $98. Shot one hole with the first three rounds at 50 yards. I honestly thought I had missed the target. Did almost the same at 100 yards ragged hole with a Leupold 6x scope. I had been trying to find another 700 in 222 mag when I decided to rebarrel a 1966 adl in 222 that had some throat erosion. I'm really happy with my stainless re-barrel 222 mag 1:14 twist. The 222 mag has a longer neck than 223 better accuracy. Nosler has recently made brass available.
I was lucky enough to find a 1993 Remington 700 classic in 222 that after floating and pillar bedding will shoot 1/2 moa all day long. I LOVE THE 222 CALIBER!!!
An interesting fact that Ron didn't mention is that Mike Walker came up with the .222 by scaling down the 30-06.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@mr.goodkat8430 That's the reality kid. Looks like you need to do some homework.
Here I thought you were being sarcastic
You really have a knack for storytelling, Ron. I mean that as a compliment. I own a 223 bolt action rifle, and I love it. It is a great all-around varmint cartridge, with little to no recall. It's even legal for deer in Minnesota, but I would prefer my 243 for deer. Oddly, in my light Savage Weather Warrior rifle, it feels like it kicks the same as my 30-06. By the way, I just came out with a new book, War At The Speed Of Light (Potomac, 2021). It's about the military doing away with kinetic weapons, such as missiles, in favor of directed energy weapons, such as lasers. In simple terms, there is no bullet or projectile, just a wallop of energy. It's been on Amazon's top 100 bestseller list (Military Policy) since it came out. I think you would find it interesting.
Sounds like an interesting book, Savvy. How do we find it? Amazon, I assume.
My late grandfather was a gunsmith and a wildcat enthusiast, he left me his .17-222 on a very custom Remington 700 platform. i need to load some rnds but that thing will same hole at 100m from the 1st cold barrel shot to the last shot fired. easily the most accurate rile I've ever seen.
I love my old 222, Sako L461 Vixen. My grandpa bought it new in 1963. It is still my most accurate rifle.
I have a L 461 as well. High quality and accurate
222 is alive and well in my house
Neighbor has one. It took a Deer at 175 yards.. it works he says and if it works Dont fix it.
Same here!
Model 700 .222
I still have and reload for two guns chambered for the .222. Reloading is the key due to the fact the .223 has pushed the.222 out of its place in the 1970s. It is still all it was when it came out. Outdated...but still worth looking at if you reload or come across a rifle or handgun (T/C) chambered in it. I have put over 10,000 rounds through my T/C Contender and 8,000 rounds through my Remington 1983 issue Model Seven. Both shoot 5 shot 3/8-inch groups with most loadings. This is excellent even by today's standards. It is a legend. It will always be one of my favorites.
Really nice to hear someone that knows the true history behind the "300 Blackout". Jones never gets the credit he deserved for his 300 Whisper. My neighbor who owns TNT shooting grounds bought one of the first Whispers he made. We had to handload all the ammo then making it from the Fireball cases.
By amount of comments .222 not dead. Have Sako HB .222 since 80s love it taken all sorts of game in Australia from rabbits to deer
Its not dead.....but its a good click bait.
The .223 has been banned for deer hunting in several US states because it is not powerful enough. Apparently you guys have better marksmanship skills.
@@bobsradio6025 Might just be the deer size in those states. Here in Ontario the .223rem is legal but no one uses it .
Its not totally unheard of to harvest a 180-200lb doe.....lots of guys shooting .243s here though.
@@GoldCountryTrapping - I am not a hunter, but I strongly suspect that the politicians that are making those "laws" are not hunters either. Perhaps the hunters in Ontario know what they are doing by not using the .223 for deer, regardless of what the "lawmakers" know or do not know.
@@bobsradio6025 Could be? I wouldnt put anyone down for suing one. Just not a popular choice for out bigger deeer.
In texas, where a buck weighs 150lbs.....probably be a good round.
The reason they came up with the .223 was it had to function and shoot out of the Stoner AR-15 platform. The angle on the neck of the .222 wouldn’t function in the auto action so they went with the .223 with improved performance that you mentioned from the .222 Remington magnum but importantly changed the neck angle to function properly in the M16. Then it was called the .223 or 5.56 mm.
And yes the .222 which has always been my favourite is chambered today with some manufacturers. I have a Tikka T3X in .222
As for accuracy it is more accurate (ever so slightly though) than the .223
The .222 is the best small varmint/ Fox rifle calibre I have owned. Here in Australia the .222 was popular years ago but even now has good following, saying it has died is a misnomer! Older folk like me use it and even though it’s not popular it certainly isn’t dead! Some benefits are....recoil is less then the .223 and importantly after a shot you can see the impact. It has less report so farmers are happy with less noise. I load the 50 grain Nosler bullet with 20.5 grains powder and it is deadly accurate out to 250 yards or so. It is what I would call a real gentleman cartridge! 😀
A buddy of mine inherited a Savage Model 340 in 222 Remington caliber about twelve years ago. He had a hard time finding ammo for it. Because I load most of my ammo he asked me to load some ammo and test his rifle. I got a set of dies and some brass to get started. I produced enough ammo to take to the range for some preliminary shooting. The rifle didn't have a scope, so I got it to print on the target at fifty yards before trying it at 100 yards. The little rifle shot OK with just iron sights but needed a scope. My buddy bought a scope and side mount to extend the range for prairie dog control. He was happy with it and still has it in his collection.
.222 has been my favorite round ever since I started shooting in 1963.
I started shooting in 1959, and my favorite round is the .22 RF LR. I especially like it in a conversion kit sitting on top of my 1911.
Id love it if you did a video talking about the .22 hornet. Interesting little round. Probably the smallest reloadable centrefire rifle cartridge. For whatever reason the hornet was really popular in my part of southern ontario.
The reloadable .22 Hornet is why I would never want a .22 Magnum that uses throw away rimfire brass.
Also the .220 Swift. Great speedster of a round.
.22 K Hornet is a worthwhile chambering. Hornet becomes much better and brass lasts forever
It is popular in scandinavia among us capercallie hunters that uses barking bird dogs.
It seems like the long neck would be perfect for seating long heavy bullets in. I would like to build a fast twist long throat rifle in 222 someday.
absolutely wonderful idea 1in 8 twist rate great for stabilizing heavier bullets
The 222 is a cool round! I believe the 222 can claim the 350 Legend as well as one of it's offspring. Loving your content, thanks for posting it up.
Great video
Ron, I would like to see this kind of video on the hornet 17, and 22.
I truly enjoy your history videos.... and how does someone beat that 0.009 score?
I do not know how anyone beat that score, but someone apparently did.
@@RonSpomerOutdoors would have to be a PPC no doubt
@@RonSpomerOutdoors When you get to a one hole group, it's within the measurement error.
@@paulvenn4447 6mm ppc.
I think it was worth noting that 30-06 wasn't developed out of thin air, it itself is derived from 8mm Mauser.
Yes a fact that some people in the U.S seem to think the 30-06 developed from scratch and deny the link with 8mm Mauser
Still common in Sweden
@@tonygardner9668 and 7x57
@@robertpetersson1390 Yes, the 7x57 likely had more influence on the 30-06 than the 8x57.
@@shawnwells5719 I believe mauser sued Springfield for copying their head stamp and cartridge design as well as their rifle. They were never awarded the royalties because of the Great War
One cartridge that I like, besides 223 & 300BLK. is the 6mmx45 (6mmx223). I can push a 85gr BTHP at over 2800+fps. Make a nice lite recoiling round, great for deer, varmint or plinking! love your videos!!!!!
Thanks Keith.
Thanks for the lesson!
Nice video appreciate it I'm a big fan of the 204 Ruger
Same here.
I have a Savage 12 single shot in 204 -- I like it the most of my 5 or 6 varmint rigs.
I have a Remington 788 in 222 very accurate after the past 40 years
I feel like the 6 PPC should've been mentioned also. Coming into the benchrest scene I believe in the 70's, it became the go to benchrest round instead of the 222. Good watch Ron thanks.
I own a Sako Vixen in .222 Rem and I love it! I was able to acquire a case of factory Federal ammo about 20yrs ago.
The 222 is alive and well. I have 3 triple deuces and people love them.
I bought a 222 Rem a few weeks ago very cheap. I planned to have it reamed out to 223 rem as I have several 223s. But after seeing all the hype I ended up buying 222 dies and Lapua brass and I'm going to leave it alone.
You wont be sorry, it’s inherently more accurate than the .223 and very similar in performance with less report and milder recoil. A real “gentlemans” calibre!
Good luck 😉
Ron there is another cartridge that would have been worth mentioning. We hog hunters are always looking for a better mousetrap and Bill Wilson has probably maxed out the .222 (.223) case with the 300 HAM'R. It gives us .30-30 ballistics from the AR-15 platform. There is also a 350 but from what several of my friends that own them say they are not very accurate. I don't own one of them so can't say that is the case from my own experience. Great article. Love the history articles.
Thanks John. Yes, someone else brought up the 30 HAM'R. Sounds like a good one for ARs. I tend to overlook the AR cartridges just because I've never learned to appreciate that platform. Has never felt comfortable to me.