222 Remington Load for shorter barrel

[jagermeister]

PM me with your email address and I will send the Sierra page ....

Got it !

Thanks a bunch Charlie. :wink:

The barrel should come this week (I can't wait...).

J

 

[Oldtrader3]

Glad that you got the loading inforrmation. Good luck with that project.

 

[tjen]

Sorry I do this at work when I find time. So I have no data here and ofton have to be short in my replies or do not reply for some time. Rainly days are good a fair portion of my work is on test tracks taking engineering measurements and I need dry roads to that.

 

[jagermeister]

Hi Folks, some updates...

I have tried a few tests with no shame and no glory.

It may be due to new brass (Winchester WW Super) and new barrel...I hope so....

Some 5-shot groups @ 100 meters (small squares on paper are 1x1 centimeter = 0,39") :

Nosler BT 50 - Vithavuori N130



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Nosler BT 50 - IMR 4198



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Best one so far (Sierra MK 52 - Vithavuori N133) :



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...and...

Hornady SP 60 - Vithavuori N140 :



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I would like to "narrow" the tests down to Ballistic Tip 50 grs. and IMR 4198.

Could you tell me what C.O.L. you suggest for this cartridge ?

Thanks for you help.

J

 

[DrMike]

I can't recommend an OAL, but a couple of the groups you present definitely show promise.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Looks promising!

 

[jagermeister]

Mmmh, not really satisfied yet, I must say....

I am gonna work all my brass, as I think WW bulk brass "out of the box" is not that straight (anyone has feedback on this ?).
I am positive that accurate resizing and trimming (after the first fire-forming) is going to improve things a bit, hopefully. :wink:

Moreover, conditions of the testing were not that favourable (about 85 °F, muggy and quite windy).

Here's my latest 6-shot test at 100 meter on hunting load :



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Not that great I know, but good enough for hunting, I'd say :wink:

 

[DrMike]

The accuracy of that load is certainly good enough for hunting. All of us want cloverleafs, but reality intrudes when we are in the field. A coyote's chest will permit some larger grouping than most of us would care to admit. What sort of time did you allow between shots? I'm wondering if you were testing the rifle or testing the rifleman with this test.

 

[jagermeister]

The accuracy of that load is certainly good enough for hunting. All of us want cloverleafs, but reality intrudes when we are in the field. A coyote's chest will permit some larger grouping than most of us would care to admit.

That's for sure ! :mrgreen:
Anyway, my intentions were to use this load on Roe deer up to 200 meters (if wind allows...).

What sort of time did you allow between shots?

Mmhh, normally two shots in a row, followed by a 2-3 minutes pause...

I'm wondering if you were testing the rifle or testing the rifleman with this test.

Why's that ? :mrgreen:
I was testing the Rifle/Load combo.....as I am quite positive the Rifleman should be capable of good groupings...although no "error-free".... :wink:

 

[DrMike]

There is an adage, applicable to some degree, that says three shots tests the rifle and five shots tests the rifleman. I suspect some wandering of your barrel as it heats up. My comment concerning what you were testing relates to how we shoot at the bench. When testing the load, we want every condition to be as reproducible as possible, and this includes barrel temperature. We are looking for the highest degree of accuracy possible so we can make a statement concerning the load itself as shot in that particular rifle. When I speak of testing the rifleman, I refer to shooting (often from field position) without the same concern for precise accuracy, rather looking for ability to keep all shots within an acceptable group. Testing the load looks for data that will tell us about loading technique and the particular combination of components used. Testing the rifleman tells us about our personal abilities with the rifle, and especially about our ability to get on target. Obviously, in the latter we are less concerned about controlling conditions than we are about ensuring that our ability is adequate. Ultimately, it is securing data to answer two different questions.

 

[jagermeister]

You may be correct on the heating up of the barrel.

I will try to pay more attention to this detail, for the next testing...

As far as shooting, I am not concerned at all for the performance of the shooter, when I am testing a load.
What I care for is to get the best possible conditions to avoid "interferences".

Then, sand bags in front and Protektor leather rest for the stock.
The rifle is normally very steady this way.
It proved so by achieving good results with the other barrel I have...

Yet, it's a hunting rifle with a 20" bbl but, still, I am expecting it'll shoot better groups....

:wink:

 

[jagermeister]

Update :

I have worked on the brass "once fired" and I have prepped n. 50 cases Winchester resized, deburred and trimmed to 43 mm. (1.69").

Measured for run-out ; most of them fall into 0,02-0,03 millimeters (0,0008-0,0012" ?) and the rest within 0,04-0,05 (0,0016-0,0020").

I am pretty positive that, if good grouping fails, it won't be case's fault this time and the solution must be looked into elsewhere.

:wink:

 

[Laker_Taker]

I would take a good look at TAC. my gun loves it and its really clean burning. I have settled on a 40 grain Vmax and around 25 grains. extremely accurate and does the job on Pdogs. But I lost that gun to my 12 year old so now its back to the 22-250.

good luck
LT

 

[jagermeister]

More updates :

I am still working up a load.
So far no load has been sufficiently good for me, even though not horrible either.

I have come to a conclusion that Boat tail bullets do not produce excellent performances in my gun (Lapua Fmj 50, Nosler BT 50, Sierra HPBT 52).

Best groups I have obtained so far @ 100 meters are as follows :

Norma FMJ 50 + IMR4198 x 20,5 - OAL 53,50

First shot high on the left probably "contaminated" from previous Lapua bullet...



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Hornady SP 60 + Vihtavuori N133 x 21,6 - OAL 54,40



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I would like to hear your comments on which direction to go for better results.

Also, can you suggest a load with IMR 4198 behind the Hornady 60 SP bullets ?

Thanks.
:wink:

 

[DrMike]

Here's some QL projections with Hornady 60 grain SP and IMR4198. As to improving accuracy, you have limited options when it comes to this: consider bench technique or work on seating depth. The 222 won't give you a lot of room to play, but therein may lie the answer to your query.

Cartridge : .222 Rem.
Bullet : .224, 60, Hornady SP 2270
Useable Case Capaci: 24.214 grain H2O = 1.572 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.130 inch = 54.10 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : IMR 4198

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 78 15.68 2422 781 29596 5961 95.0 1.169
-18.0 80 16.07 2473 815 31365 6116 95.9 1.143
-16.0 82 16.46 2525 849 33229 6263 96.7 1.118
-14.0 84 16.86 2576 884 35197 6403 97.3 1.094
-12.0 86 17.25 2626 919 37270 6536 98.0 1.070
-10.0 88 17.64 2677 955 39459 6660 98.5 1.042
-08.0 90 18.03 2726 990 41767 6775 98.9 1.016
-06.0 92 18.42 2776 1027 44202 6881 99.3 0.991
-04.0 94 18.82 2825 1063 46770 6978 99.6 0.967 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 96 19.21 2873 1100 49489 7065 99.8 0.943 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 98 19.60 2921 1137 52355 7142 99.9 0.920 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 100 19.99 2968 1174 55381 7209 100.0 0.899 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 102 20.38 3015 1211 58588 7268 100.0 0.878 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 104 20.78 3062 1249 61977 7326 100.0 0.858 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 106 21.17 3107 1286 65562 7382 100.0 0.838 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 108 21.56 3152 1324 69356 7436 100.0 0.819 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 98 19.60 3015 1211 61248 6873 100.0 0.866 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 98 19.60 2783 1032 43914 7207 97.1 0.992

 

[gemihur]

My .222 Rem Mag has an Ackley shoulder
Bellman did it for my contender
Shoots excellently

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I know it hasn't been mentioned much but last 222 I had shot tight groups using BLC2 23 grs and Sierra 52 gr HPBT Match. Dan.

 

[SJB358]

I know it hasn't been mentioned much but last 222 I had shot tight groups using BLC2 23 grs and Sierra 52 gr HPBT Match. Dan.

Thanks Dan, I just picked up a Sako Vixen in 222 Rem. Looking forward to loading for this little devil. Since I just moved all of my loading stuff is still packed so I bought some Prvi and Lapua ammo, just so I can goof around a little and collect up some brass.

Love the little triple deuce.

 

[RiverRider]

I think I'm jealous, Scotty. Wait, no...I AM jealous! Should be a sweet rifle!

Nothing like a seven year-old thread to shine the light on change. I'm now using LT-32 in my junky old 788, but still shooting 50-grain V-Max. The LT-32 won't get anywhere near the velocities X-Terminator give, but accuracy is unmatched---in my limited experience. I shot 5 five-shot groups to verify my charge selection, and they averaged 0.44 inch 8ncluding a 0.62 group that I am sure was my fault. I'll bet a good shooter could wring about a 0.3" average out of it.

Charge weight is 21.0 grains for anyone interested. Velocity was just shy of 3000 fps which is a bit low, but I'll take that accuracy any day of the week!

 

[SJB358]

I think I'm jealous, Scotty. Wait, no...I AM jealous! Should be a sweet rifle!

Nothing like a seven year-old thread to shine the light on change. I'm now using LT-32 in my junky old 788, but still shooting 50-grain V-Max. The LT-32 won't get anywhere near the velocities X-Terminator give, but accuracy is unmatched---in my limited experience. I shot 5 five-shot groups to verify my charge selection, and they averaged 0.44 inch 8ncluding a 0.62 group that I am sure was my fault. I'll bet a good shooter could wring about a 0.3" average out of it.

Charge weight is 21.0 grains for anyone interested. Velocity was just shy of 3000 fps which is a bit low, but I'll take that accuracy any day of the week!

Good info. Might head to the store today to get some stuff for it. Thank you RR.