.222 Rifle..Right choice??

[Norrie]

Hiya, just had my interview tonight...and the gun calibres I asked for were ok...no problems there at all... Air FAC, .22lr and .222 ....now, my question...I dont see a lot of .222 guns around, either for sale, or being used... is this a popular calibre??...I was advised to go for this by a friend , who's much more knowledgable than me...so, go for it I did....should I have gone for .223 ?? It's not too late for me to change calibre.....so...hopefully you can help me there..

 

Cheers guys..

Edited May 27, 2010 by Norrie

[mikee]

what do you want to shoot with the .222, it is a wicked fox/munty/roe round as youre in scotland, will do most things you need

 

mikee

[Dekers]

There is nothing wrong with the .222 but it is basically dead in the water, the .223 has pushed it aside big time.

 

If you reload then consider a .222 otherwise forget it and get a .223!

[SSS]

There is nothing wrong with the .222 but it is basically dead in the water, the .223 has pushed it aside big time.

 

If you reload then consider a .222 otherwise forget it and get a .223!

I'd stick to it to be honest. There isn't enough of a difference between the two to bother. There is plenty of secondhand rifles available in both calibres.

Only trouble really is, the .222 is as deker says, dead in the water. Most major rifle manufacturers aren't making guns in .222 anymore, and ammunition isn't as readily available as it used to be.

Whatever you decide, good luck with it

[Frenchieboy]

I have to agree with the above comments, especially the ones about the ammunition not being so readily available but I would also like to add that the .222 is a lovely round to fire and is capable of superb accuracy. (I must admit that I am saying this with no experience whatsoever of the .223)

Whichever you chose make sure you get plenty of pleasure form it while practicing safe shooting!

[al4x]

there isn't much to choose between them ballistically, but as said ammo isn't as readily available. Check your local places to see what they stock if you are going with factory or if you re-load it won't be an issue

[JackReady]

Best Advice. Ignore the antiquated 70 year old .222 and the equally lethargic. 223. Go for the best all round choice in 22c/f the .22-250.

 

I expect we'll soon be into the "nothing wrong with a .223, its killed more people than the Ebola virus" comments.

Edited May 28, 2010 by JackReady

[Lez325]

There is nothing wrong with the .222 but it is basically dead in the water, the .223 has pushed it aside big time.

 

If you reload then consider a .222 otherwise forget it and get a .223!

 

 

I have a CZ in 222 and it loves the Prvi ammo at £7.50 a box of 20- and its very available

 

Brilliant Foxing tool

 

Les

[JackReady]

I have a CZ in 222 and it loves the Prvi ammo at £7.50 a box of 20- and its very available

 

Brilliant Foxing tool

 

Les

 

If you can get Privi to shoot in your rifle they make reloading almost point less.

[al4x]

Best Advice. Ignore the antiquated 70 year old .222 and the equally lethargic. 223. Go for the best all round choice in 22c/f the .22-250.

 

I expect we'll soon be into the "nothing wrong with a .223, its killed more people than the Ebola virus" comments.

 

 

and enjoy even more noise and barrel wear

 

Jack you may have a 22-250 and it is a great round but it definitely has downsides to get your 300 or sofps advantage

Edited May 28, 2010 by al4x

[JackReady]

and enjoy even more noise and barrel wear

 

Jack you may have a 22-250 and it is a great round but it definitely has downsides to get your 300 or sofps advantage

 

Alex

 

The old myth about .22-250 barrel wear is just that an old myth. As for noise everybody seems obsessed with screwing a tin can to their rifles these day. So no problem with noise out of a .22-250. Beside no fox or deer shot by it is ever going to hear the bang, so where's the problem. Are you saying .223's and .222's are silent?

[Lez325]

my 222 is definatley not silent- but saying that with a T8 mod it is not much louder than my 17 HMR

 

Les

[vmax55]

i had a .222 and swaped it to my .223 and no regrets. if you can change it then i would do so imo.

[Dekers]

Best Advice. Ignore the antiquated 70 year old .222 and the equally lethargic. 223. Go for the best all round choice in 22c/f the .22-250.

 

I expect we'll soon be into the "nothing wrong with a .223, its killed more people than the Ebola virus" comments.

 

 

You really need to take a chill pill and start to understand that EVERY calibre has its strong and weak points, and on just what basis do you suggest the 22-250 is the best ALL ROUND .22CF....

[al4x]

sadly he does dekers apparently the only one worth having the others don't apparently do the job

[JackReady]

You really need to take a chill pill and start to understand that EVERY calibre has its strong and weak points, and on just what basis do you suggest the 22-250 is the best ALL ROUND .22CF....

 

They are not my words.They are the words of Bruce Potts writing in the Shooting Times

 

The .22-250 is the best of the .22 centrefires in terms of versatility and ballistics. The .220 Swift may be regarded as the king as far as velocity goes, but the .22-250 can be loaded to be as good if not better and is more flexible in reloading. The .22-250 is the choice of shooters who want velocity combined with accuracy and performance at extreme ranges.

 

I would also add to that list with availability of factory ammunition, very good brass at reasonable cost, a multitude of different rifle manufactures to choose from and a good supply of rifles available to suit nearly every ones budget, terminal performance, no need to have 26" barrels to get outstanding down range performance.etc etc etc.

 

Don't you just love these calibre comparison debates? I know I do!

 

What shall we debate next? 30-06v.308, .270v6.5X55,.243v6mm 20 TACv.204Ruger, 6.5X47v 6mmDasher.

[JackReady]

sadly he does dekers apparently the only one worth having the others don't apparently do the job

 

If it was just about getting the job done, every pigeon shooter would be using an old SBS Baikel that looked and handled like a fence post and would be firing cheap S&B cartridges with #8 shot as that's all the shop had and their mate's use them all the time any way.

 

No point in crying over spilt milk. You're handicapped yourself with a .223, you'll just have to get on and make the most of a poor choice.

[SSS]

They are not my words.They are the words of Bruce Potts writing in the Shooting Times

 

The .22-250 is the best of the .22 centrefires in terms of versatility and ballistics. The .220 Swift may be regarded as the king as far as velocity goes, but the .22-250 can be loaded to be as good if not better and is more flexible in reloading. The .22-250 is the choice of shooters who want velocity combined with accuracy and performance at extreme ranges.

 

I would also add to that list with availability of factory ammunition, very good brass at reasonable cost, a multitude of different rifle manufactures to choose from and a good supply of rifles available to suit nearly every ones budget, terminal performance, no need to have 26" barrels to get outstanding down range performance.etc etc etc.

 

Don't you just love these calibre comparison debates? I know I do!

 

What shall we debate next? 30-06v.308, .270v6.5X55,.243v6mm 20 TACv.204Ruger, 6.5X47v 6mmDasher.

You talk too much ****!

 

Open your eyes, you will not convince many people that the .22-250 is (in your words) the best.

 

Tell me Jack, what makes it the 'nest' of the .22 cenrefires because I'm sure I could find room for them all in my cabinet, especially the little .22 hornet!

[JackReady]

You talk too much ****!

 

Open your eyes, you will not convince many people that the .22-250 is (in your words) the best.

 

Tell me Jack, what makes it the 'nest' of the .22 cenrefires because I'm sure I could find room for them all in my cabinet, especially the little .22 hornet!

 

Dingbats been and marked your card already mate.

 

Aye up Sam, while your here giving some advice on this and that, can you explain to all were you get all your experience from, as the only calibre you shoot at the moment is a 12bore,

 

Or are you really "Chuck Hawks" under cover laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif

 

i do apoligise Sam I see you are now well experienced with CF as youve had a nice 222 just over a week now

 

:good:

 

In the words of Motley Crue DON'T GO AWAY MAD (JUST GO AWAY)

Edited May 28, 2010 by JackReady

[SSS]

Dingbats been and marked your card already mate.

 

 

 

:good:

You really cant explain it can you?

[JackReady]

You really cant explain it can you?

 

Oh I think I can. Just see my post at the top of this page.

[SSS]

So Bruce potts is the reason you have a .22-250

[JackReady]

Nope! Have you actually read the post? I have my doubts that you have.

 

Ah just checked your profile, 22 years old . Say a lot!

 

Shouldn't you be out gets wasted and chasing women? Is Friday night and a bank holiday weekend.

Edited May 28, 2010 by JackReady

[Mr_Logic]

Jack you talk about 22-250 barrel life being a myth, yet you also say you only get 3500 rounds from yours. Hmmm!

 

22-250 is the fastest of the readily available 22CFs. It is not the most accurate - that goes to 222. It is not the most versatile, that goes to 223.

 

With a 22-250, almost all rifles have 1:14 twist, which means I can shoot a light bullet fast. It makes a lot of noise and uses a lot of powder. And it's only about 300-400fps faster than 223.

 

223 allows me to shoot a light bullet pretty fast (because 3400fps with a 50gr is still fast enough, or 3700+ with 40gr). It also allows me to shoot a heavy bullet reasonably fast (75gr @ 2800) which will beat the 22-250 by around 10 inches of wind drift (10mph full value crosswind) at 600 yards. 223 is readily available with such a barrel, unlike 22-250.

 

223 uses less powder, makes less noise and unlike 22-250 is allowable at Bisley.

 

Therefore, with one 223, I can potentially shoot:

 

* Foxes

* Rabbits

* Deer

* Targets (and with a 1:8 Tikka, even to 1000 yards)

* 5000+ rounds of barrel life not uncommon in the slightest

* 25gr powder charge

 

With 22-250 I can shoot:

 

* Foxes

* Deer

* Possibly the odd rabbit for soup

* 35gr powder charge

* 3500 round barrel life

 

Of those two, which looks more specialised, and thus NOT all-round.... Hmmm...

[JackReady]

Barrel life is a subjective judgement call as it depends entirely on what the user finds acceptable. bys way of grouping. Some of my BR friends are binning barrels that I would be perfectly happy with at 1000 rounds. Go figure.

 

Accuracy is an subjective and immeasurable criteria unless you remove the human element and have a like for like set up.

 

Your .223 like my .22-250 need different twist rate barrels to stabilise 50 and 75 gr bullets. I expect you'll tell me yours shoot both equally well now.

 

As I have no need to shoot at Bisely. I'd need to join the NRA for a start. That's hardly a plus point IMO.

 

If I was solely punching holes in paper at 600m and wanted something cheap to run a .223 might be on my list of choices some way behind the 6.5x47. As I want something that has a better ballistics, greater versatility, and has a better terminal performance. The .22-250 hits all the numbers as far as I'm concerned.

 

End of.

Edited May 28, 2010 by JackReady