ammo for .222

[Salizar]

Hi all, I pick up my CZ 527 .222 next week, I changed a slot from .17 Hornet to .222, (I tried a model 25 hornet and did not like it). My primary use for the .222 is fox, but I will also use it for the occasional rabbit, what factory round if any would you recommend that would leave rabbits still edible? (own use not selling),

atb J

Edited February 1, 2013 by Salizar

[EMcC]

I use PPU 50grn soft point for Fox.

The only rabbit fit for eating after being shot with a .222 are the ones shot in the head !!

Anywhere else and they are only any good for the ferrets !!

I have a selection of .222 bullets both commercial and reloaded that I sometimes use but Dorset, as a location, doesn't give me any idea of how close to me you are so I can't offer you any other help.

[Gimlet]

I use Federal 40 grn Vshok for rabbits and foxes. As EMcC says any round will be pretty destructive on rabbits. I use the 40s because they shoot that bit flatter which makes long range (out to 300 yd) rabbits easier, and I do shoot quite a lot of rabbits with it. Being ballistic tips, terminal effect is unpredictable. I've had rabbits disintegrate and I've eaten ribcage shots. But basically anything other than square-on broadside means a mess. Quartering or sternum shots means an exploding bunny. But sit in ambush, range your shots and headshots are perfectly achievable well past 200 yds. Find the right ammo and a triple is awesomely accurate. I thought my HMR was good but the triple whacks it.

I've shot foxes to the same sort of range with the 40s and it drops them no problem at all. Not a twitch. But I am mindful of the lightweight and the frangible tip so strictly rib shots at long range. If I was fox lamping exclusively when precise shot placement is trickier I'd use 50 grn SPs.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Gimlet

[Bangon]

Same as Gimlet. I use a mixture of ammo. Mine loves federal 50grn Soft point. For ballistic tips it likes Sako 50 grain and Norma 40 grain. But i tend to just use the Norma 40s. I love the flatter trajectory. I have taken out foxes out to 250 with these. But to be honest i would be confident of much further no problems. I do most of my shooting at night and never had a problem. .222 is a cracking round and you'll love it.

[kent]

For the best results on small edibles you will have to reload. A heavier bullet 55 grn and 10 grns of sr4759 should yield about 2000 fps (use safe reloading practices as this wont be safe in all guns with all bullets) which is less than a factory hornet, if not able to hand load or even get a mate on with it all I might suggest is non expanding target rounds with the heaviest bullets. From experience I should say you need to be under 2900 fps with a 40-45 grn bullet, this will occasionally take the head clean off but even with frontal head shots will not generally effect the carcass

[henry d]

Norma 50 sp`s on foxes worked well, however 55`s didn`t work in my rifle, 595 Tikka. Again rabbits headshot are OK.

[Salizar]

Thanks for all of your help and advice, I`ll let you know how I get on. Is the triple much noisier than a mach2?

atb J

[kent]

Thanks for all of your help and advice, I`ll let you know how I get on. Is the triple much noisier than a mach2?

atb J

 

Look at powder capacity of the two cases and work it out with a wild guess

[Vince Green]

Is it a new rifle, if so best to get about 60 rounds of nice cheap privi for shooting in the barrel and getting the scope sorted out etc. Accuracy is usually not at its peak until its had a few through it but you can assess the privi ammo and then it becomes the benchmark by which you can judge the others as you go along. Should be able to christen the rifle Ok with privi. Fine tuning can come later then.

[Bewsher500]

I use 50gr Vmax for foxes

don't believe everything you read about flatness of 40gr vs 50gr

in field conditions you will never know the difference.

drop you can account for, wind drift is an entirely different matter

 

50gr also works better at distance due to delivered energy

 

as an aside I just put 10 rounds of 60gr Hornady Soft point through mty 20" barrelled 1:14 twist BRNO Fox Model 2

the books will tell you that shouldnt work

 

the target says different, 3 different OAL's, 2 groups off a relatively unsteady rest off the top of a wall with a 15-20mph wind, both well under MOA

[Salizar]

Is it a new rifle, if so best to get about 60 rounds of nice cheap privi for shooting in the barrel and getting the scope sorted out etc. Accuracy is usually not at its peak until its had a few through it but you can assess the privi ammo and then it becomes the benchmark by which you can judge the others as you go along. Should be able to christen the rifle Ok with privi. Fine tuning can come later then.

 

It’s a s/h combo with 12 months guarantee, barrel and crown looked good as did the whole set-up, I`ll find out what it’s like when I get to the range. Thought I would try PPU sp then Norma 40 bt and maybe Hornady 50 v-max.

I might start reloading in the future, it depends how I get on with this calibre.

 

atb J

[Gimlet]

I use 50gr Vmax for foxes

don't believe everything you read about flatness of 40gr vs 50gr

in field conditions you will never know the difference.

drop you can account for, wind drift is an entirely different matter

 

50gr also works better at distance due to delivered energy

 

 

They make a difference when you're shooting rabbits. My rifle is set up primarliy for long range rabbit shooting. Its zeroed at 200 yds and the intention is for the rifle to pick up where the HMR leaves off. Therefore from 130 yds to 250 its point and shoot and holdover at 300 is very small and easy to judge in low light and low mag. On foxes its pretty much point and shoot from under your nose to the end of the lamp beam. I tried 50s but settled on the 40s because I found that for rabbits the slightly flatter trajectory really did make them better for the task. I actually think the 40s are a good compromise between speed and weight to keep wind deflection to a minimum. I have encountered no difference between the two. Though if the wind is lifting my hat off I tend not to be out in it anyway.

I've found the VShoks barrel straight through the rib cage of foxes at more or less any distance but I did catch a fox on the shoulder bone once with a wobbly shot and it danced and ran. Luckily I was able to track it - it hadn't gone far - and finish the job. There was a huge flesh wound but appeared to be little penetration. I put that down to the BTs rather than the weight, particularly as the shot was only about 150yds, hence my care to place shots into the ribcage on foxes. But I do take your point about the heavier bullets retaining and transferring more of their available energy down range.

Given what I'm using this rifle for, it was a toss up between this and a .204. For down range fox capability and wind deflection I think I've made the right choice.

 

I agree about not believing manufacturers claims on the box. Federal's figures give 40 grn VShoks delivering consitently more energy at all ranges than 50 grn PowerShoks, and I've discovered that VShoks actually shoot flatter in my rifle than the Federal's own figures. I have found Federal to be the best factory ammo in my triple by some margin, but they aint cheap.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Gimlet