.222 Remington Ammo

The .222 Remington Ammo is indeed a popular target cartridge known for its accuracy. It gained popularity since its introduction and remained favored until the mid-1970s. Even today, it is highly regarded for its performance in varmint shooting at short and medium ranges. The preferred bullet weights for this cartridge range from 40 to 55 grains, with muzzle velocities ranging from 3,000 to 3,500 ft/s (915–1,067 m/s).

It was developed by Mike Walker, an engineer at Remington, who used it in benchrest competitions in 1950 at the Johnstown, New York, gun club. The Remington Model 722 bolt-action rifle was introduced alongside this cartridge. The exceptional accuracy and flat trajectory of the .222 Remington bullet made it a popular choice for varmint and benchrest rifles.

However, as the .220 Swift and .22-250 Remington cartridges offered greater reach, they became more popular due to their increased power. These larger cartridges provide roughly 50% more power than the .222 Remington, but they also result in more muzzle blast and barrel erosion.

LEGACY

When the US military was in search of a new smallbore rifle cartridge, Remington took the .222 Remington as a starting point and increased its powder capacity by about 20% in 1958, resulting in the .222 Remington Magnum. This modification placed the velocities between the standard .222 Remington and the .22-250. Although the military did not adopt this cartridge, it was introduced commercially.

In 1963, another variant called the .222 Remington Special, based on a stretched .222 Remington case, was adopted alongside the new M16 rifle as the .223 Remington ammo/5.56mm NATO. The capacity of the NATO cartridge was only 5% less than that of the Magnum. Due to its similar performance to other cartridges and its military acceptance, both the .222 Remington and the .222 Magnum quickly became outdated and were replaced by the .223 Remington.

While the .222 Remington ammo is not commonly found in current American production, its derivative cartridges are among the most popular worldwide. Along with the .222 Magnum and .223 Remington, the .222 has also served as the parent case for the .221 Fireball, which is the fastest production handgun cartridge.

The .222 Remington still maintains some popularity in Europe, where rifle producers like Anschütz, Sako & Tikka, Steyr, Sauer, and Weihrauch chamber rifles for this caliber. In countries where regulations restrict or prohibit civilian ownership of “military calibers,” firearms typically chambered for the .223 Remington/5.56×45mm NATO caliber are often rechambered for the .222 Remington. Examples of such countries include Spain and, formerly, France.

The .222 Remington ammo is a popular smallbore rifle cartridge known for its accuracy and versatility. Here are some specifications for the .222 Remington:

Bullet Diameter: .224 inches
Case Length: 1.700 inches
Overall Length: 2.230 inches
Rim Diameter: .378 inches
Rim Thickness: .045 inches
Muzzle Velocity: Varies depending on bullet weight and load, typically ranging from 3,000 to 3,500 ft/s (915–1,067 m/s)
Bullet Weight: Common bullet weights range from 40 to 55 grains

It’s important to note that specific load and performance details may vary depending on the manufacturer and specific ammunition variant. Always consult the manufacturer’s information or reloading manuals for precise specifications and safety guidelines when using .222 Remington ammo.