.222 VS .223 Remington

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.222 VS .223 Remington

Post by fuggle » 23 Jan 2014, 10:22 am

G'day all,

Looking for some information between the .222 vs .223 Remington.

Extremely similar looking... Is there a clear advantage on picking one over the other? Or could you flip a coin and end up happy either way.

Not an expert, but not sure why they bothered making two calibres so similar? :?

Cheers.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Bills Shed » 24 Jan 2014, 5:14 pm

The 223 started life as the 222.
People with with more knowledge will give the history of why the 223 came about.
I have owned these two calibre's and reloaded for both. I prefer the 222. With its long neck I believe it helps keep the projectile true on its axis. Other than that there is little between them. Pills and primers are the same. The 223 holds a bit more powder. Now that the 223 has been adopted as a military calibre the brass is easy to get and is cheap and therefore has become more popular. The brass of the 222 can be a bit more expensive but that is fixed by running the 223 case through a 222 FLS die. 222 have won their fair share of BR comps in their day!
If I had a 222 I would not think that I needed a 223 as well.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Chronos » 24 Jan 2014, 6:02 pm

Well said bills shed,

The .223 was developed for use in the semi automatic m16 (AR15) for the us military who demanded certain energy levels for their new cartridge (a replacement for the M14 shooting the .308) so the case was expanded to add velocity to the 55gr bullet

The advantage of the .223 in modern firearms is the use of fast twist rates allowing the use of bullets of up to 80gr

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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Antie » 25 Jan 2014, 3:46 pm

Minor differences in the cartridge, but a little more powder can make a big difference.

Twist rate and the bullet weight you can shoot is the big one...
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Spooner » 25 Jan 2014, 3:54 pm

Yup, .223 is usually something like 1:9 twist.

.222 is usually something 1:14 twist.

That's "usual" though. Will change with different rifles obviously...
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Prettybird » 25 Jan 2014, 3:59 pm

Heaviest .222 pills is 60gr or whatever too.

Heaviest .223 is 90gr bullet.

Need that faster twist for the heavier bullets.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Apollo » 25 Jan 2014, 4:14 pm

Spooner wrote:Yup, .223 is usually something like 1:9 twist.

.222 is usually something 1:14 twist.

That's "usual" though. Will change with different rifles obviously...


Unless it's a Custom Barrel the common twist rates are:-

1:14 for .222R
1:12 for .223R
some .223R like CZ Varmints are 1:9 and some others like Tikka T3 / Sako offer an optional 1:8 twist on request/order.

The faster twist rates do not necessarily restrict you to the heavier weight bullets. My CZ 527 1:9" Twist shoots Barnes 36gr Varmint Grenades extremely accurately and the velocity is fast.....!!!!

There are obviously certain weight and shape bullets that perform the best for each twist rate. The drama is finding it for what you have and even if the twist rate is the same between firearms it doesn't mean each will like the same weight bullet. Just as each may prefer a different powder / load / bullet combination.

If you are buying a new or secondhand .223R you should check the Twist Rate which in most cases should be stamped on the barrel or you might end up with something you didn't plan on.

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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Supporter » 25 Jan 2014, 4:56 pm

Apollo wrote:Unless it's a Custom Barrel the common twist rates are:-

1:14 for .222R
1:12 for .223R
some .223R like CZ Varmints are 1:9 and some others like Tikka T3 / Sako offer an optional 1:8 twist on request/order.


FYI, standard Ruger Hawkeye is 1:9 twist rate for .223

No such this as a "standard" twist these days really anyway.

So many people many so many difference rifles, they all contribute to the spread.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Apollo » 25 Jan 2014, 5:08 pm

I did say in general. Sorry, I haven't been through all the available factory rifles chambered in .223R.

There's probably something else out there that is different but it's just that normally 1:12" Twist would be the norm.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by bunnybuster » 02 Feb 2014, 8:13 pm

The projectiles are the same diameter,both use sr primers and powders of similar burning rates.The major difference is the availability

and price of brass,223 is common as,there is probably still mil surp brass around for scrap prices.

Be safe BB.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by SendIt » 06 Feb 2014, 8:51 am

bunnybuster wrote:The projectiles are the same diameter,both use sr primers and powders of similar burning rates.The major difference is the availability and price of brass, 223 is common as, there is probably still mil surp brass around for scrap prices.


Or all over the floor of your local range for free.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by jeretilda » 17 Feb 2014, 9:17 am

I like 222 simply because it was the first centrefire cartridge I used, so I have a biased affinity towards it.
As said though 223 is probably more versatile for hunting if using a rifle with a fast twist as you can go a heavier pill.
There are more options to purchase rifles in 223 from all manufacturers where as 222 is more from the European makers nowadays.
The older blokes like me will rave about 222 where as them youngens love their 223's
Both will get the job done.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Member-Deleted » 17 Feb 2014, 3:54 pm

I don't own a 223 but I'm about to, it's got the 1:12 twist rate. What bullets generally run well out of a 24inch varmint barrel with that twist rate.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by jeretilda » 17 Feb 2014, 6:40 pm

Jaso.
Try some 55 gr factory loads as that is nearly the same twist as my 222 which I handload with 50 gr v max.
They will make short work of those foxes.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Member-Deleted » 17 Feb 2014, 7:03 pm

55g got it thank you, I'm about to try 50g superformance in my 250, I know it's not the same cal & mine is factory against your handload but what are they like In your 222? I wouldn't think there would be that much of a difference between 50g superformance (4000fps) & a handloaded 50g.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by jeretilda » 17 Feb 2014, 7:43 pm

The 50 gr v max in a 222 won't be singing along as much as your 250 will with all those ponies behind it.
I load 24.5 gr of 2208 behind the 50 gr v max to yield about 3000 ft/sec in my 222
It groups well so I never bothered to fiddle with other loads.
Mine is a 1in 14 twist.
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Re: .222 VS .223 Remington

Post by Rocker » 18 Feb 2014, 9:29 am

jeretilda wrote:It groups well so I never bothered to fiddle with other loads.


That's what you want.

A mate of mine reload for his Gunsight Scout and has finally found a load that works well for him.

Took him 2 powders, 6 bullet types and all the difference loads that works out to be. Took about 200 shots to find it though :lol:
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