AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:Using hornady 50g soft points with a average load of 8208 yes i did blow the back of the head out however given the angle i was shooting at, damage to the other parts of the animal wasn't even a consideration. I have fallen for the 222 and its quietness not the same crack as compared to the 223. I was a big fan of 243 308 cals however the noise and spooking everything in the next valley I find somewhat a killer. The ability i have with my 222 and being able to precisely place a shot within 200m makes it a hard rifle to go past.
along with my 6.5x55 , 222 is definately the most practical usable caliber in my safe . they're two rifles i won't ever part with as they are flexable and do everything well . i recently got a 243 with a 6-18 scope for zapping stuff at more distance, but as you mention the noise is considerably louder than a 222 . the hornady 50 gn soft points are cheap and fly well in my 222 , but the 55 vmax are more accurate . 60 vmax fly like a 69 gn in a 223 tikka , amazing accuracy but to curved a trajectory . 1-12 swan barrel makes it work well with that weight . the natural accuracy ability when working up loads with the 222 is amazing . check the specs, but a 40 vmax with 18 gn of 2205 was a rediculously accurate load with a 1-14 twist barrel . i'm talking one hole at 100 very ,very easy dunno if a 40 vmax is much use in qld , wouldn't be a bad cat,rabbit and fox round i guess