AusVarmint

Has anyone had any problems getting their .222 with a 1-14 twist barrel to shoot 55gr projectiles? I've tried a few different brands but I can't seem to get any decent accuracy with them.

What loads are you trying? I'd guess any of the lighter projectiles ( up to 50 gn ) would do well, even a 55gn should do okay. What rifle as well?

Lowndsie my 222 rimmed has a 1:16 and hates any 50 s with a tip. It will shoot nosler 40 s very well which I am sure they are only just stabilized would have thought a 14 would handle 55 s. What pills have you tried and what powder does it shoot other weights really well or don't know?

Ryan

It a rem 788 and so far it's been shooting projectiles from 40 to 50gr really well. I've been using 2207. So far I've tried some 55gr Hornady, Nosler Ballistic Tips and Sierra's and all of them group well over an inch. With all the loads I worked up to 19.5gr which gives me close to 2950fps.

Maybe I should try some Winchester Power Points? I think I heard somewhere that they are a pretty dumpy rounds. I know their 64gr used to shoot well in a 223 with a 1-12 twist.

The main reason I want to shoot heavier pills is I'm looking for something that hits a bit harder without going up to a larger calibre.

It's amazing what that little plastic tip can do to unstabalise a bullet in the wrong twist. I tried the 50 vmax in my martini and they were yawing that much you could make out the bullet profile on the target. Cut the tip off and was an off centre hole so I gave them up.

Using the shoot forum database to get bullet lengths and the excel stability calc a 55 gr vmax is 0.813 long at 2950 this won't be stabalised. Take the hornady 55gr sxsp it's only 0.63 (see that tip and boat tail make em long) it is easily stablised.

Looking you could go a soft point in the 60gr range and 2800 and it will be okay too if you want heavier.

Have attached the calc, any q's let me know it was an eye opener.

http://www.shootforum.com/forum/bulletdb.html

Awesome mate. Thanks heaps for that! Will go through some different data when I get a chance.

Have a go at the Sierra super roo 55gn spbt projectiles, sierra code number 1365, they are definately a little tougher than some of the others Ive tried in the 223, although it was 1 in 12, they should still stabalise in your 1 in 14.

Thanks mate, will keep an eye out for them. Are they the same as the 55gr Varminter SP's that Sierra make?

+1 for the sierra roos. They are the 1365 gamekings from memory. Nice and cheap to shoot. Out of an 8 twist they explode real good but still penetrate.

Bit different to the as they are a game king bullet, stronger jacket. I have had them totally penetrate goats, from side to side, they make good exit holes and do a hell of a lot of damage on the way through.

Why are you using 2207? My best 222 loads used Benchmark 1 and 2206h and the twist is 1:14.

BM 1 i ran 23.5 behind 50gr noslers, 52-53gr SMK's and 23.3gr for 55gr Noslers BTs all with great results and shot Honady 60gr hollows nicely too with 2206H. Don't remember the load.

40gr noslers shot average from my gun.

I would say he was using 2207 for the lighter stuff he was shooting, it's the great with the 40's. Like you say over 50 the other powders catch up. That new 8208 looks good for the 222 as well.

Ryan

Lowndsie I use the 55gn Sierra roo projies as already mentioned and Nosler Shot's in 55gn as well out of both my 1/14 222's and they shoot like stink.
I'm using BM1 or Reloader 7 with sub 1/2 MOA accurracy.

I found I needed to drive them pretty fast to get the best out of them, YMMV.

I was using 2207 because I had a heap of it and the first load I tried with 50gr pills was shooting into .5 -.75 moa, so I just kinda stuck with it. I do have some 2206H here so I'll give working up some loads with that a go.

I've been trying to steer clear of Sierra game kings just because I had several bad experiences with them in a larger calibre, but given the input here I might have to give the super roo's a try.

Got around 800 in the shed, do you want me to send you 40 or 50 so you can give them a good work out.