.222 Remington

Rifter

I'm in the market for a foxing rifle, not in a rush, but I've been offered a Tikka in .222 for a very good price.

I know ballistically a .223, on paper, is better, but my concern is, after some googling, ammunition availability.

Just wondering does anyone use a rifle in .222 and how hard do you find it to source ammunition.

Feidhlim Dignan

I got a tikka m595 in from the UK in .222

It's an absolutely gorgeous gun, arguably better than the t3(but they shoot fine too) It can be a bit of a pain to find ammo and I will probably rebarrel it to .223 at some point but it shoots very well as it is.

Rifter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121383954#Comment_121383954

Its the ammo availability that is putting me off tbh, at the price I've been offered the rifle I could, I suppose, afford a rebarrel to .223 if ammunition becomes a problem.

JP22

.222 (Remington 222) - aka “The Trible Duce” designed by Walker for Remington around 1950, it falls midway between the Hornet and the 220 Swift, a very easy (soft) cartridge to shoot and doesn’t wear out barrels like other fast rounds.

Remington 222 was mad super accurate and used as a long range varmint round in the US, it also dominated benchrest shooting in the 1970’s/80’s, and is credited with shooting a 100yd (certified) five shot group of 0.009” in 1973 (basically a one hole five shot group) which stood for about 40 years.

Unfortunately like all things in life, the .222 died a death with the introduction of the .223/5.56 Nato which was adopted by the US military.

.222 ammo is available but expensive, if the rifle shoots and you can get ammo at a good price and you’re not shooting hundreds of rounds a week, the .222 is a super round.

tonysopprano

A popular calibre in Spain, as .223 is not allowed

https://www.topgun.es/ammo/municion-arma-larga.html#/dfclassic/query=222&filter%5Bcategories%5D%5B0%5D=Ammunition&query_name=match_and&session_id=8a7d78c628d684d2fa9c03546f1f0b9b

Grizzly 45

Likewise in France,with its awkward restictions on civvies owning military calibers.

Rifter

Well ita good to know its popular in Europe, even if it makes sourcing it a little awkward

Grizzly 45

Will run you about 82 euros for 100 Sellier&Bellot 52 grains from Frankonia in Germany at the moment.

Feidhlim Dignan

Will they ship to here? Or how do you get yhem

Grizzly 45

They'll ship to Ireland once you have sent them an import cert from the DOJ[Free] and you have bought enough ammo[500 plus rounds?] to make it worth their while to get an export cert from their local authorities, which is not free in Germany unlike here.

The Catch 22 is however shipping costs via courier. It's probably going to cost just as much again in courier/postal fees as the original ammo price.

Sika98k

Get a N.I visitors permit. 222 is quite popular in The Wee North.

otmmyboy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121399688#Comment_121399688

I just did some ferretting around and Frankonia have evidently stopped foreign ammo sales annoyingly.

slipperyox

I have a 222.

I use mostly 40g sako, which is easily got. Never had issues with ammo availability, and price, while not as cheap as some 223, has almost identical and sometimes better performance.

Extremely accurate, and pleasant to shoot, with impacts seen through scope.

Mine is quieter than my HMR.

Would highly recommend