I've been screwing around with LT-32 in my junky old 788 chambered in .222 for quite a while, off and on, and long suspected that there was some real magic in this powder. Maybe it wouldn't have taken me eighteen months if I'd stayed on it, but it just works out that way sometimes. So much shooting to do and soooooooo little time!

The top row of groups were shot with 40-grain Ballistic Tips. I kept trying the combination and I kept getting mixed results. Sometimes the group is under 0.3 inch, sometimes it just plain stinks. My conclusion is that LT-32 just doesn't work that well with 40-grain bullets.

The lower row was shot with 50-grain V-Max. I wrote the average as being 0.45 inch, but it's actually 0.43 inch. That third group kinda hosed up a decent average, but I guess you take the bad with the good...and if that's as bad as it gets, then I guess it's okay. The charge for the 50-grain V-Max was 21.0 grains, just so you don't have to ask---whoever the other oddball out there who shoots .222 may be. Velocity will be around 3000 fps.

My 222 likes 50gr bullets too. Adding to my reloading book for future reference.

So YOU must be that other guy.

We maybe the last 2 but I do enjoy shooting it. Mine is a Sako L46 from the late 50's that I stumbled upon at an estate sale many years ago.

I am running Alliant R1200 in the .222 with 50gr Vmax and it seems to be a good choice of powder as well.

great caliber!!! timeless

pics of rifle?

The .222 truly IS a great one, Buzz. One of my all time favorites!

I restocked the rifle a while back...can't remember if I ever posted pics or not. I got this stock from Boyd's. There are things about it I would change given the chance, but I think it was a good deal for the price.

I remember that stock, looking better all the time. Gotta love the old 788s and the 222 is no slouch either

Ome thing that amazes me is that I didn't even need to glass bed it. I'm liking it more all the time!

I LOVE the deuce! Got a couple of them.
Heres a 'build' using an LVSF stock and barrel...





And a Ruger #1..





I'm just shooting an old mundane load of 19.5 gr IMR4198 and 50 grain bullets in both.

788's are awesome shooters, hate the sloppy bolt

I have a Rem 700 triple deuce with a 5 digit serial number. Had to have the trigger replaced. I use some IMR 3031 with 55 gr lead. It still does everything I would want it to do. Last year a teen on my place killed a dang good buck and big hog with it. Nothing to not like except long range shots with it. Over the years it's taken a lot of deer with only one loss. And that one was my fault. I seldom use it anymore but it's certainly not ever going to be for sale.

Timney?

The 788 looks sharp in new wood. Like your target numbers, layout, and math. Good shooting. I have a couple of 788 in 22-250 that are tack drivers and pleasant shooting. May upgrade the stock on one of them.

beauty, you did a great job with your 788

My first was a 700 BDL Varmint Special what a great rifle. I look on GB allot for another one.

Several of the guys I shoot with have 222's including me. Nice looking rig RR!! BTW, that's what a friend and I stared reloading way back yonder.

Remington 788 in a 222 Caliber it just doesn't get any better than that , I have owned two of them and they were both outstanding.new wood looks awesome

Back in 1964 I bought a Rem 700adl in a .222 and in 1968 I traded it for a Savage 99 in a .250/3000. Not certain if that was good or bad but my big regret is that I no longer have either.

Thanks for the compliments, gents...but all I did was order the stock and screw it all together when I got it. I'll take credit for using the correct screwdriver, though.


The trigger is a Timney. Oddly enough, I thought is was adjusted perfectly when I installed it and set it up. That was over a year ago and I've been shooting the rifle some, but when I was shooting these groups I noticed perceptible creep. Smooth, but there was creep.

I think there's some inconsistency in my bench technique. I'm going to try and figure out what it is. It shows in where the groups are centered, and I don't think there's any doubt that there's SOMETHING I am doing that influences POI. I think those groups could all have been better.

Something that occurred to me about the .222 Remington: it was succeeded on the benchrest circuit by other rounds like 6mm PPC and others later. But that was a long time ago relatively speaking, and powders and bullets are so much better these days. I wonder if anyone will ever give the .222 Remington another shot in competition. It doesn't really matter though---it is what it is, and that is a great little varmint cartridge. I've been loving it for about 40 years!