22 Centerfire users - let's talk 221, 222 and 223, Accuracy....

I've owned some of all three, and the 221 and 222s outshot (bugholed) the 223s, both sporter and varmint bolts - so my question is this:

Is the 223 as good as the 221 and 222 re: accuracy? Day in day out, any average rifle?

Like to hear from guys who hunt with these, what bullets you use, distances, game, and results.

All depends on the rifle and ammo. 222 was the benchrest darling for accuracy for many years and I thing still a more accurate round than the 223. The little 221 fireball can be very accurate as well.

Of those I have never owned the 222 but have shot a few and they lived up to the hype of being accurate guns. With the Remington handgun I had in 221 Fireball sub 1 inch groups were common from the bench at 100 yards, cannot say I could do it every time but more often than not when shooting off of bags.

My 40 something year old Model 788 in .222 Remington is still the most consistently accurate rifle I own. I rarely shoot it any more since I caught the BRD a few years ago but when the .222 flies, something dies.

I had a 788, looked like hell, put 5 in a dime to nickel sized group like a Rem 600. Beat up stock and crown, I bought it intending to do a 6x45 like a fella did in an article in American Rifleman. Never did the project. They both doted on RP HP over H335 as I recall. The 600 took heads off turtles farther than folks would believe.....way out there using an 8x36 M8.

Kmon1 - had an SG&Y built 221, shot bugholes using Vmax 40s over Lil Gun.

As popular as the 223 is, would like to hear from some guys/gals that have some quality bolts, factory or custom that shoot well. Thanks for the replies above.

The 223 has a little more powder capacity and is typically available with faster twist. If you want to shoot at longer distances, go 223. If you want pure accuracy within 300Y, go 222.

My Tikka Varmint 223 is very accurate. Many 3 and 4 shot groups under 1/2", which is as good as I can shoot it. This target was all 4 shot groups. Barrel got hot on the bottom left group. I am by no means an expert shot.

What brand brass are you 223 guys using? And will 40-55s do as well in say an 8 twist barrel vs a 12-14 ROT? Thanks.

My opinion, the round is only as accurate as the rifle its chambered in. Some shoot better than others. Never shot a 221 or 222 but my 223 has been incredibly accurate for a very plain simple off the shelf gun.

What gun? Thanks.

55s will be fine in a 1:8. Don't know about the lighter stuff.

I am using Federal and Lake City. Hornady, Norma, & PMC did not shoot as well in my gun with the same loads that shot good with Federal and LC.

Mine is an old model Rem 700 ADL synthetic stock.

Never owned a Fireball. I have a custom .222 bolt gun on a Sako action with a 20" heavy contour stainless bbl that shoots one hole. It was built by Performance Guns out of Austin. My .223 is a Bushmaster and it's also a tack driver, but not as good as the .222 (nor should it be on that platform).

I shoot 50 gr. Hornady Superformance V-Max bullets in the .222. It's my truck gun and I shoot culls, does, hogs and varmits with it out to 200 yards. Head and neck shots mostly on the deer, but if I have to shoot them in the body, behind the shoulder through the lungs does the trick. Very deadly little rifle. Hogs in the ear if I want to eat one, in the gut otherwise. Varmits wherever I can get a bullet in them.

The 8 twist will shoot the lighter bullets just fine...

and it shoots the heavier bullets just fine.....

Makes the rifle more versatile and I highly recommend the tight twist if you can get it...

Posted this before, but I guess it's applicable for this thread too. Is a 4 shot 2 inch group at 600 yards any good? Factory Tikka T3X Varmint in .223 shooting my handloads.



I don't have any pics of 100 yard targets, but no problem getting .5 MOA or better.

Nice shooting, thanks all.

222's seem to just shoot. But a well built 223 should be every bit as accurate. I have a 1-8 twist tikka varmint that is a absolute hammer. And ive built a few 223's and they have been one hole guns. One guy regularly puts playing cards on end and cuts them in half. I think you may not see it as much with the 223 as the 222 is due to the fact there are so many thrown together 223's and so much crap or bulk ammo for the 223.

I agree that this is a big reason the 223 gets a bad reputation for accuracy. I thought my Rock River AR was inaccurate for a long time until I put some good ammo in it and it improved significantly.

My grandfather used to shoot the 222 and swears by it. He still has the rifle but I've never shot it.

I only have 223s but in AR15s that aren't super accurate. I'm going the 22-250 route because I want fast!

TT - good points, indeed on the ammo, and probably OEM guns as well.

Good stuff guys, I think I should try a Tikka. Maybe I will be surprised and it will shoot like my former Deuces and Fireball. I don't discriminate...if accuracy is there!

I do know IME- Mil-surp brass was often not as good for groups as commercial, but many a black bird fell after I chopped that 26" HB 700 VLS, down to about 22.5 and dropped in a old ADL stock. Handled MUCH Better and wondered why I never did it sooner, though it could not compete on handling like my old 600s. Popped a yote on the run once with a former 243, neck shot at about 275 yds, and it was running wide open across a field sideways...sometimes you get lucky! The lead was putting him on the far edge of the FOV of the Redfield 12x I was using! Lol.