.222 Remington

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= .222 Remington


caption=
origin= USA
type= Rifle
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer= Mike Walker
design_date=1950
manufacturer=Remington
production_date=
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case_type=Rimless, bottleneck
bullet=.224
neck=.253
shoulder=.357
base=.376
rim_dia=.378
rim_thick=
case_length=1.700
length=2.130
rifling=1-12"
primer=Small rifle
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=40
btype1=HP
vel1=3583
en1=1141
bw2=50
btype2=SP
vel2=3168
en2=1115
bw3=55
btype3=SP
vel3=3095
en3=1170
bw4=60
btype4=VMax
vel4=2937
en4=1150
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=24"
balsrc= Hodgdon [http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp .222 load data Hodgdon Online] ]

The .222 Remington aka the Triple Deuce is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced in 1950, and was the first commercial rimless .22 (5.56 mm) cartridge made in the United States. The .222 Remington was an entirely new design, not derived from any previously existing cartridge. [http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/222.html .222 Remington at the Reload Bench] ]

Introduction

The .222 Remington was introduced in the Remington Arms Model 722 bolt action rifle, and was an instant success. It was not unusual for factory rifles to produce groups of one minute of arc (0.3 mrad) with no tuning. The accuracy and flat trajectory of the cartridge meant that it was quickly adopted for varmint and benchrest rifles, and was the dominant cartridge in both disciplines for decades. While the faster .220 Swift and .22-250 provide more reach, it's at the expense of far more powder (roughly 50% more), muzzle blast, and barrel erosion. For example, maximum loads for a .222 Remington average convert|25|gr|g, the .22-250 averages convert|41|gr|g, and the .220 Swift averages convert|46|gr|g for its maximum.

The .222 Remington was also popular in Europe. Sako was one of the first European makers to introduce .222 Remington rifles and cartridges, and German and Austrian hunters quickly adopted the .222 Remington for hunting smaller deer sized game.

Obsolescence

The .222 Rem. was finally eclipsed in benchrest competition by the 6 mm PPC cartridge, a dedicated benchrest cartridge, chambered almost exclusively in single shot rifles. The 6 mm PPC is still a top benchrest cartridge.

When the US military was looking for a new smallbore rifle cartridge, Remington started with the .222 Remington, and stretched it to increase powder capacity by about 20% in 1958 to make the .222 Remington Magnum. The greater powder capacity put the velocities between the standard .222 Remington and the 22-250. The cartridge was not accepted by the military, but it was introduced commercially. In 1964, the 5.56 x 45 mm, also based on a stretched .222 Rem. case, was adopted along with the new M-16 rifle. The 5.56 mm cartridge had a capacity only slightly less than the .222 Rem. Mag., about 5% less, so when Remington introduced the commercial variant of the new military cartridge, the .223 Remington, both the .222 Remington and the .222 Rem. Mag. faded quickly into obsolescence, being replaced by the .223 Remington.

While the .222 Remington is rarely found in current production, its derivative cartridges are among the most popular in the world. In addition to the .222 Rem. Mag. and .223 Remington, the .222 has also served as the parent case for the .221 Fireball, the fastest production handgun cartridge, and the new .204 Ruger, the fastest production rifle cartridge.

Still, the .222 Remington has its small marketplace as firearms that are factory chambered for the .223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO caliber are often rechambered for the .222 Rem. for the distribution in Countries whose regulations restrict or forbid civilian ownership of "military calibers"; examples of countries with such legislations are France and Spain.

ee also

* List of rifle cartridges
* 5 mm caliber
* Delta L problem

References

* Speer Reloading Manual #11, Omark Industries, Inc. 1987
* [http://www.stevespages.com/jpg/cd222remington.jpgCartridge Dimensions]
* [http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/22Cal(5.56mm)/222%20Remington%20pages%20181%20and%20182.pdf Cartridge dimensions and load data at Accurate Powder]

External links

* [http://www.chuckhawks.com/22_centerfire_cartridges.htm .222 Remington and .222 Rem Mag.] by Chuck Hawks