rem 788 .222

L

leadchucker

Guest
good day all:
i have a rem 788 in .222rem,it's a real tack driver.
i have freefloated the barrel and added a timney trigger set to 3.25 lbs.

i'm new to handloading and was wondering what load,bullet,primer to use to get the most accuracy out of this gun.
i was wondering what the twist rate of the barrel is.
any help on this firearm would be greatly appreciated.

thanks Z
 
Leadchucker: Well congratulations and best of luck with the 788.
I have owned 788's in 222 Remington in the past but alas now I am down to just one 788 and that Rifle is in 223 Remington caliber.
My 788 in 223 Remington just LOVES the wonderful Berger 52 grain MEF bullets.
I use my 788 for Varminting mostly and this bullet is not only very accurate its very lethal.
Just last summer I found a cousin to your 788 in 222 Remington - its a "minty" Remington 722 in 222 Remington.
This Rifle has not been tested as yet with the Berger 52's but does shoot the Nosler 40 gr. Ballistic Tips so well I am not in a hurry to try anything else in it.
It sounds like you are more interested in accuracy than Varminting so be sure to try the Berger 52 grain offerings.
And again if Varminting is not in the cards be sure to try the Sierra 52 and 53 grain MatchKings (these bullets are to "solid" and are highly prone to ricochet so I do not use them for Varminting myself) as these bullets are known for their inherent accuracy potential in a myriad of 22 caliber cartridges.
Again best of luck with the new Rifle and be sure to let us know how it's shooting for you.
And by the way - welcome to the forum - I am not the official greeter of the forum, but I am always pleased to see new folks here on!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
788 in .222

good day all:
i've had this rifle for a couple of years now and use it for varmint hunting only.
i'm just tinkering with it to see if i can make it more accurate at longer distances,250-400 yds.
bushnel elite,timney trigger and barrel freefloat.

i'm using hornady 50gr v-max,23gr of imr3031, win wsr primers.
definately not a target rifle.

thanks Z
 
You might try some..........

Hornady 53 gr. HP Match bullets, Rem. 7 1/2 primers, or Winchester small rifles, H4895, H335, Hodgdon BLC2, and Winchester or Lapua (when available) brass, even push the shoulder back on Lapua .223 brass. I shoot the .222s and for varmints out to 300, I use the Hornady 55 "SX" in numerous deuces, its a cheap bullet, almost 60 years old; It was designed to provide the 222 with the same lethality as the '250 & Swift, and it does the job very well, but, I know its not as "sexy" as the plastic-tips. However, I've never had a groundhog complain because I didn't use a prettier bullet on him. The 53 is a good grouper, the SXs are pretty good, I've got a Savage-Anschutz that usually puts 3 out of 5 in one hole, the two fliers usually pull the group open to 3/4" or less. The 53 has put 3 of 3 in 3/4" @ 300 from the '250, so I didn't feel the added expense of the plastic-tipped bullets was justified, since they didn't do any BETTER, and the 53 opens very violently in a '250 w/a 12" twist. Now I have a couple SAKOs in .222 I'm going to start working up loads for soon, and I'll probably try the 53 in them; but what I usually do is limit the .222s to 300 with the SXs, I even shoot the SXs in the .222Mag, and the '250 I confine to the 53. Oh, and the twist in your 788 is a 14 incher. Hope that helps. ;)
 
.222

both of my .222"s i shoot 20.5 i4198 and either a 50 baltip or 52 match. lapua brass. the gun will tell which primer
 
Brian Roberts gave you enough good info to keep you busy for a while. I'm not sure that match grade brass is still available for the .222 so his tip about reforming .223 brass is a good one. One thing however is if you also have a .223, don't do it for obvious reasons. A .222 will chamber and fire in a .223 chamber. Apparently the extractor holds it just enough for the firing pin to strike. Don't ask me how I know.
 
Hey, Bee, did it get a bit........

warm, as in WARM.........?? :eek::eek: When I get another chance at some Lapua .223, I'm probably going to do that. Where my loading may be different is, if I am loading for more than one rifle in the same caliber(using stock dies) I keep things separated by loading for one, then putting everything in boxes like a 100rd. MTM box with a slip inside that gives me the rifle and #, and how many "get on the paper" rounds there are, and I mark my targets and shoot them in sequence. I follow a regular routine in how I fire the targets, too. When ever I put brass in the tumbler, I put a little scrap of paper under one of the feet to let me know what rifle's brass is in there. I have put .222 and .222MAG in together, and that wasn't TOO bad. The thing that always kept me straight with the Deuce was that long neck. I typically do not shoot the .223(I am starting one now, though, just to work up a load before selling it). Have you tried those tumbling bags from Lyman Prods.?? I have been thinking about getting some of them. If you haven't seen them, they are mesh bags that are different colors. You just put different brass in different bags, close them (some way??)and drop them in the tumbler. I guess you can put .222s in w/the .44s and .45s and have no worries. Nice tip w/just the right amount of humor for one of those DANG IT!! days, beeman. ;)
 
Zen Mode

I have my own range so the only range regimentation is mine and when you sit down with a block of ammo to practice bench technique, you tend to get into your happy place and don't pay too much attention to case necks. Just grab another cartridge. To make matters worse, I had a 788 in .222 and in .223. I tried to keep them seperate by using different brands of brass and having only one on the bench at a time but it was still kinda tedious. I wear glasses and recommend it for everyone since the gas escape system from a b lown primer on a 788 isn't too hot. :(
 
beemanbeme said:
I wear glasses and recommend it for everyone since the gas escape system from a b lown primer on a 788 isn't too hot. :(
Click to expand...
Not a problem exclusive to 788's (I'm a 788 fan), Coopers blow primers and the gas comes straight back through the bolt into your eyes.
The eye protection is outstanding advise, I refuse to shoot "anything" without it. I have an older set of RayBan Ambermatic shooters I wear everyday at all times and a new pair still in the box waiting in the wings for when my daily pair finally give up the ghost. On my daily pair there are some minute pits in the right lens, they were caused buy a pierced primer in a Cooper Montana Varminter, never shot so much as a .22 long rifle without eye protection since that day.
On the .222 as a varmint hunter I prefer the 40 grain V-Max, 7 1/2BR primers, Norma .222 brass and N133 or possibly H4198 powder.
Great old round and sure fun to see the looks ya get out of the neighbors when shooting a well tuned 788. They just shouldn't oughta shoot that good :confused:??? Love it!
 
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