There's a reason the .222 Remington dominated benchrest competition from the mid-1950s through the early 1970s. Before the .22 PPC came along and rewrote the record books, the Triple-Deuce was the cartridge that serious accuracy shooters reached for when it mattered. It set standards for group size at 100 and 200 yards that seemed impossible at the time. Decades later, it remains one of the most inherently accurate centerfire rifle cartridges ever chambered in a production rifle.

The .223 Remington largely supplanted it commercially in the 1960s and 70s, driven by military adoption of the 5.56 NATO and the resulting abundance of inexpensive ammo, components, and rifles. But the .222 never died. If you have one — a Remington 700, a Sako Vixen, an old Ruger 77 — or if you're building a dedicated varmint rifle on a small-action platform, there's no reason not to reload for it. The components are readily available, the data is well-established, and the accuracy potential is as good as any rimfire you've ever shot.

The Case: Dimensions and What Makes It Special

The .222 Remington uses a rimless, bottlenecked case with a 0.378-inch head diameter and a case length of 1.700 inches. It operates at a modest 52,000 CUP maximum pressure, well below the .223's ceiling. This lower operating pressure, combined with the case's small and highly consistent internal volume, contributes directly to its accuracy reputation — there's simply less shot-to-shot variation in the powder charge combustion cycle.

The .222 is not a high-velocity cartridge. With a 50-grain bullet, expect muzzle velocities in the 3,050–3,200 fps range from a 24-inch barrel with the most effective powders. The .223 will push the same bullet 200–300 fps faster. For shooting ground squirrels at 250 yards, that difference is academic. For 400-yard prairie dog shooting, you'll want the .223 or something bigger. Know your application.

Brass and Components

Quality .222 Remington brass is available from Remington, Lapua, Norma, and Nosler. Lapua and Norma brass is outstanding — uniform primer pockets, consistent case weight, and excellent neck tension. If you're building precision loads for a dedicated benchrest or varmint rifle, start with Lapua. Remington brass is workable but requires more sorting and prep.

Primers: Use small rifle primers. CCI 400, Federal 205, and Remington 7.5 BR are all common choices. For maximum accuracy, many .222 shooters prefer benchrest primers — CCI BR4 and Federal 205M are worth the extra cost in a cartridge this inherently accurate. Primer choice affects accuracy more in small-capacity cases like the .222 than in larger cartridges.

Bullets: The .222 shoots .224-inch bullets, same as the .223. Popular weights for varminting run 40–55 grains:

• 40-grain V-MAX or Nosler Ballistic Tip: Maximum fragmentation at high velocity, ideal for ground squirrels and prairie dogs at moderate ranges.
• 50-grain V-MAX: The classic .222 varmint bullet, balancing velocity with better wind bucking than lighter offerings.
• 52-grain BTHP (Sierra MatchKing, Nosler Custom Competition): The benchrest standard. Exceptional concentricity and consistency for accuracy testing and target work.
• 55-grain SPBT: Heavier for more retained energy, good for coyote work at moderate ranges.

Powder Selection

The .222 Remington was essentially built for medium-burning powders in the 4198–4895 burn rate range. The top performers:

• Hodgdon H322: The most popular .222 powder for decades. Meters well, is relatively temperature-stable, and produces excellent accuracy across bullet weights. Start loads around 20.0 grains with a 52-grain bullet; maximum is typically 22.5–23.0 grains.
• Hodgdon Benchmark: Slightly finer granulation than H322, meters exceptionally well. Many accuracy-focused reloaders prefer it for benchrest and long-range varmint work. Similar load ranges to H322.
• Varget: A touch slow for optimal .222 performance with lighter bullets, but it works well with 55-grain projectiles and is widely available. Start at 20.5 grains with a 55-grain bullet.
• IMR 4198: A classic choice and historically the most published powder for the Triple-Deuce. Faster burn rate gives clean ignition even in cold weather — relevant for Oregon spring varmint seasons when morning temperatures are low.
• Alliant Reloder 10X: Less common but produces outstanding results in the .222, particularly for 50-grain bullets. Lower temperature sensitivity makes it attractive for field use.

Load Development Process

Because the .222 case is small, seating depth and neck tension have a proportionally larger effect on pressure and accuracy than in big-capacity magnum cases. Run your brass through a case gauge before loading, trim to 1.697 inches (0.003 below maximum), and deburr flash holes if you're chasing maximum precision.

Start 10% below maximum listed data and work up in 0.3-grain increments, watching for pressure signs — flattened primers, sticky bolt lift, case head expansion. The .222 rarely shows dramatic pressure signs until you're already well over maximum, so use a chronograph and watch for velocity plateaus rather than relying entirely on visual indicators.

Once you've identified a node where velocity is consistent, experiment with seating depth. Many .222 rifles prefer bullets seated 0.020–0.040 inch off the lands. This varies by chamber, so measure your rifle's freebore with a comparator tool and test from there.

Realistic Performance Expectations

A quality bolt-action .222 Remington with careful handloads should produce 0.3–0.5 MOA groups at 100 yards from a bench with appropriate technique. That's better accuracy than most hunters ever need for varmint work, and competitive with everything short of a purpose-built benchrest gun in a modern cartridge.

For Oregon ground squirrel and prairie dog shooting from 50 to 300 yards, the .222 Remington is as capable as anything you can buy. It's quieter at the muzzle than the .22-250, easier on barrels than any of the hot-rod 22-caliber magnums, and accurate enough to make any missed shot attributable to the shooter rather than the equipment.

Reload it well. It deserves it.