The .222 Remington (5.7x43.2mm) is a centrefire rifle cartridge developed by Remington.[2] First released in the 1950s, the .222 Remington spawned not only a Magnum version, but also formed the basis of several other cartridges, such as the .204 Ruger and .223 Remington.
History[]
The .222 Remington was designed by Mike Walker, an experienced member of Remington Arms.[4] Rather than using a parent case, such as the long lasting .22 Long Rifle, Walker decided to create a brand new case for the .222 Remington.[4] Walker had a target of producing a cartridge that would fire a 50gr (3.2g) bullet at 3,200FPS, the .222 Remington becoming the result.[4]
Initially popular, the .222 Remington became noted for its accuarcy as a varmit hunting round.[4] Its followers quickly gave the .222 Remington the name "Triple Deuce", with the cartridge being used in many firearms.[4] Manufacturers of other cartridges sought to use the .222 Remington as a base for their cartridges, while the .222 evolved into the .223 Remington (which formed the basis for the 5.56mm NATO cartridge). Hence, the .222 Remington has fallen out of favour, with its .222 Remington Magnum counterpart largely replacing it, although it still remains in production with various ammunition manufacturers, such as Hornady and SAKO.[4]
Design Details[]
The .222 Remington, as mentioned earlier, did not have a parent case. Instead its designer, Mike Walker, designed his own case, intending to maximise the potential energy and velocity that the cartridge could produce. As such the .222 Remington has a rather steep neck, and can reach pressures of 50,000psi (recommended maximum by SAAMI).[2]
Performance[]
The .222 Remington, although deposed by its successors such as the .223 Remington, performs respectably well compared to similar cartridges.
| Name | Muzzle Velocity (FPS) | Energy (ft/lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 35gr NTXā¢ SuperformanceĀ® | 3,760[3] | 1,099[3] |
| 50gr V-MAXā¢ SuperformanceĀ® | 3,395[3] | 953[3] |
In terms of muzzle velocity, the .222 Remington is around 250FPS slower than its larger counterpart.[3]
References[]
Image Origin: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/114962/remington-express-ammunition-222-remington-50-grain-hollow-point-power-lokt-box-of-20
- ā Barnes, Frank C., Cartridges of the World: A Complete Illustrated Reference for More Than 1,500 Cartridges, (F+W Media, New York: 2012), p.109
- ā 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.222_Remington
- ā 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 http://www.hornady.com/store/222-Rem
- ā 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 http://www.tripledeuce.net/