| .222 Remington Magnum | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:222remmagnum.png | ||
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | USA | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Remington | |
| Designed | 1958 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .222 Remington | |
| Bullet diameter | .224 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Neck diameter | .253 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Shoulder diameter | .357 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Base diameter | .376 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Rim diameter | .378 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Case length | 1.850 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Overall length | 2.280 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Rifling twist | 1-12" | |
| Primer type | Small rifle | |
| Maximum CUP | 50,000 [1] CUP | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 40 gr (Script error: No such module "Math". g) SP | 3,818 ft/s (Script error: No such module "Math". m/s) | 1,295 ft·lbf (Script error: No such module "Math". J) |
| 50 gr (Script error: No such module "Math". g) SP | 3,476 ft/s (Script error: No such module "Math". m/s) | 1,342 ft·lbf (Script error: No such module "Math". J) |
| 55 gr (Script error: No such module "Math". g) SP | 3,294 ft/s (Script error: No such module "Math". m/s) | 1,325 ft·lbf (Script error: No such module "Math". J) |
| Test barrel length: 24" Source(s): Hodgdon [2] | ||
The .222 Remington Magnum was a short-lived commercially produced cartridge derived from the .222 Remington. Originally developed for a US prototype military rifle in 1958, the cartridge was not adopted by the military, but was introduced commercially in sporting rifles.
Development[]
The .222 Remington Magnum was created by lengthening the case and shortening the neck of the highly accurate and very popular .222 Remington cartridge, which dominated varmint and benchrest shooting during the 1950s. Case capacity is about 20% greater than that of the .222 Remington, producing moderately higher muzzle velocities. The .222 Remington Magnum served as the basis for the German developed 5.6 x 50 Magnum sporting cartridge.
Obsolescence[]
It was not until 1963 that the Army adopted a .22 caliber (5.56 mm) assault rifle and cartridge, the M16 rifle and the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO cartridge. The .223 Remington, the commercial variant of the new 5.56 x 45 mm, was introduced a month before the official adoption of the military cartridge. The .223 Remington had a case capacity that is about 5% smaller than that of the .222 Rem. Mag., but it was loaded to a slightly higher pressure, so the ballistic differences are almost nonexistent. As any widely used military cartridge is guaranteed to be a success on the commercial market, the .223 Rem. sold exceptionally well and the .222 Rem. Mag. faded rather quickly. Remington continued to offer the .222 Rem. Mag. in a couple of target and varmint rifle models for many years, but currently (2007) there are no commercial manufacturers either of rifles or ammunition in .222 Rem. Mag. other than Cooper Firearms of Montana.
The .222 Rem. Mag. has not entirely gone, however. It lives on in the hands of handloaders and the original cartridge became the parent round for a new development introduced in 2004, the .204 Ruger. The .204 Ruger is based on the .222 Rem. Mag. case necked down to hold a .20 caliber (5 mm) bullet.
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Hodgdon Online Reloading Data
| This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (September 2010) |
Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- Speer Reloading Manual #11, Omark Industries, Inc., 1987
- .222 Remington magnum at The Reload Bench
- Cartridge Dimensions
External links[]
- .222 Remington and .222 Rem Mag at Chuck Hawks
Script error: No such module "Navbox".
Script error: No such module "Navbox".