Jan 24, 2015 3 min read

In 1950, a cartridge designed by Mike Walker of Remington was offered to the American shooter and hunter, and it made a big impact on the industry.

Almost all rounds sold during the previous 30 years were really not based on a truly new casing and head size. The .270 and 25-06 are nothing more than the 30-06 necked down to .270 and .25, respectfully.

The same can be said about popular magnums back then. These big rounds came to the United States from England in the form of the .300 Super or otherwise named .300 H&H Magnum.

Walker’s design was a .22 center-fire round of small size and a unique head size compared to other varmint rounds of the earlier years.

It should obvious I am referring to the little performer, the .222 Remington. This round is all one needs to take varmints from distances of 250 yards and shorter. It utilizes around .20 to 25 grains of powder to push the bullet to over 3,000-feet per second.

For many shooters, this was the round that introduced them to hunting varmints with the center fire. Many of us walked railroad tracks and shot groundhogs basking in the sun.

But we were using the .22 rim-fire round. Now we discovered by using the .222, we could hit a groundhog feeding 250 yards away without mortgaging the house.

It was the .222 that introduced me to reloading. I bought a small Lyman True Line press a set of .222 dies and a lifetime hobby began.

For some strange reason, I saved the first two rounds I loaded and still have them. I never said I was normal.

The first great rifle to be chambered for the .222 was the Model 722 Remington. Soon other companies followed suit – every company but Winchester. They didn’t want the name Remington stamped on their barrels. While today’s gun market leans to Remington, at that time it was Winchester, which ruled the roost. Many, many shooters wanted a Model 70 in the .222 but Winchester wouldn’t budge.

Savage made the inexpensive split-bridge rifles called the Model 340. While not a bragging gun, it was the rifle that almost all of us started with when using a varmint round.

I believe my first 340 in .222 cost me $39.95. I topped it with a 6-power Weaver scope.

Of course, I became tired of such a cheap rifle, saved my meager income and bought the first Sako L46 in the same chambering. This is one of the first well-made rifles I owned. Sadly, I parted ways with it, seeking the more range the .222 offered. It is a move I regret to this day.

It did not take long before the bench-rest shooters adopted the .222. After all, it was the most accurate round of the day and, even today it can challenge any of the PPC rounds. In my room there is an old, beat up 700 BDL heavy barrel that is capable of shooting tiny groups measuring under 1/5th of an inch groups. This rifle is chambered for the .222. I bought it from someone who couldn’t get it to group well. I guess I stumbled on the right load.

The .222 is the parent cartridge of the .223 ,222 Magnum and .221, but as far as I am concerned it is the best of the bunch.

George H. Block writes a Sunday Outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.