222 Loads

I have managed to pick up a real honey of a Brno Fox in 222, I have wanted one of these rifles for a few years now but never put much effort into finding one as most I saw were a bit rough and still commanded decent money. This one came up and I had to have it.
I'm after any suggestions for loads to use in it, I will probably make a couple of loads up, something light for zapping bunnies 40-45gr projectile and maybe something in the 50-55gr range for hunting fallow. Will the twist handle 55gr projectiles? I'm sure they're a 1:14"?
The rifle is still on it's way to me so I would like to get some powder and projectiles to try so I can hit the ground running when it arrives. Any suggestions appreciated

In the used rifle arena

I would Buy a box of superformance and check its accurate and doesn't shoot round corners FIRST...



Had three used ones before finding a keeper. (One of which I threaded and did shit to only to find out it was no good. And it was a Sako so yeah

All were in good nick just not accurate. Finally couple years on ended up with this beauty.

It shoots like it looks

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Cheers

Should add the Superformance goes great in it Only shot Targets to date

I finally settled on 20 Gr 2207 with 50 Gr V Max. On a good day will shoot a 5 shot group all touching
Nosler 50 Grainers shoot nearly as well.
This is out of a Vixen.

As Happy said when buying older guns you do run the risk of buying something where the owner isn’t too forth coming about in terms of barrel life & accuracy as I’ve been bitten there aswell.

I have 3 x .222 sakos which don’t like 55 gr projectiles but shoot 50’s fine.

I found BM2 works good with 50 gr V-Max for bunnies & 50 gr Hornady’s for Fallow & Sika

I have some 50 gr Z-Max’s loaded up at the moment hopefully test them over the next week or two as there a cheaper projectile than the V-Max

I have the exact same rifle (m55), looks aside, these are what Sako 'tried' to be, best rifles ever made. ( My opinion)

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Hopefully shoots as good as it looks :)

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Hopefully shoots as good as it looks :)

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Looks wicked... Very nice... :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Hopefully shoots as good as it looks :)

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What year is yours @Ryan_Songhurst ? I have the exact same story as you. When I found what looked like a good one I had to have it. Then a mate who used to have a .222 gave me a lot of half boxes of old handloaded ammo. So when I use that up I'll be keen to get a good load going.
As a note, Belmont Ammo here in Wanganui sell 50 rounds of .222 ammo loaded with a 50gr Hornady projectile and Remington Brass for $30. So thats a bloody good cheap deal for sigthting in and general shooting.

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Hopefully shoots as good as it looks :)

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I think I have some 50grn Hornady SP here you can have them if you want to try them.

Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk

From memory i used 25gr 2206h in mine with a 55gr bullet shot well tried 45gr sierras which went well to

^^^ likewise Ryan, I have a small qty of the 50gr Hornady left over from my BRNO Fox 2 just like your new purchase, if you want them PM me your addy. BM2 was the powder of choice.

Snap - seems like a few of us have spent time waiting for a good 222 to come up. Did same about 3 -4 years back & scored a very nice Sako Vixen that had not been thrashed.
Keen to hear how you get on with BM2, been meaning to get back to my 222 to have a play with reloading. Been running factory 50gn spot points and the Fiochii 50 gn BT's. Shots nice tight little groups.

I used 55 grn hornadys in an A1 with good groups. Got out of that and into a 788 ...much shorter throat but still good accuracy. I think MOA is good enough for these older 2nd hand shooters. I have experimented with a bunch of suitable powders. Settled on 2208 as a trade off for multiple calibers around the 23.5 grn mark gives good loads over a bunch of powders 5hat have simarlar burn rates

I had the same rifle as yours, used it for longer range rabbit shooting, I managed a 416 yard followed by a 385 yard shots on a couple of rabbits one still evening a long while back. Love the set trigger sure makes longer shots easier. The load I used was 21 grains of AR 2207 with the 50 gr V Max, it was a red mist load on rabbits at all ranges.
Miss that rifle was a lot of fun to use. In the old days when I used the 222 for bigger game the load I used was 25 grains of Win 748 and the 50 gr bullet. I am sure you are going to love that rifle of yours too.

50 grn speer HP flat base work very well in these foxes.....older brother had one for years...his game load was the speer 52grn hp. his was a real tack driver,hope yours is too.

Ryan, that is a stunning rifle!

I can’t tell from the photos but has it been a safe queen or has it been bought back to life with the stock re done & barrel reblued as it looks like minimal wear on the bolt.

I’m trying to remember what Philip Holden said about the Fox’s???

That was priced very well on trademe. Believe it was cerakoted hence why it looks basically brand new. Give it a crack with the federal 50gr bluebox, they are epic rounds out of the 222. My old omark sportco 222 loved them and the only deer I shot with it went down like lightning struck it

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Originally Posted by Seventenths

Ryan, that is a stunning rifle!

I can’t tell from the photos but has it been a safe queen or has it been bought back to life with the stock re done & barrel reblued as it looks like minimal wear on the bolt.

I’m trying to remember what Philip Holden said about the Fox’s???

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Yes the metalwork has all been cerakoted which makes it look quite smart. I doubt it's done much work anyhow as the stock has not been touched and looks like it's only been taken to the range a few times. I wouldn't mind getting a spare magazine for it. I see shooters supplies in chch have a couple original mags for sale but they are $$$. Are there repro mags made for them or is an original the only option? I also read somewhere that a bloke up north was modifying CZ527 mags to fit them, any word on this?

.222 mags for the fox/fox2 are shorter than for the .223.
I just recently brought in 2 mags the right size from England for my Fox2.
Had to modify the stops on the magazine as they were in the wrong place. I just used some JB Weld and filed them down to the right size. I'm sure there are prettier ways of doing it but they are only for hunting and it means I can put the original mag away somewhere safe.

Nice rifle there Ryan, the one photo, looks like it has a crack, in the Tang, pay to keep an eye on that.
I've got a vixen, thats pretty rough now, broken stock, etc, but it has culled a pile of animals, and done thousands of KM of NZ back country,

Keep an eye on the adjustment screw for the set trigger. My one worked loose, have a dab of varnish on it now to keep it where I want it.

Looks bloody nice.
I use 55gn Hornady and 20gns ADI2207 in my 222 vixen.
Got 100 once fired PMC cases if you’re interested.

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Ryan, a .222 is a rifle of class, well done.

I use BM2 in both of mine, one uses hornady 40gn Vmax’s the other 50gn Vmax & Sp, let me know if you want some to try.

Some very good offers of samples of projectiles to get you started Ryan.

On a side note I went on a UK gun sale website & found the Fox’s going for as little as £104