A nearly perfect vermin carry rifle?

[Sim G]

A .222 is not a "better" cartridge than the .223, but it offers an alternative. It's so close behind the performance of the "bigger" cartridge so as not to make any difference in what you were looking for. That said, I didn't consider it as a suggestion as you did say you didn't want a ".223", so to speak.

Counting up in Bob Forkers work, there are about 21 factory load offerings for a .222, compared to nearly 100 for .223. Reloading wise, you'll get about 200 fps more from a .223 and no doubt every gunshop has far more .223 items on the shelf than .222 should emergency cases, dies or ammo are needed.

But as the Crusties have pointed out, not being at the front of people's minds or being fashionable makes for some cracking bargains! A quick look on GT shows top quality rifles from Weihrauch, Tikka and CZ for under 400 quid!

[DL.]

I think for your purposes a CZ527 in 6PPC.

http://benchrest.com/class/index.php?a=2&b=4280

[Alpha1]

45grain bullet with 10.6grains of Lilgun. Mine is a CZ varmit in .222 I love it and it was not expensive its had les than 300 rounds through it. Hornady 52grain BT A max work as well.

[dromia]

A .222 is not a "better" cartridge than the .223, but it offers an alternative. It's so close behind the performance of the "bigger" cartridge so as not to make any difference in what you were looking for. That said, I didn't consider it as a suggestion as you did say you didn't want a ".223", so to speak.

Counting up in Bob Forkers work, there are about 21 factory load offerings for a .222, compared to nearly 100 for .223. Reloading wise, you'll get about 200 fps more from a .223 and no doubt every gunshop has far more .223 items on the shelf than .222 should emergency cases, dies or ammo are needed.

But as the Crusties have pointed out, not being at the front of people's minds or being fashionable makes for some cracking bargains! A quick look on GT shows top quality rifles from Weihrauch, Tikka and CZ for under 400 quid!

Suvvern fashionista!

You are correct when you say the .222 is not the .223 that is the cartridges big plus.

The .222 with its smaller case capacity and longer neck does make it a better cast bullet cartridge.

[Chapuis]

A small Deer that is deemed to be vermin and can be shot all year round, they are very good eating as well :)

Absolutely certainly NOT vermin.
Muntjac are covered by the Deer Act and the only difference is they have no close season because they are capable of breeding all year round so the does are almost continually pregnant from the time they reach breeding age.

As regards the argument over.222/.223 I have had several of each calibre and currently have a .223rem. I see the only difference as the .223 is capable of shooting heavier bullets and is roughly 200fps faster for the same weight bullet as .222rem.
Yes .222rem may be slightly out of favour at the moment but personally I have a fondness for it that is slightly greater than my liking of its slightly larger cousin.

[Chapuis]

Don't know if it meets the legal requirement for Muntjac what about a rifle in 22 Hornet?

No unfortunately Sandgroper a hornet doesn't meet the legal requirements for small deer.

[dodgyrog]

I've got a Tikka 595 in .222 - incredibly accurate and kills Roe no problem

[Sandgroper]

I had not thought of a 222, they seem to be out of fashion these days.

One of the best reasons there can be for acquiring a gun/calibre.

Popularity and fashion are no indication of the ability, appropriateness, quality and suitability of a gun/calibre, it only indicates that the marketing spin has been gullibley swallowed.

I do agree a .222 would tick all of the boxes for the needs of this particular slot.

After today's effort at Cawdor - for the 222!

Here's my RWS Model 89 in it's new Howa stock - Knewmans, thank you very much for your generosity

[knewmans]

Glad it fit.

[Chapuis]

I've got a Tikka 595 in .222 - incredibly accurate and kills Roe no problem

That I don't doubt. I had one too until I eventually shot out the barrel after 14 years of regular use in the field and on the range. It was more economical to buy a replacement rifle than to re-barrel, should have bitten the bullet and gone down the replacement barrel route.