.222 REM.

The .222 Remington has been known for accuracy since the middle of the last century: before the .223 Rem appeared, it dominated precision shooting competitions, and hunters took to it for its flat trajectory and gentle report. In this category you find Sako and Fiocchi cartridges for small game hunting and practice.

Who these cartridges are for

.222 Rem cartridges are meant for small predator hunting: foxes, raccoon dogs and, where regulations allow, beavers. The mild recoil lets you watch the bullet strike through your scope, so you see the result at once and can follow up quickly. The caliber also works well for sport and training shooting.

Waiting over bait at night or sitting in a high seat at a field edge, most shots fall between 80 and 200 metres. Across that range the .222 Rem shoots almost flat, so hitting a small target is easier than with heavier calibers. The quieter report also disturbs surrounding game less.

Cartridges in this category

The category currently holds two loads: Sako Gamehead SP with a 3.56 g soft point bullet and a Fiocchi cartridge with a 50 grain bullet. The selection is small, but the two cover the main needs: hunting with an expanding bullet and accurate shooting at normal hunting distances.

Sako Gamehead SP 3.56 g

The Finnish Sako Gamehead load carries a soft point (SP) bullet that expands on impact and transfers energy to the animal quickly. Important: this cartridge is chambered in .222 Rem Mag, so it fits only rifles marked .222 Rem Mag on the barrel.

Fiocchi 50 grain cartridge

The Italian Fiocchi load with a 50 grain (3.24 g) bullet is the classic recipe for this caliber. That bullet weight is considered universal: velocity is high enough for a flat trajectory, and accuracy is good in most factory rifles.

.222 Rem and .222 Rem Mag are not the same

These two cartridges do not interchange. The .222 Rem Mag case is longer and holds more powder, so the Mag round will not chamber in a standard .222 Rem rifle, and firing the shorter round from a Mag barrel is unsafe. Check the caliber stamp on your barrel before ordering.

Choosing the bullet construction

A soft point bullet is the hunting choice: it expands in the animal and lowers the chance of ricochet. If the fur matters to you, place the shot where the exit wound damages it least, or take the shot at longer range once bullet velocity has dropped.

How to choose your cartridges

The choice starts with the caliber stamp on your rifle, then the bullet type for the game you hunt, and finally how a given load groups in your specific barrel, which only zeroing reveals. A simple order to follow:

1. Check the barrel marking: .222 Rem and .222 Rem Mag are different calibers.
2. Pick an expanding bullet for hunting, for example the Sako Gamehead SP.
3. Consider the typical shot distance in your grounds and zero the rifle for it.
4. Buy a larger amount of one production lot so your zero holds through the season.

Practical advice in the field

Zero the rifle at 100 metres and check the drop at 200: then you know how much to hold over for a long shot. Light bullets in this caliber drift in crosswind, so plan distant shots over open fields with care. Keep cartridges dry before a cold night sit, and test your cold bore shot at the range, since it can land apart from a warm barrel group.

Sako and Fiocchi

Sako is a Finnish maker whose ammunition is developed alongside rifles of the same name and is known for consistent quality. Fiocchi is an old Italian ammunition factory operating since the late 19th century. Hunters across Europe use both makers' cartridges in the field and at the range.

If you need another caliber, browse .223 Rem cartridges, .22 caliber ammunition or .243 Win cartridges for larger game. If you are unsure what to pick, write to us and we will advise.