Q: I have the chance to buy a Marlin XS 7 in .222 for a bargain price, but my mates all tell me I should get another rifle in .223.
For use on varmints such as rabbits and foxes and pest birds at ranges up to 200 metres, which would you recommend, the .222 Rem or the .223 Rem? Which is the more powerful cartridge? Are they powerful enough to handle dingoes?
How would you sight-in a .222 and a .223 with a Redfield Revolution 3-9×40 with Duplex reticle?
Nathan Smith
A: The .222 is slightly less powerful than the .223. However, I don’t think there is any significant difference between the two cartridges for varmint shooting.
The .222 propels a 50gn bullet at 3140fps and with muzzle energy of 1095ft-lb. The .223 drives a 55gn bullet at 3240fps and energy 1280ft-lb.
Practically speaking, the .222 may have a slight edge in accuracy, but there is little difference in trajectory.
When they are both sighted in 38mm high at 100 metres, the difference at 300m in velocity is only 80fps and drop barely 25mm more.
Either cartridge is deadly medicine for varmints out at 250 metres. But neither is powerful enough to be absolutely reliable under all conditions on varmints as large as dingoes.
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