.222 Remington Vs .223 Remington [Which One Is Better?]

With over 2 centuries worth of rich history, Remington has been a go-to brand for ammunition and firearms for hunters and shooters alike. The brand is the beacon of trust in the community.

They have a ton of ammunition to choose from. Whether you are a hunter or a competitive shooter, Remington has something for everybody. Often having so many options is considered to be “good”.

And that’s true, it is indeed good. But there is a problem. You will often find yourself in a pinch to choose the right ammo from two or more options. That’s why, I’m here to help you choose the right one between .222 Remington Vs .223 Remington. Let’s get right into it.

Remington .222

The Remington .222 is a centerfire cartridge introduced by Remington Arms back in 1950. It’s a small-bore rifle cartridge. The bullet diameter of this cartridge is .224 inches. It’s designed for small game hunting and varmint hunting.

The .222 is mostly known for its high velocity, low recoil, and flat trajectory. Due to its accuracy, it’s often used for target practice and benchrest competitions as well.

The overall length of .222 Remington is 2.226 inches. The maximum pressure of Remington .222 is 50k psi and the muzzle velocity is around 3000 FPS.

Remington .223

The Remington .223 is also a centerfire cartridge. Remington Arms introduced it back in 1964. It’s a small-bore cartridge with the same .224-inch diameter as the Remington .222.

Just like the Remington .222, this one also has a flat trajectory, low recoil, and high velocity. The key difference here would be the 55k PSI and 3200 FPS velocity.

Both .222 and .223 is versatile cartridge used by hunters and shooters alike. Their pricing difference is not big enough to make a scene either.

.223 Vs .223 Remington – Key Differences

Now that we know both cartridges and what they are good for, let’s find out where their differences lie and which one is the best between them.

Ballistics

The .22 and .223 are both great cartridges that are capable of small game hunting. The case length of .223 is slightly longer than the .222. This allows the Remington .223 to hold more powder inside.

Due to this, the .223 Remington has a slightly higher velocity and more energy than the .222 Remington. .223 can shoot up to 7 grains while you are limited to 55 grains maximum with the .222 Remington.

You need to keep in mind one thing with them. The twist of your rifle’s barrel is an important factor. For example, a 1:9 twist rate is ideal for shooting heavier bullets while a 1:14 twist rate is better suited for lighter bullets.

Accuracy

Both of the cartridges are known for their accuracy. They are even considered some of the most accurate cartridges ever made! After all, why do you think all security enforcement endorses this cartridge in their firms?

The .223 Remington is a highly accurate cartridge and a bit more accurate in the longer range. That is due to the heavier grain of bullets.

If all you want is accuracy, your rifle plays an important role in it as well. If you are using the same rifle to fire both of them at the same range, you might find the .223 a bit more accurate in long-range benchrest shooting.

Recoil

As I mentioned earlier, the .223 Remington was designed to have less recoil than the previous gen .222 Remington.

However, the difference between the recoil of the two calibers is extremely minimal and negligible. Both cartridges are a great choice for low-recoil shooting.

Uses Of .223 and .222

Military and Law Enforcement Application

.223 Remington is a popular choice among military and law enforcement applications. Thanks to its versatility and effectiveness, to this day it’s a reliable cartridge.

You will find people commonly use the cartridge in guns like AR-15 and M16. You can also chamber the .223 in compact rifles as well. It’s also popular among self-defense enthusiasts.

Hunting

One of the most popular uses besides the military is hunting. In small game hunting and varmint hunting, you will find .223 and .222 users all the time.

Due to its velocity and impact force, it’s suitable for larger varmints like coyotes and foxes. It is also used for close-range hunting as well.

Particularly, the .223 Remington is a popular choice for deer hunting. If your area has regulations that prevent you from using larger calibers, you can use both of these ammunitions to hunt down a deer without getting jailed.

Sports Shooting

Both these cartridges are popular choices for benchrest shooters. They are also good for competitive shooting due to their accuracy. Thanks to 3000 FPS velocity, they are often the most desired ammunition for long-range competitions.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, both of them are more or less the same cartridges in slightly different shells. If you want a heavier grain bullet for a longer-range, then the .223 is the obvious choice for you. But if you want a lighter grain and mostly focus on close-range shooting, then either of them is a great pick.

The .223 and .222 have light recoil and are great for varmint hunting. Due to the weight of .222, it’s often preferred as the better optionf or varmint hunting at a close-range.

Regardless, your choice isn’t wrong here and both of them are the “right” choice for you. Just stick to which one you are more comfortable with. That’s all for now. See you on the next one.