The 222 Remington, introduced in 1950, was designed as a super-accurate benchrest cartridge by Remington engineer (and legendary benchrest shooter) Mike Walker. Accurate and easy on barrels, it was the most popular 22 centerfire and most popular varmint cartridge for many years. Today it has given way in popularity to the 223 Remington and the much faster 22-250, but it is often a more accurate cartridge than either, and is still loaded by most major ammunition suppliers. Bullets of 50 to 55 grains run just over 3000 feet per second; lighter bullets can be faster and heavier bullets will be a bit slower. It remains a fine choice for varmint hunting out to perhaps 300 yards, and heavy-bullet (60 grains and over) loads are available for deer hunting where it is legal. Relatively few new rifles are still chambered to 222 Remington, but it remains a fine and versatile 22 centerfire.
