The benchrest cartridge that dominated precision shooting for two decades. Supremely accurate, mild-mannered, and the direct parent of the .223 Remington.
Type: Rifle
Introduced: 1950, United States
Parent case: None
Standardization: SAAMI
Bullet diameter: 0.224" (5.69 mm)
Case length: 1.7" (43.18 mm)
Overall length: 2.13" (54.1 mm)
Max pressure: 52,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Small Rifle
Typical twist rate: 1:14
Muzzle velocity: 2900–3200 fps
Muzzle energy: 745–1250 ft-lbs
Effective range: 300 yd
Common bullet weights: 40, 50, 52, 55 gr
Primary use: Varmint, Competition
Production status: Active
Also known as: .222 Rem · Triple Deuce
History: Remington designed it from scratch as a pure target and varmint cartridge. It swept the benchrest shooting world in the 1950s, setting records across all distances. The U.S. military studied it when developing a small-caliber military round — the resulting .222 Remington Magnum and ultimately .223 Remington trace directly to it.
Notable firearms: Remington Model 700 (original), CZ 527, Sako L46
Similar cartridges: .223 Remington, .22 Hornet, .222 Remington Magnum