Old time benchrest
N.R. -
Howdy!
I used to live in NE Indiana, and just a scant 5mi from Benchrest Hall-of-Fame’r Fred Sinclair.
If memory serves, Fred had shot some world records in benchrest; using .222Mag.
I was just getting into accuracy rifle use in the Mid -70’s, just as the 6PPC was comin’ on in 1975.
Back then, the powders in-vogue for the Duece Mag were 4895, and 4198.
The preferred bullet wt/style for use in a 1-14 .224” caliber benchrest rifle barrel was a 52gr HP; most often
custom. Remington’s superb .224” cal 52HP was available. Sierra’s 52 and 53gr shot pretty well, too.
Back in NE Indiana, my best friend and shooting buddy was NBRSA Rookie of the Year; his first year in
Benchrest competition. He is still at it today, and always uses top flight rifles and equipment.
We always were heavily into groundhog shooting, being the first ones around to use full-tilt custom rifles
for shooting “Soybeanus Digestus”.
My friend recently had a .222Mag assembled from individual components; for use as groundhog rifle.
What a lot of people would refer to as a “walking varminter”, we call a “ditch gun”. That moniker refers to the location of a lot of local groundhog dens.... on the banks of area drainage ditches. He more often though, shoots from a fixed position.
And while my buddy has spent large on top-tier benchrest rifles, his approach for his Duece Mag was different. He used an un-trued M700 and ( currently ) factory trigger, placed in -70’s M700 BDL stock;
pillar bedded by Tom Meredith.
My friend had been talking about having a Duece Mag built for some years. I took it upon myself to try and find a .222Mag take-off barrel.... not letting him know about the effort. I found a 27” SS 1-14 .222Mag M700 take-off on-line, and immediately committed the $$$ for its purchase. The barrel’s markings and dimensions seemed to suggest the barrel had originated from the Remington Custom shop!
The barrel showed up on the FED EX truck, to his complete surprise. He had already ordered a custom no-turn neck chamber reamer for the project. The newly-arrived barrel screwed right onto his action, and the barrel’s chambering markings positioned right where you’d expect for factory Rem location. Even better....
Remington .222Mag brass dropped right in to the chamber...... no need for using the chamber reamer!
The heavy varmint Remington taper fit the stock’s barrel channel superbly.
Scope bases, rings and scope, and he was in business!! Went from talking about it, to having a fully operable “new” rifle..... just like that!
We are talking about a future PD trip out West, and a .222Mag would be a great rifle to have along.
A Sako Duece Mag would make for a great “Ditch Gun”, and I wish you great success with yours!
We have used Hornady’s outstanding 55SX on groundhogs for 40+ years, no matter what chambering they are propelled by. I think the have better terminal performance than the also quite good 50SX.
With regards,
.357Mag
