I'm looking to buy a new fur gun this summer and came across the .222,but haven't heard much about it as a fur gun.Not looking for a caliber that kills them deader than dead,looking for something that's fairly fur friendly.Not into sewing up massive exit holes.My shots here are normally 100 yrds. or less,so I'm not looking for a distance caliber.Now I've got a .204,,223,and a military surplus M-1 carbine,and out of the three I'm actually happiest with the carbine.In the habitat I hunt in and the distances I shoot plus its been very fur friendly on coyotes for me,only drawback is I hate to subject it anymore to the winters we have up here considering the value of the gun nowdays.I'm thinking about the carbine reproductions,like the new Inland,but would like to hear some experiences with the .222 as a fur and predator gun.

Had a 222 several years ago until it was ruined in a wreck. I really liked the caliber. Still like it over the 223 but that just my opinion.

I've shot a .222 since '76.
It's NOT as fur friendly as my .218 Bee, but slightly better than my .223.......and I handload.

Fox and cats are best shot at diagonally...quartering....or head on or rectally.... to help bullet to not exit.
About 25% pass thru on broadside shots under 100, and it all depends on if bone is hit as to how big a sewing job is needed.

50 grainers Rarely come outa yotes, but liquefy the boiler room!

Mine is a Rem 700 BDL

They are awesome we have 3 of them. Wife has a 700. I got a 788 and a 24 savage 20ga over 222. Love them all. Killed many coyotes and fox with them. 50 grain soft points are great in them.

I have one in the Remington model 788 and really like it

It will do the trick just fine. If you have guns as close to that caliber as you do, maybe drop down to something fun and inexpensive like the .17 Winchester super magnum. Laser straight to 200 yards and easy on fur.

Osky

I’ve got two of them an old savage 340 and a Remington 700.Ive shot a lot of coyotes with them 50grain nosier bt is all I’ve been using since the mid 90’s I try to keep shots at 250 or under.For coyotes most shot are one hole in no exit but like anything hit the shoulder or spine and you’ll be sewing.If I was mostly shooting close in with fox around I would probably play with some 40 grain bullets to see how the worked on smaller game,I know there accurate as I’ve shot a lot of p-dogs with them.

if you reload you can load 223 to 222 velocities very easily , brass will last a long time at 222 velocities and you already have a 223 not that I am discouraging you from buying another gun but 223 is just a 222 with a touch more case capacity

the Eugene stoner rifle later named M16 was originally built for 222rem and demonstrated in live fire as such for the army
the army wanted a faster 222 that could equal or better the accuracy of the M2 ball round 30-06 and wounding capacity or M1 carbine they came up with the velocity and bullet weight they wanted so Springfield armory lengthened a 222 giving the case some more capacity and called it 222 special , Remington then took that and made it a commercial cartridge 223

Very informative guys,this is what I'm looking for.I should have said I don't reload,know nothing about it.All ammunition I use is factory.I realize no one caliber is going to justice on everything,just trying to get as close as possible.Through the years I've found a number of coyotes in the woods shot but not skinned,alot of guys give advice on predator guns but their not even skinning them.Heck,if I just wanted a gun to shoot coyotes I'd use my deer rifle!I saw a Mini-14 chambered in .222 and that's what got me thinking.I didn't realize Remington chambered their 700's in a .222.I got a .17 HMR last year but haven't taken it out yet.

I have heard good things about the 40gr NBT on yoted. It doesn't seem to over penetrate yet it is hard enough to make shoulder entries without blowing up.

As others have said, you can't beat reloading. A 53gr TTSX will handle 150 yard Deer also.

I to love the .222 Remington I've killed a lot of different animals with mine it's a 788 and just a tack driver. Mine really enjoyed the match 52 gr BTHP from Sierra.
With that bullet the largest hole I've had to sew up was about the size of a .50¢ piece.
Allan

I'm right with Allen. I have and old Remington 722 in .222 and load the 52 grain Sierra as well as the 40 grain V-Max for it. I use the Sierra for coyotes with very good results and the V-Max for the local ground squirrels.

I also load the 52 grain Sierra BTHP for coyotes in my .223 and 22-250. Best "fur" bullet I've found.

If you don't reload, ammo availability could be a concern, not impossible to find
but not real common. It used to be a very popular cal. It was even used some in benchrest competition. When the .223 was adopted by the U.S. military .222 started a steady decline.

I have a Remington 700 I bought in 1980. Killed a pile of ground hogs with it.
Great caliber.

Love the triple deuce! Every one I ever dealt with was insanely accuracy. Overall the 223 doesn’t hold a candle to it if accuracy is factored in.

That should be a super shooter. That 722 with the 26" barrel puts a bit more snoose behind the round. I have been looking for a 722 in a .243 for a long time, I have a special purpose for it. Hard to find in that caliber that hasn't been cut down.

Osky

I've got a rem 788 with a 26" barrel in 222 that is a tack driver. I shoot 50 gr hornady sx. NO exit on fox most of the time. Ground hogs will have a little hole entrance wound and no exit. But they feel like a dish rag when you pick them up. LOL

When my son was 11 he killed his first deer with it. That was 18 years ago.

Buddy of mine has got a 222 magnum . Only one I have ever seen.

222 magnum is casing the r.204 is made from, 222 would be a good fox gun

Have 17 hmr, 17 remington, 222, 22-250, .243, and deer rifles in 7mm and various 30 cal. up to 300 win mag. If I had to choose only two for all hunting they would be the 222 for varmints / predators and 7mm-08 for deer. Both in 700 bdl version. Each is 3/4 moa if I do my part, and put critters down pronto. The 222 is prob overkill on fox but doesn't ruin em and the 7mm-08 has been my go to deer gun for 5 yrs now and continues to amaze me with its effectiveness using the winchester supreme ammo in 140 gr ballistic tip. If I had to choose a fox only rifle it would be my 17 remington. I've never shot a coyote with the 17 rem., but at ranges under 200 yards I don't see a problem. It's also a dream on our big woodchucks, and the big plus is you can watch the bullet impact due to zero recoil.