.222 Remington vs .223 Remington
Part of our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.
The .222 Remington vs .223 Remington comparison puts the original varmint cartridge against its more powerful successor. The .222 Remington (50gr V-MAX at 3395 fps) shoots flatter with 48.9 inches of drop at 500 yards versus 58.5 inches for the .223 Remington (64gr Polymer Tip at 3020 fps). The .223 delivers more energy at distance, retaining 355 ft-lbs at 500 yards compared to the .222's 295 ft-lbs. Recoil is light for both, with the .222 at 3.9 ft-lbs and the .223 at 5.2 ft-lbs. The .223 offers far better ammunition availability and brass selection, while the .222 provides an edge in inherent accuracy for benchrest applications. Performance varies with ammunition selection and barrel length.
Ammunition Parameters
.222 Remington Parameters (Reference Load)
.223 Remington Parameters (Reference Load)
.222 Remington vs .223 Remington Ballistics Chart
Comparing bullet drop at various ranges between .222 Remington and .223 Remington.
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.222 Remington vs .223 Remington Energy Comparison
Comparing the muzzle energy and energy retention at various distances between .222 Remington and .223 Remington.
.222 Remington vs .223 Remington Recoil
Comparing recoil energy and impulse between .222 Remington and .223 Remington.
.222 Remington Recoil (Reference Load)
.223 Remington Recoil (Reference Load)
Notes:
- Recoil calculations based on bullet weight, velocity, powder charge, and firearm weight
- Recoil energy indicates the felt force when firing the weapon
- Recoil impulse represents momentum transfer during firing
- Actual felt recoil can vary based on grip, stance, and firearm design
.222 Remington vs .223 Remington Velocity
Velocity decay from muzzle to 500 yards for .222 Remington and .223 Remington.
.222 Remington vs .223 Remington Average Cost
Comparing cost per round and training affordability between .222 Remington and .223 Remington.