I am buying a 22 Hornet and will soon be loading for it. I've heard that loading the Hornet can be challenging. What dies do you recommend for the 22 Hornet? I have RCBS for .204, .223 and .243 and they have all been pretty much flawless. But, the Lee set comes with a neck sizer die and it's about the same price as the RCBS 2 die set. I am interested in your thoughts and experience.
22 Hornet Dies
- Thread starter Sniper66
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I like Redding dies with RCBS as an alternate. I think my 22 Hornet sizer is an RCBS but I have slept since I last used.
I also have a neck sizer for 22 Hornet. I find case life is a little longer with neck sizing but it is still short.
When I bought my 22 Hornet rifle in the early '90s, I was in my RCBS die phase.
I also have a neck sizer for 22 Hornet. I find case life is a little longer with neck sizing but it is still short.
When I bought my 22 Hornet rifle in the early '90s, I was in my RCBS die phase.
NeuseRvrRat
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check out vern humphrey's post in this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=648139
i do not own a hornet, but i thought it was a very good post
i do not own a hornet, but i thought it was a very good post
Offfhand
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As stated by Mr. Walkalong, the Redding bushing die would be a top choice. The Redding Competition seating die would also be money well spent. I've achieved best accuracy with a variety of Hornets using a Redding body die plus Wilson neck bushing and seating dies (see attached photo). However, the Wilson dies require an arbor press, and these additional expenses may not be worthwhile unless you want best possible accuracy and have a really accurate rifle to begin with.
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JLDickmon
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Mine are one of the few Hornady die sets I own..
Biggest challenge with a .22 Hornet is not buckling the case when seating the bullet. Dawggone brass is thinner than .32-20
Biggest challenge with a .22 Hornet is not buckling the case when seating the bullet. Dawggone brass is thinner than .32-20
dagger dog
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I use a Lee Collet ala Vern, and a Hornady New Dimension seater.
Sound Dude
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<Biggest challenge with a .22 Hornet is not buckling the case when seating the bullet.>
That sums it up.
I've used both Redding and Hornady die sets. I found using a Lyman Neck Expander die before seating the bullet saved many a case.
That sums it up.
I've used both Redding and Hornady die sets. I found using a Lyman Neck Expander die before seating the bullet saved many a case.
All I do is deburr and chamfer my cases, along with seating bullets carefully vs just slapping the handle down. I can't remember when I last buckled a Hornet case. .32-20 has the same rep, but I have no trouble with them either. I have buggered up a couple, but that is spread out over many hundreds of loadings. Not a real problem IMO.
Offfhand
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Buckling case necks is a pretty clear sign that the necks are sized too small. Neck expanders only correct a problem that shouldn't exist to begin with. Which is another reason to use bushing dies and get necks the right size to start with. Also improves accuracy (considerably) and extends case life.
dagger dog
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The only time I use the Lyman M die is when I load my 225215 Lyman 55 gr FP gas checked cast bullets.
The 40 gr ballistic tips designs ,Vmax,NoslerBT, Sierra BlitzKing are usually boat tails and are a breeze to seat in the Hornet case that's chamfered.
The 35 gr VMax and bullets that are 30-35 grain HPFB designs from Berger,Barnes Grenades,Speer TNT's and other flat base bullets can cause problems IF you don't take the time to chamfer or use a seater that has a floating bullet to case neck sliding sleeve,bushing, to align the bullet with the case.
The mandrel in the Lee Collet as sent from the factory is just the right size for the Hornet I shoot and the seater that comes with the deluxe set works very well, no crushed cases to date sizing and seating for any of the above mentioned bullets.
The only only Hornet case I have ever crushed was when adjusting the crimping feature of my Lee seater die (found out later crimping gave poor results) while seating cast bullets and it wasn't equipment problem but rather "pilot error"!
The 40 gr ballistic tips designs ,Vmax,NoslerBT, Sierra BlitzKing are usually boat tails and are a breeze to seat in the Hornet case that's chamfered.
The 35 gr VMax and bullets that are 30-35 grain HPFB designs from Berger,Barnes Grenades,Speer TNT's and other flat base bullets can cause problems IF you don't take the time to chamfer or use a seater that has a floating bullet to case neck sliding sleeve,bushing, to align the bullet with the case.
The mandrel in the Lee Collet as sent from the factory is just the right size for the Hornet I shoot and the seater that comes with the deluxe set works very well, no crushed cases to date sizing and seating for any of the above mentioned bullets.
The only only Hornet case I have ever crushed was when adjusting the crimping feature of my Lee seater die (found out later crimping gave poor results) while seating cast bullets and it wasn't equipment problem but rather "pilot error"!
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stonecoldy
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Thanks for posting this question, Sniper66. I'm going to begin reloading this cartridge soon, having bought a MGM barrel for my TC Encore. Currently shooting the factory Hornady 35 gr V-Max's and I'm able to easily shoot 1" groups with this load and would like to continue using this bullet.
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