22 hornet reloading question

[.44Rich]

So ive finally picked up a 22 hornet. Its a savage model 25. I have redding dies on the way. Since i cant find any brass for sale online or in my lgs, i need to get my brass the expensive way, shooting loaded ammo first . My question is i have a bulk box of sierra 52gr matchkings sitting on hold for me, has any one had experiance with them in the hornet, or should i try to find 45gr and less? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[FROGO207]

Be sure that the bullets are for the Hornet. The bullets for the 223 ETC are made to expand at higher velocities and will not do it with the Hornet. I use 40-45 grain Hornet specific bullets and full loads of Lil Gun for best results. Don't forget to work up your loads. Search here in reloading for Hornet, there are some good threads already.

 

[cfullgraf]

With my Contender carbine, I have loaded 35, 40 and 45 grain bullets. My rifle likes the Speer 40 SP and the Hornady 35 VMax.

Unless you are shooting at paper or cans, the jacket on the 52 grain bullets may be a bit heavy to expand reliably at Hornet velocities.

Note, modern 22 Hornet rifle use bullets with a .224" diameter. Bullet manufacturers still make .223" diameter bullets for the old 22 Hornet rifles. They also make 22 Hornet labeled bullets with a .224" diameter.

Bullets for the 22 Hornet generally have a lighter jacket than those designed for higher velocity cartridges.

Case life in my 22 Hornet is pretty short, maybe 4 or so reloads. The long tapered shoulder is some of the reason. Case life improves a little if I neck size.

Enjoy your new rifle.

 

[medalguy]

Whatever the source, handle your brass very carefully. It tends to dent and crease very easily because it's extremely thin, and in seating it's also very easy to fold over the case mouth. If you can neck size only you may slightly extend the case life but it's pretty short in any event.

 

[dagger dog]

The 52 grain are on the top end of Hornet weight. I suggest 30- 40 grain, the most accurate loads for your Hornet will be in that range also the highest velocity will be with those weights.

I recommend 40 grain Hornady V-Max, and 12-13 grs Li'l Gun powder with the mildest primer you can get.

Fire forming then neck sizing your brass will give the best accuracy, remember working with that small case 1/10th grain difference of powder is a big step. The Berger 30 grain, Hornady 35 grain. and Barnes 30 grain Grenade will produce 3,000 FPS with 12.5-13 grains Lil'Gun, the 40 Gr Vmax and 12.5grs Lil'Gun will go 2800-2900 FPS and brass will last 10-12 reloads.

I have the Model 40 Varmint Hunter Savage, and have had 20 round groups of 7/8th inches with 18 rounds @ 100 yrds rested but 2 fliers opened it to 1 1/2 "s.

That 25 is a bug hole shooter for sure !

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, be sure you are loading bullets meant for the 22 Hornet for reliable expansion. Also like said above, Lil'Gun is probably the best powder choice available for the 22 Hornet. It kicks up the performance by a ton! (without loss of accuracy)

Example: (directly from the Hodgdon site)
45gr Hornady SP
H110 - 2574 fps - 43,000 CUP
Lil'Gun - 2787 fps - 31,600 CUP (note 200 fps faster with much lower pressure)

50gr Sierra SP
H110 - 2422 fps - 42,300 CUP
Lil'Gun - 2713 fps - 35,300 CUP (almost 300 fps more here!)

 

[rule303]

I shoot a Savage model 40, which is the single shot version of the 25. 13gr of Lil'gun with a 35 or 40gr V-max seated .05 off the lands and a CCI small pistol primer will hold .5 MOA easily. With that little case, it is very sensitive to even small changes. That same load with any small rifle primer opened groups up to around an inch. I prefer Winchester cases, they hold a bit more powder than the Remingtons.

 

[Walkalong]

Mine likes the 40 Gr V Max and AA 1680.

 

[scottishkat]

My hornet a CZ 545fs will not stabilize a 52 gr tsx. The rifle has a 1 in 14 22" bbl. HLilgun is it as stated in other posts. It likes 50 gr bullets but they need to be flat base it will have difficulty stabilizing boat tail bullets over .750" in length. Trim and weight sort cases for best results. Really good accuracy at 12.6 grains with either rem 6.5 or small pistol primers.

Goodluck and shoot straight.

 

[raptor45]

I have a pair of Hornets; a Browning MM and a Winchester 1885 LW. I load for the LW. I use Remington, Winchester and Hornady brass and I keep them separate but I don't weigh the cases. Too much trouble.

I deer hunt with my Hornet and I load the largest bullet my 1:16" twist barrels will stabilize. 1:16 Hornets will generally stabilize any bullet as long as it runs between .548 - .582" with an exception granted to the Hornady 45 grain Hornet bullet which is slightly longer. My guns love the Hornady but I also use Sierra 45 grainers and I have a few of the old Nosler 45 grainers that I love, too. My guns literally hate the 45 grain Barnes bullet because of its excessive length.

I keep my cases trimmed to 1.403" or slightly shorter and I use Federal small pistol primers. I measure my charges and my gun performs best between 12.8-13.0 grains of Lil Gun. My usual case OAL is 1.755". I haven't been crimping but I may one day to see if it tightens my already small groups.

I love the Hornet for deer in the woods because the ranges are always short and I've killed several with a throat shot, hitting the white patch under the throat. I've killed them with chest shots too but I'm not wild about shooting them there. With an accurate load, throat shots are clean, one shot kills that drop them like they've been clobbered by a hammer.

There is a lot of info on the WWW that will inform you on different aspects of this great little cartridge. My advise is simple: Use the components others use and take your time with the loading process. The .22 Hornet is an easy round to load and each gun will have a favorite load. Find that load, use it and watch what happens.

 

[dagger dog]

raptor45,
Welcome to the forum !

I've played with crimping the Hornet, even with home cast boolits, the Lyman 225415 which is a gas checked design, and I've shot Bergers, Noslers, Hornadys, Barneses , and never had a crimped bullet or boolit, shoot better.

If you get the resizing of the case mouth correct for the diameter of the bullet-boolit, you shoot, that round will have enough case neck tension to ensure full powder burn, especially with the burn rate powders used for Hornet reloading.

A total of 0.002"reduction of the neck area will be enough to give complete powder burn and usually the best accuracy.

I use Winchester brass and limit my charge of H-Lil'Gun to 12.5 grs under a V-Max or Nosler BT of 40 grains. These loads clock an honest 2,800 fps average from my Savage 40

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've used the 52gr BtHpt in my Ruger M77/22KBZ. It has a 1/14" twist and has handled up to 55gr bullets (bulk packed Hornady's w/cannulure).

However, my prefered load is similar to that of the poster above. I use 12.5gr of Lil'Gun and the Sierra 40gr "Varminter" HP. I've even shot deer with it with complete penetration on heart/lung shots. It works! From my 24"bbl, it's running right at 3,000fps.

As stated above, most of the bullets on the market are intended for .223 and .22-250's and as such have thicker jackets and harder lead core.
For shooting the Hornet with heavier bullets on varmints, you'll see better performance from the SX or TNT type bullets.

For a change of pace, try a gas-checked cast bullet. It's capable of being loaded down to .22lr levels as well as typical .22winmag levels. The latter is what I prefer.
In fact, the Lyman 225415 mould (mine predates current designation and is a 22541 that casts to 49.5gr w/gascheck) and with 6.2gr of #2400 gives right about 2,000fps and will do anything you'd want a .22Hornet to do.

You'll really like the Hornet.

 

[.44Rich]

Awesome! Thank you guys! My dies should be here tuesday i hope, and im still looking for a pound of lil gun. I think ill start with the supply of powder i have now and when i find the lil gun ill pick it up. The wealth of information is great. Thanks again!

 

[ghitch75]

40gr V-Max with 11gr Lil-Gun under it...