.224 bullets in a .223H barrel

[Accipere]

This might be a bit of an old chestnut to some, but I have gone through the archives and can't find a thread that satisfactorily answers this question.
I have a 1959 Brno (now CZ) .22 Hornet - a set-triggered creature of rare beauty and craftsmanship from the days when humans still made rifles. It's the dog's bollocks for hares and goats. I bought it about 15 years ago, mint. It had been stored unfired since new.
Its bore is .223 and I have always been scrupulous in avoiding using .224 bullets. However, over the years the choice of .223 Hornet projectiles has diminished while the range for .224 has grown.
Lyman apparently claims that no .223 Hornet barrels were produced after WW2. While that may be true in the US, the Czechs were certainly making them well into the 1960s.
Is it possible to shoot the larger-diameter bullets in a .223 Hornet barrel with any expectation of accuracy, and . . . by doing so do I risk damaging or placing undue wear on the bore?
Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Ryder]

I've measured the diameters of bullets from various manufacturers and models of bullets made by the same manufacturer that are supposed to all be the same specified size. They are not all the same. Like any manufactured item they are made to fall within a specification of tolerances. When shooting for accuracy I will measure and separate a single box of bullets into 3 different piles. The published size, over sized, and undersized. The difference being only half a thousandth in most cases.

I'm GUESSING that shooting a .2235 bullet in your gun would not be a disaster since finding one of that size is probably possible in a box of 223. Buying a bunch of different 224 bullets and measuring them to find a manufacturer who makes a bullet on the small side should be possible. I can't say that with absolute certainty however since my experience is with larger caliber projectiles. You may be able to get detailed 224 diameter information from the guys in the reloading forum.

Shooting bullets of slightly higher diameter would increase pressure but pressure depends on a host of other factors as well (actual diameter of your barrel, OAL of the cartridge, primer type, powder type and amount, the temperature of the system, bullet construction, and probably a few other things I haven't mentioned) so there is no way I would attempt to predict if the loads you create are safe in your gun.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

This might be a bit of an old chestnut to some, but I have gone through the archives and can't find a thread that satisfactorily answers this question.
I have a 1959 Brno (now CZ) .22 Hornet - a set-triggered creature of rare beauty and craftsmanship from the days when humans still made rifles. It's the dog's bollocks for hares and goats. I bought it about 15 years ago, mint. It had been stored unfired since new.
Its bore is .223 and I have always been scrupulous in avoiding using .224 bullets. However, over the years the choice of .223 Hornet projectiles has diminished while the range for .224 has grown.
Lyman apparently claims that no .223 Hornet barrels were produced after WW2. While that may be true in the US, the Czechs were certainly making them well into the 1960s.
Is it possible to shoot the larger-diameter bullets in a .223 Hornet barrel with any expectation of accuracy, and . . . by doing so do I risk damaging or placing undue wear on the bore?
Thanks in anticipation

First,Congratulation's on owning such a fine rifle. Some real envy here.
I have loaded many a 223 hornet with 224 bullets. The difference is simply too small to matter. And as Ryder said, if it bothers you pick out the under size 224 from a box.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I wouldn't have any problem with doing it. I'd back the load off a little and chrono them, then work up. Same thing you'd do shooting solid copper (or bronze) bullets in any other rifle, since they don't squish like soft core projectiles.

 

[navyretired 1]

I doubt if you could tell the difference with only0.001 difference. There are often that much difference in barrels.