Check out these 22 hornet reloads!

[wolfe28]

After a little bit of working up, I think I have a good load for my 22 Hornet (TC Contender with a 21 inch barrel).

12.9 grains of Lil-Gun Powder
Winchester Brass and Primers
40 Grain Hornady V-Max Projectiles
COL = ~1.875 Inches

The target below was shot at 100 yards from an improvised rest (towel on top of my cleaning kit, which was sitting on the bench).

 

[asknight]

Not too shabby! I'd wager that your group would shrink a good bit (X ring) if you backed off about a half grain on Lil Gun.

PS: Did you call the flyer?

 

[wolfe28]

Yup, sort of.

I called the flyer when I pulled the trigger, but it doesn't seem to bad. As for backing off the powder, I arrived at this load by first starting at 11.9 grains of Lil-Gun, and building up to 12.7 grains in 0.2 grain increments. That took me from a group with a max spread of 3.7 inches down to about 2 inches (each target has 5 holes in it, none grouping together). From there I went back and started again at 12.6 grains and built up to 13.0 grains (max load per the Hogden web site) in 0.1 grain increments. Lil-gun doesn't throw real well in my Lee powder measure (fine grain stuff), so I trickled every case up to the weight I wanted. Putting 5 rounds in to each target with the second set of loads gave me what you see above. A few of the targets have a few rounds going through the same hole, but this is by far the best one. I figure if I can manage to hold the gun steady next time, they will probably all be in one hole.

Thanx, D

 

[GooseGestapo]

That "COL" tells the story on the 12.9gr load.

I prefer 12.5gr with the Sierra 40gr HP loaded to 1.78"oal for my Ruger 77/22 KBZ. (Heavy barrel stainless w/laminated stock).

This feeds though my magazine, consistently shoots 1.0-1.25" 5-shots (rare for this rifle) and Chrono's right at 3,000 from my bbl.

If I seated to that length (1.8" +), they won't go into the magazine, but would take the heavier powder charge.


My gun dosen't like the plastic tipped bullets. Only exception was one lot# of 35gr V-max and H110. Shot several 5/8" five shot groups, but have not been able to duplicate the results, unlike the above noted load.

Have you tried Small Pistol Primers ??

I have, and prefer them in the .22 Hornet.

 

[db_tanker]

I see you have been bitten by the hornet bug...nasty they are.


you HAVE to try some 1680 and 2400 on top of those lil'gun loads...

and +1 on what asknight said about backing off on the charge...

I load all my hornet loads VERY mild...I generally try to keep all velocities at or below 2500 FPS...


Another good thing is that with this cartridge it is alot easier to "neck-size" with a standard FL die than with a cartridge with little or no taper...and I highly recommend the neck sizing on this cartridge...

Personal favorite bullets are the sierra and speer 40 gr. pills...of course I haven't gotten around to those Hornady v-max's your using...yet.

Gotta love those TC's.

D

 

[wolfe28]

Nasty hornet bug bites.

Thanks for the great ideas. I'll definitely try the small pistol primers next, as well as the other powders. Making changes to the overall length is a little bit of a problem. If I seat the projectile to "proper" length, the bearing surface of the projectile is completely inside the case neck by about 0.1 inches, at least! This means that the case neck could actually be crimped over the ogive and cause the case to tear or some other disasterous event . With the projectiles seated to 1.875, the ogive starts just ahead of the case mouth, and is not in contact with the rifling of the barrel.

On the subject of backing off the powder, honestly, I would love to, but here is what the targets looked like at 12.3 and 12.5 grains of Lil-Gun:

12.3 Grains Lil-Gun

12.5 Grains Lil-Gun

Thanks again for all the help and advice.
D

p.s. By the way, which sierra 40 did you try? I'm thinking I want to try the varmetor next.