I am loading new brass for my .22 Hornet and would like your advice. I am using Li'L Gun powder, but the manuals don't have much in the way of recommended loads. I have some Hornady 35 gr V-Max & 40 gr V-max, also have Nosler 40 gr ballistic tip. So far the Hornady 40 gr shoots best, but not great and the plastic tip makes it not fit my magazine. I have ordered some Sierra Hornet bullets (.223 diameter) So, here are the questions. When I experiment I'm planning to start with 13 grains, a compressed load which almost fills the cartridge, and work backwards. How much should I reduce each subsequent load; .2, .3, .4, .5 gr?? What have you done? I will appreciate any suggestions you have. I'll be shooting them in my new Savage model 25 LWV.,
Questions for reloading for .22 Hornet
- Thread starter Sniper66
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Why would you start with the max load and work backward??
Thats contrary to all acceptable safe reloading practices.
It looks to me like Hodgdon shows a 12.0 Starting load and 13.0 Max with all bullet weights up to 50 grain.
So, you should start with 12.0 grains and work up.
With a small case like the Hornet, I would go in 0.1 or 0.2 steps.
rc
Thats contrary to all acceptable safe reloading practices.
It looks to me like Hodgdon shows a 12.0 Starting load and 13.0 Max with all bullet weights up to 50 grain.
So, you should start with 12.0 grains and work up.
With a small case like the Hornet, I would go in 0.1 or 0.2 steps.
rc
Sorry, didn't include enough info. I have already done some experimenting and Hodgdon and Hornady reloading manuals recommend 13 gr max of L'il Gun with both 35 and 40 gr bullets. So, I started there and am working backwards. Since I have the time, I think I'll do .1 gr and load both 35 and 40s. I would ordinarily work in reverse, but my experiments so far indicate that the higher end loads are shooting better than the slower loads. Thanks for your help.
dagger dog
Member
.223" bullets are for the older Hornets that originally used the 22 rimfire barrels with a 1 in 16 twist chambered to 22 Hornet, modern Hornets use .224" bullets and a 1in 14 inch twist.
Your brass will last alot longer if you keep the load sane, as rc stated you want to work up in .1 grain increments in that small case the Hornet can be a raging bitch if you over load it.
I found 12.5 grs Lil' Gun under the 40 grain Vmax in my Savage 40 1-14 .224" bore to be the best accuracy.
Your brass will last alot longer if you keep the load sane, as rc stated you want to work up in .1 grain increments in that small case the Hornet can be a raging bitch if you over load it.
I found 12.5 grs Lil' Gun under the 40 grain Vmax in my Savage 40 1-14 .224" bore to be the best accuracy.
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redneck2
Member
You might try the Reloading Forum at Varmint's Den. There are quite a few older threads on loading the Hornet. Search is your friend
hueyville
Member
I have several good to excellent loads for my hornet. My day to day load is 12.7 gr lil'gun with Midway 37 grain dogtown bullets. I have more accurate combos but the dogtown bullets in the 500 round boxes are so economical they are my day to day load. I use other more expensive bullets with different charges that are a bit more accurate but not enough to matter 90% of the time. No sense in investing big dollars when zapping squirrels at 120 yards and less. If laying over a corn field zapping crows at longer range switch do a different load and my custom rifle. BTW, I really like my RCBS X-sizer die for hornet. Trim brass once and never again. Used it in 223 also till switching to carbide.
witchhunter
Member
Your Savage should like .224 sized bullets better, I have had good luck with hornet specific bullets in .224 as they are designed to expand at the velocity that the hornet produces. This round headspaces on the rim, so your sizer die adjustment is important.
As my experience with the .22 Hornet has with deer hunting exclusively, I've always favored 45 grain bullets though 40 grn slugs work okay. Never tried Lil' Gun powder but have found H110 or WW 296 to meter well. I get moa accuracy with 10 to 11 grains with these bullets.
scottishkat
Member
Hogdon LilGun 12.6
I have been reloading 22 hornet for about 3 years now have tried 45 and 50m grain bullets 50 grain hornaday sp shoots the best out of both of my CZ 527's. 12.6 grains of Hlilgun is a winner I fire 10 shots in an inch with both guns. I tried both W296 and IMR 4227 performance was mediocre. Tried barnes bullet 45, 50 and 52 grains all were mediocre the 52 grains would not stabilize in my 1 in 14 twist rifles.
I have been reloading 22 hornet for about 3 years now have tried 45 and 50m grain bullets 50 grain hornaday sp shoots the best out of both of my CZ 527's. 12.6 grains of Hlilgun is a winner I fire 10 shots in an inch with both guns. I tried both W296 and IMR 4227 performance was mediocre. Tried barnes bullet 45, 50 and 52 grains all were mediocre the 52 grains would not stabilize in my 1 in 14 twist rifles.
GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,153
The reason for the scant data on lighter bullets is that Hod. Lil'Gun doesn't do well with bullets lighter than 40gr.
My load for the 40gr bullets (Nosler B.T.'s and Sierra H.P.'s) is 12.5gr of Hod. Lil'Gun.
However, with the 35gr and lighter bullets, H110/Win296 and Allliant #2400 work much better.
Also, with the 40-45gr bullets, Max with the Lil'Gun is however much the cases will hold ! But, accuracy will be at a bit lighter charge. As noted, 11.7gives me best accuracy with the 45's and 12.5 with the 40's.
Also, seating depth is regulated by either the magazine depth if you need them to feed from magazine or touching the lands if you want maximum accuracy...
I dremeled the forward edge of my Ruger magazine to get a maximum length of 1.780". That is what I use with my loads except the cast bullets which are seated to the crimp groove and crimped with a Lee FCD.
For over 90% of my "Hornet" shooting, the 50gr Lyman .225415 FNGC at 2,100fps does the trick....
My load for the 40gr bullets (Nosler B.T.'s and Sierra H.P.'s) is 12.5gr of Hod. Lil'Gun.
However, with the 35gr and lighter bullets, H110/Win296 and Allliant #2400 work much better.
Also, with the 40-45gr bullets, Max with the Lil'Gun is however much the cases will hold ! But, accuracy will be at a bit lighter charge. As noted, 11.7gives me best accuracy with the 45's and 12.5 with the 40's.
Also, seating depth is regulated by either the magazine depth if you need them to feed from magazine or touching the lands if you want maximum accuracy...
I dremeled the forward edge of my Ruger magazine to get a maximum length of 1.780". That is what I use with my loads except the cast bullets which are seated to the crimp groove and crimped with a Lee FCD.
For over 90% of my "Hornet" shooting, the 50gr Lyman .225415 FNGC at 2,100fps does the trick....
Float Pilot
Member
FROM A RUGER M-77/22 after bedding the action.
34 grain HP Dog Town bullet
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass “Virgin”
CCI-SR
1.798 col
NO CRIMP
Vel= 3,182-3,171-3,141-3,156-3,133
0.450 in grp. At 100 yards
34 grain HP Dog Town
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass Virgin
CCI-SR
1.798 col
Roll Crimp
Vel= 3,136-3,132-3,115-3,193-3,154
0.940 inch group at 100 yards
34 grain HP Dog Town
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass, neck sized only
Remington 7.5 bench rest
1.798 col
Roll Crimp
Vel= 3,169-3,298,3,210-3,225- no read.
1.288 inch group at 100 yards
40grain Sierra flat base HP
12.3gr Lil Gun
WW brass neck sized
Rem 7.5 bench rest primer
1.798 col
roll crimp
Vel=3,154-3,176-3,143-3,259-3,188
3.70 inch vertical string
50 grain Speer TNT HP
12.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass “virgin”
CCI-SR
1.802 col
roll crimp
Vel = 2,845 fps
0.90 inch group at 100 yards
50 grain Speer TNT HP
12.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass Neck sized
Rem 7.5 bench rest primer
1.802 col
roll crimp
Vel = 2,891-2,844-2,870-2,906-2,960
2.566 inch group at 100 yards
40 grain Sierra HPs,
12, grains of Lil Gun.
WWVirgin brass
CCI-500 Pistol Primer.
At 100 yards they gave a 0.60 inch group. Good load.
Same powder load with a 55 grain Hornady SP
gave 2,800 fps and a 1.75 inch group at 100 yards.
Also tried some very quite TRAIL BOSS loads.
3.0 grains of TRAIL BOSS, WW Brass and a Magnum Pistol primer.
34 gr Dog Town bullet was 1,625 fps and a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards. IT WAS WINDY.
40 gr Sierra HP was 1,414 fps and a 2.0 inch group at 100 yards
55 grain Hornady SP. NEVER LEFT THE BARREL.... DO NOT ATTEMPT>
40gr V-max
12.0 gr AA#9
WW Virgin brass,
CCI-500 pistol primer
1.802 col no crimp
Vel= 3,133 fps and a 1.4 inch group KINDA HOT....
40gr V-Max
13.0gr Lil' Gun
WW virgin brass
CCI-500
1.804 col o crimp
Vel=3,144 fps and a 1.0 inch group (book load, but shoots much faster than other bullets)
45gr Speer "Hornet" soft point
12.0gr Lil' Gun
WW virgin brass
CCI-500
1.766 col no crimp
Vel= 2,835 fps and a 0.85 inch group
45gr Speer (Hornet) soft point
11.5gr AA#9
WW Virgin brass
CCI-500 pistol primer
1.766 col and no crimp
Vel= 2,962 fps and a 2.75 inch group
IMR-4227 listed accuracy loads
34 grain dog town bullet
11.5 grain IMR-4227
Rem virgin brass
Remington 1.1/2 primer
1.745 col
Vel= 2,550-2,542-2,486-2,582-2,569 fps (2.0 inch group)
40 grain Sierra HP flat base
11.7 grain IMR-4227
Rem virgin brass
CCI-500
1.790 col
Vel=2,578-2,595-2,574-2,655-2,602 (0.75 inch group)
40 grain Hornady V-max (EKC's bullets)
11.7 grains IMR-4227
Rem Virgin Brass
CCI-500 primer
1.807 col
Vel=2,588-2,635-2,586-2,584-2,644 fps (1.25 inch group)
45 grain Speer Hornet flat base soft point
11.3 grains IMR-4227
Rem Virgin Brass
CCI-500 primer
1.765 col
Vel= 2,399-2,446-2,493-2,499-2,395- (2.5 inch group)
55 grain Hornady Flat base soft point
10.7 grains IMR 4227
Rem virgin brass
CCI-500
1.805 col
Vel= 2,257-2,281-2,265-2,245-2,259 ( 1.25 inch group)
34 grain HP Dog Town bullet
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass “Virgin”
CCI-SR
1.798 col
NO CRIMP
Vel= 3,182-3,171-3,141-3,156-3,133
0.450 in grp. At 100 yards
34 grain HP Dog Town
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass Virgin
CCI-SR
1.798 col
Roll Crimp
Vel= 3,136-3,132-3,115-3,193-3,154
0.940 inch group at 100 yards
34 grain HP Dog Town
13.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass, neck sized only
Remington 7.5 bench rest
1.798 col
Roll Crimp
Vel= 3,169-3,298,3,210-3,225- no read.
1.288 inch group at 100 yards
40grain Sierra flat base HP
12.3gr Lil Gun
WW brass neck sized
Rem 7.5 bench rest primer
1.798 col
roll crimp
Vel=3,154-3,176-3,143-3,259-3,188
3.70 inch vertical string
50 grain Speer TNT HP
12.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass “virgin”
CCI-SR
1.802 col
roll crimp
Vel = 2,845 fps
0.90 inch group at 100 yards
50 grain Speer TNT HP
12.0gr Lil Gun
WW brass Neck sized
Rem 7.5 bench rest primer
1.802 col
roll crimp
Vel = 2,891-2,844-2,870-2,906-2,960
2.566 inch group at 100 yards
40 grain Sierra HPs,
12, grains of Lil Gun.
WWVirgin brass
CCI-500 Pistol Primer.
At 100 yards they gave a 0.60 inch group. Good load.
Same powder load with a 55 grain Hornady SP
gave 2,800 fps and a 1.75 inch group at 100 yards.
Also tried some very quite TRAIL BOSS loads.
3.0 grains of TRAIL BOSS, WW Brass and a Magnum Pistol primer.
34 gr Dog Town bullet was 1,625 fps and a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards. IT WAS WINDY.
40 gr Sierra HP was 1,414 fps and a 2.0 inch group at 100 yards
55 grain Hornady SP. NEVER LEFT THE BARREL.... DO NOT ATTEMPT>
40gr V-max
12.0 gr AA#9
WW Virgin brass,
CCI-500 pistol primer
1.802 col no crimp
Vel= 3,133 fps and a 1.4 inch group KINDA HOT....
40gr V-Max
13.0gr Lil' Gun
WW virgin brass
CCI-500
1.804 col o crimp
Vel=3,144 fps and a 1.0 inch group (book load, but shoots much faster than other bullets)
45gr Speer "Hornet" soft point
12.0gr Lil' Gun
WW virgin brass
CCI-500
1.766 col no crimp
Vel= 2,835 fps and a 0.85 inch group
45gr Speer (Hornet) soft point
11.5gr AA#9
WW Virgin brass
CCI-500 pistol primer
1.766 col and no crimp
Vel= 2,962 fps and a 2.75 inch group
IMR-4227 listed accuracy loads
34 grain dog town bullet
11.5 grain IMR-4227
Rem virgin brass
Remington 1.1/2 primer
1.745 col
Vel= 2,550-2,542-2,486-2,582-2,569 fps (2.0 inch group)
40 grain Sierra HP flat base
11.7 grain IMR-4227
Rem virgin brass
CCI-500
1.790 col
Vel=2,578-2,595-2,574-2,655-2,602 (0.75 inch group)
40 grain Hornady V-max (EKC's bullets)
11.7 grains IMR-4227
Rem Virgin Brass
CCI-500 primer
1.807 col
Vel=2,588-2,635-2,586-2,584-2,644 fps (1.25 inch group)
45 grain Speer Hornet flat base soft point
11.3 grains IMR-4227
Rem Virgin Brass
CCI-500 primer
1.765 col
Vel= 2,399-2,446-2,493-2,499-2,395- (2.5 inch group)
55 grain Hornady Flat base soft point
10.7 grains IMR 4227
Rem virgin brass
CCI-500
1.805 col
Vel= 2,257-2,281-2,265-2,245-2,259 ( 1.25 inch group)
Hey Everyone, Thank you for the suggestions and a special thanks to Float Pilot for the comprehensive list of your results. Mine will not be as long or as detailed. So far, I have used H110 and Li'L Gun with Hornady 35 gr V-Max and 40 gr V-Max and Nosler 40 gr Ballistic tips. I have ordered some Sierra 40 and 45 gr. Yesterday a shot all my experimental loads and found that the 35gr Hornady V-Max with 13.0 gr of Li'L Gun shot the best; a half inch at 100 yards. That will be my p-dog load for now, since I have about 350 bullets and need to prepare for the first spring dog shoot. Gotta repeat some of my H110 experiments now that I have adjusted the trigger and am more familiar my new gun. Thanks for all the help.
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,758
Start low and work your way up.
FROGO207
Member
Lots of good advise above IMHO. I use both Lil Gun and H110 for loading the hornet using hornet specific bullets for velocity/expansion reasons. I just received a set of new to me Hornet collet sizing dies free (thanks to Havok7416) and now this weekend, intending to see if neck sizing will improve my accuracy. I will at the least get longer case life so life is better now.
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