22 Hornet loads

bmxstreet15 · November 11, 2008, 05:42 PM

Ok, so I just picked up a used Ruger 77/22 Hornet. I shot some reloads through it that my stepdad had made up for his Savage 23D. The load was 40 grain hollow point .224 dia. with 11.5 grains of IMR 4227. I thought the gun liked them at first (1 1/2" groups) but then I put some factory remington 45 grain soft points through it and I am now getting 1/2" to 3/4" groups. This is all at a range of 150yds give or take a couple yards.

Now my question is: Does anyone know what load remington is using? I would like to use it because my gun seems to like it so well. If not, how about some suggestions as to what has worked best with a 40 or 45 grain bullets. I know Hornady has a 35 grain V-Max but I think it would lose velocity a little to quick. Sierra has a nice 40 grain ballistic tip but I wonder if it is worth the extra money over a soft point or a hollow point. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

dahermit · November 11, 2008, 05:55 PM

If I understand your question, you want to duplicate the Remington .22 Hornet load using the same components that Remington does in their factory .22 Hornet load? That may not be possible because the powder used by Remington may not be a powder that is available to handloaders ("cannister powder")as a handloading component. However, there is nothing that is keeping you from obtaining just as good accuracy or better from your own handloads. I find that my best accuracy for my .22 Hornet (Browning Low Wall), consists of a Winchester case, Remington primer, Hodgdon's LiL' Gun Powder, and a Calhoun 46 grain H.P. bullet.

Scorch · November 11, 2008, 05:57 PM

I used to load my Hornet with WSP primer, 10.0 gr of WW296 with a 45 gr bullet. It will give you about 2600 fps. Several people I have talked with use Lil Gun with good results, but I don't have any load data for it.

bmxstreet15 · November 11, 2008, 09:06 PM

yea i have played with a couple loads and powders but it seems to like the factory stuff the best. im gonna pull a case apart and measure the amout of powder and see what would be the closest to it. If that makes any sense.

MADISON · November 12, 2008, 01:28 PM

Impossible.
You can not get the same powder.
Try:
45 grain bullet
9.9 grains of 2400

jaguarxk120 · November 12, 2008, 02:03 PM

Madison is very right, the factory's donot use any cannister powders. They load to pressure and density ( case size). As he said impossible.
Check Lymans manual many times they note the best shooting load.
Tom F

bmxstreet15 · November 12, 2008, 04:10 PM

That makes sense. I'll try making some different loads up and see what i get. I have heard of people using small pistol primers in the hornet. What does this acomplish and what are the pros and cons?

FrankenMauser · November 12, 2008, 04:42 PM

Small Rifle primers can cause pressure spikes with some powders, igniting too much of the powder charge at once in the tiny case volume of the Hornet.

Small Pistol primers are not as hot, and generally keep the pressure spikes from happening.

So, with some loads, you can potentially get more velocity out of the same powder with a Small Pistol primer than you would with a Small Rifle primer; since the SR primer will show pressure signs earlier.

As for loads, it looks like many Hornet reloaders have settled on similar loads.
My brother's favorite load is:
Hornady 45 grain SP
10.0 grains H110
Seat to ogive
No crimp

bmxstreet15 · November 12, 2008, 06:18 PM

so should I give small pistol primers a shot? cant hurt can it?

FrankenMauser · November 13, 2008, 03:37 AM

Work the load up, as usual, with small pistol primers, and you'll be good to go.

If you want to see what kind of difference there is between them and small rifle primers... try working up two identical loads at the same time, but one with small rifle primers and one with small pistol primers.

thallub · November 13, 2008, 05:36 AM

FrankenMauser and bmxstreet15 are right about pistol primers. Been re-loading the Hornet and K-Hornet for well over 40 years. I use IMR 4227 and 2400 in all my Hornet loads.

Here is a really good article for anyone who is thinking of reloading the .22 Hornet for the first time.

http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/22_hornet/

bmxstreet15 · November 13, 2008, 12:53 PM

I made up some loads last night. 40gn. HP with 11.5 gn. of IMR4227 20 with sp primers and 20 with sr primers. Im getting ready to go try them out now. Kinda nice having a 150 yd range in the front yard.

November 11, 2008, 05:42 PM	#1
bmxstreet15 Member Join Date: June 21, 2006 Location: Fesuts MO/Chandler AZ Posts: 34	22 Hornet loads Ok, so I just picked up a used Ruger 77/22 Hornet. I shot some reloads through it that my stepdad had made up for his Savage 23D. The load was 40 grain hollow point .224 dia. with 11.5 grains of IMR 4227. I thought the gun liked them at first (1 1/2" groups) but then I put some factory remington 45 grain soft points through it and I am now getting 1/2" to 3/4" groups. This is all at a range of 150yds give or take a couple yards. Now my question is: Does anyone know what load remington is using? I would like to use it because my gun seems to like it so well. If not, how about some suggestions as to what has worked best with a 40 or 45 grain bullets. I know Hornady has a 35 grain V-Max but I think it would lose velocity a little to quick. Sierra has a nice 40 grain ballistic tip but I wonder if it is worth the extra money over a soft point or a hollow point. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

November 11, 2008, 05:55 PM	#2
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Factory components. If I understand your question, you want to duplicate the Remington .22 Hornet load using the same components that Remington does in their factory .22 Hornet load? That may not be possible because the powder used by Remington may not be a powder that is available to handloaders ("cannister powder")as a handloading component. However, there is nothing that is keeping you from obtaining just as good accuracy or better from your own handloads. I find that my best accuracy for my .22 Hornet (Browning Low Wall), consists of a Winchester case, Remington primer, Hodgdon's LiL' Gun Powder, and a Calhoun 46 grain H.P. bullet.

November 11, 2008, 05:57 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I used to load my Hornet with WSP primer, 10.0 gr of WW296 with a 45 gr bullet. It will give you about 2600 fps. Several people I have talked with use Lil Gun with good results, but I don't have any load data for it. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 12, 2008, 01:28 PM	#5
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	.22 Hornet Factory duplicated Load? Impossible. You can not get the same powder. Try: 45 grain bullet 9.9 grains of 2400

November 11, 2008, 09:06 PM	#4
bmxstreet15 Member Join Date: June 21, 2006 Location: Fesuts MO/Chandler AZ Posts: 34	yea i have played with a couple loads and powders but it seems to like the factory stuff the best. im gonna pull a case apart and measure the amout of powder and see what would be the closest to it. If that makes any sense.

November 12, 2008, 02:03 PM	#6
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	Madison is very right, the factory's donot use any cannister powders. They load to pressure and density ( case size). As he said impossible. Check Lymans manual many times they note the best shooting load. Tom F

November 12, 2008, 04:10 PM	#7
bmxstreet15 Member Join Date: June 21, 2006 Location: Fesuts MO/Chandler AZ Posts: 34	That makes sense. I'll try making some different loads up and see what i get. I have heard of people using small pistol primers in the hornet. What does this acomplish and what are the pros and cons?

November 12, 2008, 04:42 PM	#8
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Small Rifle primers can cause pressure spikes with some powders, igniting too much of the powder charge at once in the tiny case volume of the Hornet. Small Pistol primers are not as hot, and generally keep the pressure spikes from happening. So, with some loads, you can potentially get more velocity out of the same powder with a Small Pistol primer than you would with a Small Rifle primer; since the SR primer will show pressure signs earlier. As for loads, it looks like many Hornet reloaders have settled on similar loads. My brother's favorite load is: Hornady 45 grain SP 10.0 grains H110 Seat to ogive No crimp

November 12, 2008, 06:18 PM	#9
bmxstreet15 Member Join Date: June 21, 2006 Location: Fesuts MO/Chandler AZ Posts: 34	so should I give small pistol primers a shot? cant hurt can it?

November 13, 2008, 03:37 AM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Work the load up, as usual, with small pistol primers, and you'll be good to go. If you want to see what kind of difference there is between them and small rifle primers... try working up two identical loads at the same time, but one with small rifle primers and one with small pistol primers.

November 13, 2008, 05:36 AM	#11
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	FrankenMauser and bmxstreet15 are right about pistol primers. Been re-loading the Hornet and K-Hornet for well over 40 years. I use IMR 4227 and 2400 in all my Hornet loads. Here is a really good article for anyone who is thinking of reloading the .22 Hornet for the first time. http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/22_hornet/

November 13, 2008, 12:53 PM	#12
bmxstreet15 Member Join Date: June 21, 2006 Location: Fesuts MO/Chandler AZ Posts: 34	I made up some loads last night. 40gn. HP with 11.5 gn. of IMR4227 20 with sp primers and 20 with sr primers. Im getting ready to go try them out now. Kinda nice having a 150 yd range in the front yard.