.22 hornet

h322 · February 23, 2010, 04:35 PM

hi i have recently bought a ruger 77/22 in .22 hornet. this rifle is brand new my gun dealer says the bullet diameter is .223 but hodgdon reloading data states all .22 hornet loads as .224. i have been reloading for a .222 rem so i have plenty of .224 hornady 40 grain v max can i use these for my hornet thanks for any help!

CPTMurdoc30 · February 23, 2010, 04:43 PM

IF it is new then it is a .224 dia bullet just like your 222 rem.

If was for a very short time that the hornet was made in .223" dia. You will still run into them but they are going to be very old rifles.

At that time, the most popular rifle for converting to a .22 Hornet was the 1922 Springfield. Since the Springfield was originally chambered in.22 Long Rifle, the Hornet was loaded with the bullets of .223" diameter to match it's grove diameter. Later, various commercial rifles were built with barrels of .224" groove diameter, the reason some of our bullet makers still offer Hornet bullets in two diameters.

mkl · February 23, 2010, 05:02 PM

If you gun was made after WWII it uses a .224 bullet.

h322 · February 23, 2010, 05:11 PM

thanks cpt murdoc30 you americans really know your rifles.btw i am a gamekeeper on a country estate in ireland i release over 10,000 pheasants and partridge every year and its only for the past six years that the LAW has allowed us to have centerfire rifles for varmint control. before that it was all .22 wmr your really lucky to have access to so many guns.

celtgun · February 23, 2010, 09:10 PM

I am not yet reloading Hornet, but there is a lot of info on this site as well as many more, just use the Firing Line search feature.
The Hornet has some special requirements and they are spelled out in FL posts. The bullets need a little differant shape. Hornady #2230 is marked
.224/45 GR Hornet. Also a milder primer, Remington 5 1/2 is one I have seen suggested. Or small pistol primerThere are many more, I'm sure.
As stated, I'm no expert, but there will be more response I am sure. Lots of great folks with a world of knowledge. CZ makes some great rifles in this caliber as well. There is a metric designation for the Hornet, can't recall it. The European ammo makers I am sure produce quality stuff.
I'll email/post some more.
Good Shooting
Lee Jones(Celtgun)

The truth is that any good modern rifle is good enough. The determining factor is the man behind the gun." Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

celtgun · February 23, 2010, 09:20 PM

Just put in hornet after clicking Search, pages of threads, yours is first up.
Good to have a Celtic Cousin on board.

Lee Jones, Clan Lindsay

"A gentleman will seldom, if ever, need a pistol. However, if he does, he needs it very badly!" Sir Winston Churchill

MADISON · February 24, 2010, 10:49 AM

Post War II .22 Hornet in 223?
You can use either 223 or 224 diameter bullets but, 224 is prefered.
My 77/22 Hornet is 224.

Scorch · February 24, 2010, 12:58 PM

The Hornady 40 gr VMax will do very well in the Hornet. The main difference between that bullet and bullets specifically called Hornet bullets is the jacket thickness (Hornet bullets are designed to expand a much lower velocities).

edward5759 · February 24, 2010, 02:02 PM

And have good luck in shooting them with 40 grain hornaday and 10 grains of 2400. Is a lot of fun. cheaper than the WMRF.
It was made in the 1930s
I also have a Ruger 77/22 in .22 hornet the bore is .224 and I use the same bullet and load. Great gun up to 200 yards.
Have fun!
Ed

February 23, 2010, 04:35 PM	#1
h322 Member Join Date: January 31, 2010 Location: northern ireland Posts: 18	.22 hornet hi i have recently bought a ruger 77/22 in .22 hornet. this rifle is brand new my gun dealer says the bullet diameter is .223 but hodgdon reloading data states all .22 hornet loads as .224. i have been reloading for a .222 rem so i have plenty of .224 hornady 40 grain v max can i use these for my hornet thanks for any help!

February 23, 2010, 09:10 PM	#5
celtgun Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2008 Location: SE North Carolina Posts: 203	22 Hornet I am not yet reloading Hornet, but there is a lot of info on this site as well as many more, just use the Firing Line search feature. The Hornet has some special requirements and they are spelled out in FL posts. The bullets need a little differant shape. Hornady #2230 is marked .224/45 GR Hornet. Also a milder primer, Remington 5 1/2 is one I have seen suggested. Or small pistol primerThere are many more, I'm sure. As stated, I'm no expert, but there will be more response I am sure. Lots of great folks with a world of knowledge. CZ makes some great rifles in this caliber as well. There is a metric designation for the Hornet, can't recall it. The European ammo makers I am sure produce quality stuff. I'll email/post some more. Good Shooting Lee Jones(Celtgun) The truth is that any good modern rifle is good enough. The determining factor is the man behind the gun." Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

February 23, 2010, 09:20 PM	#6
celtgun Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2008 Location: SE North Carolina Posts: 203	Search Hornet Just put in hornet after clicking Search, pages of threads, yours is first up. Good to have a Celtic Cousin on board. Lee Jones, Clan Lindsay "A gentleman will seldom, if ever, need a pistol. However, if he does, he needs it very badly!" Sir Winston Churchill

February 24, 2010, 10:49 AM	#7
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Post War II .22 Hornet in 223? Post War II .22 Hornet in 223? You can use either 223 or 224 diameter bullets but, 224 is prefered. My 77/22 Hornet is 224.

February 24, 2010, 12:58 PM	#8
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	The Hornady 40 gr VMax will do very well in the Hornet. The main difference between that bullet and bullets specifically called Hornet bullets is the jacket thickness (Hornet bullets are designed to expand a much lower velocities). __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 23, 2010, 04:43 PM	#2
CPTMurdoc30 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 969	IF it is new then it is a .224 dia bullet just like your 222 rem. If was for a very short time that the hornet was made in .223" dia. You will still run into them but they are going to be very old rifles. At that time, the most popular rifle for converting to a .22 Hornet was the 1922 Springfield. Since the Springfield was originally chambered in.22 Long Rifle, the Hornet was loaded with the bullets of .223" diameter to match it's grove diameter. Later, various commercial rifles were built with barrels of .224" groove diameter, the reason some of our bullet makers still offer Hornet bullets in two diameters. __________________ Solving Virginia's Ground Hog problems 50gr at a time.....

February 23, 2010, 05:02 PM	#3
mkl Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Location: DFW area, Texas Posts: 494	If you gun was made after WWII it uses a .224 bullet.

February 23, 2010, 05:11 PM	#4
h322 Member Join Date: January 31, 2010 Location: northern ireland Posts: 18	thanks cpt murdoc30 you americans really know your rifles.btw i am a gamekeeper on a country estate in ireland i release over 10,000 pheasants and partridge every year and its only for the past six years that the LAW has allowed us to have centerfire rifles for varmint control. before that it was all .22 wmr your really lucky to have access to so many guns.

February 24, 2010, 02:02 PM	#9
edward5759 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ. 30 miles from water, two feet from Hell. Posts: 355	I use .224 bullets in a .223 And have good luck in shooting them with 40 grain hornaday and 10 grains of 2400. Is a lot of fun. cheaper than the WMRF. It was made in the 1930s I also have a Ruger 77/22 in .22 hornet the bore is .224 and I use the same bullet and load. Great gun up to 200 yards. Have fun! Ed