22-K Hornet advice

mattL46 · November 16, 2014, 11:36 AM

Hello all. Just acquired my K hornet. Its a beautiful custom low wall. Super proud of it. Belonged to my grandfather. Anyhow...I've had some minor experience with this cartridge before in this rifle long before it became mine. I remember shooting it years ago and upon fire forming a small percentage of cases were destroyed. I know this to be a notorious problem with the k hornet. I also just Friday shot 5 and lost one to a split at the shoulder. There are a lot of mixed opinions on how to reduce brass loss and or remedy this. What is your opinion. What works best for you? Try a high quality virgin brass? Anneal before fire forming? The brass I used Friday was once fired and it was a starting load. Don't remember specifics with out digging out my records but positive it was starting load. Thanks in advance!!!

Magnum Wheel Man · November 17, 2014, 09:16 AM

I haven't done many of mine yet either but I had some issues with virgin 460 S&W cases cracking the case mouths on initial belling, I put the rest in a cake pan with enough water in it to cover 3/4 of the cases & heated each case a set time ( 10-12 seconds in the case of the 460 cases ), with a propane torch... I wouldn't be afraid to do that before loading form loads in the Hornet...

some brass will be more brittle than others... you may find some that needs no annealing ( unfortunately there's not a lot of Hornet brass around ) you didn't mention the brand you were using, but I know there is some Mag Tech brass floating around, & that's one of the brands I find particularly brittle...

I also avoid brass that has a crimp ring at the base of the bullet...

I have formed several hundred 17 K Hornet, & found annealing helped a lot with all brands of brass tried... one must be careful not to make them too soft though... I'm just getting started on the 22 K Hornets

Geezerbiker · November 17, 2014, 09:22 AM

I've fire formed several hundred K-Hornet cases and never lost one in the process. Always use new brass and Privi brass seems to be the best Hornet cases on the market today.

Also I didn't go K-Hornet for a hotter load. I always use the standard Hornet load data. I went with the K to improve case life and maybe accuracy too...

Tony

mattL46 · November 17, 2014, 10:59 AM

Thanks fellas. I'll take this advice. Geezer where do you get your virgin brass? Online?

kilimanjaro · November 17, 2014, 11:39 AM

Matt, you can order Prvi brass from Graf & Sons, it's somewhat reasonable in price.

mattL46 · November 17, 2014, 01:20 PM

Thank you Kilimanjaro!!

Geezerbiker · November 17, 2014, 09:46 PM

Yes, what Kilimanjaro said... I used to by it by the bag at the gun shop but I haven't seen any locally in a few years. My last few hundred cases game from Grafs.

Tony

mattL46 · November 17, 2014, 10:10 PM

Sweet. I'll get on it soon. The brass I'm using is ppu. Seems kinda cheesy. But I'm no brass expert.

November 16, 2014, 11:36 AM	#1
mattL46 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 656	22-K Hornet advice Hello all. Just acquired my K hornet. Its a beautiful custom low wall. Super proud of it. Belonged to my grandfather. Anyhow...I've had some minor experience with this cartridge before in this rifle long before it became mine. I remember shooting it years ago and upon fire forming a small percentage of cases were destroyed. I know this to be a notorious problem with the k hornet. I also just Friday shot 5 and lost one to a split at the shoulder. There are a lot of mixed opinions on how to reduce brass loss and or remedy this. What is your opinion. What works best for you? Try a high quality virgin brass? Anneal before fire forming? The brass I used Friday was once fired and it was a starting load. Don't remember specifics with out digging out my records but positive it was starting load. Thanks in advance!!!

November 17, 2014, 09:16 AM	#2
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I haven't done many of mine yet either but I had some issues with virgin 460 S&W cases cracking the case mouths on initial belling, I put the rest in a cake pan with enough water in it to cover 3/4 of the cases & heated each case a set time ( 10-12 seconds in the case of the 460 cases ), with a propane torch... I wouldn't be afraid to do that before loading form loads in the Hornet... some brass will be more brittle than others... you may find some that needs no annealing ( unfortunately there's not a lot of Hornet brass around ) you didn't mention the brand you were using, but I know there is some Mag Tech brass floating around, & that's one of the brands I find particularly brittle... I also avoid brass that has a crimp ring at the base of the bullet... I have formed several hundred 17 K Hornet, & found annealing helped a lot with all brands of brass tried... one must be careful not to make them too soft though... I'm just getting started on the 22 K Hornets __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

November 17, 2014, 09:22 AM	#3
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I've fire formed several hundred K-Hornet cases and never lost one in the process. Always use new brass and Privi brass seems to be the best Hornet cases on the market today. Also I didn't go K-Hornet for a hotter load. I always use the standard Hornet load data. I went with the K to improve case life and maybe accuracy too... Tony

November 17, 2014, 10:59 AM	#4
mattL46 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 656	Thanks fellas. I'll take this advice. Geezer where do you get your virgin brass? Online?

November 17, 2014, 11:39 AM	#5
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Matt, you can order Prvi brass from Graf & Sons, it's somewhat reasonable in price.

November 17, 2014, 01:20 PM	#6
mattL46 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 656	Thank you Kilimanjaro!!

November 17, 2014, 09:46 PM	#7
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	Yes, what Kilimanjaro said... I used to by it by the bag at the gun shop but I haven't seen any locally in a few years. My last few hundred cases game from Grafs. Tony

November 17, 2014, 10:10 PM	#8
mattL46 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 656	Sweet. I'll get on it soon. The brass I'm using is ppu. Seems kinda cheesy. But I'm no brass expert.