The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 24, 2012, 07:08 PM   #1
SRE
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2011
Location: Southern York County, PA
Posts: 145
.22 Hornet

Hey guys. I'd consider myself an experienced reloader but always like to ask about new rounds i'm going to start producing...

About to start reloading for my Ruger 77/22 in .22 Hornet that I recently picked up. Any tips for that cartridge that you guys have come across in your experience? Good powder/ bullets that you prefer?

Thanks in advance!!
__________________
Combat Commander
SRE is offline  
Old January 24, 2012, 07:53 PM   #2
oldscot3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2007
Location: texas
Posts: 997
A similar post came up not long ago... there's some good reading there.

First, your rifle has a 1 in 14 twist, I think (I ought to check that, but that's what is rolling around in my foggy memory) so conventional theory is, relatively short bullets (flatbase, semi-round nose) of 40 to 50 grains should work best. Most bullet makers have Hornet specific choices for you.

Second, the cases seem somewhat thin and fragile in that long tapered neck... make sure they're round and chamfered before seating the bullet to avoid crumpling the neck.

Third, have fun, the Hornet is cheap to shoot, (WHEN YOU RELOAD)and fun. Finding a good load shouldn't be too hard.
oldscot3 is offline  
Old January 24, 2012, 08:25 PM   #3
Catfish
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 30, 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 171
I always shot H-4227 in my Hornets, but haven`t loaded them much since Lit Gun came out and they are claiming alittle more velcoity with it.
Catfish is offline  
Old January 24, 2012, 10:08 PM   #4
Crankylove
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2008
Location: 8B ID
Posts: 1,752
My go-to load for my Ruger 77/22 Hornet is 10.5 grains of W296 with a 40 Grain SP/HP.

I find that the 1 in 14" twist works best with 40 and 45 grain bullets, but still gives acceptable accuracy with 35 grain.
__________________
The answer to 1984 is 1776
Crankylove is offline  
Old January 25, 2012, 10:47 AM   #5
McShooty
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 4, 2012
Location: Northern Missouri
Posts: 480
Careful case preparation really benefits a very small case like the .22 Hornet. In weighing new cases I have found variations of up to 8% and so I always weigh new cases to choose a group of uniform weight. I also debur the flashholes and I measure the thickness of the case mouths, using those with the most uniform measurements. I neck-size only upon reloading. The standard powders (2400, 4227, 1680) work well, and best for me when I don't try to max the velocity. I have not tried a lot of Lil Gun, but it seems like a winner. I like the 45-gr bullets but also found that Sierra's 50-gr SMP worked very well in my Ruger No. 3. For general plinking around you don't need to go to all the trouble with the cases, but if you do, you might find that the Hornet can be a very accurate cartridge.
McShooty is offline  
Old January 25, 2012, 10:58 AM   #6
DeeDubya
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 1, 2011
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 114
Be sure to use "Hornet" bullets that have a thinner jacket if you want proper expansion. Also, Hornet brass is thin too. Go easy on the case lube or you will wrinkle some shoulders. Be sure the bullet is centered exactly in the case mouth when seating or you can crush a case and not even feel it.
__________________
DW

NRA Life Member
DeeDubya is offline  
Old January 25, 2012, 01:56 PM   #7
rbursek
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 30, 2011
Location: Milwaukkee, WI
Posts: 152
I just bought one too a Rem 799 NIB, the research I have done is Lil Gun gives a high MV and very low preasure according to Hodgdon site. So you get better case life and neck size only if possible. Good Luck and injoy. You may have to use the designated Hornet bullits because of OAL, they seem to be a shorter bullit in the same wieght.
rbursek is offline  
Old January 25, 2012, 03:08 PM   #8
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,677
make sure you have a generous chamfer on the case mouths. Hornet brass is very thin, and without a good chamfer I have had cases buckle when seating bullets.

Go slow, and pay attention to the "feel" when seating, and if something is "off". back off and see what's wrong. You might just save a case or three that way.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old January 25, 2012, 03:41 PM   #9
michaelcj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2011
Location: Lopez Island, WA
Posts: 279
I use a Lyman M die on the case neck and have had no issues with "thin brass" or "delicate neck" with the hornet. Also helps with getting the bullet started straight [ funny that my fingers don't work as well with those 45 grain pills as they do on the 350 grain 45-70]

Favorite load: Remington Brass, Winchester small pistol primer, 12.8 grains Lil-Gun, 45 grain sierra [#1210] SP. Out of my 1951 mdl 43 Winchester these shoot 100yard cloverleaves all day.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die at the end to put a "very light" crimp on the round.

This is by far an away my favorite round to load / AND SHOOT.

Have fun.

Mike J
michaelcj is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07082 seconds with 10 queries