.22 HORNET

UNCBUC · September 9, 2013, 01:13 PM

Does anybody know where i can get .22 hornet soft point
ammo at a sane price? Thanks

steveNChunter · September 9, 2013, 01:33 PM

Start reloading

Boomer58cal · September 9, 2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Start reloading _

What he said. Loading 1000 rds will probably pay for a basic reloading setup and you'll get better ammo.

Boomer

**44 AMP** · September 10, 2013, 12:53 PM

The price for Hornet ammo is indeed, shocking. There is some cheaper European stuff listed, but there never seems to be any on hand to sell....

basically, Hornet ammo is a niche market, and the price break on real volume calibers (which we don't notice usually) doesn't apply to the Hornet, or other niche rounds.

Reloading is the most cost effective way to go, overall. But the Hornet is again, not mainstream for reloading, either. Pony up the cash for a quantity of NEW brass (and get a bunch, because you will destroy some cases, Hornet brass is both small and very thin, and even after you learn all the tricks, you will still lose a case here and there to collapsed necks when seating new bullets, unless you are both very careful, and lucky

)

Standard primers, only a tiny bit of powder (10-12grs in many loads), and standard bullets(40-45gr are traditional Hornet weights. Can shoot 55gr, but speeds are lower and results often disappoint).

I've got two Hornets, a Ruger No3 and a Contender. I like the Hornet, even though it takes a bit more care reloading than most other rounds. One thing I like about the Hornet is that I can load it to match .22mag cheaper than buying .22WMR (once you get past the intial cost of the brass). you could even load it down to .22LR speeds (use cast bullets).

One thing to watch for, Hornets from the pre-WWII era (and some others, I think) often have small (.223) bores. And there are still .223 bullets available here and there. Modern Hornets have the standard .224" bores and use standard .224" bullets (don't confuse the actual bore and bullet diameters with the same numbers in cartridge names. The (modern) .22 Hornet, .218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .221 Fireball, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Mag, .223 Rem (5.56mm) .224 Weatherby, and .22-250 ALL use .224" diameter bullets).

40-82 · September 10, 2013, 01:45 PM

The hornet is touchy. Expect to experiment a little before you find a useable load. The two hornets I've worked with a Winchester Model 70 and a Savage were both capable of excellent accuracy, but with randomly selected loads pulled out of published reloading load, the hornet is often wildly erratic.

WIN1886 · September 10, 2013, 05:18 PM

I have found Prvi Partizan .22 Hornet ammo for a fairly decent price at Midway ! It shoots okay in my 1885 single shot and hopefully the brass is good for reloading ! I am still getting my reloading supplies in order and plan to go that route in near future !

Old Stony · September 10, 2013, 06:39 PM

You just about have to reload to survive shooting the Hornet. I have a rolling block chambered in it and it's very economical to shoot. Once years ago...maybe in another life, I acquired a large quantity of FMJ Hornet GI ammo as I had an Anschutz I was really proud of. It would shoot anywhere from 4 to 6" groups out of that rifle......You are really better off reloading for yours !

September 9, 2013, 01:13 PM	#1
UNCBUC Junior Member Join Date: August 28, 2013 Posts: 9	.22 HORNET Does anybody know where i can get .22 hornet soft point ammo at a sane price? Thanks

September 9, 2013, 01:33 PM	#2
steveNChunter Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns Posts: 1,520	Start reloading __________________ DEO VINDICE

September 10, 2013, 12:53 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	The price for Hornet ammo is indeed, shocking. There is some cheaper European stuff listed, but there never seems to be any on hand to sell.... basically, Hornet ammo is a niche market, and the price break on real volume calibers (which we don't notice usually) doesn't apply to the Hornet, or other niche rounds. Reloading is the most cost effective way to go, overall. But the Hornet is again, not mainstream for reloading, either. Pony up the cash for a quantity of NEW brass (and get a bunch, because you will destroy some cases, Hornet brass is both small and very thin, and even after you learn all the tricks, you will still lose a case here and there to collapsed necks when seating new bullets, unless you are both very careful, and lucky) Standard primers, only a tiny bit of powder (10-12grs in many loads), and standard bullets(40-45gr are traditional Hornet weights. Can shoot 55gr, but speeds are lower and results often disappoint). I've got two Hornets, a Ruger No3 and a Contender. I like the Hornet, even though it takes a bit more care reloading than most other rounds. One thing I like about the Hornet is that I can load it to match .22mag cheaper than buying .22WMR (once you get past the intial cost of the brass). you could even load it down to .22LR speeds (use cast bullets). One thing to watch for, Hornets from the pre-WWII era (and some others, I think) often have small (.223) bores. And there are still .223 bullets available here and there. Modern Hornets have the standard .224" bores and use standard .224" bullets (don't confuse the actual bore and bullet diameters with the same numbers in cartridge names. The (modern) .22 Hornet, .218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .221 Fireball, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Mag, .223 Rem (5.56mm) .224 Weatherby, and .22-250 ALL use .224" diameter bullets). __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 10, 2013, 01:45 PM	#5
40-82 Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2013 Posts: 178	The hornet is touchy. Expect to experiment a little before you find a useable load. The two hornets I've worked with a Winchester Model 70 and a Savage were both capable of excellent accuracy, but with randomly selected loads pulled out of published reloading load, the hornet is often wildly erratic.

September 10, 2013, 05:18 PM	#6
WIN1886 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 604	I have found Prvi Partizan .22 Hornet ammo for a fairly decent price at Midway ! It shoots okay in my 1885 single shot and hopefully the brass is good for reloading ! I am still getting my reloading supplies in order and plan to go that route in near future !

September 10, 2013, 06:39 PM	#7
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	You just about have to reload to survive shooting the Hornet. I have a rolling block chambered in it and it's very economical to shoot. Once years ago...maybe in another life, I acquired a large quantity of FMJ Hornet GI ammo as I had an Anschutz I was really proud of. It would shoot anywhere from 4 to 6" groups out of that rifle......You are really better off reloading for yours !