.22 Hornet questions

Big Ruger · March 25, 2005, 10:39 PM

I recently started loading .22 Hornet ammo for my friend. When I went to get bullets I saw that, though there are alot of .224 cal. bullets only a few are marked as Hornet bullets. Are all .224 bullets the same? Is there some problem with loading any .224 cal. bullet in a hornet case? Any info would be helpful. E.

MADISON · March 26, 2005, 09:35 AM

The Hornet's factory load is about 2650.
To get it to expand you need a THIN JACKET. A bullet marked "Hornet" has that jacket. Other makers offer bullets that will do the job but, requires some reading...

smokin54 · March 26, 2005, 11:32 AM

I have a couple of hornet barrels that resonded very well to the 40 grain v-max and 4227 and 1680 powders . The bullets that say they are for the hornet I got very poor results from. I belive that many years ago the bore in the hornet barrels were intended to use a .223 diameter bullet , you may want to check .

Tom Matiska · March 26, 2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

.......I saw that, though there are alot of .224 cal. bullets only a few are marked as Hornet bullets. Are all .224 bullets the same?........

Not all 22 Hornet rifles are the same. Early vintage Hornets used a .222 bore standard, and usually had a 1-16" twist. My Hornady Vol II list data for both the .222 and .224 bullets, where as my Speer #9 list more conservative "one size fits all" data.

The lightest shortest flat base .222's are sure to work in the oldest of Hornets.

What vinage is your rifle? If you have an more modern offering like the Ruger 77 you will find slightly longer/heavier non-"Hornet" .224 bullets will work just fine.

Big Ruger · March 26, 2005, 07:57 PM

His rifle is a H&R handi rifle. Seems to digest Hornet bullets quit accurately. I know he just bought the rifle maybe two years ago. E.

drinks · March 26, 2005, 11:09 PM

The .224 bullets are correct, just be sure they are rated for the Hornet if to be used for hunting so they will expand at Hornet velocities, for just punching paper, it makes no difference.
Don

WIN71 · March 29, 2005, 06:40 PM

I've been using Sierra 40 gr. hollow points and Nosler 40 gr. ballistic tips for both paper and ground squirrels with good results on both. I don't know about expansion on either. It's tough enough to find all the squirrel parts let alone the bullet. I'm using what most reloading books call a medium load, 10.0 gr. of H110. Through the chrono they are around 2680 average out of a CZ 527 and MOA is fairly common but I can't get much better than that. I don't think H110 is the best choice but I have over 10 pounds of it from past revolver loading days.

texfar · March 30, 2005, 10:41 PM

I have a Ruger #3 in hornet that they said would not shoot.....Ha. After exhaustive loads of all types of powders and bullets the best I have found are the V-max in 35 and 40 grain and the BT 40 gr. Powder is H110 using 11.8 gr for 40 gr and 11.0 for 35 gr.. My barrel has a 1 in 14 twist and will not shoot bullets in the 50 grain catagory well at all. Have tried. With the carbine barrel and twist they won't stabilize. My favorite gun to shoot and routinly pop coons and foxes at 120+ YARDS with unreal devistation. I have not paid much attention to those "hornet" bullets personally due to the fact that I have found the formula for what mine likes and what I do with it.

March 25, 2005, 10:39 PM	#1
Big Ruger Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 302	.22 Hornet questions I recently started loading .22 Hornet ammo for my friend. When I went to get bullets I saw that, though there are alot of .224 cal. bullets only a few are marked as Hornet bullets. Are all .224 bullets the same? Is there some problem with loading any .224 cal. bullet in a hornet case? Any info would be helpful. E.

March 26, 2005, 09:35 AM	#2
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Hornet bullets question The Hornet's factory load is about 2650. To get it to expand you need a THIN JACKET. A bullet marked "Hornet" has that jacket. Other makers offer bullets that will do the job but, requires some reading...

March 26, 2005, 11:09 PM	#6
drinks Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2004 Posts: 405	.22 Hornet The .224 bullets are correct, just be sure they are rated for the Hornet if to be used for hunting so they will expand at Hornet velocities, for just punching paper, it makes no difference. Don

March 29, 2005, 06:40 PM	#7
WIN71 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Posts: 729	Hornet I've been using Sierra 40 gr. hollow points and Nosler 40 gr. ballistic tips for both paper and ground squirrels with good results on both. I don't know about expansion on either. It's tough enough to find all the squirrel parts let alone the bullet. I'm using what most reloading books call a medium load, 10.0 gr. of H110. Through the chrono they are around 2680 average out of a CZ 527 and MOA is fairly common but I can't get much better than that. I don't think H110 is the best choice but I have over 10 pounds of it from past revolver loading days.

March 26, 2005, 11:32 AM	#3
smokin54 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Posts: 193	I have a couple of hornet barrels that resonded very well to the 40 grain v-max and 4227 and 1680 powders . The bullets that say they are for the hornet I got very poor results from. I belive that many years ago the bore in the hornet barrels were intended to use a .223 diameter bullet , you may want to check .

March 26, 2005, 07:57 PM	#5
Big Ruger Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 302	His rifle is a H&R handi rifle. Seems to digest Hornet bullets quit accurately. I know he just bought the rifle maybe two years ago. E.

March 30, 2005, 10:41 PM	#8
texfar Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 404	I have a Ruger #3 in hornet that they said would not shoot.....Ha. After exhaustive loads of all types of powders and bullets the best I have found are the V-max in 35 and 40 grain and the BT 40 gr. Powder is H110 using 11.8 gr for 40 gr and 11.0 for 35 gr.. My barrel has a 1 in 14 twist and will not shoot bullets in the 50 grain catagory well at all. Have tried. With the carbine barrel and twist they won't stabilize. My favorite gun to shoot and routinly pop coons and foxes at 120+ YARDS with unreal devistation. I have not paid much attention to those "hornet" bullets personally due to the fact that I have found the formula for what mine likes and what I do with it.