22 Hornet

Red_Eagle · February 28, 2008, 01:16 PM

I'm picking up a Ruger 77/22 Hornet on monday. What is a good bullet/powder combo with this cartridge? I have some of the old 40gr Barnes barrel burners, Sierra 45gr varminters, and AA 1680 on hand.

Doyle · February 28, 2008, 05:27 PM

It's a good thing you can load your own. I just picked up a .22 Hornet a month or so ago (just finished rebuilding it last week) and I was shocked at how much those little suckers cost. Remington 45grn SP's are $41/box when I can find them. You can get Prvi Partizan cheaper, but they have a spotty reputation for misfires. You can get Sellier and Bellot a little cheaper, but you loose 300fps.

After seeing all this, I don't know if I will keep it.

TATER · February 28, 2008, 05:51 PM

I'm shooting a 40 grain A'max

For me this load is very accurate
40 Gr A-Max
9.5 Gr WW-296
CCI-small rifle primer
And I get three reloads easy, on my brass.

Sevens · February 28, 2008, 06:30 PM

Gentleman, here's an honest question, not meant to offend but rather to learn. Question is, why the .22 Hornet?

From the little bit of reading I've done (yup, I've only read about it and never owned one, I freely admit that) I can't see what the attraction is. And three reloads from one piece of brass, and that's a triumph?

Short action length is one selling point... I guess. There must be others. Please share your thoughts.

caz223 · February 28, 2008, 07:09 PM

When I lived 500 yards from city limits, I shot a .22 hornet at birds out of tall trees in my neighbors yard.
It's report is mild, and it was accurate enough.
I got a .223 and he approached me to not shoot my sniper rifle anymore.
I have to shoot it at my brother's place, and the neighbors called the police. (I was legal, police wondered why they were called, but it still was a PITA.)
It seems that a 22 hornet stays under the radar because it's quiet and it has .22 in the name.
What you shootin' there, boys?
Just a .22, sir.
See how that works?
I realize that .223 projectiles are the same size, but everybody seems to know it's the round the military uses. Or very, very close to it.
Most .22 hornets are built on rimfire actions, so they even look like .22 LR.
Even if they don't think it's a .22lr, they prolly think it's a .22 WMR. Rimfires legal. If they know a lot about rifles, they seem to class .22 hornet WITH .22 WMR, and not with .223, no idea why. Prolly because it's quieter.
Oh, in case I didn't mention it, there's a centerfire ban in city limits.
Why do I shoot .22 hornet? Because it's the most power you can get in town without getting into trouble. Even if you reloaded a bullet in a .223 that was quieter than a hornet, they'd look at your rifle, and give you grief. It's a centerfire. So is a .22 hornet. Yeah, but you don't get in trouble for it, because it doesn't look like a centerfire. It looks like a .22 WMR, but it's more accurate.

This was before .17HMR and the new ruger round, now things may be different.

Also, from what I've seen 30-50% of the time you hit a bird with a .22 hornet, the bird explodes, there's no big bird parts to pick up. A feather there, a foot here, a beak there.
You shoot the same size bird with a .223, and you got a dead bird, with a nice clean 1/2" hole drilled through him.
You shoot a bird with .22rf, and there's a dead bird, no hole to be seen. Must have died of natural causes.
You shoot a bird with a .44 mag there's just no bird anymore.

TATER · February 28, 2008, 08:52 PM

Sevens, It's simply nostalgia with me. A longing for
the past.....Hey, I reload 256 Winchester too.

Red_Eagle · February 28, 2008, 09:24 PM

Basically, it the varmint version of the 30-30. Rimmed cartridge, and very thin. Thats where the 3 reload limit come in.
Light recoil, low report. Makes a good chiose if you're working around live stock, road or buildings and want a nice short range cartridge.

MADISON · February 28, 2008, 11:55 PM

.22 Hornet loads:
Over the last 40 years I have loaded mostly IMR 4227.
The 11.0 to 12.0 grains of 4247 always shot about 1 1/2 inches.

My current load of 9.9 grains of 2400 groups the size of a dime.

mniesen89 · February 29, 2008, 12:38 AM

hey eagle, I dont know if you'd be intrested but I have 11x 22 hornet plastic cartridge box's...I oredered .223 box's from midway and this is what they sent me on top of my .223 box's

hivel37 · February 29, 2008, 01:05 AM

Try 12.5 grs of Hodgdon LilGun. That's about all it'll hold. Works well with 35 gr VMax.

Martyn4802 · February 29, 2008, 06:58 AM

I have three 22 Hornet rifles.
The most accurate load I've found is 10.2 grains of H-110 with Sierra's 45 grain Hornet bullet. I use small pistol primers and crimp bullets in cases. Lil-Gun shoots well, but not as well as H-110.
I have not tried IMR 4227 or 2400 powders however. My Dad's old Hornet shot 11.0 grains of IMR 4227 well years ago.
Also, I've never had good luck with any of the pointed bullets in my Hornets. They just won't shoot accurately, maybe because of the short bearing surface of the bullets, I really don't know for sure.

Martyn

Sevens · February 29, 2008, 11:13 AM

Great stuff guys, thank you.

Scorch · February 29, 2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Question is, why the .22 Hornet?

Years ago, I owned a 22 Hornet, a cute little Krico rifle. I loved shooting it, but it was a pain to reload (I was primarily a shooter). Accuracy was OK but not spectacular (typically 3/4" to 1" at 100 yds on a good day). I eventually decided that (for my purposes) it was essentially a centerfire version of the 22Mag. I traded it to a friend, bought a 22 Mag, and never looked back. Now I am enjoying the reloading aspect as much as the shooting, so I must admit there is a growing yearning for a centerfire version of a 22Mag in my gun safe.

langenc · February 29, 2008, 01:13 PM

Lilgun and small PISTOL primers.

Red_Eagle · February 29, 2008, 06:55 PM

I got the rifle today. I also got some real hornet bullets (40 & 45 gr Sierra), and picked up a can of H 110.
Let me start by saying , I'm a rifle guy. Never loaded pistol and the smallest rifle cartridge I load is the 223 remington. That being said, how should I work up this load? I usually do 1/2 gr increments, But with this cartridge there is only 2 gr between start and max load.

SuperTodd · March 2, 2008, 10:35 AM

It was the 2nd centerfire rifle I got when I was 14.(I'm 34 now) its just a little H&R model 157 single shot with mannlicher stock. I have just about shot out the barrel you can barely see any rifling it still shoots 2" groups at 100 yards. during its hey day when I was in Highschool it would shot 1/2" to 3/4 inch groups all day. I have shot a number of critters w/ it. including 2 deer, both head shots. I have expermented with different weights and bullets over the last 20 years, it shoots 3 bullets the best, the old nosler 45 grn sp, hornady 45 grn hp Bee bullet and speer 33 grn tnt. I have shot 2400, 4227 and currently using 12 grns of lil-gun. I can honestly say I have shot at least 10,000 or more rounds through this gun since I have owned it, and I got it used.

I wish I could find a new barrel for this gun. eventually I will need to find another Hornet. I also have a 22-250 but I usually grab the hornet when sniping ground squirrels or going after predators. its light, easy to carry, low report

February 28, 2008, 01:16 PM	#1
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	22 Hornet I'm picking up a Ruger 77/22 Hornet on monday. What is a good bullet/powder combo with this cartridge? I have some of the old 40gr Barnes barrel burners, Sierra 45gr varminters, and AA 1680 on hand.

February 28, 2008, 06:30 PM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Gentleman, here's an honest question, not meant to offend but rather to learn. Question is, why the .22 Hornet? From the little bit of reading I've done (yup, I've only read about it and never owned one, I freely admit that) I can't see what the attraction is. And three reloads from one piece of brass, and that's a triumph? Short action length is one selling point... I guess. There must be others. Please share your thoughts. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 28, 2008, 07:09 PM	#5
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	When I lived 500 yards from city limits, I shot a .22 hornet at birds out of tall trees in my neighbors yard. It's report is mild, and it was accurate enough. I got a .223 and he approached me to not shoot my sniper rifle anymore. I have to shoot it at my brother's place, and the neighbors called the police. (I was legal, police wondered why they were called, but it still was a PITA.) It seems that a 22 hornet stays under the radar because it's quiet and it has .22 in the name. What you shootin' there, boys? Just a .22, sir. See how that works? I realize that .223 projectiles are the same size, but everybody seems to know it's the round the military uses. Or very, very close to it. Most .22 hornets are built on rimfire actions, so they even look like .22 LR. Even if they don't think it's a .22lr, they prolly think it's a .22 WMR. Rimfires legal. If they know a lot about rifles, they seem to class .22 hornet WITH .22 WMR, and not with .223, no idea why. Prolly because it's quieter. Oh, in case I didn't mention it, there's a centerfire ban in city limits. Why do I shoot .22 hornet? Because it's the most power you can get in town without getting into trouble. Even if you reloaded a bullet in a .223 that was quieter than a hornet, they'd look at your rifle, and give you grief. It's a centerfire. So is a .22 hornet. Yeah, but you don't get in trouble for it, because it doesn't look like a centerfire. It looks like a .22 WMR, but it's more accurate. This was before .17HMR and the new ruger round, now things may be different. Also, from what I've seen 30-50% of the time you hit a bird with a .22 hornet, the bird explodes, there's no big bird parts to pick up. A feather there, a foot here, a beak there. You shoot the same size bird with a .223, and you got a dead bird, with a nice clean 1/2" hole drilled through him. You shoot a bird with .22rf, and there's a dead bird, no hole to be seen. Must have died of natural causes. You shoot a bird with a .44 mag there's just no bird anymore. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

February 28, 2008, 11:55 PM	#8
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	.22 Hornet loads .22 Hornet loads: Over the last 40 years I have loaded mostly IMR 4227. The 11.0 to 12.0 grains of 4247 always shot about 1 1/2 inches. My current load of 9.9 grains of 2400 groups the size of a dime.

February 29, 2008, 06:58 AM	#11
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	I have three 22 Hornet rifles. The most accurate load I've found is 10.2 grains of H-110 with Sierra's 45 grain Hornet bullet. I use small pistol primers and crimp bullets in cases. Lil-Gun shoots well, but not as well as H-110. I have not tried IMR 4227 or 2400 powders however. My Dad's old Hornet shot 11.0 grains of IMR 4227 well years ago. Also, I've never had good luck with any of the pointed bullets in my Hornets. They just won't shoot accurately, maybe because of the short bearing surface of the bullets, I really don't know for sure. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

February 28, 2008, 05:27 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	It's a good thing you can load your own. I just picked up a .22 Hornet a month or so ago (just finished rebuilding it last week) and I was shocked at how much those little suckers cost. Remington 45grn SP's are $41/box when I can find them. You can get Prvi Partizan cheaper, but they have a spotty reputation for misfires. You can get Sellier and Bellot a little cheaper, but you loose 300fps. After seeing all this, I don't know if I will keep it.

February 28, 2008, 05:51 PM	#3
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	I'm shooting a 40 grain A'max For me this load is very accurate 40 Gr A-Max 9.5 Gr WW-296 CCI-small rifle primer And I get three reloads easy, on my brass.

February 28, 2008, 08:52 PM	#6
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Sevens, It's simply nostalgia with me. A longing for the past.....Hey, I reload 256 Winchester too.

February 28, 2008, 09:24 PM	#7
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	Basically, it the varmint version of the 30-30. Rimmed cartridge, and very thin. Thats where the 3 reload limit come in. Light recoil, low report. Makes a good chiose if you're working around live stock, road or buildings and want a nice short range cartridge.

February 29, 2008, 12:38 AM	#9
mniesen89 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: deland,fl Posts: 238	hey eagle, I dont know if you'd be intrested but I have 11x 22 hornet plastic cartridge box's...I oredered .223 box's from midway and this is what they sent me on top of my .223 box's

February 29, 2008, 01:05 AM	#10
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	Try 12.5 grs of Hodgdon LilGun. That's about all it'll hold. Works well with 35 gr VMax.

February 29, 2008, 11:13 AM	#12
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Great stuff guys, thank you. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 29, 2008, 01:13 PM	#14
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	Lilgun and small PISTOL primers.

February 29, 2008, 06:55 PM	#15
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	I got the rifle today. I also got some real hornet bullets (40 & 45 gr Sierra), and picked up a can of H 110. Let me start by saying , I'm a rifle guy. Never loaded pistol and the smallest rifle cartridge I load is the 223 remington. That being said, how should I work up this load? I usually do 1/2 gr increments, But with this cartridge there is only 2 gr between start and max load.

March 2, 2008, 10:35 AM	#16
SuperTodd Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Location: southern Oregon Posts: 52	I also love the hornet It was the 2nd centerfire rifle I got when I was 14.(I'm 34 now) its just a little H&R model 157 single shot with mannlicher stock. I have just about shot out the barrel you can barely see any rifling it still shoots 2" groups at 100 yards. during its hey day when I was in Highschool it would shot 1/2" to 3/4 inch groups all day. I have shot a number of critters w/ it. including 2 deer, both head shots. I have expermented with different weights and bullets over the last 20 years, it shoots 3 bullets the best, the old nosler 45 grn sp, hornady 45 grn hp Bee bullet and speer 33 grn tnt. I have shot 2400, 4227 and currently using 12 grns of lil-gun. I can honestly say I have shot at least 10,000 or more rounds through this gun since I have owned it, and I got it used. I wish I could find a new barrel for this gun. eventually I will need to find another Hornet. I also have a 22-250 but I usually grab the hornet when sniping ground squirrels or going after predators. its light, easy to carry, low report