22 Hornet loading issues

W

W Allen

New member
So I'm getting started loading for my new contender in 22hornet. I prepped the cases as I normally would, sprayed the outside and inside the case necks with Hornady One Shot case lube and the first two cases flat out crushed! I've been handloading for 20+ years, but this is my first Hornet, is there a secret? The dies are RCBS. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
I've been reloading longer than you, and have been reloading for my Hornet for about 20 years. All I can say is " she's a finicky son of [beeep] to reload for". Mine is a Browning bolt gun. I found with this gun I have to trim my cases each reload, and seat each bullet the same, and don't vary the powder charge by even one tenth of a grain.
 
I no longer own a .22 Hornet, but still shoot a few Hornet based rounds (.17 AH and .19 Calhoon). I have in the past crushed a few cases when setting up my dies. My #1 tip: loosen the stem, raise the ram onto a case until the sizing/de-priming stem is centered by case below, then tighten the center stem. If the stem is slightly off when you cycle the press, it's crushola with those thin cases.
 
Hornet case necks are notoriously thin and flimsy. I can't remember what brand dies I'm using (either RCBS or Lyman). My method is similar to yours - I use one shot for lube, and I neck size only. I also make sure I use a shell plate with the best possible fit, so the casing goes into the die perfectly straight and square. I really like to use bullets with a boat tail on them, although I still end up crushing a few case necks, here and there, while seating the bullet. Last, but not least, I run them all through a factory crimp die, to help make sure neck tension on the bullet is uniform. Hornet is, by far, one of the biggest PITA cartridges to reload. All you can really do is go slow and, if it doesn't feel right, make adjustments before trying again. Don't give up because, in the end, it is totally worth it to see what those little 35 grain V-Maxes will do to a small varmint.
 
Thanks for the advise guys! I discovered that the expander ball was set a little too high in the die, I ran it down a bit and now the cases are doing fine. I had heard that Hornet could be a PITA, now I know it can.
 
Good that you solved the issue,

As LR454 said, Hornets are finicky. Due to the extremely small case capacity, almost everything has an exaggerated impact, compared to larger cases. One-tenth of a grain in powder charge will be measureable, as will primers, bullet seating depth, etc.

Fun cartridge, though.
 
Most of the Hornet cases that I have crumpled have been while seating a flat based bullet. Now I use a VLD chamfering tool and pay close attention to lining up the bullet with the case neck. I also crushed a few setting up my Lee Collet sizing die. Never had much problem sizing with a FL sizing die. Glad the OP got it figured out.
 
I've been loading for a Contender Carbine since 1991. I do not full length size anymore. I use a Lee collet neck die and a Redding body die. I only use the body die about every 5 loadings. I also crimp with a Lee factory crimp die. I tried small pistol primers but I would regularly get some bleeding around the primer . This does not happen in my bolt gun.So for my Contender I use a Remington 61/2 rifle primer.
 
Originally Posted By: Blackhawk43Get an RCBS VLD champher tool, champher the case necks well and your problems will go away.
+1 never crushed a case using one
 
I had a Hornet barrel for my contender years ago, loved it other than the constant case stretching. I would use the Sierra pointed 45 grain spitzer for edible small game and the 45 grain RN from either Speer or Sierra for varmint/pest shooting. I will say I got the best case life by far using mild loads and this is one pistol round that wearing hearing protection is an absolute necessity. Even one round fired without hearing protection can make your ears ring for days.
 


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