22 Hornet Reloading Question?

Fireball221

Fireball221

Active member
I loaded up a bunch of 22 hornet started at the low end with 10 grains lil gun then 10.3 grains lil gun then 10.6 grains lil gun followed by 11 grains lil gun then 11.5 grains lil gun, 12 grains lil gun, 12.5 grains lil gun and finally 13 grains lil gun the last two batches of 13 grains lil gun I am using both a 35 grain Hornady V-Max and then the 40 grain Nosler ballistic tip bullets.

So what is my question(s)? I normally shoot factory 35 grain V-Max by Hornady ammo and it drives tacks out of my Ruger 77/22 hornet but I am doing my own reloading now and I wanted to ask folks what has been working best for them and any cautions based on the loads I worked up? Thanks!!!!!
 
I have a Cooper Classic in 22H and when I got it two years ago nothing seemed to shoot right. I stumbled into 37gr. Calhoon DHP's with Lil' Gun and OMG. I've never seen a Hornet shoot like this. In fact I have several 223's & 221's that don't come close.

Advice, watch case length, don't go the small pistol primer route as many would suggest.
 
Thanks for the info, my case length is 1.4" and the overall cartridge length is right at 1.8". I am using small pistol primers, tell me why you think this may not be good. I really appreciate all the info.
 
I have three 22 Hornets, and the best powder I've found for my rifles is H-110. It provides better accuracy than Lil-Gun. 10.2 grains of H-110 and the 45 grain Sierra Hornet bullet is best. And, I've tried EVERY other bullet available and none shoot as well as the Sierra bullet. Pointy bullets do not shoot well, in and of the light weight offerings.
I use small pistol primers and crimp bullets after they are seated.

Martyn
 
I use win 296 with the 35gr v-max in my 77/22H. How are you seating a 40 gr v-max to mag length without getting it too deep, ie, ogive past the rim of the case mouth? Maybe it was the ballistic tips I had that problem with /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif but there isnt much difference between the two.

Just remember its a hornet, not a 222 or 223. If you keep your pressures/velocity on the low end, your brass will last alot longer.
 
I use 12.6grs of LiL-Gun , 40gr Nosler BT , and Rem 5.5 primer WW and Rem cases. I neck size with a Lee Collet Die and crimp with a Lee factory crimper .I seat my bullets with both a Lee seating die (Savage Model 40 ) and a Hornaday New Dimension seating die (TC Continder Carbine) When I need full length sizing I use a Redding Body die .I have a Redding T-7 dedicated to Hornets . I also use a Lee Rifle Charging Die and a Lee disc measure for loading charging Hornet cases .This works very well but you have to take the return spring off the measure or you will damage the mouth of the case .The Lee disc measure is very repeatable and really speeds the loading process up .

I would like to know if your Ruger required any special tuning to get the accuracy you indicate . They do not have a good history but I have always thought they were the neatest 22H you could buy .I just got my Savage Model 40 and it is very accurate . I will be posting my thoughts on this gun soon .
 
No disrespect to Claimbuster but almost everybody that loads Hornets recommends small piatol primers . I have used both ,and small pistol primers improve accuracy . One thing is for sure learning to load your Hornet will teach you more about hand loading than any thing else you can do because Hornets require a lot of attention to get good consistant loads .
 
I use 12.2 of w296 in my k-hornet with 40grn v-max.I had a spare magazine i modded for my cz to fit the extra long spitzer rounds.
 
Both my Hornets love Lil'Gun and the 40 gr V-Max . I have a couple of boxs of the 35 gr V-Max but haven't tried them . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I use the Sierra 40 grain softpoint on top of AA1680, then lit with the gentle flame of a small pistol primer.


Picture054.jpg
 
Quote:
No disrespect to Claimbuster but almost everybody that loads Hornets recommends small piatol primers. I have used both,and small pistol primers improve accuracy.



None taken! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The diameters of the cups and depth of the cups are the same for rifle and pistol primers, be it small or large. The charges in them are also basically the same, excepting magnum primers, which are hotter. The difference is in the thickness and hardness of the cup material. Rifle primers, both large and small, have thicker, harder cups, to contain the higher pressures.

It is not dangerous to use rifle primers in pistol loads, however, you may have reliability problems due the weaker action of the pistol not being sufficient to fire the primer. This may or may not happen in your particular gun.

It can be dangerous to use pistol primers in rifle loads, as the weaker cup can more easily be pierced by the stronger rifle firing system, and can blow out under the higher operating pressures.

In modern bolt action rifles the Hornet can be safely loaded to higher pressures, which I do. As said earlier, its not a 221 or 223, but I do load to 42,000-43,000 CUP.

I have not found small pistol primers to be any more accurate in any of my three Hornets.

Granted, I made a mistake, but I used small pistol primers in my 17AH. Pierced one in each of two rifles. Could have been bad; however, it just left me with big messes of unburned powder inside the bolts that I was able to clean out.

After those two incidents I stopped using small pistol primers in rifle cartridges. Didn't like the effort involved in all the dis-assembly and cleaning plus I hated to stop shooting so I could go change under-wear.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I have two C Z 527's and use 13.2 grains of Lil Gun under the 40 grain sierra hornet sp s for acceptable accuracy with CCI 400 primers or 12.4 grains of H110 under Hornady 35 grain V-Max again with CCI 400 primers or 14.2 grains of H110 under Calhoon 30 grain double hollow points with CCI 400 primers. You will want to be sure to champher the case necks to keep from crumpling cases and you will want a 17 caliber drop tube to charge them. Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from poor judgement.
 
With Lilgun powder, the pressures are about 10k less than with any other powder suitable for the Hornet. According to Hogdgon, the pressure is around 32,000psi with a 45gr bullet and 13.0gr Lilgun, and the speeds are up to 200fps faster. Even Federal loads the Hornet with a small pistol primer.

In my experience, use a max of .2gr powder increments when working up loads. Also, I have found velocity to be more consistant using a 45gr or heavier bullet with Lilgun.

Here are my 2 main loads for my Ruger M77:

For hunting, a 45gr Barnes XLC over 13.0grs Lilgun, average velocity is 2900fps. Shoots just under an inch.

For a target load, a 52gr Sierra hpbtm over 11.7gr Lilgun, avrerage speed is 2650fps. This load will hit pennies consistently at 100 yards.
 
I got my Hornet a couple of months back, Savage 40. I have to concur that this is the most difficult to load caliber that I own. I am still experimenting, away from home for work for the next 6 weeks. I am still confused over the crimp/not crimp, small rifle/pistol primers. People seem so split as to which works better that I don't know which direction to go in. I am looking forward to getting home and trying the crimping but..... double work when trying that on both types of primers, not to mention brands of primers. So many variables!!
Maybe I should have just used a reduced load in my reliable old 223....only joking! I love the Hornet but it is a tough nut to crack.
 
fireball you picked a cal that has driven many of handloaders cray over the past years im shooting 11.3 h4227 witha 35 v max it seems to like them very well i still like my fireball better the fireball is a real sweetheart of a round i have 2 of them and i wont be without one as long as im vertical and breathing
 
Back
Top