CZ 527 22 Hornet Bullet Selection

M

Marc Johnston

Member
I recently acquired a CZ 527 22 Hornet. Absolutely beautiful rifle and the trigger is much different than what I’m used to, so I need to get some range time with it and see how I like it! The single set trigger is pretty cool and incredibly light.

My question is this. What factory ammo is everyone running through their 22 hornets? I have purchased Hornady 35 grain vmax’s, Nosler 35 grain varmageddon’s, and I’m considering the Winchester Super X 46 grain JHP’s. It will be primarily used for predators during the daytime. Fingers crossed I can shoot a bobcat with it. I will probably save the brass but don’t know if I dare try to reload with it, so factory loads it is for now. Are those 3 rounds a good starting point for bobcat and coyotes or does anyone have any other recommendations? I’m thinking 46 grain Winny’s will have the best knockdown power, but I know you guys have a lot more experience with this round than I do. Mainly want it for cats so I’m interested to see what you guys have to say.
 
I never shot factory ammo in my Sav 219 Hornet but my go-to bullet was the Win 46gr HP. I could buy them bulk then and they were very accurate.
 
I wish I could be of more help.My hornet is a contender pistol 10" barrel. Everyone swore the PPU ammo was most accurate and the 45gr SP was the critter getter.
I roll my own and finally found a load the pistol likes.
Unfortunately (for your pocketbook ) you may have to try about 4 brands and bullet weights to see what your rifle likes. Usually the 45gr or heavier is the recommendation for coyotes. The lighter pills have to be from boutique makers to get same results. Plus added velocities.
Call me frugal but Hornady 45gr Vmax and especially the Sierra 45gr Varmint King that had the tip on it has been working for me. No boutiques here LOL
I have to tell you that the Hornet bullets that some companies make are worthless in the accuracy department. They are rounded soft points.
The Sierra used to be called game king if I remember correctly. I buy 1K at a time.
CT
 
If you don't reload for any other guns, and can find a factory round to suit your needs and aren't a high volume shooter, i wouldn't bother. Unless you're just wanting another hobby that consumes you.
 
crapshoot said:
If you don't reload for any other guns, and can find a factory round to suit your needs and aren't a high volume shooter, i wouldn't bother. Unless you're just wanting another hobby that consumes you.
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I am moving into a much bigger house where I could probably make some room and find time to reload 6 arc, 22 hornet, 223, etc. But I will have a lot of time tied up remodeling, so my wife wouldn’t love that lol.
 
Careful with some of this. The Hornet can be a little tricky. Better to neck size only a couple times. Then go back to Full length sizing. The whole thing can get really involved. There is some calibers that can be cheaper to simply buy ammo for.
What is your time worth? Spend the time shooting or hunting rather than at a bench chasing the ultimate load.
Some caliber or guns can be easy and then others a nightmare.
You will be better off to put loading on the back burner if you just have those three calibers, since there is a lot of ammo offerings out there now.
Take care of the house and keep wife happy,,,, then you're more likely to get a kitchen pass when time to hunt.
 
CT is spot on. Some day when you run out of projects and are seriously thinking of reloading go for it. For some the Hornet can be a breeze to load for and others very frustrating.

Good luck with your hornet.
 
I’ll rock the factory loads and see what it likes! I’m thinking the 45-46’s will be better for cats but then again the 35’s running around 3100 fps should be more than enough 150 yards and in. Thanks fellas.
 
cherokeetracker01 said:
What is your time worth?
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I've Never liked that response, ever. But it is a actual true response and a good question to the OP. I do reload everything UNLESS I can buy loaded ammo over the shelf cheaper. Which used to mean 9mm. And CT is spot on a lot whom do reload do count their time. I don't as I enjoy it as much as shooting. But that is me, not everyone views it the same.
To me it is a hobby as much as the guns and shooting. So one hobby feeds the other. Is it economical yes and no, some calibers absolutely. It can be extremely steep in cost to get started today.
cherokeetracker01 said:
Spend the time shooting or hunting rather than at a bench chasing the ultimate load.
Click to expand...
Luckily for me the local range is setup that actually allows me to load at the bench there. I can simply clamp my press to the barrier walls to load there. Done it countless times.
Again that is sage advice, although some of us (actually very few) enjoy the challenge of working a load to 9th degree. Especially with a cartridge that had a long barrel life.

I've always hated to load the .22 Hornet, because of the fragile necks. Which explains why the .22 K-Hornet I have is sitting collecting dust in the safe. The round is a great round.
The slightest bump when sizing will ruin the neck. That is my whole issue with reloading for it, it's the case loss at the resizing die when bumped. I can live with the split neck when firing with a simple anneal.

The bullet selection for the hornet is actually decent. IF the the necks was just a bit thicker I would actually like to load that caliber. A miser on powder for the performance one get's. One of the "tricks" or advice I was given decades ago is use small pistol primers will greatly reduce the group size, in my case when I was braving the thin necks that alone greatly reduced the groups. Now I'm advocating it (the small pistol primers) for the Hornet solely not any other rifle cartridge. Just in case later in life you decide to go down this path.

If I was actually to advise someone to start reloading I would probably advise to start with pistol calibers first. With the guidance to use a slower burn rate powders to prevent a double charge. My favorite powder for pistol Bullseye is bad for that as the amount is so small one can easily double or triple charge. Which if done will disassemble your pistol without tools instantly. It's is simpler and the cost to setup for pistol is lower (components, not dies they are just as costly sometimes more). Then later once the skills are mastered then go to rifle. The lowly .38 Special and the 45ACP is great to learn on.

On the advice everyone has given I totally agree with them. I do advocate that more and more reload. As more folks in the hobby provides enough demand that bullet makers keep suppling their products.

The 35's and the 40's may very well surprise you in the factory loadings. of course that will depend on exactly what your Hornet is? some older hornets use a .223" bore and most newer ( and when I say newer you will probably say its older) use a .224" bore. One example that uses the .223" bore is the BSA Martini I have is actually a .22 LR (.223" bore size with 1-16" twist) barrel that was rechambered to .22 K-Hornet, that is Older as the rifle when done that was the common practice. If it's say after about late 1960's my money would be on the .224" bore size.
 
Aaaahh, the Hornet!!

Love it, for what it is.

I find reloading for the Hornet to be very satisfying, and with current powders like Lil Gun, you can get much better accuracy, more velocity (200fps+) and much lower pressures compared to factory loads and most other Hornet powders, like W296/H110, 1680 or H4227.

Using a Lee Collet Die and Lil Gun powder, I've reloaded the same brass numerous times. I still use some of the original brass when I bought the rifle, back in 1992 or so.

13.0grs of Lil Gun will completely fill a case, so my rounds are compressed.

I've never tried the 35gr bullets. The 40gr is as light as I've gone.

My coyote load is 13.0gr LilGun, small pistol primer and a 45gr Barnes XLC. I find the Barnes XLC, the all-copper, blue coated bullets, to noticeably kill coyotes beter than any other bullet I've tried.

When I run out of the XLC, I'll switch to the 45gr TSX.
 
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