Another tool on my bench is the RCBS 2000 Progressive machine. As Storm said, COL isn't a big priority in a single shot rifle.It looks as though you aren't getting a decent crimp on the bullet.There isn't much of a shoulder to gauge with on a .22 Hornet.I suggest you try to run the round through your loading die a might tighter.Try turning the die a quarter turn tighter and see if you get a better crimp. $41.00. A solution used by many shooters is to load long and not use the magazine. Not only does the improved version give us more velocity, at times 200 fps more, it usually just begs to shoot. There are a number of dedicated Hornet bullets from Nosler, Hornady and Sierra. This is because of some problems with the factory bedding, especially in the forend area. Only 1 left! The brass Hornet adapter allows it to work with the little cases. Velocities are usually in the 2,700 f.p.s. The improved version with almost no body taper, a sharp shoulder and short neck all of a sudden becomes an almost perfect cartridge. Weatherby Mark V Synthetic Matte - .30-378 WM. cartridge, although the black-powder version typically was loaded with bullets .228" in diameter. Ok guy, hopefully some of you out there have loaded for a .22 Hornet and can answer this for me. . While most loading manuals will give you data for 50- and 55-grain bullets in the Hornet, I rarely find these long bullets offer anything especially desirable. It was loaded with a 45-grain, 0.226-inch lead bullet at a velocity of around 1,550 fps. Its a little thing, but I have found a good chamfer is also very important, particularly when seating flat based bullets that are often so accurate in this case. Like the rest of Hornet loading, primers can and do make a big difference. All Rights Reserved. Mag is acceptable, magazine is prefered.A clip is a whole different device. I installed a Rifle Basix RU-R trigger kit, and it has a claimed pull weight adjustment range of from 14 ounces to 2.5 pounds. They include the Anschutz Model 1730, Ballard Model 1885, Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter, Browning Model 1885 Low Wall, BRNO ZBK 110, Cooper Model 21, CZ Model 527, Ruger 77/22H, Ruger No. For decades, the .22 Hornet factory loads spit out 45-grain bullets at 2,400 to 2,500 f.p.s. gas checks became too much of a hassle. Sierra offers two 40-grain .224-caliber bullets, a softnose for the .22 Hornet and a hollowpoint for faster cartridges like the .22-250 and .220 Swift. Prairie dog shooters love it. A little case with a small bore in front of it, burning relatively fast powder, really does not need a huge violent flame to get it going. Nice heavier weight brass. The same applies when the two 45-grain bullets available from Sierra are compared. Suddenly there was a rifle on the scene that allowed shooters to take advantage of longer seating depths, placing bullets closer to the lands for increased accuracy, and with the right twist to take advantage of more modern bullets. 6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 PRC: Which is Better? Plastering the crosshairs on the shiny nose of a standing groundhog will place the bullet somewhere in its vital area out to about 225 yards. Generally, modern shooters can disregard the undersized bullets and use the conventional .224 inch. A dimensional schematic of the .22 Hornet cartridge. If the ghosts of prairie dogs taken by the little rifle through the years could somehow rise up from their graves and bark in concert, the earth would surely tremble. Try to keep your lots the same. Some folks mistakenly call the detatchable magazines 'clips'. Realizing a lead bullet would not handle the velocities they sought, some made 45-grain lead-core bullets with jackets formed from fired .22 Short cases. Speer has 40 and 45 grainers, as well as a flatpoint for the .218 Bee; Nosler offers 40-grain Ballistic Tips, and Hornady has the 40-grain V-MAX as well as the delightful little 35-grain V-MAX that is in its factory ammunition. So many different things were going on, from repeating firearms, the development of self-contained metallic cartridges, smokeless powders, bolt-actions, double-actions, semi- and full-automatics, jacketed bullets and telescopic sights, just to name a few. Here we can return to good, basic handloading practices. I even shot a Lyman 225415 (now discontinued), 50-grain, flat-point cast bullet with a gas check for some time. By using Dillon or Midway spray case lube, it is possible to turn out ammunition almost as fast as the average Hornet shooter will use it. The Hornet, like so much in life, is all about perspective. Its Lilja stainless-steel barrel is 20.75 inches long and measures 0.920 inch at the muzzle. Of the tipped bullets I rounded up for this project, the Nosler 35-grain Flatbase Tipped is the all-around best choice for the .22 Hornet. All of them will make very good ammunitionits just a matter of tailoring the other components in your load to the case. The Dillon 550 has loaded many thousand, very accurate Hornet rounds. You can use special neck-size-only dies, or do as I do and run a normal full-length sizer that is backed well away from the shellholder. No crimped mouths from shipping/handling. When testing loads be mindful of small variations in charge weight. 9 The Shell holders are cut to .125" depth for proper headspacing. Variously characterized as inaccurate, ideal for use around built up areas, difficult to load, providing milquetoast performance, perfect for the starting shooterit is a cartridge filled with contradictions. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1G7xXag. The Mossberg 500 Pump Action Shotgun is one of the most popular home defense shotguns on the market. In fact, the earliest description I can remember of the .22 Hornet by some very serious handloaders I know was, its a .22 magnum, +P. Several propellants work quite well here, and one of them is Hodgdon's Lil'Gun. Hornet cases are quite thin, and it is not unusual to see excessive stretching of the primer pocket when they are used with some of the maximum loads I see published by various sources. 225438 44-grain cast bullet pushed to 1,520 fps by 6.8 grains of IMR 4227. More .22 Hornet factory loads are now available than at any other time in the history of the cartridge. One of the biggest surprises in my reloading career came several years ago in the form a letter from an elderly gentleman. Both these machines give you a finished shell at each pull of the handle, or something like 500 or 600 an hour. Powders include Alliant, Hodgdon, Winchester, Accurate, IMR With this combination, the old, huge rifle often gives us a 34-inch group and sometimes much less. I havent done the testing to back it up. This is the 45-grain Hornet with a standard lead tip instead of the plastic nose. This ensures that cases fit the chamber to absolute perfection. 22 K HORNET LOAD DATA: TWIST 1: 16: PRIMER: CCI 400: BARREL LENGTH: 22,75: BULLET WEIGHT: BULLET TYPE: SEAT DEPTH: PROPELLANT: GR: FPS: 36: . The .22 Hornet is extremely versatile and is favored among many. Search. Right beside bullet seating are bullets themselves, in terms of accuracy and performance. If you like easy out-of-the box accuracy, a .222 Remington probably suits you best. What this means is you may not be able to touch the lands with cartridges that will fit in the magazines. Shooter's Reference Load Data for .22 Hornet .22 Hornet - Published Manufacturer Loading Data Shellholders: Hornady #3 Lee #20 Lyman #4 RCBS #12 Recipe Type: Rifle Pistol Bullet Weight: ALL 30 gr 33 gr 35 gr 40 gr 45 gr 50 gr 52 gr 53 gr 55 gr Powder: ALL Accurate 1680 Accurate 2015 Accurate 5744 Accurate No. The T/C Encore custom shop Hornet is scoped with a Bausch & Lomb (discontinued). There is no better way to achieve this than with a Stoney Point OAL gauge (combined with a special Hornet adapter). Note that I fired that load at 50 yards, and its accuracy averaged 1.23 inches for three, five-shot groups in the standard Ruger 77/22H. It had a 23-inch barrel. The tighter the ammunition was in the Encore, the more it wanted to string vertically. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Yet with the advent of smokeless powders, shooters desired something that fouled less and could be shot more. Thanks guys. Clips are the little strips of metal that aid loading a fixed magazine rifle, and some detatchable ones, by holding cartridges in a straight column to press them into a magazine quickly. When browning designed the A-Bolt in .22 Hornet, they did a lot of things right. This is one of the reasons I generally prefer spherical propellantsthey flow easily and uniformly through a powder measure. RCBS shell holders ensure proper alignment between the cartridge and die. It should come as no small comfort for any patriotic American to know that the countrys firearm industry is vibrant and productive, still faithfully serving the needs of armed citizens, law-enforcement officers and military personneljust as it has for more than two centuries. Who knew wild turkey's were so stupid!? An issue with 40-grain tipped bullets is cartridge length restrictions of various magazines. 22 Hornet; 22 Nosler; 221 Remington Fireball; 222 Remington; 222 Remington Magnum; 22-250 Remington; 223 Remington; 243 Winchester; 25-06 Remington; 257 Roberts +P; 257 Weatherby Magnum; . Who knew wild turkey's were so stupid!? Mikey Hartman, Lt. Col. Subscriber Services. Handloaders have gotten more performance than factory ammo makers have been able to until recently. With that in mind, there are a few tricks that can make a difference. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. Primer pocket uniformingagain, some people will not want to do this as it takes timeespecially on large batches of cases. Before we leave the subject of cases, be sure not to overlook case brand. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Best choices in bullets for the .22 Hornet are the Speer 33-grain TNT and 40-grain Spirepoint, Sierra 40- and 45-grain softnose, Nosler 40-grain Ballistic Tip and 45-grain softnose, and Hornady 35- and 40-grain V-MAX and 45-grain Spirepoint. Therefore we begin by looking for ways to cause the cartridges to be pointing straight down the barrel before the primer lights. They might be yours too.. Ackley necked the Hornet down to .17 caliber in the 1950s, creating a .17 Hornet. If I had to make a prediction it would be that most Hornet rifles will shoot best with the bullet ogive just making contact with the lands. Upon examination, I found that, as with most factory rifles, the bedding of the action was not done very well at all. Winchester 296 How to reload 22 Hornet for beginners. Damage to meat is slight. Leupold 2.5-8 Extended Eye Relief scope was used. The thicker jacket of the hollowpoint bullet won't allow it to expand as explosively as the softnose bullet on varmints at .22 Hornet impact velocities. There is one last part of the Hornet story the improved K Hornet. So, do not be afraid to tweak your powder measure just a little in experiments, keeping in mind that few powder scales will reliably detect .10 grain. Some 19 years later,Remington would chamber the No. The .22 Hornet is highly accurate with low recoil and minimal muzzle flash . I do it, simply because it makes me sleep better and is also the method I use to clean my primer pockets after each resizing. | Before there were scopes or red dots there were iron sights. It can be used in somewhat settled farm country to keep the rodent population in check without scaring the neighbors. When we talk about lots of shells, I mean pockets full that come off a progressive reloading press. Bullet technology being what it was in the 1950s, the .17 Hornet was mildly successful. Originally it was throwing its shots all over the place. Ive had very good luck with 40-grain bullets and IMR-4227 paired with the Federal Gold Medal Match Small pistol primer, for example. To that end, in addition to neck sizing, I like the floating-chamber benchrest seating dies. In Stock Item #: BA30201 $0.29 per piece. My Kimber Model 82 Super America built in 1985 has it, while my Anschutz 1730, also built during the 1980s, has a 1:16 twist. 7 Rolling Block in .22 W.C.F., as well. Ive heard and read many people lament the difficulty of loading the .22 Hornet over the years. I know the results will vary from rifle to rifle but this still made me optimistic about my choice. I was so enamored with the performance of the A-Bolt that I ventured into my first centerfire single shot handgun not long afterwards, with the purchase of a T/C Contender. But do you know how to properly use them? The added velocity will help to make up some of the loss of ballistic coefficient, as well. Flash hole deburring. Hodgdons pressure barrel revealed that LilGun produces lower chamber pressures, and that may extend case life. Everything that is wrong with the regular round is instantly erased. In general, I would offer the same advice with the .22 Hornet as I would with any small cartridge. .22 Hornet Rifle (Using Hornady Reloading Data For Bullets) reloading data with 101 loads. Lighter and tougher and more precise than ever, it's the perfect back country hunting rifle. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. Now that we have one brand of cases, trimmed to length and neck sized, we will worry about a very, no, the most important factor in most rifles accuracy. It rarely goes over 114 inches with anything and really likes the 45-grain Nosler Solid Base and W-680 or LilGun powder. All you want to do is reduce enough of the neck to hold the bullet securely. A Dillon 550 has been my standby for a long time. #13. Winchester and Hornady cases are also heavier than Remington cases, though in my limited testing, not as heavy as the cases from PPU and Nosler. Winchester Ammunition also loads a 20-grain, polymer tipped bullet to 3,650 fps with similar trajectory, as does Federal. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data. Volume Discounts Available . With that in mind, there are a few tricks that can make a difference. I found a bullet depth (1.888") that let me get a good crimp below the ogive yet the bullet wasn't too long to fit in the chamber. Using bullets from Hornady V-Max, Hornady Hornet or HP BEE, Hornady V-Max, SP or SP SX, Hornady V-Max, FMJ-BT W/C, SP W/C, SP or SP SX. The .22 K-Hornets increased powder capacitymade by fire-forming the taper out of the case and giving it a sharp 40-degree shoulderoffered a real improvement and increased point-blank-range capability. Details, details, details. When LilGun powder is used, I have found that at least a standard rifle primer and often a Magnum Small Rifle primer give best accuracy. The end result was an all-day, everyday, .5-inch rifle that is just about as sleek as a bolt rifle can be. In my firearms, they require a significant charge reduction to achieve the same velocity, but they usually last for several more firings because of their more durable construction. The neck-sized case (right) uses the expanded neck portion to positively center the rounds in the chamber. The .22 Hornet case was eventually beefed-up a bit to strengthen it, and due to the reduction in capacity, some of the early load data is excessive for todays cases. On calmer days, its not at all out of the norm to be able to reliably hit and dispatch small varmints at 200 or even 225 yards. The barrels of rifles in .22 Hornet now being built by Ruger, Anschutz, and Savage have 1:14 twists. JavaScript is disabled. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The most consistently accurate rifle in this caliber I have ever shot is a Winchester Model 54. Lee 22 Hornet 86 Reloading Die Set Rifle Reload . With H-110, W-296, 680 or 1680 pistol primers are almost always the most accurate. $72.99. Though I have only owned three Hornets, they have each had clear preferences when it came to primers. Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. There is little about the shape of a Hornet case that causes it to align perfectly in the chamber. My favorite all-around Hornet bullet is the last surviving, old-fashioned Nosler Solid Base. It is sometimes said that classic designs never go out of fashion. Make sure to watch till the end. Depending on the load used, the bullet will strike a 200-yard target anywhere from dead-on point of aim to an inch or two low. It can be very irritating to some folks. And there is the 35-grain V-Max from Hornady and now the 35-grain Varmageddon from Nosler. Velocities with published data and 40-grain plastic tipped bullets exceeded 2900 fps and accuracy for five shot groups was consistently in the .5- to .6-inch range at 100 yards. Hornets were initially loaded with .223" jacketed bullets, and have now settled on .224" bullets. I have two sizing dies for a Lyman 4500 sizer/lubricator, 0.224-inch for barrels with 0.223-inch groove diameters and 0.225-inch for 0.224-inch barrels. During the shooting it started to do some strange things, not the least of which was double grouping, shooting two small groups about 34-inch apart with each string. Give a Gift This is my recipe for loading the hornet, PLEASE CONSULT A RELOADING. Free shipping. For Email Specials, Giveaways, Newsletters, and More, Enter your email address here! Okay, I thought, if it doesnt like the snug treatment, lets see what happens if we full-length size the cases and give the bullets just a little clearance. This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. The .22 Hornet was touted by Winchester engineers as the most accurate ever tested in their labs at that time. Probably due to the small charge of powder burned, rifles in .22 Hornet sometimes indicate a preference in primers. The smallest common centerfire rifle cartridge, the .22 Hornet is still a nifty 175 yard varmint and small game cartridge. Although it is called "once fired," the actual number of times fired is unknown. .22-15-45 Winchester as it was known when introduced in 1895 and charged with blackpowder). Winchester, the company that started it all back in the 1930s, now offers the most options: a 34-grain hollowpoint at 3050 fps and a 45-grain softnose and a 46-grain hollowpoint, both at 2690 fps. My first Hornet, a CZ-527, provided excellent accuracy but was limited by the overall length of the magazine to traditional bullets and the then-new 35-grain Hornady V-Max. Since you are loading for a single shot rifle you don't need to worry about the col since that is generally a dimension set because of the magazine length. This is important to remember, as differences in case capacity can create considerably different pressures with the same charge weights. Before there were scopes or red dots there were iron sights. Once this was straightened out, it began to shoot round, honest groups. I recently purchased a ruger #3 in this caliber and would like to load for it. bullets were launched at 2,400 f.p.s., albeit they were jacketed bullets. It is quite accurate from 1:14 and 1:16 twist barrels, and the mouth of a case does not overhang its ogive curve when seated to cartridge lengths compatible with the magazines of various rifles. When the .222 Remington was introduced in 1950 it stole the show from the .22 Hornet among varmint shooters, but history has proven it to lack the staying power of the mild-mannered little Hornet. Mine are from Forster/Bonanza. The production Ruger Model 77/22 I used is the current heavy-barrel version with a stainless-steel barreled action and Green Mountain stock of laminated wood. Jeff passed away on July 17th, 2009, he will be GREATLY missed by everyone here at Sniper Central. Depending on the case used, cartridge neck diameter with a 0.224-inch bullet usually runs from 0.240 to 0.241 and 0.001 inch less with a 0.223-inch bullet. Among Whelen's circle of friends was Winchester executive Edwin Pugsley who gave orders to build a special test rifle on the Model 54 action for the "22 Hornet," as Whelen decided it should be called. The .22 Hornet case has a much longer neck than it needs and trimming it shorter is another option, but it is a pain when a large quantity of cases is needed for high-volume varmint shooting. $10.40 shipping. It is actually a bit older. During the 1920s, experimenters at Springfield Armory led by Capt. Ross used a variety of Hornet dies. All are spherical and flow easily through the powder measurean advantage both for speed of loading large volumes of ammunition and consistency of charge from shot to shot. The Winchester 22 Hornet Cartridge Brass is made with a neck-hardened shell surface excellent for long-lasting reloading performance. The Nosler and Hornady are 45 grains, while Sierra has 40- and 45-grain Hornet bullets. Reloading Glossary; Dealer Locator. Well I guess the problem is solved. 22 Caliber Short Neck Sizer Die With Zip Spindle, 22 Hornet Full Length Series I 2 Die Set With Zip Spindle, 22 K Hornet Full Length Series 2 Die Set With Zip Spindle, 22 Hornet Full Length Pacesetter 3 Die Set With Shellholder, 22 Hornet Collet 2 Die Set With Shellholder, 22 Hornet Full Length Sizing Die & Bench Rest Seater Set, 22 Hornet Bench Rest Ultra Micrometer Seater Die, 22 Hornet/218 Bee Decapping Rod Assembly For Bottleneck Case, 22 Hornet Type S Match Bushing Neck Die Set, 22 Hornet Neck Sizing Die For Bottleneck Case, 22 Hornet Neck Sizer Die Set For Bottleneck Case, 22 Hornet Deluxe Die Set For Bottleneck Cases, 22 Hornet Full Length Sizing Die For Bottleneck Cases. Trimming to a consistent overall length is very important. That was even smarter. There are some .223 inch diameter that are designed for old rifles with small barrels. It can also reduce velocity spread. Find 22 K-Hornet Reloading Dies, and 22 K-Hornet Die Sets for sale here: Get the right 22 K-Hornet Die or 22 K-Hornet Die Set for your press here at Midsouth. range with modern powders and extend the usable range of the .22 Hornet out to 175 yards. Now there are many of the light .224-inch bullets that work well in Hornets. Learn More . But this is only the beginning. Pistol, with a 14 barrel. After trying several bullets from 45 to 52 grains, I finally settled on a Sierra 45-grain Varminter bullet in front of 20.0 grains of IMR 4198 and producing 2,888 fps from the 22" barrel of my No. First, you should use cases that have been fired in the rifle where the loads will be used. Then, we will neck size only. It has a 16.5-inch detachable barrel, a retracting wire stock, and a detachable magazine that holds three cartridges. Maximum overall cartridge length for the magazines of most rifles in .22 Hornet is usually around 1.800 inches, and that's what I seat the Hornady 40-grain V-MAX and Nosler 40-grain Ballistic Tip to. Learn the difference between revolvers and semi-auto pistols and what makes them different. Using H-110 as an example, .10 grain can add 50 to 100 fps, at near maximum loads. The Speer Reloading Manual shows a MV of 2749 fps with a Speer 40 grain Spire Point bullet in front of 12.5 grains of AA 1680 powder. But do you know how to properly use them? The stringing was more defined; that is, it almost cut slices in the paper. That said, does it make a tenth of an inch of difference at 100 yards? Hard to tell. The best plan is to make a few cartridges with the bullets seated .010 inch short of touching. It remains a favorite, but modern tipped bullets have an edge in some departments. You have to look long and hard these days to find a new rifle in .222 Remington, but rifles in .22 Hornet are quite common. There is no doubt that in a modern firearm a handloader using modern components, good handloading technique, and good judgement can enjoy excellent performance on the range and in the field. Find 22 Hornet Reloading Dies, and 22 Hornet Die Sets for sale here: Get the right 22 Hornet Die or 22 Hornet Die Set for your press here at Midsouth. The magazine is a device in which the cartridges of a rifle are held while awaiting feeding into the rifle's chamber. The action was glass bedded, and headspace was reduced by shimming the bolt to remove some of the slop between its front and rear sections. This also leaves the case shoulder, tapered as it may be, in a position to touch the front of the chamber. My field experience with the Hornet has been fairly extensive over the last 20 years. While in most rifles I usually worry in full-grain increments, or at worst .5 grain the Hornet will notice .10-grain changes. The following loads were developed in an Anschutz Exemplar The period from 1873 through about 1960 is, for me, the most fascinating period of cartridge and firearm development. Second Media Corp., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. RCBS shell holders are hardened for years of use. Jan 24, 2018. In addition to the bullet variety being a serious factor in accuracy, as you will see in the load tables, different bullets can also give you a fine variety of terminal performance. Generally, I have found that a standard small rifle primer such as the Winchester WSR, the Remington 6.5, or the CCI 400 work very well. Stoney Points OAL gauge is a must for serious handloaders. The .38 Smith & Wesson Special, designed in 1898, rocked the handgun realm with its ballistic performance making it a cartridge for the history books. I weigh every tenth charge when I am producing varmint ammunition to ensure that they are not straying from the intended number. The average case weights I find are as follows: Remington-Peters 47.4; Frontier 51.8; and Winchester-Western 53.5 grains. If there is one cartridge that is defined by a split personality it is the unassuming .22 Hornet. Handloading the .22 Hornet is a snap, but the thin wall of its case is easily collapsed during bulletseating unless the inside edge of its mouth is lightly beveled with a chamfering tool prior to the first loading. Hornady advertises its 35-grain load at 3100 fps, but I find it to be even faster in some rifles. I start every new batch of cases by trimming to consistent length and I measure a random sample of cases after firing to make sure that my lengths have stayed uniform and that they do not exceed maximum overall case length (listed in reloading manuals1.403 in.). This was the smallest available cartridge until the introduction of the FN 5.7 x 28mm. He made a suggestion that had not occurred to me or anyone else that I knew of: Try Small Pistol primers. Low and behold, at times they will cut groups in half! When you consider that most loads use only 10 grains of powder, even a slight variation in case capacity can make a big difference. Federal has created a safer, easier and more reliable way to shoot a muzzleloader. Essentially it is all taper. This is important for several reasonssafety being one of them as overlong cases can cause high pressure by failing to release the bullet easilybut uniform case length also allows for more consistent grip on the bullet.