ChangFest sir yes I am and thank you for sharing...I already have everything on your list powder, primers and bullets...I just did not know how much powder to use.

Signalman

 

Good lookin gun.

 

Signalman. If you haven't already search for posts by Vincent on Hornet reloads. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about hornet loads and if I recall he was partial to Lil Gun and small pistol primers. Hope that helps.

 

And the V-Max bullets if memory serves. Its mostly his fault I got a Cooper 22Hornet.

 

Great looking gun! Is that a GS 5-20x50?
Looks like you have the scope ring caps reversed in that photo.

 

Yup. Weaver Grand Slam 5-20x50 Varmint EB-X.

 

A bit of a crimp with a Lee factory crimp helps as well.

 

...I found that the best load is Hornady's 35 gr V-Max with 13 gr of Hodgdon Lil'Gun and Remingon 6 1/2 rifle primers. The rifle HATED Hornady V-Max 40gr and Nosler 40gr. It shot Hornady's 45gr soft point hornet bullets sub-moa.

Interesting results. My Browning also likes that squatty little V-Max over Lil' Gun. It also fairly puked most other 40 & 45 grain bullets all over the target.

 

Puked is a good way to describe it. I may expirement with different seating depths to see if i can improve the groups with the 40gr V-max but I'm thinking it's a lost cause. If you haven't tried Hornady's 45gr SP a hornet bullet, give it a shot. I was able to consistently shoot sub-Moua groups with that bullet.

I forgot to mention that I've been crimping with the Lee factory crimp die.

 

Ruger 77/22Hornet. 55gr fmjbt. 13grains of Lil'Gun. Heavy crimp. Precision right about 1 MOA.

With that much Lil'Gun it is a compressed charge. I think the crimp is really important to keep the bullet from leaving the case just from the primer ignition.

 

Ruger 77/22Hornet. 55gr fmjbt. 13grains of Lil'Gun. Heavy crimp. Precision right about 1 MOA.

I'll have to give that one a try. I've always heard hornets don't like heavier bullets but I really haven't tried any myself. Do they still work in the magazine?

 

Fine shooting fine rifle,and my favorite coyote rifle.I'm surprised your rifle didn't like 40gr,mine shoots the Nosler like a ball of fire. But at $80 a box you'd better hit the target.

 

22 Hornet reloading

I don't hunt, but I've been loading hornets for a long time for precision ammo for precision shooting, and I've have received about as much advice on how to load them as a body can stand. That said, I admire all of you who attempt to make the best ammo for your gun and your purpose for shooting. ... Early on I got tired of cracked cases, cratered primers and all the other issues you'll find in 22 Hornet shot logs. So, for the twenty-some hornet rifles I've shot, I have found a "universal" load that suits my purposes, produces tiny, one-hole groups (better than anything seen posted here), and doesn't abuse the guns nor the brass. This recipe doesn't seem to care what overall length (OAL) is needed for a particular rifle or magazine, it seems to produce from good to awesome results in any gun. Just keep the bullet out as far on the neck and still "chamber" properly and without difficulty.

I know the suspense is killing you, so here it is:

• brass: best is Nosler, neck sized (this load rarely requires FL or body sizing)
• powder: Lil' Gun: 11.5 gr
• bullet: flat base ballistic tip, either Sierra BlitzKing 40 gr, or Nosler Varmageddon 40 gr tipped. Use true flat-based bullets (Sorry, V-Max are NOT flat based). Any other bullet base shape will be less stable within 200 yards and introduces an unwelcome wobble variable at any distance
• primer: Remington 6-1/2 (small rifle) or 1-1/2 (small pistol) Other brands might be fine, but I know either of these work consistently well.

Please note that this load will NOT produce maximum velocity which, for some reason, is prized dearly by some of you who seem to enjoy throating chambers and burning up barrels. By now, you've dismissed this suggestion anyway, so hopefully novice reloaders will pay attention, learn and share this learning with the rest of us.

Happy shooting. Hope you only hit paper

 

I don't hunt, but I've been loading hornets for a long time for precision ammo for precision shooting, and I've have received about as much advice on how to load them as a body can stand. That said, I admire all of you who attempt to make the best ammo for your gun and your purpose for shooting. ... Early on I got tired of cracked cases, cratered primers and all the other issues you'll find in 22 Hornet shot logs. So, for the twenty-some hornet rifles I've shot, I have found a "universal" load that suits my purposes, produces tiny, one-hole groups (better than anything seen posted here), and doesn't abuse the guns nor the brass. This recipe doesn't seem to care what overall length (OAL) is needed for a particular rifle or magazine, it seems to produce from good to awesome results in any gun. Just keep the bullet out as far on the neck and still "chamber" properly and without difficulty.

I know the suspense is killing you, so here it is:

• brass: best is Nosler, neck sized (this load rarely requires FL or body sizing)
• powder: Lil' Gun: 11.5 gr
• bullet: flat base ballistic tip, either Sierra BlitzKing 40 gr, or Nosler Varmageddon 40 gr tipped. Use true flat-based bullets (Sorry, V-Max are NOT flat based). Any other bullet base shape will be less stable within 200 yards and introduces an unwelcome wobble variable at any distance
• primer: Remington 6-1/2 (small rifle) or 1-1/2 (small pistol) Other brands might be fine, but I know either of these work consistently well.

Please note that this load will NOT produce maximum velocity which, for some reason, is prized dearly by some of you who seem to enjoy throating chambers and burning up barrels. By now, you've dismissed this suggestion anyway, so hopefully novice reloaders will pay attention, learn and share this learning with the rest of us.

Happy shooting. Hope you only hit paper

Thanks kimberkook! I'll definitely try those two bullets that you use.

Out of the twenty-odd Hornet rifles that you've shot, what was your favorite and least favorite?

 

Fortunately, thanks to many of the European makers, the 22 Hornet is commercially popular enough that we all have many options to try and possibly own. None are real losers, but one comes close. I'll save mention of that one until the end of my Hornet history...

I've loved almost every 22 Hornet I've shot. My favorites have been bolt actions, five of which have been from the original Kimber of Oregon company. I still have a Kimber of Oregon Model 82 S-Series bolt action, so it wins by default. But I've owned or shot many others.

A friend has a TC G2 Contender with 20" barrel that shoots well, an Encore version that is heftier, and a CZ 527 FS that does almost as well, but his Browning 1885 is a beauty that shoots with the best of them. I've owed a CZ 527 American and LUX, and both were very good shooters. The lever action Ruger #1A and #1B, were both accurate and fun. Winchester used to make a Model 43 bolt action repeater that is a good quality rifle in many respects, and a club member friend loved the ammo I loaded for his 43, inherited from his grandfather. I've had a couple Savage's, the most recent the two sleeved rimfire actions that yielded the Models 25 and 40. Both shot well. A Cooper Model 38 is both beautiful and accurate, and I've reloaded for a pair of them that almost measured up to Kimber accuracy.

I'm happy to say there are others I've yet to try that interest me. Two that I have fondled but haven't owned nor shot are from Dakota 10 (?) and the Kimber offshoot, the Cascade Lynx. Others I intend to enjoy in the future are the Anschutz rifles based on the 54 action and new 1771 action. If I win the lottery I'd love to try a Blaser, any model, as well.

Finally, I should mention the Ruger 77, a tank of a rifle that one can get in 22 Hornet, but for the sake of argument, why? I've shot a couple of them owned by others at my gun club and I've been disappointed with their triggers and weight. I'd love to know what interests some in this gun, other than just brand loyalty to Ruger.

 

Kimberkook,

Does the CZ have a 223 bore and if so have you tried bullets made for 223 bore Hornets?

 

Good question! I don't know for sure, The first hornet I shot was a friend's CZ 527 FS and I seem to recall his mention of a "Euro spec bore." This was several years ago and the ammo he shot in it was factory Hornady.

 

I think only the earliest of rifles chambered for the Hornet were .223. My 1958 Sako L46 is .224 so that gives you an idea how old a rifle would be to have the tighter bore.

 

Out of curosity I took a Starrett Micrometer Caliper and measured Nosler Varmint Ballistic Tip 40 grain which are labeled .224. They measured about .22375 and.2239 using two samples. Did the same with Sierra 40 grain Blitzking labeled .224 and I measure at about .2233. My micrometer doesn't go beyond thousandths so the last is my eyeballing the amount.

Also measured some Berger Bullets 22 cal match grade 55 grain. They were right on at .224 diameter.

I guess if it matters one needs to measure.

 

My savage 40 loves the 40gr V-max. 12.5grs of lil' gun and small rifle primers. I only size about half the neck. If I seat bullets out to the lands an unfired round won't clear the ejection port. Needless to say that's the limiting factor for COAL. Always under 1 moa at 100yds. Good days it's 1/2 moa tack driver. I also give Vincent credit for helping me many years ago.

 

For those who've had luck with 40 grain V-Max or similar: how far are you seating the bullets? To hit COAL of my mag, I have to seat them too far. I'll have to play with seating depth to see if my 527 American will shoot them better.

 

When I loaded 22 Hornets with the 40gr Nosler they were too long for the magazine in my 527FS 22 Hornet. Solved the problem by buying a single shot adapter from Calhoon. I shoot from a bench and find that feeding one round at a time allows me to pace myself. I have Calhoon adapters for both 22 Hornets and a CZ527 Euro Varminter. With a single shot adapter chamber depth is the limiting factor allowing more OAL options for your loads.
FM