22 Hornet CZ 527 handloading data for the best accuracy

[toddman]

Does anyone have LOL data (and type of powder/primer) using Hornady V-Max 35g, or 40g, or Nosler BT- 40g that shoot good groups using the CZ 527? 
I cant get much more than 2 inches at 100 yds.

[muskeg13]

I only have a 50 yd range, but here's what I've found to be promising in my 527 Lux.  I'm still trying loads.
5 shot groups:
40gr VMax, AA1680 12.7gr, Rem cases, WSR primer  .451"
40gr VMax, Lil'Gun 13.4gr, Rem Cases, WSR primer, .298"
35gr VMax, AA1680 12.7gr, Win Cases, WSR primer, .312"
Sierra 40gr Hornet (.223), AA1680 12.7gr, Win Cases, WSR primer  .412" (4 shots in .243")

I'm trying to work up a 45grain lead gas check load that clocks about 2000fps.  This would duplicate, or do a little better than .22 mag loads.  I'd like to hunt small edible game and not tear up too much meat.  So far the best I've managed is .941 at 50 yd.  Does anyone have an accurate lead bullet load?

[toddman]

Thanks Muskeg13!  - Can you please tell me your overall length of these loads that you posted ? I dont have a lead bullet load but I look forward to trying one though.

[muskeg13]

I've reworked the magazine to accept cartridges with a longer overall length.  (I substituted a thinner rear plastic spacer and made a longer sheet metal follower) The VMax bullets, particularly the 40gr bullet, had to be seated very deep in the case to meet the 1.723 max overall length specified in my loading manuals.  This created a problem in that too much space was taken up so I couldn't load full charges of some powders, like Lil'Gun.  I don't have any problem chambering cartridges loaded to the OALs listed below. 

40gr VMax  OAL 1.865  (This is about the max length allowable in the reworked magazine)
35gr VMax  OAL 1.762
Sierra 40gr Hornet  OAL 1.737

[toddman]

Thanks for those lengths. I modified my magazine the same way to accept my fav. handload using 40gr Nosler BT. I took the plastic spacer out and made a plaster cast of the spacer (I did not want to damage the original) and poured some resin in the cast to make a few copies. I then filed about approx. 5mm off, made a new follower out of stainless (adding approx 5mm in length to the follower). In addition, to stop the spring falling back into the follower and "upsetting the balance of the spring", I introduced a small notch into the base of the follower. Overall it works well, but I only have one - so I really wanted to use/find a good load using the Hornady V-max 35 grainers so that they can be fed into a standard magazine. I will try your 1.762 but I will work-up a load using ADIs (Australian Defence Industries) AR2205 powder, and AA1680 (if I can get it here in Aus).

[muskeg13]

Just today, when I was fiddling around getting the OALs, I soldered a small sheetmetal tab on the underside of the lenghtened follower to keep the spring in the right place.  Otherwise the follower sometimes wanted to tip up on the last one or two rounds and cause a jam.   My new follower is also about .20" (5mm) longer than the original, the same as yours.  Maybe CZ should consider improving their Hornet magazines?

What type of reloading dies are you using?  I ran into a slight problem with my Lee seating die and the short 35gr VMax, in that it's difficult to get the bullet to seat straight.  Some of the bullets in cartridges I shot last weekend were canted slightly in the cases, but they still shot great.  I don't see this problem with longer bullets.

[toddman]

Im using the Hornady die set - Custom Grade New Dimension (seater and expander) item#544212. These dies are good, seat the proj. remarkably concentric and have served me well - For example, until recently, I have always loaded 40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with Win brass and primers, 12.01 gr of AR2205 at AOL 47.62mm have achieved 0.5-1 MOA depending on the day. The 35 gr V Max worked no probs with the Hornady seating die.

[toddman]

Finally got around to testing these loads over 100 meters. Hornady35g V-max OAL 1.749 placed me approx 0.962 using 11.2 gr of AR2205.
Interestingly 1.750 OAL  placed me 1.77 and 1.747 OAL placed me 1.37. I would still like to get approx 0.5".