I love my 77/22 Hornet VHZ!

[lakota]

Several weeks ago I posted about the Ruger 77/22 Hornet VHZ I bought was printing good groups with factory ammo and even better groups with handloads. Today I shot the best group of my life. At 100 yards I put 5 shots in 0.236 inches! It seems a lot of the gun writers have written the Hornet off but I am hooked!
My load was:
W-W brass neck sized only
12.6 grains Hogdgon Lil'Gun powder
35grain Hornady V-Max bullet
Winchester standard small pistol primers
No special case prep other than I always measure each individual charge
on a Lyman balance beam scale.
I shot from a prone posistion with a small sand bag under the buttstock for added stability. My front rest was a homemade "quad-pod" that my buddy makes from plywood. they are a very sturdy rest and cheap to make. I am very impressed with this rifle. Accuracy and economy in the same package-small powder charges and standard small pistol primers.

Scott.

[Jerry Lester]

they are indeed exellent little rifles. I've had a couple, and loaded for a few others, and they've all been extremely accurate for a 22 Hornet.

[Lawdog]

The .22 Hornet is enjoying a real surge in popularity in part due to it’s accuracy in the newer rifles available today.  For a rifle used in calling in coyote sized varmints it’s hard to beat.  Easy to load for and even easier on pelts.  While I do like my VHZ it’s my No. 1 that I grab most of the time when heading out to do some calling.  My wife liked my No. 1 so much I got her one of her own.  Keeps peace in the family.  Lawdog
 

[jcunclejoe]

I have one of the Ruger 77/22 Hornet rifles in the stainless laminated. Please forgive me if that is the VHZ, I can't remember all of those letters.

The first thing I did was take it to my machinist and had 6 inches cut off the barrel to bring it down to 18" with an 11 degree crown. I worked the trigger down to 1.5# and it shoots into 1" with the first load I tried. It might do better but I havn't taken the time to work on it any more.
Sounds like you have a good one, I sure like mine.
Joe

[lakota]

Another good load I have worked up is 12.8 grs Lil' Gun powder with a 40 Gr Hornady V-Max.  This load shoots anywhere from 0.50-0.75". I loaded a few different 50 grain bullets with various charges of H-4227 and got terrible groups. The rifle really seems to prefer the Lil' Gun and the lighter bullets. My next task is to work up a small game load with IMR-4350 and the Hornady 46 gr 218 bee flat point bullets. I think it'll be pretty cool to hunt squirells with a center fire rifle this fall! :eek:

Scott.

[Patriot_1776]

I have the VHZ as well, and got some load testing done yesterday.  

My best load so far is:

40gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip
12.1gr. of AA1680
It produced a 4-shot group of .63" at 100 yds.  There was a slight wind coming through at the time.  

Velocity is probably around 2680fps or so.  I'm thinking of trying a little higher (max load specified is 12.5gr), and see if anything tightens up after that.  I've got a feeling to stick with the 12.1gr. though.  Any advice?

By the looks of things, I might get some Lil'Gun and see how that performs.  I replaced the trigger with a Rifle Basix that breaks around 2lbs. 13oz.  Sure feels better than the one from the factory.

 Note: I began with the published starting load and worked up to my specified charge weight.  Do not attempt to load that in any 22 Hornet rifle without first consulting a reloading manual and proper reloading procedures are observed.


One last thing, about how many reloads can be had from a standard 22 Hornet casing?  I've read about the case walls being thinner than most and should be checked for any case head separations after every reload.  What has been your experience?

I have edited the trigger pull weight, as it seems to have broken in a little more.  I checked the set screw, and it has not moved.  
 


-Patriot