My Hornet.....

[coyotehunter223]

Tried some new loads for my Handi Hornet yesterday. I loaded only five rounds of several bullet weights, primers, c.o.l's etc. just to get a quick idea of what might work other than my normal loads. The load I was impressed with so far is as follows:

55gr v-max
12.0gr lil' gun
Winchester Brass
CCI BR4 Primer
C.O.L. = 1.940

The five shot group (not counting 1st round flier) measures .690.
I'm definately going to be working with this combination a lot more. Hodgdon's mannual say's this load will give me about 2550fps and with the v-max's .255 B.C., I should be able to use the "point blank method" of zeroing in and be good out to 150yrds easily with plenty of punch left. Thanks for looking.
 


Just one more thing if I may brag on the Hornet, it is completely stock. No trigger work, no barrel lapping, no free floating etc. I've had this hndi for 3 years and probably shot more than a thousand rounds through it. I love it!

[Paul5388]

Is that COL getting close to the rifling? I believe that's very close to what I'm loading at with the 40 gr V-Max, but since I'm so long already, I haven't checked the distance from the rifling.

It's good to see someone thinking outside the box with the Hornet.  I have just assumed a 45 gr is about its max and stayed under that weight.  Now, I guess I'll try some heavier bullets!  :grin:

[hellacatcher]

coyotehunter yours looks to be doing about the same mine is doing. The first shote is hi then the rest come down and together. In playing around found out it is when the barrel gets hot is when it comes down .....been playing around with a few ideas but so far no luck

[coyotehunter223]

Yes, it is very close. I squeezed the end of brass just enough to snuggly hold the bullet. I left it out very long and chambered it. I carefully opened the magazine and held the round so it would not be ejected. I then gently removed the round and measured the C.O.L.  To compensate for varying lengths of the v-max bullet, I subtracted .005" and came up with the 1.940.

[coyotehunter223]

Yeah, I too used to use 40 - 45 grain bullets then got to thinking. Those of us fortunate enough to have one of these awesome Handi's also have the advantage of the 1:12 twist as compared to the other gun makers that use the 1:14 or 1:16 twist. I have had many excellent groups with 50 - 55 grain bullets from the Sierra's to V-max's.

[cheatermk3]

What model Hornet do  you have coyote?

That's a great group.  I haven't done much loadwork with mine; it's an ultralight.  I'm using quick's load of lil' gun behind the 35gn vmax in Winchester cases.  Just about 100% load density.

[coyotehunter223]

I have the SB2-224 with 22" barrel and synthetic stock.

[shaner]

wow man 55gr in a hornet, ive always wentthe other way??small an fast , but groupin like that , looks greatis tha bullet compressing the powder a lot? i load my 219 bees with 50's and they do well  ok,,ill have to give these 55 a try in my hornet

[coyotehunter223]

Here's the 55 v-max in the Hornet case. With 12.0gr lil' gun and seated to 1.940 the bullet was just touching the powder in a WW case.

[Paul5388]

I couldn't resist trying those 55 gr, so I loaded some W-W brass at 1.935" with 55 gr VMax, 12.0 gr Lil'Gun and CCI 400 primers.  These were shot out of a 20" SL barrel that doesn't like W-W brass as much as it likes R-P brass.  It still grouped all 7 shots in 1 1/2" at 100 yards and showed two pretty good 3 shot groups!

[.308]

These were shot out of a 20" SL barrel that doesn't like W-W brass as much as it likes R-P brass.

My receiver is at H&R now waiting on the 22" barrel, almost went with the 20." Can you tell be a bit about you likes and dislikes of the 20"? How does the barrel shoot with R-P brass and other bullets? Thanks in advance. Lamar

[Paul5388]

This group was shot in May 2004 with cheap Winchester 46 gr HPs.  I'm pretty sure it was in R-P brass (I don't think I can get 13.0 gr LG in Win brass).  It's a nice round group with no stringing.  The barrel has been floated and has a 12 Gauge forearm on it, so there's always barrel clearance! :eek:



There's a typo on the target, where it says 13.0 g, should read 13.0 gr.  It would be very hard to get 13 grams of Lil'Gun in the case, but wanted to make sure the proper weight is noted.

I like my 20" SL barrel a lot!  It's kinda short for a traditional "varmint" type, but it's a very handy size to me.  Obviously, it will shoot as good or better than I can hold, so accuracy isn't an issue.  The group above was shot with a 3-9X Bushnell scope, but I have a 3-12X Bushnell on it now.

[.308]

Thanks Paul. I'm gonna give it another week or two and see if they get any of the 22" like I ordered and if they don't I'll give the 20" a try. BTW, that's some real good shootin' y'all. :grin:

[superhornet]

308---good day to you......Did you ever load up any of those various .280 bullets that Santa sent you so long ago???

[.308]

308---good day to you......Did you ever load up any of those various .280 bullets that Santa sent you so long ago???

Good day to you sir. No I haven't but there's a good reason. :roll: You sound familiar, do I know you?

[coyotehunter223]

Good shooting! Keep experimenting with the 55's. I've had very good success using 12.0-13.0 grains lil' gun. Try using some WSR, CCI BR-4, small pistol primers etc. Hodgdon's manual says 13.0 grains is max though. Lil' gun and heavy bullets go together like peanut butter and jelly. I've tried crimping and no crimping. It just all depends on the bullet and your gun. Man, I love the Hornet. :-)

[Paul5388]

I have some 60 gr V-Max I have been shooting in my .223 Handi.  I may give them a try, but really need to use up all the other V-Max that didn't shoot well in the .223.  It's a terrible task, but someone has to do it.  :grin:

[Paul5388]

Here's the write up and targets on the 50 gr V-Max and the 60 gr V-max.