Powders for .22 Hornet

[Tobiano]

  Hi All...

    Have just bought a 10" barrel for .22 Hornet to use on a Contender pistol and am debating with myself about whether to reload or not. Use will be almost entirely on woodchucks and coyotes within 150yds. Don't really have any plans to use the Hornet for targets.

    Am wondering about powder for the little Hornet. I know it can use 2400 or H110 and that's cool because those two powders can also be used in my revolvers. But I read of others (usually target shooters) using an assortment of other powders and wonder if there is some powder that really stands head 'n shoulders over everythinging else in the Hornet.

   So first - does anyone really, really like 2400 and/or H-110 in the Hornet? And do you recommend a specific bullet weight for those powders?

   And then - if you're not using 2400 or H-110, do you have a bigtime favorite you could enlighten me on ?

   And of course any tips or "tricks" you've discovered to loading the Hornet and would be good enough to pass along will be very welcomed.

  All experience/thoughts/opinions welcome !!!

Many, many Thanks for your help !

  T. 

[LHitchcox]

I have shot all the mentioned powders with good accuracy and normal Hornet velocity. However, you have to try Lil Gun. It gives great velocity in the Hornet and my CZ gives .75 groups at 2950 fps with a 40 grain VMax or Ballistic Tip. I can't see going back to the old powders.

Leon

[rbergum95]

as LHithccox said, give lil gun a try. in my experience it outperforms anytthing else. great velocity and accuracy and with 40 gr v-maxes it really peforms on game. im headed to the range in about an hour to give it a try with some barnes 36 gr varmint grenades, i have no doubt it will do nicely.

[Bob A]

I have to add one more mention of Lil'gun. Its like the stuff was invented for the Hornet.

Bob A

[clintmcghee]

Lil"gun seems to be best  1680  close second

[quickdtoo]

Another vote for Lil'gun!!

Tim

[stimpylu32]

Another powder to consider is IMR 4227 , i use it in both the 22 Hornet and 218 Bee along with the 45 grain V-max bullet . This combo just smacks Groundhogs down .

stimpy

[Lawful Larry]

I use a Mil-surp powder:  WC820.  I love the stuff.  I get great performance using this powder.  I normally shoot the Hornaday 35gr V-Max bullet and am getting 3100+ fps velocity from my CZ American 527.  I tried pretty much all the others and have settled on the WC820.     

I can say that using the pistol powders I found that they are hotter moving then the rifle powders.  Can't say about the pressures,  just don't have the equipment to measure  that.  Visually, their are no signs of overpressure using the pistol powders.