22k hornet neck sizing

[Matt3357]

As I have posted recently I have bought a 22 hornet this past weekend and I am keeping my options open about reaming it to a 22k hornet if brass separation and accuracy become a problem.  With the accuracy increase of neck sizing I was planning on getting a neck sizer for my 22 hornet.  Now the question, Will a 22 hornet neck sizer neck size a 22k hornet shell? 

Thanks,
Matt

[RangerJ]

I doubt it will due to the KHornet having more of a shoulder that is farther forward. My dad run into that problem with his Khornet and tried using the 22 Hornet neck sizer. It didnt work for him. He had to break down and buy a neck sizer die for the Khornet.

[Matt3357]

ok so if that is the case, will a 22k hornet neck sizer, correctly size a 22 hornet case?

Matt

[quickdtoo]

I did a little internet search on the Lee Hornet collet die, a washer or two on top of the shell holder will allow it to work fine on a K-Hornet, or for $10, Lee will modify yours to work. 

Tim

[Matt3357]

Thanks Tim, exactly what I wanted to hear.  As always, you da man!

Matt

[LaOtto222]

I have a 22K Hornet and I use a bushing neck sizer from a Redding 221 Fireball set. I just happened to have the 221 Fireball and the case length is the same....so. I found the Lee collet neck sizer did not squeeze down the neck far enough to get a good grip on the bullet on a 22 Hornet case. I could take out the stem and turn it down a little, but since I had the 221 just setting there.... I tried to get a collet die special made for the 221 Fireball, but they said it was too short to make one. I had my money sent in with case samples - they just sent it back. The case length is the same as a 22 Hornet and they make those, but the 221 is too short? BTW if you decide to go K you will find the cases do last longer and I think the accuracy improves too. Not so much for velocity. You do gain some but not that much. I converted my Handi 22 Hornet to a K and it made a big difference. I am thinking of changing my Savage model 40 to a K, but lately it has started to shoot better (not cleaning the barrel so much) and I found a load that is not hard on cases, so now I have to decide if it is worth the effort. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[aulrich]

I have done the conversion and I am no longer convinced that it is worth it.

Here is the reason, when I went down that path I was looking for the performance jump with 50 gr bullets to get a true 200 yard coyote gun, and on paper it works. But then lil'gun happened and a 500 fps difference went to just under 200 fps(published) I have also not seen the bennifit of longer case life, now the pockets are just expanding, I must be pushing them too hard.

I can't say I would be doing the conversion with what I know now, between iffy performance increase and the pain of fireforming, just not sure it is worth it.

[briannmilewis]

You can always not ream it to K, and instead buy an RCBS X-Die to improve case life. The X-Die is a FL sizer that does not allow the brass to flow, so the brass never needs trimming. That is my plan when I start all over again and buy another H&R 22 Hornet. Shoot medium loads and case life should be excellent.

[LaOtto222]

If you do a 22K Hornet for increased velocity - Don't; it just is not worth the velocity gain. If you want increased case life - Do; with similar SAFE pressures the cases last longer. If you are having trouble with accuracy maybe the K conversion is worth it and maybe not; but more than likely increased accuracy. You can head space off a true shoulder, which generally increases accuracy. It depends on what you are looking for. If you really want to increase accuracy, velocity and case life convert it to the 221 Fireball - a much better cartridge in every way and it uses little more powder too. The 221 uses some where in the neighborhood of 16 - 18 grains of powder - only about a 4 - 7 grain increase over a regular 22 Hornet that uses very little to start with. I have all three cartridges and have shot the 22 Hornet for a lot of years, the 221 about 3 years and the 22 K Hornet for the last year. The 221 Fireball will safely push a 50 grain bullet in the 2900 - 3000 fps range out of a normal length barrel.

[tobster]

)h,oh. That strange feeling is starting to come over me.  I have a NEF Hornet and a box of .221 Fireball brass left over from a Mach .1V / Kimber project from years ago. What all is involved in re-chambering a Hornet to a Fireball?  Seems to me that would be a good factory chambering

[blind ear]

Not to derail but how expensive and hard to find is 221 Fireball loaded ammo compared to Hornet? I am also interested in the conversion to 221 FB as I have a Hornet that I am trying to get to shoot accurate. Is too expensive to shoot factory loads in. I do reload but it has just been a long time. Have the Hornet dies already. Thanks, eddiegjr

[briannmilewis]

Not to derail but how expensive and hard to find is 221 Fireball loaded ammo compared to Hornet? I am also interested in the conversion to 221 FB as I have a Hornet that I am trying to get to shoot accurate. Is too expensive to shoot factory loads in. I do reload but it has just been a long time. Have the Hornet dies already. Thanks, eddiegjr

Just ream the chamber and change out the extractor/ejector to 223. 22 Hornet cases are 1.393 to 1.403, FB is 1.400 - so no big deal. Tim has had one done but hasn't shot it yet. It is probably the best rechamber there is for a H&R Hornet, others like the 218 Bee and 22 Remington Jet leave a little more freebore if you use the Hornet barrel, but not a lot to worry about. 221 FB ammo is only from Remington, it is also as expensive as Hornet, so it is a reloading proposition also.

[LaOtto222]

Shooting a 221 Fireball is pretty much a hand loader thing. Yes, you can buy the ammo, but it is expensive ( I think), not much of a selection and not that easy to get some times. Here is a link to Midway (MidSouth does not list the 221 Fireball) at $28/20 for Remington and Nosler at $56/50 I believe using Remington Brass.

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=3&categoryId=9368&categoryString=653***690*** 

If you hand load however you can load them almost as cheaply as 223, less if you do not count the brass. Of course you can make 221 Fireball out of 223 brass and get by even cheaper than 223; but a lot of work prepping cases. When the 221 Fireball brass dried up for a while (they make seasonal runs) I did 100 223 military brass to get me by until the supply came back. I bought 500 when it did. The 221 Fireball is quite the cartridge especially in a rifle. The 222 Remington out does it, but not by much.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[LaOtto222]

For some reason the link did not take correctly. Copy and paste and it will work fine.

[quickdtoo]

Sometimes long Urls with number at the end don't work unless you use [/url] tags which I did for ya. 

Tim

[Screwbolts]

 It is not a Handi rifle but I have a Stevens 322 that I rechambered to K-Hornet.  My Case life before I reamed the chamber was less than 5 loads, and that was with minimum loads or less than published minimum.   After I removed the barrel I found that the factory Hornet chamber was .003 canted off of center with the bore. No wonder cases split after 3 or 4 firings.  This set up is typical Savage/ Stevens, A barrel lock nut to hold to receiver.

 I actually shortened the breech end as much as I could to still leave me 1/2 turn of the nut to set head space, The barrel actually had almost 1/2" of extra threads. this allowed me to carefully ream a new chamber with some of the old chamber removed. I was able to correct the Cant to less than.001. Now my cases will last 12 to 15 firings with no sign of head separation.

Now to neck Size my K-Hornet Brass I use a 223 Lee Collet die, I had one already.  I made a extended shell holder that actually allows the use of the 223 collet die. I did have to recess the aluminum cap on the die also to alow the decaping rod to raise for the short lenght of the K brass. to use this die with 223 brass I just insert a short rod in the hole I bored in the top cap.

 Yes I know I am thrifty.

I have shot Coyotes at 200 + with the K-Hornet with a 46 grain bulk Bought Win bullet over a safe charge of IMR4227, This has always been my mostest liked powder in the Hornet/K-hornet.  My crony indicates 2800 FPS with the Win Bullet in the K-Hornet.

My Brother's Handi 22 Hornet really likes a Cast Boolit that I just started to use. It is a NOE 22-055 that I purchased on a group buy custom mold from a different site.  My K-Hornet will not stabilize them with it's 1x16 barrel, the Handis as you Know have 1x12s or 1x9s since 87.  We have neck sized Bryan's Brass with my Collet arrangement to work up loads. our current load is 9.5 of IMR 4227 with a this 61.2 gr gas checked Bollit. this load cronies 2047 ou of his Handi. and shoots outstanding.  

This is his second kill with the cast and Handi, I believe he is chasing coyotes today with neighboring farmers using Dogs. and his neck sized brass in a Handi. this Pigeon was laser ranged after the shot at 120 yards.