Bullet for .22 Hornet

[Star1pup]

I have about 100 45gr. bullets I was given to load in my .22 Hornet handloads.  I was think more like a 35gr. bullet.  Any suggestions?

I have both Lil' Gun & W-296 powder on hand.

[Czech_too]

Hodgdon's site is calling for a starting load of 12 gr. Lil'Gun with a max of 13 gr.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
so you could use that as a starting point.

[DANNY-L]

I've got a H&R in the hornet and I like the 45gr.sp results.But that is all I've tried also,so I stuck to them for the past 15yrs. I've taken a few deer with it also,DRT with rib shots. Some will doubt it but it's a fact. All under 100yd shot probably about 75 average.

[Star1pup]

I've got a H&R in the hornet and I like the 45gr.sp results.But that is all I've tried also,so I stuck to them for the past 15yrs. I've taken a few deer with it also,DRT with rib shots. Some will doubt it but it's a fact. All under 100yd shot probably about 75 average.

Which powder do you use?

[telebasher]

My  gun loves 12.7 gr Lil Gun with any 35-45 gr bullet and a small pistol primer. I use a Lee factory crimp die and put a small crimp which will give you consistant start pressures and small groups.  Have fun!

[Lloyd Smale]

mine does its best work with 35grain vmaxs ahead of 1680 or lilgun

[res45]

Back in the day when I had a Hornet I had the best luck with IMR-4227,CCI SR BR primers and the Hornady 45 gr. Hornet bullet.  I also liked  a bullet Rem. made at the time I believe it was around 40 grs. had a concave base an sported a pointed HP.

My old Sav. 340C was a sweet shooter out to 300 yds. with those loads.

[Star1pup]

These will be my first handloads for my hornet so I think I'll try about 10 to see how they work. I have some 45 gr. softnose bullets, Winchester small rifle primers and both W-296 & Lil' Gun powders.  I think I'll go with the Lil' Gun first.  The club range is snowed in pretty good right now so might not we able to shoot for a while to test these.  If these don't group I won't have spent money on the components and can try something else.

[Star1pup]

Just to complicate matters I was at East Ohio Shooter's Supply this morning and saw a box of Hornady 40 GR V-Max bullets.  Of course I had to have a box and of course nothing listed on Hogdon for this bullet.  I'm thinking of loading light for a 40 gr on another manufacturer as I think these should be good bullets.

[helotaxi]

Data for the 40gn V-Max is in the Hornady 8th ed manual.

[Star1pup]

Data for the 40gn V-Max is in the Hornady 8th ed manual.

I guess it's time I bought the manual.  I keep putting it off as so much is available on the powder websites.  Thanks for the info.

[dpe.ahoy]

One of my Hornets likes the 40gr V-max's.  13.0gr LilGun, makes one flat shootin Hornet.  Go on line and check out the Hodgon powder site for reload info as well.  I get the new Annual Manual when ever it comes out, it lists 13.0gr of LilGun all the way up to 55gr bullets, except for the 53 gr Barnes XFB.   From 45 gr and up, LilGun smokes H-110 in the speed department.
That's as much as you can put in the hornet case and still seat the bullet.  DP

[manatee1947]

you might want to check out the 34 gr "dogtown" bullets from Midway, they shoot quite well in mine and are very inexpensive.

[stubshaft]

These will be my first handloads for my hornet so I think I'll try about 10 to see how they work. I have some 45 gr. softnose bullets, Winchester small rifle primers and both W-296 & Lil' Gun powders.  I think I'll go with the Lil' Gun first.  The club range is snowed in pretty good right now so might not we able to shoot for a while to test these.  If these don't group I won't have spent money on the components and can try something else.

For best accuracy you may want to use small PISTOL primers,  Work up carefully with 296 as its pressure curve seemed to spike in my K-Hornet, Lil Gun and 680 (1680) or it's deritives were linear in how they built pressure.  Don't forget the old standby either 2400.

[DANNY-L]

I've got a H&R in the hornet and I like the 45gr.sp results.But that is all I've tried also,so I stuck to them for the past 15yrs. I've taken a few deer with it also,DRT with rib shots. Some will doubt it but it's a fact. All under 100yd shot probably about 75 average.

Which powder do you use?

I use 11gr. IMR 4227