Author Topic: Need 22 Hornet Contender loads... (Read 6953 times)

Jason · « **on:** April 13, 2007, 11:17:13 AM »

I finally bit the bullet and snagged a 10" bull barrel in 22 hornet for my Contender. Now I need some loads for it for NRA pistol cartridge silhouette. I want them to have as little recoil as possible (not a problem for a Hornet load), knock the animals down well (only an issue for rams), and have no shot at doing target damage (an issue for Hornet). I will be doing different loads for CPT and rams. I currently have a ram load of 7.1gr of H110 pushing a 50-grain bullet that I use in my 22 mag rifle that works great. A load that gets me about the same momentum at 100m out of the 10" Contender barrel would be appreciated.

Ok, let's hear your recipes for success with the Hornet.

Thanks!

Mike Buchholz · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2007, 02:06:16 PM »

I've been using 8.5 grains of H4227 with a 50 grain bullet. Unfortunately, Hodgdon is discontinuing that powder. You can also try 12.5 grains of Lil Gun or 9.5 grains of H110 with that same bullet.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2007, 04:15:41 AM »

My most accurate load is 10.5 grs IMR-4227 under a 40 gr BT. This is probably to light for your steel targets but it is a great varmint load. My 22 Hornet T/C is a Custom Shop in 9" tapered barrel with a 5x Burris. I've out shot 2 of my friends 22 Hornets with their 10" barrels. This is the most accurate T/C pistol barrel I own.

Steelbanger · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2007, 04:49:56 AM »

Jason,
When the NRA & IHMSA legalized the Hornet many shooters including me jumped on that cartridge. I already had a Hornet barrel that fired one-hole 50 yd. groups with the Sierra 40 gr. hollowpoint. First match with that Hornet I rang three rams! Every time I used that load there were at least 1 or 2 rams that didn't fall. So I switched to the Sierra 55 gr. semi pointed and that took care of the ram problems. The trade-off was that once in a while the scope, a 3.5-10 Leupold rifle scope, would touch my glasses in recoil. Just had to be careful. Later I switched to bulk 55 gr. WW soft point bullets and used them for all the targets. Some of my friends used 52 & 53 gr. match bullets and had much success with them too.
I did get to witness many Hornet head separations at matches too. Checking my records for total shots fired in several Hornets shows well over 15,000 rounds fired and no separations for me. Not one! I attribute that fact to my use of the Lee Collet sizing die. I always check case length and trim if necessary. With the hornet, I only trim one time and mark that case with a small notch filed on the rim. If a particular case needs to be trimmed a second time I toss it, a precaution taken because of the possibility of failing brass. But don't worry, Hornet cases last a long time between trimmings when they're only neck sized in the Lee.
You can check loading manuals for loads but I will say that with few exceptions every T/C Hornet barrel likes IMR 4227. I bet yours will too.

Nobade · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2007, 02:06:25 PM »

I too have been a hornet fan for about as long as they have been legal for IHMSA. I played with the one time popular load of 5.0gr. Universal Clays and a 52gr. Sierra. Then I tried some WC820 (Carbine Ball) and have been shooting that ever since. 9.0gr. of that and a pistol primer will give right at 1700 fps with either bulk 55gr. FMJBTs or 55gr. RCBS cast bullets, with <MOA accuracy and plenty of power. I decided this was a good power level, it never has rang a ram and doesn't hurt the chickens. Light recoil, as long as I don't get too limp wristed it doesn't hit me in the face. Note this powder is extremely similar to Accurate #9, if you're not into surplus powders.

txairshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** April 19, 2007, 04:52:25 AM »

A light load for standing shooting silhouettes: 4.5-5.2 gr Winchester Super Field (WSF) under 55gr bullets of your choice. Several shooters in Texas use this to win championships.

Birger · « **Reply #6 on:** April 19, 2007, 10:11:47 PM »

I have two 10" .22 Hornet barrels, both shoot 1" at 100meters ( I´m a norwegian) with the bulk Remington 55 FMJ bullet and "a case full" of Vith N120. Loading weight depends on the case I use, Remington takes approx 0,5 grs less than Winchester. I fill both to 1mm under the mouth to avoid spill on the Dillon 550. Primer is CCI 500. Weight is 11.5 grs for necksized win and 12.0 for necksized rem cases.
Neck sized brass (only half the neck) with Redding bushing die. I have not lost cases with this load. Bullets seat barely into the lands and is cronografed at 2150 fps.
Under the IMSSU rules, we are allowed to shoot field pistol and small bore with diopter and the gun or sight dos not touch shooting glasses with this load. It is a god ram load and does not damage the targets.

rem2035 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2007, 05:28:10 PM »

Jason
I agree with txairshooter. I use 4.6 gr WSF in my hornet in a 10" barrel with a Veri-X II Leupold scope. This is a very mild load. It has less recoil and noise than my 22 mag, I think. I never have run this over a chronograph, but understand it runs about 1800 fps. This load will not damage targets if they are heavy enough. I think ours are 5/16" thick. It's good for chickens all the way to rams and don't have to make seperate loads. I use a 52 gr. HPBT at our local range and out in the country a 55 gr. FMJ BT. I use the FMJ where there are not houses around.

Jason · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2007, 06:32:43 PM »

Many thanks to everyone that posted here and sent me load info via PM. It's much appreciated and I have a few loads to try out now to see which gets me the most accuracy the cheapest.

Hammer47 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2007, 01:40:40 PM »

I shoot a VERY mild load of 7.5 gns of N110 and a 55 spire point Hornady. Will occassionally leave a ram if improperly set so I just shoot 'em on the high side. You will NEVER have a head seperation problem if you neck size with a bushing die and remove the expander ball. I have used the same brass for going on 5 years now and I shoot a LOT. Regards...g

Jason · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2007, 06:38:23 AM »

Quick update on this. I shot my first match with the 22 hornet barrel last weekend and got 30/40, which is my highest hunter pistol score yet even counting smallbore. I had loaded up some of the Hornady 53-grain BTHP match bullets over 7.5gr of H110 because I happened to have the bullets on hand, but I ended up getting a few boxes of the Hornady 55-grain FMJBT bulk bullets from Midway on Friday before the match. I loaded some of those up with 8.0gr of H110 and used them on turkeys and rams. I loaded them .010" off the lands in the Contender barrel and both loads shot very well. I'm seriously hooked.

Sixgun · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2007, 07:44:56 AM »

I also shoot a Hornet for NRA Hunter Pistol. I shoot 3.7 gr of Tite Group with a Lyman 50 gr cast bullet with a gas check and a cci small pistol primer. I lube with lee liquid alox My alloy is very soft. I also use a lee collet die. This load does one hole groups at 100m and leaves the barrel at about 1600 fps. I have never rang a ram with this load. Last year I won the Idaho State championship with this load.

Now I know most of you do not cast bullets. I will tell you though, it is the best way to get the most accurate bullets that will not damage targets. I get my lead from an indoor range where most of the lead is from 22s. I add just enough tin to get the mix to fill the mould.

Sixgun

canyon-ghost · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2008, 07:48:43 PM »

I'm with SixGun on this one, I use cast, Lyman 438s with gas check.
IMR 4227 to 7.4 for 40&50 meters, 7.5 for 75&100 meters.
Jacketed- Remington PSP 50 grain, 7.8 grains N110 VihtaVouri Oy

Hooked on Sil · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2008, 04:57:33 PM »

Greetings,
The load that I use is 9.9 gr. of 4227 behind a Horn. 55 gr. fmj. The biggest secret to making a hornet shoot is seating the bullet so that it touches the lands!
HOS

vmthtr in green bay · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2009, 04:53:14 AM »

5.4g of Win 231 or 5g of AA#2 with a 55 FMJ got me into INT class with my Hornet.

Mike

Hank08 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2009, 08:33:54 AM »

I use either Lyman 438 or 415 GCs with 5 gr. Unique, both excellent in 10" contender.
H08

Orddy · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2009, 06:39:45 AM »

Anyone have any Win 296 load info for the hornet?

hivel37 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2009, 11:18:25 AM »

The load I use is so low you wont find it in a manual.

8.5 grs HLilGun and Sierra 45 gr sp #1310.

It reliably takes the ram w/no damage. And it wont whap you in the eye!

jsh · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:01:43 AM »

I started off with a 22mag, as it was a heck of a deal with the scope base and 1k of ammo. I ran across a hornet barrel a while later and grabbed it. The 22 mag was marginal on rams. I loaded up some for the hornet and went after it. I had more hits, but also more ringers than the 22 mag, figure that out

.
I pretty much gave up on FP for a long time. Then I started casting my own. Went to the 30-20 and have not looked back. I shoot a 110-140 grain bullet with powder puff loads. I have rang one ram with this caliber in the last few years. MD's grand son was setting targets. The kid din't pay attention to what he was doing and would set them with big globs of mud on the base, acted like glue. Several thought it amusing that I rang a ram.
I fixed that. A 357 mag running a 180CB full tilt. NO target damage, but bad welds on feet were breaking like glass. I think I broke somthing at all four distances that day. There was cussin and disscussin afterwards. No more 357, no more poorly set targets,lol.
jeff

BigBoreStandingAAA · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2009, 01:10:10 AM »

Several of us here in southeastern AZ have great luck using either the Winchester or Remington Bulk 45/46 gr. Bullets from Midway USA (evem though I detest their shipping charges). We launch them with H110 in weights ranging from 9.0 to 9.9 grains depending on the specific barrel. (Barrels are stock TC 10" SS or blued.) I personally go with the lighter load of 9.0 grains because with open sights I get about 1.5 inch accuracy at 100 yards in both of my barrels when shooting off of a bench and rest. Even this load shoots flat enough that I don't make any sight setting changes accross the course. I have never rung a ram with this recipe.

Nate C · « **Reply #20 on:** December 01, 2009, 05:04:34 PM »

+1 for 52/53 gr bt match bullets. My particular 10" bbl did best with 9.0 gr H110. (W296 wouldn't be too far off)

I had a 3x9 Burris FFII rifle scope on mine. I would shoot taco hold. It's been a few years, but I do recall testing that load off of sandbags and getting sub moa results. Chrony data was around 1800 fps if I recall. Not enough to tear up our targets, but with enough residual energy to knock down the Rams.

Good luck.

Nate

Madmark · « **Reply #21 on:** December 09, 2009, 07:50:46 AM »

This thread has been going a while, and noboby has listed my favorite load yet....
A bunch of us around here are shooting 4.6 gr. of W-231 lit by a small pistol primer (I use WSP). This combo works with either a 45 or 55 grain jacketed bullet.
The first time I used the Hornady #2230 45gr. Hornet bullet with this combo, 5 shots went into .636" at 100 yards out of my 10" Contender!
I have rang a ram or two with the 45 grainers, and am using the same recipe with Hornady 55gr. JSP for rams.
Accuracy is excellent (sub moa from the bench) using 55 grain flat base bullets, and I wouldn't hesitate to use 55 grain bullets at all distances. My barrel also shoots 55gr. FMJ boat tails just fine, but some Contenders won't shoot a boat tail. If you have an octagon barrel, it probably won't stabalize the 55 grainers at all. Have fun!

aatwracing · « **Reply #22 on:** December 26, 2009, 06:29:19 AM »

Madmark/others -

I used the 4.4 to 4.7gr W231 (depending on the SP primer I used) load for several years with the WW 55gr FMJBT. However, I did have to go through seven 10" Hornet barrels to find 2 that would shoot it somewhat accurately (those 2 would shoot a 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" group at 100m). The other 5 barrel's groups were barely "on the paper" even at 50m! All seven of the barrels would group 1" (or smaller) @ 100m with 52gr flat based hollow points.

Unfortunately, the 52gr HPs would too often ring a ram (especially dead center hits). So I then tried some of the 55gr Flat Based Soft Point bullets and BINGO, I found it would shoot into an inch or less at 100m out of the 2 "good barrels", and would be at a respectable 1-3/4" or so out of the others that I still had access to. I shot the 55gr FBSPs with +/- 4.6gr of W231/HP38 for probably another year and started noticing, upon purchase of a 12" Hornet barrel for NRA HP open sight, some primer flattening indicating pressures were getting up there. This was consistent with what I'd see in the 10" barrels when I tried anything more than 4.8gr or so of W231/HP38 out of them (regardless of the bullet).

Finally, when I mentioned the pressure signs I'd noticed with the 12" barrel to a couple of the D/FW shooters at our TSRA state HP match, they suggested the 5gr of WSF load mentioned above. Upon trying it, I was delighted. It shoots every bullet I've tried out of every barrel into tiny cloverleafs at 100m. One other thing I've noticed lately is that it doesn't seem to be nearly as "tenth of a grain finicky" when going from one brand or lot of primers to another as the W231/HP38 loads seemed to be.

FWIW, I only have one other Hornet load (a Lil-gun 2800+FPS 34gr HP hunting load for a rifle) that is nearly as accurate.

my .02 (with credit due to a couple D/FW shooters),

-Tim