Author Topic: Silver Bullets!! 30gr Calhoon Hornet Bullets (Read 3441 times)

quickdtoo · « **on:** June 05, 2007, 12:48:49 PM »

FWIW, I ordered some James Calhoon 30gr double HP .224" bullets to try in my Hornet, they're designed to be explosive even at low velocities, 250 were less the $40 shipped. Just something different to try!!

Tim

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/

Bob A · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:28:50 PM »

Tim,

I hope you give us an update on the Calhoun bullets. I am looking for a no ricochet hornet bullet for ground squirrels. Maybe the Double HP will be the one. Meanwhile, I'm loading up VMax and TnT. Figure I'll take them out to the back forty and see how they bounce off the rocks before I start my war in the front pastures.

Bob A

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:35:33 PM »

You can count on it, Bob!!

Tim

d_hiker · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2007, 11:47:00 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on June 05, 2007, 12:48:49 PM

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/

Tim,

Are you thinking about a .19 Calhoun for the Handi?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2007, 11:50:16 AM »

No, I have a very nice 204 Ruger Handi!

I want some Hornet friendly bullets, that's all.

Quote

30gr DBL HP Hot loads for the 22 Hornet. Achieve up to 3500 ft/sec!

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/features.php

Tim

shaner · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2007, 12:07:20 PM »

ive shot a lot of james calhoon bullets yu will love them they shoot great ,

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2007, 12:29:45 PM »

Don't confuse James Calhoun of Canada with James Calhoon of Montana, I don't think they're the same since they spell their last name different, one has a web site, the other doesn't.

JAMES CALHOUN QUALITY BULLETS 6035 PENWORTH RD S.E. CALGARY, ALBERTA T2A 4E9

JAMES CALHOON SHAMBO RT 304 GL HAVRE, MT 59501
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/

aulrich · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2007, 05:26:03 AM »

A hornet and 3500 fps, that could get a guy curious I'll have to give him a call and confirm if he ships north of the border.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2007, 05:33:53 AM »

I suppose the 3500fps is in a 26" barrel.

Tim

Fred M · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2007, 07:02:12 AM »

Tim.
The 22 Hornet does not have enough capacity for a powder that would burn
for 26 ". So any suitable powder for the Hornet would burn in 22" or less.

So a light bullet could crank up a good velocity. Also the B.C of such a bullet
would be low and velocity would drop off fast.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2007, 07:14:58 AM »

I wondered about that, I only get about 2800-2900fps with the 35gr Vmax, 3500fps is quite a stretch, although the 30gr would take less powder space that could bump the load up to 14+grs or so...maybe!!

Tim

aulrich · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2007, 07:52:03 AM »

Yea that is the eternal trade off lighten up the head and the BC takes a beating, Quick any idea what the BC for that head would be.

From what I have read about Mr. CALHOON he probably has data to back that claim up, I do believe he would send data on request.

My guess is that the load uses W296 because when I have seen optimistic/daring 22 k-hornet loads it regularly comes up.

If I was made of money I would have one of his 19 CALHOONS seems like a cool little round, that or 20 vartag in a light walking varminter.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:19:10 AM »

If I ever get a hold of em on the phone, I'll ask, they don't have an email for questions. I'll be probably be using Lil gun with em, it's my Hornet powder, H110 would be my next to try.

Tim

mattparliament · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:21:46 AM »

I get 3050 FPS with my 35 grain V-max with really nice accuracy and 12.3 grains of H110. Really make a mess of P-dogs too!

Fred M · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2007, 11:22:10 AM »

If you guys go on a gopher hunt and shoot 3000 rounds in two days you got
to have nimble fingers and stay up all night and all week to reload.

I know 100 rounds with the 17HRM don't last very long, all gone in a hour in
a good gopher field.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:19:06 PM »

I got em already!! Sent my check off last Friday, got em today!! No data with em tho, but here's a pic of one of em with a 35gr Vmax.

Tim

myarmor · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:21:27 PM »

I don't know if I would try killing a Werewolf with one of those little beans

Sounds cool, let us know how the do for you.

-Aaron

billy_56081 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:54:35 PM »

Keep us posted Tim. I been thinking about trying these bullets in my hornet, as well as some Barnes varmint grenade. The Vmaxes have never let me down, but trying different bullets is a big part of the fun.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:28:03 PM »

I just noticed there's data on the "bottle" they come in. In a Ruger 77/22, they got 3400fps in Rem brass, CCI400 primer, 1.760" COL.
MAX loads are:
13gr AA#9= 3480fps
14.2gr Win296= 3430fps
14.2gr H110= 3430fps
12gr 2400= 3140fps

Reduce loads 10% for starting loads.

Tim

Bob A · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2007, 03:48:29 PM »

Tim,

Any idea about the Ballistic Coefficient for these bullets?

Bob A

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2007, 03:51:20 PM »

No, I tried calling them twice now, their line has been busy.

Tim

aulrich · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2007, 04:53:14 AM »

Judging by the picture I bet the BC is in in the same ball park as the V-max.

It looks like a crater of a HP should make a good splat.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:34:56 AM »

A side by side comparison shows the Calhoon has about half as much bearing surface, so it's gonna be faster in that respect, but I worry about accuracy. $:-\$

Tim

quickdtoo · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2007, 11:10:00 AM »

I wanted to use Lil'gun but looking at Hodgdon's data for it, start loads are 12gr except one, and max loads are 13gr for any bullet they list for the Hornet, so not having any data to work with except the Calhoon data, I'm using H110. I noticed this warning from Hodgdon on H110 and W296...

Tim

Quote

For those loads listed where a starting load is not shown, start 10% below the suggested maximum load and then approach maximums carefully, watching for any sign of pressure (difficult extraction, cratered and flattened or blown primers, and unusual recoil). H110 and Winchester 296 loads should not be reduced more than 3%.

Reduce H110 and Winchester 296 loads 3% and work up from there. H110 and Winchester 296 if reduced too much will cause inconsistent ignition. In some cases it will lodge a bullet in the barrel, causing a hazardous situation (Barrel Obstruction). This may cause severe personal injury or death to users or bystanders. DO NOT REDUCE H110 LOADS BY MORE THAN 3%.

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** June 13, 2007, 03:40:37 PM »

Ok, spent the day at the range, the 30gr Calhoons show lots of promise, but I don't think H110 is the best powder choice, velocity is there, but accuracy wasn't consistent, may have to work with another powder, I still want to give Lil'gun a try. Got a couple 3/4" groups 3 shot groups, but the 4th and 5th were always flyers, but accuracy seemed to get worse the more I shot, could be they foul up more than other bullets, I'll see how much fouling I get from the bore when I patch the WipeOut out of the bore tomorrow.With max loads of 14.2 grs, I got ~3440fps, and they shoot very flat, zeroed 1½" high at 100yds, put them 1" low at 200yds and light wind didn't seem to bother them any noticeable amount, although it wasn't real windy, it wasn't windless either at ~5 mph from the right.

Tim

Pic added, shot 1 was barely on the paper, adjusted scope a bit, #2 was ok, moved to right, 3,4,5 &6 were all shot with the same setting.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #25 on:** June 14, 2007, 05:49:42 AM »

Tim do those bullets have jackets on them ?and what is the alloy thanks Kurt

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** June 14, 2007, 08:06:14 AM »

Yes, they do. I sectioned one, they have a brass colored jacket with a lead core at the rear, the front ~third has no lead, is just the empty jacket. FWIW, Berger also makes a 30gr .224" bullet, with a BC of .193" that looks to have the same shape as the Calhoon, the 35gr Vmax has a .109 BC for comparison.

Tim

d_hiker · « **Reply #27 on:** August 14, 2007, 11:04:16 AM »

Tim,

Have you done any more work with the Calhoon bullets? You had mentioned that you wanted to try Lil' gun. I have been thinking of getting some for my Hornet and/or .223. Are they as good as they sound in the advertising or should I stick with the V-Max in the .223?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #28 on:** August 14, 2007, 11:26:35 AM »

So far, I haven't got the best result with em, velocities are very erratic, dunno if it's because the chrono doesn't read em or if there's actually that much spread, with 13gr Lil'gun, I got velocities from 2898 to 3310!!! With 13.9gr H110, I got my best accuracy, but with velocities of 3428, 3614, 3460, 3466 and 3455, I tend to think the chrono just doesn't see the silver bullets well, I was gonna use a black marker on some to see if the velocity spread diminished, but I forgot to bring it and no one there had one. Gonna try the 30gr Berger next. On the target below, after the first shot, I moved my POA to the top of the diamond to see it I could tighten the group a bit, you know.... aim small, hit small!!

It may have helped with the coarse reticle on the Simmons ATV scope, but it was my best group so far.

Tim

d_hiker · « **Reply #29 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:03:05 PM »

That is quite a spread of velocities. I have never used a chrony before. So I am not aware of probelms that they can have. But I bet that slower larger projectiles are easier for it to detect. I know a guy in the GPS/Electronics forum was having trouble with shade and low light in the late afternoon.