First trip to the range with the 22 Hornet

[SM Bob]

Thursday I loaded up 198 rounds of 22 Hornet ammo using Lil' Gun
with Hornady 35gr V-Max and Sierra 40gr Hornet Varminter bullets.
I say I loaded 198 rounds because I "ganked" 2 cases loading the 35gr
V-Max because the bullet got cocked in the seating die and ripped the
case open. Just my opinion, but I wasn't impressed with way the
Hornady's seated in the cases. I felt like I was "walking on eggs"
every time I seated one of them. they also would get stuck in
the seating part of my Lee die. A quick chamfer on the seating
part of the die with a countersink fixed that  The Sierra's were
were the exact opposite. You could seat them in your sleep.
Just like 158gr JHP's in a 357 Mag. I used two different powder
charges of Lil' Gun with both bullets. 12gr and 12.5gr.



Anyway, I made it down to the range this morning around
7:30 A.M. It was just me and the two range officers until 9:30
when some other people showed up. Once I got the Hornet
sighted in at 50 yards I fired groups with all the different loads.



The 35gr V-max were a little erratic. The Sierra 40 gr Hornet
Varminter bullets worked much better. This thing is a laser
death ray at 50 yards! It has a bit of kick to it as well. I had
never shot a 22 Hornet before. I was very impressed! I
moved out to 100 yards to see what it would do.



I managed this group with the Sierra 40gr in the 1 inch range!
Not bad for the very first time out using my own untested
reloads. This rifle is awesome! It has some major potential!
The 4-12 Bushnell Banner worked pretty well. It isn't
the ideal scope for prolonged 100 yard target shooting,
but for medium varmint hunting it will work just fine. I
fired all the ammo I had and wanted to fire some more!
I plan on ordering more brass and bullets soon. Right
now the 22 Hornet has to be my favorite Handi. It
is amazing that a round can have that much punch with
only 12 grains of powder! I should have got one of these
a long time ago. The barrel only got lukewarm after firing
35 rounds back to back. If you are "on the fence" trying
to decide if you want to get a Hornet or not, I say get
one. You won't be sorry.

                       Robert

 

[stimpylu32]

Robert

Nice shooting , as for the 35s , i ran into the same problems when using them in my 218 Bee . the 40s did a much better job and loading was much easier too .

My Hornet barrel came last week and was off to the smith before it ever saw a round , from your report i may have to get another to keep as a Hornet .

stimpy

[Bob A]

Robert,

Welcome to Handi Hornets. I really enjoy mine.
I gave up on the 35 VMax and the Speer  TNTs. I had the same issues as you.
The 40 VMax a boat tail bullet that is a pleasure to seat. It centers itself and never get in crooked
(at least not yet and I'm well over 400 rounds loaded and shot).
I have also found that the short bullets - like the 35 Vmax give me flyers every 5 or 6 shots.
Maybe its my loading technique, but I get very consistent groups with the 40s and Lil'gun.
I load the 40 VMax longer than spec. You can't really play with OAL with the short stubby 35 and 33 grain bullets.
One of the nice things with the Handi, your OAL isn't constrained by a magazine.

Bob A

[SM Bob]

Bob,
I ordered a Lee hand press. I plan on taking it to the range
to load up some rounds with different o.a.l.'s I'll give the
40gr V-Max a try too. This Hornet is awesome!

                              Robert

[quickdtoo]

Good shootin Robert!!

Tim

[just bill]

Nice report Robert,

I have the same scope on my Handi Hornet. At 100 & 200 yards you my want to try a different target with a diamond or similar bull as it would be hard for me anyways to get a good bead on that type bull, with that scope.

The lil hornet gets blown around easy at 100 unless its dead calm out.

I am currently shooting the Sierra Varminter 40s also.  Mine likes 40s and my best groups have come from the 40 V Max (puts 5 shots inside .5 at 50 yards)  Next up is the Seirra Blitzking 40s as I here they are more explosive at lower velocitys.  You were smart to first test loads at 50 yards with the Hornet before moving to 100 and play around.  Did yours shoot the 12 gr Lil Gun load & Varminters better than the 12.5 gr loads?

I have Lil Gun & Win 296 powders.  Mine much prefers the Lil Gun.  I have had good results with CCI & Fedl SR primers, so I have not tried others.

How is your eye relief with that scope and the long length of pull with the Handi re-coil pad?  If your stretching as I was you may want to order a butt plate from Brownells to replace the recoil pad.  You gain about 1/2",  I prefer it.

Again very nice report Robert, nice looking Handi Hornet, good shooting,etc.  Your right the Hornets are a hoot to shoot and are ideal as a walking woodchuck gun, colony varmints as they just dont heat up at all, calling gun,etc.   BTW-  I reload at the bench with a Lee Classic Loader and a plastic mallet,  its fun to tinker around with such while there.

Thanks

[bigjeepman]

Robert ...

I agree. I think that rifle is going to be a real shooter for you. I do not know anything or have any experience with the Hornet but it sounds like a fine round. You mentioned the "kick" to the Hornet and I took it as you feeling more recoil than you expected. What is it comparable to?

I also noticed you said what "punch" it had with only 12gr of powder and that the barrel was only "lukewarm" after 35 rounds fired through it. This all sounds really good to me. What kind of range are we talking about here for ground hogs, prairie dogs, etc? Is 150 yards reasonable?

bjm

[SM Bob]

Bill,
I'll give that diamond a try. I see some guys at the range using them sometimes.
Mostly at the longer ranges. (200-300 yards)
The wind was blowing when I was shooting. (steady 10mph with stronger gusts)
It didn't get blown around as much as I thought it would at 100 yards. The 17M2
and 17HMR are way more wind sensitive.
Mine seemed to prefer the 12gr charge of Lil' Gun over the 12.5 I think I will
stick with the 12gr for now. More isn't always better.
I use CCI primers about 98% of the time. Sometimes I use Winchester.
I have no issues with eye relief or length of pull. This rifle and scope fit me like
an old comfortable pair of shoes.
I agree with you. This is an awesome setup for a walk around varmint terminator.
I have one of those Lee Loaders for 12ga that I have used before. It works good.

BJM,
Yea. I was surprised by the recoil. It seemed to be about 70% of the recoil of my
223 bull Handi. Noise was around 80% compared to the 223. These are just estimates.
For a case that doesn't have a sharp shoulder and only holds appx. 13 grains of powder,
I was surprised by the by the power this cartridge has.
I couldn't believe that the barrel didn't heat up after all the blasting that I did with it.
My Marlin 983S 22 Mag's barrel gets hotter with less rounds through it than the Hornet's
does. After 20 quick rounds down the Marlins tube it was too hot to touch. It is smaller in
diameter than the Hornet's though, but you get the idea.
I haven't used it on any critters yet, but I believe with practice I could regularly obliterate
rabbits with the Hornet out to 150 yards. The Hornet is one sweet shooting rifle.

                                                               Robert
 
 

[Inrut24/7]

I can get my hornet to shoot the 35 grn v-max about as good as you got the sierras to shoot, but i agree they are a pain to seat. I am shooting a slightly bigger charge of 13 grns lilgun.

[Bob A]

Am I the only one using 13.5 gr of Lil'gun? The Hornady book says 13.7 is max but I found the 13.5 with the 40 Vmax gives me the best consistency.
And I have also been impressed at how cool the barrel stays.

Bob A

[SM Bob]

Bob,
On the Hodgdon site the list 13 grains of Lil' Gun as the maximum charge for 35gr-50gr
bullets.

                                                  Robert


                                                       

[Bob A]

Bob,
On the Hodgdon site the list 13 grains of Lil' Gun as the maximum charge for 35gr-50gr
bullets.

 I have the Hodgdon data but Hornady and Speer both have recommended loadings over 13.0 for their specific bullets. Its not unusual for Bullet manufacturers and Powder Manufacturers to have differing max loads. My general rule is to stay within the the Powder company's max unless a  bullet company has other data specific to their bullet. ie. I wouldn't use the Hornady load with a Sierra bullet. Of course, I always work my way up, watching for pressure signs as I go.

Bob A                                              


                                                       

[SM Bob]

Bob,
On the Hodgdon site the list 13 grains of Lil' Gun as the maximum charge for 35gr-50gr
bullets.

 Its not unusual for Bullet manufacturers and Powder Manufacturers to have differing max loads.

Bob A                                             


                                                       

You learn something new every day! I didn't know that.

           Robert

[handirifle]

I think the rifle's a piece of crap, it wastes WAY too much target.  Send it to me and I'll see to it it makes better use of the entire target when you get it back.