Hornet is giving mixed signals

[aulrich]

I am getting some really mixed pressure signs from my 22k-hornet. The load 50 gr sierra and 13 grains of lil'gun Winchester small pistol primer. I have been through a couple of hundred of these loads this summer with no problems, but lately (read as the weather got cold)  I get the odd one that looks like an absolute over pressure. one on the weekend the head stamp was gone !!, the next one was fine the 3 before were fine.

None of the brass had been fired more than 3 times.

It has been a while since the bore got cleaned.

Could inconsistent ignition from the small pistol primers in the colder weather be causing detonations?

Regardless I am shelving the remaining loads at leas till the weather is warmer, though I am considering pulling the bullets and tossing the brass.

[quickdtoo]

Hodgdon recommends WSR primers, FWIW, I think I'd drop back to 12gr and change primers, work back up.


Tim

[aulrich]

Yes all the data says small rife primers though in the pistol section of Nosler #5 they mention using small pistol primers for accuracy.

Timing is not good for this I leave for Christmas (and some  jack rabbit hunting) in two weeks , not much time for load testing. But there is no choice other than it does not make the trip

[LaOtto222]

Tim is correct about the small rifle primers; however...The new Speer book uses small pistol primers in their data (CCI of course). They state that they get more velocity and lower pressures with the small pistol primers. They even state that if you use small rifle primers to cut back the powder charges. Hodgdon their is part of their data along with 296 and H110 as well as 2400 and other common powders for the 22 Hornet.