Author Topic: Case head separation in 22 Hornet (Read 972 times)

Reloader · « **on:** June 26, 2003, 06:00:12 PM »

I was shooting up some ammo in my Thompson Contender 22 Hornet the other night when I noticed the tell tale bright ring about 1/3 of the way up the case. Upon further investigation one of the cases had a hairline crack about 1/2 way around. These were loads that my father loaded and I do not have the data as to how many times they were loaded. The data I do have shows that the load wasn't overly hot.

I was wondering if this problem was more apt to be caused by oversizing of the case or too many loadings.

I bought some new brass that are on their second loading with no sign of separation yet and was just wondering how many loadings are normally allowed with this cartridge.

For the price of 22 Hornet brass I'd just as soon stay on the safe side.

IronMonkey · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2003, 02:50:32 AM »

People who shoot 22 Hornet with silhouette always say that they are rather finicky. You have to make sure that you bump the shoulder back just barely enough to let the sized case sit flush in the barrel with the extractor out of the way. That way you have only changed the dimensions minimally. Some people neck size, but that is notoriously known for being problematic with TC's. Just my 2 cents. Dan

KN · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2003, 12:16:16 PM »

I would guess it's just a case of too many loadings. I always try to keep track of how many times my rifle cases have been loaded. That way if I start having problems I just throw out the lot. KN

Loader 3009 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2003, 03:42:33 PM »

Reloader,

I, too, shoot .22 Hornet Contenders. One a pistol and the other a carbine with a custom Bulberry barrel. Regular dies continually stretch that thin brass and will cause the separation that you describe. I have found that Lee Collet Dies work best as they don't stretch the brass.

I always use fire-formed brass for best results. You should full length resize new brass with a regular die, then use nothing but the Lee Collet Die from then on.

If you have more than one Hornet, do not mix the brass. The brass from my pistol will not chamber in my carbine.

I prefer Hodgdon's 'Lil Gun powder, a Winchester or CCI small PISTOL primer and a 35 gr. V-max bullet seated as far out as possible (I don;t have my figures handy) and crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp die. Try this combination and see if it don't make you grin. A 40 gr. hollow-point also works well and will shoot to the same point of aim as the 35 gr. I also moly-coat my bullets and polish them afterwards, but you may not choose to do this.

Bullseye · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2003, 07:27:01 PM »

I neck size mine and am on my 4th loading with this batch of brass. Have not seen any that appear ready to fail yet.

Nobade · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2003, 05:20:37 AM »

Yep, had 'em do that during a match. That's frustrating! I neck size with the Lee die, and use the slowest powder I can for the velocity I want - about 1800 fps for silhouette to keep the pressures down. They last a long time if you do that. Also, the RWS brass is the best. Next is Winchester and I won't even mess with Remington - I get two loadings out of it.

Jay HHI6818 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2003, 05:24:10 PM »

What brand are you using. I shoot the 22 Hornet for silhouette and I use Winchester brass. I have been told by other silhouette shooters that Remington brass will seperate in 3 or 4 reloadings and the Winchester will not. I'm only on my 3'rd reloading and I only neck size part of the nexk.

KYODE · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2003, 02:03:01 AM »

the only seperation i've had was a 6x47(222mag necked up) in a 15" bullberry barrel. i was a rookie reloader and full length sized till the press camed over. this created too much headspace in that particular barrel, with those particular dies. the case stretches too much and separates. you just want to barely bump the shoulder if full length sizing.

Sixgun · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2003, 03:49:40 AM »

I shoot a 10" Hornet on my Contender frame for NRA Hunter Pistol Silhouette. I use 8.3gr of H4227 with a 50gr Winchester bullet, CCI Small Rifle Primer, and REMINGTON Brass. I only use the Lee Collet Die. I am on my 9th loading for this brass and am having no sign of problems. In fact, I have not even had to trim the cases yet and I measure them before each loading. It is probably because this is a real mild load. I only get about 1550fps but this is enough to knock down the 100 meter rams.

I started with Winchester brass and had nothing but trouble. I had lots of miss fires where the fireing pin never even hit the primer. I got to looking into it and determined that the thickness of the rim on the Winchester brass was not consistant. I unloaded some of the rounds that miss fired and rubbed them on a file, to reduce the rim thickness, and tried them again and they worked. I had the same problem with my 30-30 barrel and Winchester brass. Needless to say, I don't use Winchester brass with rimmed cases in my contender anymore.

Sixgun