New CZ 527 American 22 hornet

[NebraskaHunter]

Hello.This is my first post. After reading the post on the cz 527 in 22 hornet I decided to buy one. It is not the easiest gun to find. But I located 2 of them. One had an ugly stock (plain dark peanutbutter) and one had a beautiful light nicely figured stock. I wonder why the difference?  Anyway I walked away with the nice looking one. Just setting it up. I have a nice buckmaster 4x14 side focus scope to go on this rife. I will put it on in a day or two.  Then I will post some pictures.  This is not my first cz hornet.  I had one about 8 years ago. I let it slip away in a trade.  I regretted it ever since. This new cz is the best looking one I have seen so far. Anyone know why it would have a different piece of wood that the others?  I do reload. I am going to start with a 50gr sierra and 10.3gr of 296. This is right out of the sierra manual and should give around 2500 fps. I have no idea what I will use this rifle for but I sure like the look and feel of it.  I like the idea of cheap reloading and shooting.  I know for sure this will ride with me this winter in the truck on my commute back and forth to work. I run about 45 miles each way. About half that is on country roads.  Does anyone have any experience with the load I am going to start with?  I will be shooting anything from rabbits (to eat) to coyotes. Glad to get any reloading advise you may have for this rifle in 22 hornet.
NebraskaHunter

[boogerman]

I tried the 50gr. Speer TNT with Lilgun and 296, and accuracy was not very good.  My rifle seems to like 40gr. bullets best, especially Sierra #1385 40gr. hp with max load of H-110.    Have some 34gr. midway dog towns loaded, going to try them next.  I still have a lot of combos to try, its all fun.  I will say, so far my rifle does 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups with any good 40gr. bullet and most powders suitable for the hornet.

[NebraskaHunter]

I took a good look at my new cz today. It turns out the stock is a laminated stock. That is why it looks so good. I am sanding out the stock right now to free float the barell. It has pressure all along the right side. Then I will get out and shoot it.  I may try some 45gr bullets along with the 50gr bullets. I have had good luck in the past with 296 so that is the powder I will start with. For my needs accuracy of 1.5 inches and under will be sufficient. If I get that or better I am satisfied.   

[NebraskaHunter]

I have completed my quest for the right load for my 22 hornet. I did find that the 40gr bullets with Lil'gun and a small pistol primer did the trick. The loads I tried are==

40gr sierra hornet bullet (.224)
13gr lil'gun
small pistol primer (cci)
Seated to the depth recommended in the sierra manual.

This load was superbly accurate in my cz 527. It shot as good as I could hold the rifle. I got 5 shot groups from one ragged hole to the largest group of 1 inch. When I did my part the groups ranged 1/2 to 3/4 inch.
this load was so stable and predictable that I am sure the variation in group size was my shooting ability. I settled on this load. I don't know for sure without a chronograph but suspect speeds of 2800fps.

I also tried
45gr hornaday
296 powder
small rifle primer.
This grouped around 1.5 to 2 inches.

also tried
sierra 50gr
lil'gun powder
small rifle primer.
this grouped around 3 inches.

I don't have to look any futher. The 40gr sierra hornet bullet and lil'gun is good enough for me. While I like heavier bullets I will use whatever shoots the best. I don't think anything I shoot with the 40gr bullet will know it wasn't hit by a 45 or 50gr slug. I wasn't looking for speed but the 40gr load that shoots good for my gun is pretty darn fast at a predicted 2800 to 2900 per manual.  As an added bonus those semi pointed round nose bullets fit my clip perfectly and function just as they should. I love the look of the semi point round. It just looks like what I think a hornet cartridge should look like. Now to get out and use it.
Nebraska Hunter.

None of the heavier bullets did well in this cz rifle.  Thanks to those who took the time to list loads for me to try. It steered me to the 40gr bullets.

[lakota]

My buddy has a Hornet Load he uses for small game- He uses a  40 gr soft point 218 Bee bullet and an IMR powder I cant remember which one but it results in a compressed load and it performs like a hot .22 LR. Chronys at about 2000 fps and doesnt destroy much meat. I'll ask him about it and post it back here. He gave me a few loads when I had my Hornet and I killed a few tree rats with them they worked great.

I miss my Hornet too. I traded it off and I really like the rifle I got in return but I think the Hornet is a very interesting little round.