Author Topic: 22 Hornet load advice? (Read 1408 times)

Erik · « **on:** February 27, 2005, 07:04:34 AM »

I purchased a 10 inch 22 hornet barrel at a gun show yesterday,

I'm looking for advice and hints for reloading this cartridge for the contender.

Also any hunting experiences with this cartridge and gun combination would also be interesting

Duffy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2005, 11:37:40 AM »

Erik
I take it yours is a straight Hornet not a K model.
Things to remember, brass is thin and won't last long if you overload this cartrige. It's very easy to overload as it's capacity is small. I have best luck with 40-45g bullets and WW296 (have alot of it). Hodgdons Lilgun and AA1680 also work well. Be careful with the LilGun, I have run into some high psi and vel with the starting loads in the book. Others havent had any problems but it will zip em out there pretty good. (40g@3000fps) Small pistol primers will sometimes give better accuracy with certain loads and powders. With a good scope or eye's, rockchucks and the such are fair game out to 200 yards+. Larger animals like coyotes would probably go down too with a well placed shot but that might be pushing it a bit. It really makes a mess of robins and crows.
It's a fun cartrige to shoot and is fairly inexpensive too.

Erik · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2005, 12:51:08 PM »

Thanks Duffy,
It is a factory hornet, I'm currently making a list of materials ie.(dies,bullets,cases) for a order to Midway. I'll try starting out with WW296, think I may have some in stock.

The 22 hornet out of a 10 inch barrels effectiveness on coyote is a question I had been wondering about (we have plenty of coyotes around here)

lefty41 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2005, 02:50:31 PM »

Duffy,
Sorry to but in on this but I too have a question about the 22 Hornet. Just posted in the reloading area, but you sound as if you may have my answer.
First, what book are you mentioning about the starting loads for Lil gun?
My setup is regular hornet, 12" contender barrel using Winchester brass, WSR primers, Sierra 55 gr. SP and 10.3 grains of Lil Gun. Is this a safe load?
Thanks for any and all help.

22popnsplat · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2005, 04:54:43 PM »

try this

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/22hornet.php

I have had my best success with 40 grain v-max and 4227 powder or 1680 , I know alot of people have had good luck with lil gun but I have yet to give it a honest effort.

Curtis · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2005, 05:16:05 PM »

Duffy, check the lot number on your lil'Gun and make sure it is not part of the recall. http://www.hodgdon.com/news/lilgunrecall.php

Lot #103080221 of Hodgdons LIL GUN 1 lb. containers

It was recalled because of irregular pressures.

Curtis

Duffy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2005, 10:23:23 PM »

Ok I'll go down the list.

First off mine is a 22K Hornet 15" Bullberry 1:12 twist for the Encore.

Curtis, no it's not the lot # that was recalled but I wonder if they missed some.

Lefty41, The manual I have is the yearly handbook and some of the loads just don't look right. They will show 12-13 grains for several different weight bullets and higher loads for the regular over the K. I loaded a 40g Vmax with 12.5g LilGun, WSR in WW cases -.030 from the lands and was getting 3300 fps! The action was sticky to open so I dropped back to my 296 load of 11.8 and they were still running 2900-3000 but at least the psi was down. Others have said they are loading 13g with no psi signs. That Sierra bullet shoots pretty good in mine, you'll just have to try one to see what the psi is doing. It's hard to tell from one bbl to another and one batch of powder too. So far the worst I've seen is that it stretches the brass and loosens the primer pockets.

Erik, I was able to get around 2700 out of my old regular bbl and that should take out a yote to 200 yards or so. You may be running around 2500-2600 from the 10". Its not going to blow em up like a 22-250 but should leave a heck of a mark! I know at 100 yards that 40g vmax @ 2700 will punch a clean hole through a piece of 1/4" angle iron.(my target stand)

Bullets that seem to shoot well are the Hornady VMax 40g, Nosler 40g BT and the 45g round nose Hornet. The Sierra Hornets work pretty good too. I might even try some of the Hornady FNHP bee bullets for yucks. They should splat pretty good.

FWIW I also found that WW Small Pistol primers give me about 100 fps more vel than the SR primers and this makes no sense at all except that it may be getting a better burn.
Yesterday I shot a load of 11.5g 296 with a 40g Vmax seated .025 off, with WW brass and a SP primer. Vel av was 2709 es of 19 and a three shot group of .16 @ 50 yards.
Think I found my load!

Hope this helps some of ya.

Sixgun · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2005, 04:26:06 AM »

I shoot a hornet for NRA Hunter Pistol. Here are some things that will help you get good results.

Winchester Brass has a uneven rim thickness and will cause lots of problems with misfires. Get Remington brass.

Use lower pressure loads and your cases will last a long time.

The Lee Collet die will help with accuracy and brass life. My first 200 cases have lasted through 10 loadings. I annealed the necks at 10 loadings because they were starting to split. I have loaded some of the annealed cases 3 more times and they seem to be going strong. Just a note, I haven't had to trim the cases since I started using the lee collet die.

You can use a handgun scope but you don't have to. a rifle scope with a taco hold will give you more stability for offhand shots and you can get more quality for less $ with a rifle scope.

My barrel works great with jacketed bullets up to about 52 grains. I started shooting cast bullets last year and will never go back. I get more volicity with less powder. Accuracy is just as good and is excellent and I can shoot a 60 grain bullet which gives more pound seconds at the target. 3.5gr of W231 with a rcbs 55 bullet gets sub moa at 100 meters and will knock down rams every time.

Sixgun

lefty41 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2005, 05:46:18 AM »

Thanks Duffy and sixgun for your replies. I will do some more homework. In some yearly manual I found 13 grains with the 55 grain bullet, but can't lay my hands on it now. Using Lee dippers the .7cc throws 10.3 grains of Lil Gun and my scale verifies that. thought it might be a good starting point. Will look into buying some Remington brass also.
thanks again!

Duffy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2005, 07:16:16 AM »

Sixgun,
I have that RCBS 55g mould and tried them in my old bbl but havent had a chance in this new one. They worked great for fireforming too. Problem I had was the first ones I loaded a bit too warm and got leading but once backed down they do shoot pretty good. Might give your load a try. I havent had any problem with the WW brass so far but have heard others that have. I have a small batch used for testing that has right at 15 loadings on it and still looks good. Thanks

Erik · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2005, 10:24:08 AM »

Thanks Sixgun
I have heard off people using rifle scopes on handguns, the other handguns I own that have optics on them recoil to much for that to be safe, I would like to give a rifle scope a try on my 22 hornet, what is the best way to hold the gun I'm not familiar with the "Taco Hold"

I gave up casting bullets many years ago, are their any commercially available cast .223-.224 bullets that would be appropriate

This could be a good excuse to start casting bullets again
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Nate C · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2005, 11:08:15 AM »

This is not a floor-burning load, and its not much of a hunting load - but for targets and/or silhouettes here is what I used in my 10" TC hornet.

9.0 gr H110
52gr Match HP Sierra
CCI Small *Pistol* primers.

This load would shoot into <.5" at 100yds with a 3-9x scope from sandbags. I found that recoil was so slight that a rifle scope could be used.

hth,

Nate

Sixgun · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2005, 04:08:39 AM »

Erik,

A "taco hold" is what the silhouette guys use to shoot off hand with a rifle scope on a pistol.

I shoot right handed so I will describe that for you.

The right hand is on the grip and the left hand holds the bell of the scope. Hold it that way and adjust the distance from the eyepiece to the eye so you have a full field of view. This hold will hold the pistol just as steady as is possible.

Variations are to hold the barrel with the left hand or, if the scope is mounted too low to get ahold of the barrel or the scope, hold them both.

You can also use this hold with open or receiver sights on a TC. Instead of grasping the barrel, just rest the barrel in the "V" between your thumb and index finger.

CAUTION, make sure none of your hand is in front of the bore.

Sixgun

Erik · « **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2005, 07:08:26 AM »

Thanks for all the help,

It should give me a good start working up loads for my new 22 hornet barrel

I'll try mounting a rifle scope on it and give the "taco hold " a try. (thou a picture would help with that) :-)

Thanks Erik

Nate C · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2005, 07:58:58 AM »

http://www.ihmsa.org/int26/R3.html

Scroll about 3/4 down the page - the photo labeled "small bore firing line" has a guy in the background using a variation of the Taco hold.

Although he is doing it with open sights, the posture and angle are pretty much the same as if with a scope.

Good idea to wear safety glasses that first time

- Tho' you should be wearing safety glasses anytime you shoot anyway...

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 01, 2005, 04:14:45 PM »

Have had a Hornet barrel for years. H4227 seems most consistant. About 11gr with the 40gr bullet your barrel prefers. Not the fastest, but easy on brass and frame. Will handle most chores including coyotes, but after about 50 yds you need more bullet (and powder) than the Hornet packs. 110, 296 and Lilgun seem too touchy on pressure and accuracy. If you need much more power its time for a bigger chamber. Its a fun caliber, not a firebreather. BOL

nfmMike · « **Reply #16 on:** March 02, 2005, 06:32:49 AM »

Sixgun, Nate C - is the left hand turned to face the target, and the pistol rested in the "V"? And Sixgun - how do you mean "hold the bell"?

I am looking for a hold for my Hornet, and it was suggested to bring it in instead of holding fully outstretched with both hands. What do I know? I want to shoot this thing, but have NO experience with single shot long pistols.

Perfect thread for what I need to know, I do so want to shoot this well and have fun. It's a 12" .22 Hornet with open sights

Sixgun · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2005, 06:49:47 AM »

Mike,

Hold your left hand in front of you with the back of your hand to you. Between your thumb and index finger, is a "V". Lay the barrel in that "V". Now hold the gun in close. The sights should be as close as if you were shooting a rifle. With a receiver sight, get as close as you can get without the hammer hitting you when it goes off, or getting beaned by the recoil of the gun. With a riflescope, you want to get close enough to get a full field of view through the scope.

This hold works better with a receiver sight, such as is sold by Williams, than open sights, but open sights will work. I have to tell you though, I shoot much better with a receiver sight than open sights. A little more info on the apature used with a receiver sight. If your eyes are old like mine, you will need the smallest apature you can get. I think I use a .040 or .050. Any bigger and the front sight gets fuzzy.

The "bell" refers to the bell of the scope, or the front part of the scope.

nfmMike · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2005, 07:09:58 AM »

So with a scope, you sort of wrap your fingers around from the bottom and hold it with fingertips?

And I didn't know there were reciever aperture sights for the Contender. I'll have to look into that. At the moment, I still have 20/15 vision, but that can change in time. And also, like you said, there is much more information given the "peep". One of my rifles has it and it's all I need for it's range.

Thanks for the information, gives me hope that I will enjoy this firearm.

Steve P · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2005, 10:49:27 AM »

How the He!! do you get a photo in here? geesh.
I have photos of taco hold being shot in competition.
One of the best is Joe Cullison who lead IHMSA with big bore record entries last year. Would be happy to send out.

Steve

tedfl · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2005, 05:23:51 AM »

I had talked to a guy at Hodgdon last week about Lil Gun loads for the 22 Hornet using 35 through 55 gr bullets and with a 12 inch barrel (G2). I asked him if there was any load data difference for a 12 inch barrel and the 24 inch barrel that they use when testing the loads shown in the Hodgdon data. He told me it made no difference regardless of barrel length. The Hodgdon data shows 13.0 gr max for 35 and 45 gr bullets. There is a note that says to reduce by 10% for starting loads which would be 11.7 gr. He told me that Hodgdon recommends starting at 12.0 gr of Lil Gun for bullets 35 gr through 55 gr. I loaded a 55 gr Sierra SBT with 12.0 gr of Lil Gun in a Rem case and Rem 7 ½ primer. In looking at the primer after the shot, the primer was cratered where the firing pin had struck. I then loaded the same setup using 11.7 gr and blew the primer clear out of the case with the case stuck in the chamber. After trying to break the action open very hard a few times the case finally came out. Scared me, I dont think I will try Lil Gun again unless someone has shot it safely.
Tedfl

hivel37 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 08, 2005, 07:40:44 PM »

I have a t/c 10" and a ruger 77/22 hornet. For the t/c, I use 9 gr Hlilgun and 45 gr sierra. The rifle gets 12.5 gr of the same powder. I have not chronographed this load in the rifle, but signs are ok. Am going to try 8 grs in the t/c tomorrow. If it will take the 100m ram, thats the load I'll use.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2005, 01:57:23 AM »

MyWW 22 Hornet brass WILL NOT hold 13gr of Lil'Gun. It runs over! I have loaded 12.8 and it was compressed while seating 40gr V-max no more than one bullet diameter deep(if that much). That load gave great accuracy and none of the pressure signs ya'll are disscribing. However mine only chronoed about 2900 out of a 21" barrel. Haven't shot any out of my 10"er. There obviously is a lot of variation going on here. I hate to here it because my Hornet was really liking this stuff. :shock: :shock:
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt :-D :-D