NOE , .22 Cal. MX arrived today.

[Ben]

Already been outside casting with the new mould today.
I'll focus 1st on plain base MX's. If I can conquer that, I'll move on to higher velocities with the g/c version of the MX.

Cast some VERY nice bullets this morning.
Can't wait to test these in my .222 SAKO rifle.

The NOE 55 gr. MX reminds me a lot of the .30 cal. SAECO # 315.
By the way, the plain base # 315 is one of my all time favorite PB .30 cal. cast bullets.

Here is " Big Brother " and " Little Brother."



Ben

____________________________________________________

The mold has 2 cavities that are plain base ( on the left in the photo ) and
2 cavities that are g/c ( on the right in the photo ).











It is definitely a tapered bullet.......see photos below.

 

[HARRYMPOPE]

That's a good mold that's from my sample I sent Al. Its looks like its the "ex" not the shorter one.For plainbase I've had really good luck with the to 225438 with thinned alox with 3 g. of any fast powder.

 

[HARRYMPOPE]

I've had good luck with it in 1-12 rifles I'd be curious how it works in your 222. I use it shorter one in 1-14 rifles

 

[Ben]

George,

My .222 has already shot the 225462 very well.
I hope it will shoot the MX as well.

Ben

 

[HARRYMPOPE]

It should shoot it pretty well if it shoots the 462. I've just never shut it in a slower twist gun.

 

[JWFilips]

Ben,
Looking forward to hearing how it shoots!

 

[300BLK]

I have that mould in GC form. My Hornet didn't like it or anything else, so the Hornet found a new home. I need to try this one in an early 60s Sako 222Mag.

 

[HARRYMPOPE]

My savage 12 bvss 22-250 shot it great.I won a caet bullet match against 30 calibers one lucky day.as for hornets,I sold all of mine because the 222 is more flexible and accurate.Truth be told I hate the Hornet.

 

[Ben]

There are a few accurate .22 Hornets out there.
However there are MANY MANY more out there that people have spent a fortune on bullet molds, etc. trying to get them to shoot and they finally gave up and sold the rifle.

Ben

 

[HARRYMPOPE]

I had a cz 527 that shot the 35 vmax 3/4" and less.but it shot no other bullet as well and choked on cast.but my old 788 .222 shoots cast and light hornet bullets better than most hornets do.in fact the 22-250 loaded to hornet velocity is also great.the '250 is my favorite .22 cast bullet gun.

 

[JWFilips]

Gee I think My friend Ed will be quit disheartened by this talk! But I think you guys are right!
Jim

 

[Ben]

Ed may prove us wrong ? ?
-------------------------------------------
My take on this is :
If you like nostalgia, the .22 Hornet may be a good choice.
If you want some good groups, the .222 Rem is a much better choice.

Ben

 

[Brad]

I like the Hornet as a cartridge. I dislike the Hornet as it is made as a rifle. I don't think the rifles are ever made to be very accurate, or certainly that doesn't seem to be a major concern.
The ability to download a 222 or 223 to Hornet level ballistics makes rifles chambered for those cartridges a wise choice. They also don't have brass so fragile that looking at a case neck wrong creates a lost case.

 

[Ben]

One other point, the chamber tolerances of the Hornet and a target grade .222 or .223 aren't even close.

I've talked to gunsmiths that say the majority of Hornets they have examined had " sloppy " chambers.

You're right Brad, the Hornet necks are super fragile.

Ben

 

[KHornet]

Well just to disagree a bit on the Hornet somewhat. Tend to agree on the regular hornet, but if you open them up to the K version, you have a different animal, or at least I did with my #3 Ruger. On a calm day with 35 gr Hornady blts, it will stay under an inch at 100, even after over 3000 rds. Have taken p-dogs with it in excess of 250, but that is stretching it, and it is best to 200. It is also an excellent cast shooter, and have taken p-dogs at a bit over 125 yds cleanly with 225415HP. But then, maybe I have an exception to the rule.

 

[KHornet]

And agree with Brad and Ben of how fragile hornet brass is.

 

[300BLK]

My 1st Hornet was on a Stevens 44-1/2 with relined barrel (mismatched). It shot tiny groups at 50 yards with plainbase bullets, but someone offered me more for it than I could refuse. 15 years later I was offered a Ruger #1 at a price that was difficult to refuse. The memory of the Stevens sealed the deal, but the Ruger blew primers with factory RP loads! It didn't shoot cast worth a hoot, so it became the basis of someone else's project.

 

[JWFilips]

My buddy Ed has a Ruger in 22 Hornet: It has been all over the place shooting wise. (& we shoot at 50yds!) Yes it shoots copper ok but not great! It shoots all cast not really well But his 222, 222 mag and 221 fireball all shoot great with cast. I may just have to break the news to him! ( Maybe he will sell it to me & I can get it rechambered to a K-Hornet!)

 

[Ben]

In defense of the Hornet, I once owned a K Hornet, ------- it was a real shooter.
40 years ago, I shot a Win. Mod. 43 in standard Hornet. Case head separations were common with that rifle ( a classic signature of the weak , springy action of the Win. Mod. 43.)

I guess I got off on a bad footing with the .22 Hornet.

Ben

 

[45 2.1]

As to Hornets.... several people I know have the Browning micro hunter. It gives accuracy in line with all the other mentioned 222 and above rifles with cast (on the order of 1/2 MOA). The CZ is close to it in some of the rifles (about 5/8 to 3/4 MOA). Rugers seem to be a few do and a lot don't..... forget the H&R's. Over large chambers are the biggest cause of accuracy problems with them. Some of my friends who shoot these use small pistol primers and Lee collet dies...... those two items help a lot. Me... I'm still looking for a left handed Browning micro hunter..... and I really don't expect to find one.