22 Hornet

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
Got a Hornet a while ago. Jacketed shoots okay but want to explore cast. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Kevin
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
I'm interested in the answers to this. My Hornet has only used jacketed. Does expanding the case for cast cause problems? Hornet cases are pretty fragile.
 

richhodg66

Well-Known Member
I have been rather successful using cast in the Hornet, but had a pretty limited scope for what I wanted to do with it. If you're wanting to approach full Hornet loads or shoot at 100 yards, I can't help you.

I got my first Hornet out of frustration over the rim fire shortage a few years ago. After playing a little with some standard Lyman molds, I bought a four cavity NOE of their 45 grain WFN with all plain bases. These shoot squirrel head accurate from my old Savage 219 using two grains of Bullseye. In fact, that 219 has become my favorite squirrel rifle and just generally poking around in the woods gun.

A Stevens 322 came along shortly after, and I bought one of the limited production Lee Bators Midsouth used to sell (the one now is not the same). Suprisingly, due to its short design, it stabilized in the old twists and I cast a bunch up, very soft, gas checked them and shoot them with 6 grains of 2400 in the Stevens which won't feed that WFN NOE. Also very accurate at realistic small game ranges.

I use a set of the Lee collet neck size dies and a Lee Universal expander. I have not found the Hornet to be any more difficult to load than any other cartridge. Hope this helps.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
The Lyman 225438 seems to have a pretty solid following.

I don't have a 22 Hornet rifle, but I do have a factory 22 K Hornet barrel T/C Contender single shot pistol.

I've always shot fast burning powder like B'Eye, Unique, Amer. Select.
Mine loves the 44 grain, 225438.

" K-Hornet " may join this conversation ?
I'm certain he would have some ideas that would be helpful to you.

Ben


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RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
While I don't shoot my Savage 23 Hornet much with cast, the Lyman '438 and 3 grains of SR7625 or Unique is the best for mine. The bullet unsized is .227" and I shoot them unsized with a smear of lube put on with my finger in an unsized case. They are loaded single shot.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have 10” ‘Tender rechambered from Hornet to K Hornet.
the Lyman 438 shoots pretty well. Unique isn’t a bad choice and does well in the 1600 FPS window. Never shot it much with hotter loads as I wanted to use it for squirrels.
The brass is very fragile. Don’t let the case mouth hit the bottom of the die or it will be ruined.
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
My son has one of the Winchester Low walls made in the last few years in 22 Hornet. It's got the slow twist so shorter bullets are best, no 40 gr v-max or BT. I've threatened to get a mold several times, think it would be fun at 22 mag velocities.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Brad doesn't like the 10 " K Hornet because it isn't loud enough for him.

Ben :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
 
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Bill

Active Member
For close to full speed it's hard to beat 12 grains of aa 1680, 12 on down of 2400 is great in my 21" tc carbine, also played with 7 grains of sr 4759 just to say I shot it in every thing it worked very good for mid level power, no gas check and 3 or4 grains of reddot was like 22lr, I found small pistol primers had less vertical and better overall groups with all the loads, the little rifle lived behind the seat of my company pickup for 20 years when I worked in the oilfield and killed coyotes right and left

Bill
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Lyman #225438 sized at .225"--9.0 grains of Alliant 2400--Rem #6-1/2 primers (CRITICAL!)--W-W cases. Almost 2400 FPS, 1.3" to 1.7" groups at 100 yards. They seem to "go to sleep" between 100 and 200 yards, groups ran 2.75"-3.0" at 200. 92/6/2 alloy, LSS Carnauba Red lube.
 

Intel6

Active Member
I like to use the NOE 225-39-FN in my mag fed Anschutz's because of the profile. They shoot well in all my hornets but I typically use them for the mag fed repeaters. I use the 225-46-WFN (I have both plain based and GC'd moulds) in my single shots. My cast loads are typically 1680 or 2400 but I have loaded the PB WFN's with a low grain weight of fast pistol powder for very mild loads.

While I do PC now I have not tried it on the .22 Cal stuff.

In the pic are some culls I sized for examples. L to R:

NOE copy of the RCBS 55 gr.
NOE 225-46-WFN PB
NOE 225-39-FN

22 cal bullets.jpg
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I haven't tried it in the 22 Hornet's 1-16" twist rate, but I doubt that RCBS #22-55-SP will stabilize well. I ran the Greenhill Formula on that bullet, and at 1800 FPS it requires a twist in the 1-13.7" ballpark "on paper". FWIW.
 

John

Active Member
I haven't tried it in the 22 Hornet's 1-16" twist rate, but I doubt that RCBS #22-55-SP will stabilize well. I ran the Greenhill Formula on that bullet, and at 1800 FPS it requires a twist in the 1-13.7" ballpark "on paper". FWIW.
I can confirm it prints sideways at 25 yards with 5 gr Red Dot.
 

Intel6

Active Member
The 55 gr. in the pic was just another .22 cal bullet and I specifically didn't say anything about loading it in the .22 Hornet. It just happened to be in the pic.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have shot many a LEE 50g BATOR powder coated and gas checked on top of Red Dot hoots exceedingly well from my H&R K Hornet at fast LR or slow mag velocities.

cw