First trip down the 22 Hornet Rabbit Hole

[Herb in pa]

I ordered up the NOE 225-46 gas check mold in the 3 cavity Brass configuration. After doing the recommended thermal cycling I cast my first slugs for testing. I preheated the mold on an old Corning Lab hotplate and began casting, it took about 3 casts to begin pouring wrinkle free bullets. I sized them to .225" and decided to try good old 2400 for my first outing and loaded 5 groups of 5 using 6.5,7.0,7.5,8.0 and 8.5 grains. I shot these 50 yard groups off a bag @ 50 yards and was pleasantly supplied at 2 accuracy nodes at 6.5 and 8.0. I need to load more @ 6.5 and 8.0 and then refine the powder charge. The 6.5 grain load went into .663" and the 8.0 grain went into .857. Not much vertical with the 6.5 but my friend the wind was doing it's thing.

 

[Herb in pa]

Forgot to add...….1 in 16 twist Anschutz 1730

 

[Spindrift]

Now, that’s really nice! Excellent shooting and results! Are your bullets lubed with conventional bullet lube?
Anschütz really knows how to make accurate small-bore rifles, don’t they?

 

[Pistolero]

Good results right off the bat. No PD or groundhog would know the difference between the
two loads.

Bill

 

[Herb in pa]

I'm using LBT Blue

 

[CZ93X62]

I got some GREAT results using 2400 in 22 Hornet with an old ideal Lyman #225438. 9.0 grains gave (well....) 2400 FPS and 100 yard 10-shot groups of 1.3" to 1.7". The wind in Inyokern where I shot these groups over 3 days stops blowing for about 20 minutes per decade. 92/6/2 alloy, LSS Carnauba Red lube, .225" sizing. The third day had much lighter winds, and at 200 yards all shots stayed inside 3" (5-shot groups).

 

[Intheshop]

Nice Herb,thanks for sharing.

One thing you can play with is seating depth,now that you've found a cpl nodes. See if it changes group shape....

IF,and that's a big IF..... it does take out some horizontal,then go back and work with the powder/load.

 

[KHornet]

Good reports!

Paul

 

[fiver]

that wind will get you.
I done a write up over at the CB site before the big wipe that showed how much horizontal dispersion the wind would throw on even 30 cal bullets at 100 yds.
I got lucky with the wind staying steady one afternoon but switching speeds as the afternoon wore on.
I had Littlegirl shoot several groups using the same aiming point, ignoring wind speed, and I corrected for the wind showing the actual group sizes.

 

[KHornet]

The hornets I have had, and in particular my #3 Ruger KHornet.
Have been the "funnest" rifles I have ever own, 10 lbs of lead and
a pound of Unique and 2400 will offer a wale of a lot of sooting
pleasure. Within their limitations they will do just about anything
you ask.

Paul

 

[Herb in pa]

Trials continued today. I shot 8 five shot groups again @50yards. Powder charges went from 6.0 to 7.5 grains of 2400 in .5 grain increments. Each of the 5 shot groups on the left utilized Federal Small Pistol Match primers, while those on the right were primed with CCI BR4 primers. Results as follows:
6.0 grains...….1.221" Pistol, 1.070 BR4
6.5 grains...….1.103" Pistol, 1.169 BR4
7.0 grains...…. .338" Pistol, 1.088 BR4
7.5 grains...….1.221" Pistol, .864 BR4

Next attempt will 10 be shot groups @6.8,7.0, and 7.2 powder charges with the Federal Match Pistol primers.

 

[fiver]

don't be afraid to venture off to the other end of the primer spectrum.
I use a LOT of SR Magnum primers in the little cases, actually way more than in the larger cases.

 

[Herb in pa]

I'll also be trying small pistol magnum primers next go around.

 

[Herb in pa]

Testing continues, better QC procedures need to be initiated in bullet selection. I shot 5 ten shot groups again @ 50yards with both small pistol and
small pistol magnum primers. Results as follows with 2400 powder

Small Pistol Primers: Group 1 7.2 gr 1.370, best 4 .657" Small Pistol Magnum Primers Group 2 7.2 gr 1.094, best 4 .610"
Small Pistol Primers Group 3 7.4 gr 1.359, best 4 .543" Small Pistol Magnum Primers Group 4 7.4 gr 1.077, best 4 .574"
Small Pistol Primers Group 5 7.6 gr 1.256, best 4 .854" Small Pistol Magnum Primers Group 6 7.6 gr 1.538, best 4 .996"
Small Pistol Primers Group 7 7.8 gr .877, best 4 .738" Small Pistol Magnum Primers Group 8 7.8 gr 1.142, best 4 .677"
Small Pistol Primers Group 9 8.0 gr 1.211, best 4 .717" Small Pistol Magnum Primers Group 10 8.0gr 1.243, best 4 1.026"

Time for more stringent inspection and 10 shot groups............

 

[fiver]

amazing how they track along, then kind of fall apart, then track along again isn't it?
you can see the powder areas where a little tweaking of a few things [neck tension/crimp/oal type stuff] could make for a pet load.

 

[Herb in pa]

Yesterday's test utilized slugs sized to .224", again with Alliant 2400. Results as follows for 5 shot groups @ 50 yards.

Target 1 5.4 grains 1.275" best 4 .907"
Target 2 5.6 grains 1.005" best 4 .941"
Target 3 5.8 grains 1.399" best 4 1.018"
Target 4 6.0 grains 1.310" best 4 .485"
Target 5 6.2 grains .801" best 4 .780"
Target 6 6.4 grains 2.057" best 4 1.208"
Target 7 6.6 grains 1.623" best 4 1.142"
Target 8 6.8 grains 1.248" best 4 .643"
Target 9 7.0 grains .517" best 4 .373"
Target 10 7.2 grains 1.244" best 4 .511"

 

[fiver]

seems to really like 7grs.

 

[Herb in pa]

Next time I'll shot groups with 7 grains , 20@.225" and 20@.224"

 

[Herb in pa]

I will repeat the testing with 7 grains and 20 rounds sized to .224 and 20 rounds sized to .225 and report back!

 

[fiver]

I think your close to one of those powder loads that will be pretty tolerant of other minor changes.