molds and loads for 222 and 22 hornet

[gojo41]

I have never cast for anything smaller than 30 cal. I am interested in casting for the 222 and 22 hornet, would most likely buy a lyman mould, hope to use it for both cartridges.Anyone have advice on which mold and what loads they have used?Thanks

[Wayne S]

What weapons do you plan to shoot these in ?? Different weapons different twists in the bbl's.
Most rifle's chambered in Hornet have a 1-14 twist, Most 222's have either a 1-12 or 1-14 twist. So for both I'ld look at the 45 gn range

[beagle]

If you want one mould from both, and not knowing the twists on your rifles, go with a Lyman 225415 and prepare for some hair pulling. Casting isn't bad but gas checking the little devils is tedious. But well worth the effort.

I use loads in the 1800 FPS range in the Hornet and loads in the 2200 FPS range in the .222. Anything over 2400 FPS will probably require a special alloy from my experiences./beagle

[gojo41]

the hornet is a cz527, 222 is a remington 722, also have a brno fox 222, don't know if I would cast for it, had alot of trouble finding a load for it.

[quilbilly]

My Hornet loves 4198 for jacketed and 2400 for cast even though they are going down range at the same velocity. Haven't shot my 222 with cast enough to know in the rifle but a recently acquired 222 T/C Contender barrel will be CB only when I get around to working up loads.

[runfiverun]

my ruger was super picky about jaxketed loads and ended up in the closet for a looong time because they quit making the powder it liked.

it ended up being more accurate and less touchy using cast boolits.

[.22-10-45]

Hello, gojo41. I shoot cast in both .22 Hornet and .222 Rem. The Hornet is a custom Shillen barreled Sharps-Borchardt with a 1-14" twist. The .222 Rem. is a Ruger No. 1 1-14" twist. For factory moulds I would try the 225415. If your Hornet has the slower 1-16" twist..try to find an earlier 115415 from the 1970's..this was closer to the original design and weighs around 49grs.
I tried for years to get the RCBS 55gr. to shoot..but I think that long unsupported nose was the trouble. I have always gotten best accuracy with H4227.

[telebasher]

Don't forget the 225438, it is a traditional favorite for the Hornet and my Ruger #1 22-250 shoots them into a 1" @ 100 yds.

[gojo41]

Any loads for these bullets in either cal?

[Larry Gibson]

If the Hornet has a 16" twist then a cast bullet heavier than 50 gr will not work very well. I've shot 225415s in numerous 16" twist Hornets over the years and found only one rifle that gave only acceptable accuracy past 50 yards. If your Hornet has a 14" or faster twist then the 225415 can work very well but the 225462 (Loverin style) will be a lot more accurate in both the the cartridges.

The current Lyman 225 428 is excellent in both the 16" Hornet and the 14" twist .222s and is my recommendation for a cast bullet to start with (perhaps end with as I use my 225248s a lot). It does very well in all the twists available for either cartridge. Size at .225 at a minimum but suggest getting a sizer for a lubrisizor for "as cast" bullet diameter. I also much prefer using a Lyman M die vs the Lee Universal as the Hornets necks are very thin and easily crushed when seating. I actually use the M die for use with j bullets in the Hornet also for the same reason.

As to "loads"; what velocity and use (target, plinking, small game) are you looking for?

Larry Gibson

[moon]

I have always used 10grains of 2400-----in 225438

[gojo41]

plinking and small game, praire dogs at 150yds

[telebasher]

I've had my best luck with 11.5 gr AA1680 in a 12 twist Hornet with small pistol primers and 14.5 gr SR-5759 in a Ruger 1-B 22-250. The Hornet will shoot 1 1/4 @ 100 yds on a calm day. The Ruger will group in a honest inch @ 100 yds. I have eleven moulds for 225 Boolits, some are hollowpoints some are standard solid points. If I could only have one mould for the 22 bores it would be the 225438 solid point FWIW.

[303Guy]

Is anyone getting good results with plain base boolits in 22 hornet or 222?

I've only tried the RCBS 55gr FNGC in my 16 twist hornet. Accuracy was no different to the j-words I was trying - not marvellous but there was no difference between the 100m accuracy and 200m. That was H4227. I subsequently got that hornet to shoot 55gr and 60gr j's real well using Lil'Gun. I can't bring myself to try those same casting with Lil'Gun. The RCBS casts were essentially reject as I just could not get decent castings so I could not blame the boolit weight or design. Now if I could find a mold that is easy to cast with and is plain base, I might try again.

[.22-10-45]

Hello, 303Guy. When I sent Fred Leeth of Pioneer Products samples of the old Ideal 22536 bullet I had lathe turned gas check shank on. I asked that he make another plain base mould in identical weight. After nearly 5 years of experimenting, I was finally able to equal best match jacketed bullet accuracy at 100yds with either. Now for pure accuracy..not velocity..the only difference between the two is .3grs.! the checked version liking the heaver charge. Both are cast of steriotype metal diluted with pure lead..quite a bit softer than lino. This was in a .22 Hornet.

[mainiac]

Another recommendation for the 225438,,most accurate .22 boolit for me...........

[JeffinNZ]

For small game I recommend a boolit with a flat nose. Round nose projectiles can be very average stoppers on small game unless moving rather briskly I have found. I like the aforementioned 225415 but you should consider the current group buy NOE 225105 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?130758-225107-noe-sgb)also. Hornets love this boolit.