Ok K Hornet guys

[Tenbender]

I just had a 22K Hornet Contender carbine drop into my hands. The only mold I have is a 225438 44gr. .From what I have read that is as good as needed. My question, What BHN ? Just a squirrel and plinker gun. Maybe a crow or two.

[Iowa Fox]

I use straight ww with a little tin, just enough to get good fill out. I use them in the Hornet, K Hornet, 221, 222, 223. The ww are old ones maybe 25-30 years old.

[Tenbender]

I'm thinking 16BHN. That is what your 30 year old ww and tin should be. Unless someone tells me I'm off base I think I will try 16 or so. I will PC so that will help some I'm sure. I know most that shoot 223's , from what I read, cast much harder.

[Digital Dan]

Not long back Larry Gibson suggested that bullet crafted 50/50 WW and Linotype. My purpose was for fire forming and it worked just dandy for that. Then I started pushing them a bit. Old Model 54 of .223 groove, the bullets cast at .225 and were sized to .224 when the GC was installed. Up to around 2300 fps w/o leading and they shoot well enough to take to the field for mayhem.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/fireform50_zpsc1a7cd7e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/fireform50_zpsc1a7cd7e.jpg.html)

[fryboy]

i've only shot a few sample boolits from a like numbered mold in mine , should work fine with several alloys , of course it depends upon how hard you push them , i tend to crowd the upper end of the spectrum and perhaps a waste but i really really like the way straight lino cast , my t/c barrel is a short short carbine , bore is .2239 , usually the older ones are the .223 ones , i size to .225 with wonderful results , i suppose many lubes would work , most i have tried have anyways but i prefer my FWWFL
these tiny boolits ( and the tumble lube types ) are my most challenging to cull but the extra effort has been worth it to me
new or annealed 1x brass i neck up to 6mm and then back down to a tight chamber fit at the neck shoulder junction , best tip ? and ONLY for this caliber would i recommend such but a very very light coat of oil/lube on the case neck with fireforming only loads , doing this alone ( such on new factory 22 H ammo ) has cut my cases losses to almost nil , but of course YMMV

[Gohon]

From my 22 Hornet the 225438 with plain wheel weight alloy, which tests 11-12 BHN, ahead of 3.0 grains of Bullseye is my squirrel load. Clocks just a tad over 1500 fps over the chrony which is a little faster than I wanted but that was the sweet spot for accuracy. At 25 yards it is 1/2 inch groups and just a bit over 3/4 inch at 50 yards. Perfect for the squirrel hunting I do.

[leadman]

I use that same boolit in my 22 K Hornet Contender 21" barrel rechambered from a 22LR. I usually cast these out of linotype just to keep the number of culls down plus I don't have to keep a softer boolit on hand.
I use WC680 for a full load that hits about 2,700 fps or so. This is my longer range jack rabbit, dirt clods, and rock load. I do load it down for close shots at small game also. I did use 3grs of 700X but am out it now but have a pretty good stash of these loaded.

[Larry Gibson]

If you want .22LR ballistics then any alloy in the 10 - 12 BHN range that casts well will suffice nicely. However, if you want to jump up into the 22RF magnum range or into original Hornet velocity range (2500 - 2600 fps) with your Contender carbine a much better alloy is needed. If your Contender Carbine barrel is like the 10" and 21" Contender Hornet barrels I have it has fine rifling that is only about .003 deep. I find the 225438 to be an excellent bullet. I suggest you try the afore mention Linotype and lead at 50/50 or make some #2 alloy. either will give you AC'd bullets with a 15 +/- BHN. If you WQ them or HT them you can expect 19 - 22 BHN.

I also find the old Hornet standby's of 4227, 2400 and 4759 work well. My Contender Carbine barrel is partial to 4759 but it is becoming scarce. Might try H4227 and even 5744. I've been going to test Lil'gun but just haven't gotten around to it yet. It is superb under Hornady 45 gr Hornet SPs.

Larry Gibson