Longshot data for .22 Hornet???

[shooting on a shoestring]

I'm about to try Longshot in my Ruger #3 with 225438 GC boolits in water quenched WWs, lubed with Felix lube.

I haven't come up with any starting point. Any ideas?

I've thought about averaging the starting load charge weight of Unique and the same for 2400 and using that for the starting load for Longshot.

[beagle]

I've used 5.5 grains of Longshot with the Lyamn 22596, the 225450 and the RCBS 22-55-SPHP in my M77 Hornet.

All three loads ran a tad over 2,000 FPS.

I'd start with 5.0 grains and work up./beagle

[shooting on a shoestring]

Thank you sir.

I believe I'll start at 5.0 and see what happens.

[Bullshop]

Just thought I should mention an experiance with longshot in the 22 CCM case.
Acording to the burn rate charts longshot should be about perfect for the CCM. Powders in burn rate between about 2400 and lilgun give top velocity and longshot is right in there.
In several atempts to work up loads with longshot things would be going well then there would be a pressure spike that would pearce a primer. After a couple tries with it I gave up on longshot in the 22 ccm.
The hornet has enough more room that it may be more forgiving but I do recomend you proceed with caution.
BIC/BS

[shooting on a shoestring]

Well that could explain the dearth of load data. It may not be suitable due to spikes.

I'll proceed, but I'm not looking to run at the high end of the envelope, just somewhere between 1500 and 2000.

Thanks Bullshop.

[beagle]

You may be right. I'm only sending data that I've used. I can't guarentee it free from problems.

Approach any new powder with caution./beagle

[leftiye]

Have you looked at Lil Gun? It's a slight bit faster than H110 (seems) and seems to avoid the low pressure problems that can be had with H110 and 296. Just what I've read (caveat). I think (IIRC) that Beagle might have used it in his 22 Hornet article on Castpics. I opted for 2400 as I'm not running very hot loads, and thought it would deliver good consistency and ignition. Case full of powder as they say.

[beagle]

Yes, Lil Gun is a good Hornet powder and I use it a lot. Also, it's a great .45 Colt powder with heavy bullets. Check Hodgdon's site for data on the .45 Colt including published pressure figures.

I tried Longshot because I looked at its place in the burn rate chart./beagle

[shooting on a shoestring]

Just tried 5.0 gr Longshot, 225438 GC WWWQ'd

2017fps/28 sdev/2" at 100 yds
2010/26/2.25"
1960/45/2.125"

Looks like paydirt at first strike.

Thanks Beagle.

Leftiye,

Yep I've used Lil'Gun, H4227, H4198, H110, W296, 2400, Blue Dot, Herco, Unique, Red Dot, Bullseye and now Longshot.

Varying degrees of success.

[Bullshop]

57 fps ES, what primer are ya using? I just couldnt be happy with that, even though it may shoot good it would still bug me until I got the ES down.
I have always had real good performance with Fed #100's in the hornet.
What is the #438 a 45gn?
Dang I have not tried longshot in the hornet but you are giving me the erge.
We are about -35F right not but they are telling us its going to get really cold for the next week or so. Maybe I can fight the erge for awhile longer.
BIC/BS

[leftiye]

SO(a)S, So which powder impressed you most favorably? (Don't leave us hanging)

Bullshop, So when is the underground tunnel firing range going to happen? (I've been thinking about that idea for about 30 years now - not started yet )

[shooting on a shoestring]

Bullshop...CCI400 on that load. Oh the ES is worse than you know. Ties into Leftiye's question...I haven't yet loaded a good load for this little Ruger. That's the main reason I keep trying. In fairness, I've only loaded this rifle in cast boolits about the last two years or so. I've had the rifle since second or third grade, early 70's. I've killed a bunch of p'dogs with it while I was growing up in eastern New Mexico, used jacketed though. I seldom got groups under 2 inches at 100, most just seem to get to 2 inches and won't shrink farther.

The best grouping load I ever had was 6.0 gr Unique...gave 1 to 1.25" pretty regularly. It sure was hard on brass...too much pressure.

So far velocity leader with cast is Lil'Gun. I've seen 2679 fps with 45 gr 225438. Groups ran 1.75 to 2.125. H110 has given 2509 with 2.125" groups at 100.

Longshot at 5.0 gr, only load I've tried, ran 2 to 2.25 inches for the above 3 groups.

Still a work in progress w/o much progress.

[Bullshop]

Try some mild SP primers with that 5gn longshot. That may shrink the ES some.
I like the Fed #100 it is a very mild primer. Also the Rem 5 1/2 is a fairly mild primer. The Rem 1 1/2 is very mild but also has a very thin cup that will pearce easily.
These primers have sure helped me to reduce ES in the hornet and other very small cases.
BIC/BS

[shooting on a shoestring]

Good idea. I think its time to pry a few $ out of the wallet at Sportsman's and bring home a box of Fed 100s. I've just recently run out and only have CCIs and Winchesters in stock at the moment.

I've only shot the rag tag end of a tray of Rem SPs. Some Dad dropped on me years ago, burned them up lighting Bullseye in .38s. I may have to investigate Remington primers again in some broader applications. That would be impetus to spend more quality time at the loading bench and range. I like it.

[leftiye]

Your hot load of unique being most accurate suggests that maybe a larger boolit (or maybe a softer boolit that would bump up better) might help - FWIW. Size to fit the freebore (if no freebore - at the smallest .001" over groove dia).