.22 Hornet subsonic!!

[tejano]

Larry, do you use a gas check on these, given the low velocity?

[ReloaderEd]

a standard .22 long rifle is subsonic so I don't see the point of subsonic in a .22 hornet.

[tejano]

55 grains is a heavier bullet and sometimes you can’t readily find subsonic 22 ammo, but you have a good supply of small primers.

[Larry Gibson]

Larry, do you use a gas check on these, given the low velocity?

Yes, because I cast the 22s soft, thus they are more accurate with GCs. I prefer accuracy over any savings w/o GCs.

[Larry Gibson]

a standard .22 long rifle is subsonic so I don't see the point of subsonic in a .22 hornet.

Because I can.
Because I like cast bullets.
Because I like quiet.
Because I don't reload 22LR.
Because I want to.
Because a 55 gr 225415 thumps vermin and small game better than any standard velocity 22LR.
Etcetera ad nauseum.....

Did I mention because I want to...

[MDC]

Does anyone else want to just go hang out with Larry

[444ttd]

yes, please!!!!!

[303Guy]

a standard .22 long rifle is subsonic so I don't see the point of subsonic in a .22 hornet.

Actually they are not. SV can be from 1050 fps to 1160 fps. At cooler temperatures the speed of sound is lower so even 1050 fps rounds make a crack. As Larry has pointed out, it's the speed the air is being forced around the bullet that is the problem. That translates into trans-sonic crack.

So the point of loading a hornet sub-sonic is to tailor the load to eliminate that pesky trans-sonic crack in cooler weather. 22lr can be had at below trans-sonic range but they don't shoot straight in my rifle. I have looked for 22 long but beside being hard to find they are still trans-sonic but just with a lighter bullet.

Just for interest, trans-sonic begins around mach .8 and gets serious at around mach .9 depending on bullet shape. Maximum trans-sonic crack is around mach 1.1 then above that the crack diminishes.

The velocity of standard-velocity . 22 LR rounds varies between manufacturers. Some standard velocity ammo may be slightly supersonic-around 1,125 ft/s (343 m/s), other ammo such as CCI Standard Velocity . 22 LR ammunition is rated at 1,070 ft/s (330 m/s).

At cooler temperatures, speed of sound is 1070 fps, i.e. mach 1. So mach .9 is 960 fps. Mach .9 of 1125 fps is 1012 fps so in normal weather conditions one wants to be no faster than that. Also don't forget that 22 ammo typically has a wide extreme spread. I was shooting 1050 fps ammo and some were just audible while others were loud! Someone measured the ES of that particular ammo and it was something like 60 fps or was it 80?

Thanks for your input, Larry. I shall go ahead and cast up some RCBS 55 gr FN and give them a try. I do have gas checks so I'll use them.

[uscra112]

a standard .22 long rifle is subsonic so I don't see the point of subsonic in a .22 hornet.

I'd agree, except for what I've just gone through over the last couple of weeks trying to rebuild my stock of CCI Quiet! Found a few boxes here and there, but had to pay scalpers' prices. (Quiet does the job for me, no suppressor needed.) Stocks of the "subsonic" brands seem to be better, but not much.

So creating a custom load in a CF cartridge looks attractive.

BUT:

I've got rifles in Hornet and .22 Lovell R2, but they all have 16-inch twist barrels. The Lovells do OK with a 55 grain SP but you have to drive 'em as fast as pressures will allow. How stable will a 55 grain cast bullet be at subsonic fps? Dunno. Do know that the 60 grain Aguila SSS is all over the map at backyard ranges from 16 inch twist .22 barrels; even my best tight-chambered single shots.

[303Guy]

Yes, because I cast the 22s soft, thus they are more accurate with GCs. I prefer accuracy over any savings w/o GCs.

I just so happened to have picked up a boot load of sheet lead. I'll add a little tin for fill-out and give that mold a try. Maybe it will work better than with harder alloy.

It's time my hornet came out of hiding.

Does anyone else want to just go hang out with Larry

Hell yeah!

[303Guy]

I'd agree, except for what I've just gone through over the last couple of weeks trying to rebuild my stock of CCI Quiet! Found a few boxes here and there, but had to pay scalpers' prices. Some of the "subsonic" brands seem to be better, but not much. Quiet does the job for me, no suppressor needed.

So creating a custom load in a CF cartridge looks attractive.

BUT:

I've got rifles in Hornet and .22 Lovell R2, but they all have 16-inch twist barrels. The Lovells do OK with a 55 grain SP but you have to drive 'em as fast as pressures will allow. How stable will a 55 grain cast bullet be at subsonic fps? Dunno. Do know that the 60 grain Aguila SSS is all over the map at backyard ranges from 16 inch twist .22 barrels; even my best tight-chambered single shots.

I just so happen to have a spare Toz 17 barrel lying around with a 14 twist. Never mind that, I have a complete Toz 17. And another model Toz but I don't know what twist it has.

[oldsalt444]

Vihtavuori N32C, aka Tin Star.

[bigdog454]

Too much info. I just took a boolit that I cast lubed it up and found a powder the my 22h like and experimented till it sounded right and hit where I was aiming. Also Look in some of the old loading manuals (from the 60's) for good info on the 22H and cast.
BD