22 Hornet Help

[KCSO]

Having a plethora of parts on hand I took an old Long Tom shotgun action and put in a bushed firing pin. I then took a take off barrel from a Ruger 223 and turned it down and fitted it into the old shotgun barrel for a 24" heavy barreled 22 Hornet. My idea was to make a sort of super H and R Topper for shooting cast bullets.

The problem is that I have never shot cast from a Hornet and have no mould, or bullets. I am looking for a 45 or so grain bullet that i can load to 22 LR or Magnum velocity, a reloadable 22 of sorts. I was thinking a plain base bullet rather than a gas check since I would hate fiddling with 22 caliber gas checks and I am not loking for that much velocity.

I am fairly sure I am not going where no man has gone before so who's done this and what are the reccomendations for a mould?

The barrel specs are 1- 12 twist with a .224 bore.

[paul h]

I haven't cast for a 22 (yet), but NOE makes a nice 45 gr mold

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_226_45Gr._RF_GC__46_gr_Sketch .Jpg

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/22645Gr.RF4cavityGC%20001.JPG

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=569

Even though you're keeping the velocity down, a gas check make's life a bit easier with faster twist barrels, and IMHO 1-12 is the point at which one starts having more issues with skidding and bullet hardness than 1-14 or slower.

[Larry Gibson]

What you need is to find is the 225353 mould which is a PB'd bullet just as you describe you want or have one custom made. A 225428 with the GC shank part reamed out will do nicely also. You can shoot a GC'd cast bullet sans the GC but accuracy usually is ok but not stellar and not up to standard or even HV .22LRs.

I suggest sizing at .225 minimum or leaving as cast and lube with LLA as per Lee's directions.

I also suggest NSing the 22 Hornet cases with a NS die, bushing die or the Lee Collet die. Partial sizing in FL dies almost always results in crooked necks. A standard SP primer will be best and I've found Bullseye to be the best powder for such loads.

Larry Gibson

[JeffinNZ]

My old BRNO Hornet used to love a 225415 over 5gr 800X for 1900fps.

[telebasher]

I think Erik at Hollowpoint moulds will take the gas check ring out of your mould for $20 per cavity IIRC. I have shot gas check boolits sans the check just fine at just under 1400fps. Kills squirrels/rabbits just fine. YMMV

[quilbilly]

I am using the Lee Bator boolit (53 gr) in my hornet T/C carbine. Groups consistently about 2" at 100 yds and when I am having a good day, about 1-1/4". The velocity is about 1800 at the muzzle with 2400 powder. Does fine on coyotes to 100 yards.