22 Hornet, first shots with rifle and cast!!

[varminter66]

Here are pics of my first try at loading, and shooting cast boolits of Lyman #2 Alloy, in a rifle. The loads are identical, except for the sizing die used.

The first one is sized to .224, the second one is sized to .225 cal. The rifle is a Savage Model 40, 22 Hornet, with Bushnell 4-12x scope, shot at 50 yds.

These targets were shot during testing, with .3 grs powder difference between samples. I am now working to fine tune the load, sampling .1gr powder difference between loads.

All bullets loaded were weighed, within .1grs. OAL was 1.675, with light crimp using Lee Factory Crimp die.

Center ring on the target is 7/8".

I think I can make the group smaller, but I couldn't wait to post for bragging purposes. 8-)

137528137529

[No_1]

The group sized at .225 looks pretty good! Please keep us posted with your progress.

[altheating]

The hornet is addicting. My buddies and I shot over 450 rounds out of five different hornet rifles this past Sunday. Have you tried small pistol primers with your load? I think most guys who have great accuracy With the hornets have gone to SP primers. All my hornet/k hornet loads get a heavy crimp with the LFC die and either 4227 or Lil Gun powder. You will have a lot of fun and cheap shooting with the hornet.

[varminter66]

The hornet is addicting. My buddies and I shot over 450 rounds out of five different hornet rifles this past Sunday. Have you tried small pistol primers with your load? I think most guys who have great accuracy With the hornets have gone to SP primers. All my hornet/k hornet loads get a heavy crimp with the LFC die and either 4227 or Lil Gun powder. You will have a lot of fun and cheap shooting with the hornet.

I do use Fed Small Pistol primers for all the Hornet loads. With jacketed bullets I use Lil Gun, 40 gr Sierra Blitzking, and have chronied that load at just shy of 3000 fps.

This cast boolit load I am working on is for something accurate, that is between a 22 LR, and 22 Win Mag in velocity. I haven't chronied these loads yet; perhaps tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

These Winchester cases were previously used for my full power loads, so they were neck sized for working this load up. I will need to do partial FL resize next time, as some of the cases are a little too snug in the chamber. I expect they will never need FL again, while I load them with the cast boolits.

[bigdog454]

I'm having trouble with my hornet, it is shooting boolets like a shot gun. what powder and what bullet weight are you shooting.
BD

[varminter66]

I'm having trouble with my hornet, it is shooting boolets like a shot gun. what powder and what bullet weight are you shooting.
BD

Big Dog, I am using IMR SR 4759 powder, and the Lyman # 225438 bullet with #2 alloy weighs just over 44 gr. After lubing and putting gas check on, it weighs in around 45.8 grs.

The pictures above were using 5.7 grs of powder. I shot some test loads today, and the loading with 5.6 grs shot the best. My next trip to the range will be with 5 shells loaded to 5.6, and will be shot at 100 yds. I will set up the chrony if time permits.

137582

[GabbyM]

Rem 6 1/2 rifle primers are a mild primer designed back in it's day for the Hornet and Bee size cases. Remington came out with the very hot 7 1/2 primer when they introduced the 222 Rem round.

[44man]

That is a fine group. 4759 is a great powder and works in the 7 R, 7 Waters and 7 BR and is the only powder that works in my 45-70 revolver.

[varminter66]

The group sized at .225 looks pretty good! Please keep us posted with your progress.

Robert, I will do that!

And, thank you for providing a great resource for those interested in casting and shooting boolits!

The people on this site have been stellar with their support, information, and shared experience.

I really appreciate it!!

Mike

[altheating]

Bigdog454, what rifle are you shooting? Does it give you satisfactory groups with factory jacketed bullets? Did you slug your bore? I would start with scrubbing every bit of copper fouling out of that bore. After that make sure you have good boolit to bore fit. My buddies and I are all using the BRP 226-47 Gr Boolit. NOE makes a clone of it as BRP has closed its doors. I have that mold and it is just as good. As far as powder it's either IMR4227 or Lil Gun for all of my Hornet or K hornet loads. Pushing that boolit at 2550-2600 fps is easy with no leading at all in all five of my hornets. Some guys are having good luck with NOE's 37 gr boolit. Me not so much, so I'll just stick with the 47 grainer. Make sure your gas checks are on square and use a good lube. Not sure how fast you are pushing your boolits. It would probably would be best if you gave us a bit more info on the gun, boolit, powder, lube, checks, etc and what you want to accomplish with the rifle.

[kenyerian]

'My buddies and I are all using the BRP 226-47 Gr Boolit" Is this the gas check or plain base mold?

[altheating]

Gas check version, with homemade Freechex III gas checks.

[w30wcf]

About 10 years or so ago I was working on cast loads for the Hornet that would replicate the ballistics of the parent .22 W.C.F. (45 gr / 1,550 f.p.s.).
I also used the 225438 and, in addition the NEI45.

I tested a number of powders and found that the faster burning powders (Titegroup, 231, Unique) gave the best accuracy and most consistent velocities than the slower powders. 5 shot groups at 50 yards were always less than 1". Favorite load was 3.3/231/CCI500 primer but 3.0/Titegroup and 3.5/Unique did well also. I just had more 231 on hand.

You might want to try one of those recipies to see if that would tighten your groups.


A capacity load of 4759 produced .22 Magnum equivalent velocities (2,000 f.p.s.)
4227 & W680 produced good results at standard .22 Hornet velocities with both bullets.


w30wcf

[bigdog454]

I.m shooting an old mod 23 savage, was trying to get 1800 to 2000 fps with either the 44 gr or 55 gr bullet cast hard (about 20bhn).
This ole gun will put 35 gr and 45 gr jacketed bullets into one ragged hole at 50 yards, so I was shocked when some cast woulden't even hit the paper. Ill have to get to the bench and get the mold #s, and I'll try removing copper fouling and get back.
BD

[gloob]

was trying to get 1800 to 2000 fps with either the 44 gr or 55 gr bullet cast hard (about 20bhn). I hope they were gas checked. You might be able to get those kinds of velocities without, but it probably won't be easy, and it probably won't happen with regular 20bhn alloy. 1500-1600 fps seems to be the fastest I have gotten unchecked bullets to group.

[Bad Water Bill]

Watch your twist and speed.

I have watched PBs pushed fast enough with tight twists turn to dust 30-40 feet in front of the rifle.

Keep us posted as you progress.

[MT Chambers]

My shooting/reloading for a .218 Mashburn bee are opposite of some on here, any kind of crimp on this round is an accuracy destroyer, my most accurate cast bullet is the RCBS 55gr gc. bullet, but has to be slowed down to 1700fps or below.

[bigdog454]

Yes they ae Gas checked, the 55 grain is a Lymen 225416, and the 44 grain is lyman 225438. I'll be trying some different loads etc this weekend and will report back on Mon. thats if the weather will co-operate.
BD

[varminter66]

Well, it is time to resurrect this thread, as I have finally been able to obtain some predictable and consistent results shooting cast in the Hornet. Many things have changed over the course of the year. For starters, I have gotten better at casting!... for another, I have changed to an alloy that is similar to Electrotype in hardness... certainly softer than #2 Lyman. I have remedied the gas check problems, have changed to small pistol primers, and am using 2400 powder. I am also getting a good feel for crimping, which seems to make all the difference in the world. Finally, I have found better methods of cleaning the barrel, so fouling is no longer a variable.

The picture below was shot this week, 5 shots at 50 yds, using the Lyman # 225438 bullet over 6.4 grs of Alliant 2400, ignited by a Fed small pistol primer. The first shot was a fouler, and the rest grouped well enough to make me feel confident I am on the right track.

168639

[Shiloh]

I love pictures.

Shiloh

[varminter66]

i love pictures.

Shiloh

lol!!

[Bad Water Bill]

You folks are getting my curiosity up.

Where did I hide mine that even NOAH didn't see them and where are the moulds I hid away many loooong years ago?

[StrawHat]

This thread revival has renewed my interest in the Springfield M1922 I have. It was reworked to handle the 22 Hornet but I have not put a lot of time into developing a load for it, yet.

Kevin

[dudel]

have changed to small pistol primers, and am using 2400 powder.

My Hornets (HandiRifle and Contender) both prefer SPP and 2400.

[kenyerian]

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=24_119 http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=24_119 There is a post on NOE'S Forum about doing an inventory run on the 226-45-BRP. Looks like a Boolit I would like to try.

[JeffinNZ]

NOE 225107 is the bullet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/87da06e9-a68f-4373-81e2-4fd3b16d415a_zpsqviwsx8f.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Shooting%20stuff/87da06e9-a68f-4373-81e2-4fd3b16d415a_zpsqviwsx8f.jpg.html)

50m. 7.0gr of Lil Gun lit by a WSR primer.

[varminter66]

JeffnNZ, that is very impressive... especially using LilGun with boolits. I may have to give that one a try. What alloy are you using for the boolits?

[JeffinNZ]

They are COWW. BHN will be just shy of 10.

[varminter66]

Nice!... For the 22 Hornet, I am using a mixture of WW and 10/1 alloy that puts me very near Electrotype alloy... just shy of 12 BHN. It also seems you are hitting the sweet spot with that load at a very practical velocity for hunting purposes. I am trying to keep mine below 2000 fps, hoping that accuracy such as yours will reveal itself soon! I assume you weigh your boolits before loading them. Do you weigh them after putting on GC? Are you keeping them within .1 gr?

[JSH]

Has anyone by chance tried long shot in the hornet?

[JeffinNZ]

Another member sent them to me to try. I don't know if he weighed them or not. I doubt it though as he using them in volumes you can't begin to imagine. He also sent me the same bullet in a slightly softer alloy with homemade, 2 ply soda can wall GCs. They shot only very slightly larger.
All this said I have to say the little Zastava is a VERY accurate little rifle.