22 Hornet cast bullets

[Fastleo]

Over the last year or so I’ve acquired 3 different 22 hornet rifles. First was a handi rifle single shot, second was a browning micro a bolt and last a cz 527. Ive grown quite fond of the cartridge for lots of reasons and I’ve only shot factory ammo at this point. Are any of you fine people casting for this cartridge? What molds are you using? I’ve been wanting to find a mold or maybe see if there has been any successful group buys in the past.

Andy

[greenjoytj]

I would be interested in 22 Hornet mold info too.

Didn’t Rock Chuck Bullet Swage Co. (RCBS) get started with 22 cal cast bullets inserted into spent 22 rimfire cases swaged to form brass jacked 22 Hornet bullets?

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I've used the Lyman 225415, sized to .225 with IMR4227 for excellent accuracy in a Savage 219 1-16 twist 26" break open single shot. I do consider 1680, Lil' Gun but the 4227 works well. Also works in Marlin 1894CL in .218 Bee.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I prefer the Lee version of the 22 Bator.
But I also have NOE's copy of the Lyman 225438 and that does well in my hornet.
Reports of the Lyman 225415 also being good in the hornet prompted me to buy a old used mold that I stumbled on at a gunshow. I haven't tried the 415 yet, but I will confess that I am skeptical it will work in my Ruger 1:16 twist barrel...then again, it'll likely do fine to 100 yds, I rarely shoot past 100.

[mvozz]

When it looked like there was going to be an ammo shortage one thing I looked for was a load that could be a 22lr replacement - my 22 Hornet of course. I used a NOE 225-39-FN and loaded it with 2.4 gr of Trail Boss. They shot a little low but 10 shots made 1 ragged hole at 25 yards! Subsonic loads out of a Hornet just makes for more fun from one of my favorite rifles!
283274

[Fastleo]

When it looked like there was going to be an ammo shortage one thing I looked for was a load that could be a 22lr replacement - my 22 Hornet of course. I used a NOE 225-39-FN and loaded it with 2.4 gr of Trail Boss. They shot a little low but 10 shots made 1 ragged hole at 25 yards! Subsonic loads out of a Hornet just makes for more fun from one of my favorite rifles!
283274

That’s a thing of beauty!

[sukivel]

When it looked like there was going to be an ammo shortage one thing I looked for was a load that could be a 22lr replacement - my 22 Hornet of course. I used a NOE 225-39-FN and loaded it with 2.4 gr of Trail Boss. They shot a little low but 10 shots made 1 ragged hole at 25 yards! Subsonic loads out of a Hornet just makes for more fun from one of my favorite rifles!
283274

That is nice!

How do those group at 75 or 100?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lotech]

I no longer have a Hornet, but used the Lyman #225415 (cast of wheelweight alloy, I think) sized to .225". Best accuracy was with SR 4759 and Reloder 7. If I was going to do this again, I'd probably also try #2400 powder.

[45-70 Chevroner]

I prefer the Lee version of the 22 Bator.
But I also have NOE's copy of the Lyman 225438 and that does well in my hornet.
Reports of the Lyman 225415 also being good in the hornet prompted me to buy a old used mold that I stumbled on at a gunshow. I haven't tried the 415 yet, but I will confess that I am skeptical it will work in my Ruger 1:16 twist barrel...then again, it'll likely do fine to 100 yds, I rarely shoot past 100.

I have two 225415 molds. One is an old Ideal single cavity 42gr and a Lyman double cavity 55gr. They look exactly alike except the Lyman is a little longer. They are both gas check molds.They both do well in my Contender 14 " with a 1 in 14 twist.

[richhodg66]

I only shoot cast in the Hornet. I have two main rifles and two loads. The first is a 46 grain NOE WFN design, I ordered my mold with all plain based. I shoot that with two grains of Bullseye and hunt squirrels with it in my Savage 219. The other is the Lee Bator mold Midsouth used to sell, despite it being nominally 55 grains, it is short so flies well in the old twists. I shoot that one cast soft and gas checked in a Stevens 322 with six grains of 2400, both are good squirrel getters, but I've never shot them much beyond about 35 yards which is realistic small game distance in my experience.

[Fitz]

I have a lyman 225415 that i made into a plain base that cast a 54 gr bullet i powder cast then size to .226 and load on top of 3 gr. of red dot and get 3/4 in. goops at 100 yds. more often than not shooting these out of a CPA Stevens with a 28 in barrel and MVA peep sights. velocity probably around 1300 fps.

[dh2]

https://www.mp-molds.com/product/227-640-hornet-mold/?attribute_pa_pb-bb-gc=gas-check
I pick this one up in a group buy, pushing it with H110 going well

[Fastleo]

https://www.mp-molds.com/product/227-640-hornet-mold/?attribute_pa_pb-bb-gc=gas-check
I pick this one up in a group buy, pushing it with H110 going well

I’d sure like to get in on that mold if they would run it again.

[dale2242]

I have had good luck with Lyman 225438.
My Ruger #3 shot 1/2 and 3/8 inch 5 shot groups at 50 yards.
Bullets were cast from 50/50 WW/lino sized .225 and lubed with 50/50.
4.2-4.4 gr of unique was used.
I have not yet shot these loads beyond 50 yards.

[Intel6]

I primarily use two different moulds in my Hornets. The NOE 39 gr. with a GC and the NOE 46 gr. WFN design in both GC and PB. The 39 gr. is what I use in my magazine fed Anschutz's because it is shorter and the WFN I use more in the single shots.

In the Pic below are culls that I sized and GC'd for samples L to R:

NOE copy of the RCBS 55 gr.

NOE 46 gr. WFN plain base

NOE 39 gr. w/GC



283319

[farmerjim]

I use the original Lee Bator with AA 1680.

[dh2]

I’d sure like to get in on that mold if they would run it again.

https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-227-640-hornet-3-cavity-hollow-point-mold-gc-or-pb/

in 3 cavity it is in stock

[mainiac]

225438 for me,,most accurate in hornet and 222....

[Roger Kehr]

Intel6

Pretty little buggers aren't they!!

[beagle]

225438HP and 3.5 grains of Unique give me a nice, accurate, quiet starling load for use around the yard./beagle

[Intel6]

Intel6

Pretty little buggers aren't they!!

Roger, yes they are. I really like these two for the Hornets, they work well for me.

[Wm Cook]

FastLeo, here's an article Beagle wrote on the Hornet. It pretty much covers what works and what doesn't. It was a big help to me.

You can find Beagle's article here. (http://castpics.net/subsite2/ByCaliber/Cast%20Bullets%20in%20the%2022%20Hornet.pdf)
His work was with a 14 twist Ruger 77/22.

Twist rate and how fast you're going to push them kind of determines what length/weight bullet works best. I have the MP 227-640, Lyman 225438, 225415 and the NOE 225-61. I believe your CZ is 16" twist but I'm not sure about the other two. The CZ will probably like the shorter lighter bullets like the MP or the Lyman 225438.

As a disclaimer I K'd mine. Not for power space but to keep case stretching to a minimum and I like to seat on the shoulder. On top of that I neck size. I've been recycling the same 250 or 300 pieces of brass through my rifle for a long long time. For powders most of my time was spent with Bullseye, Red Dot, W231 and Unique because I keep velocities in the 900 to 1300fpm range.

For numbers (gas check and lube) the MP227-640 comes in at .436" / 38 grains, the Lyman 225438 at .531" and 44.6 grains and the Lyman is .614 and 51.9 grain. Those are three pretty common bullets for Hornet with the 225438 coming is as one of the most often recommended. You also have to consider terminal performance between the FP and the RN. Terrific cartridge to work with. Have fun, Bill.