Load for The .22 Hornet

[terrytm]

I am looking for a load for my 40-45gr. lead bollits in my 340 Savage.

Thanks,

Terryt

[dale2242]

Try Unique with a 225438 cast from linotype.

[dave22250]

With Lyman 438 try IMR4227

[Hickok]

H110

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I use RL7

[mainiac]

4227

[6thtexas]

I use either Bullseye with the NOE 45 gr. WFN plain based version or H4198 with either the old Bator bullet or the NOE 45 gr. WFN GC version

[StrawHat]

6 answers, 5 different powders! Not bad, unless you are looking for a specific recipe.

I have heard Lil’Gun is a good powder but have never tried it.

Kevin

[uscra112]

Lil'Gun is brilliant for full-power jacketed bullet loads, but isn't at all happy at cast bullet pressures.

All of the powders above will work for cast if the bullet is cast hard and gas checked. I for one would probably gravitate toward 5 grains of 2400 or Blue Dot. For a plain base Bator bullet I once tried ~2 grains of Bullseye in a 14" barrelled Contender. Accuracy wasn't stellar.

[StrawHat]

Lil'Gun is brilliant for full-power jacketed bullet loads, but isn't at all happy at cast bullet pressures...

Thank you for pointing that out. I knew it but forgot to mention it.

Kevin

[gnoahhh]

Lil'Gun is brilliant for full-power jacketed bullet loads, but isn't at all happy at cast bullet pressures.

All of the powders above will work for cast if the bullet is cast hard and gas checked. I for one would probably gravitate toward 5 grains of 2400 or Blue Dot. For a plain base Bator bullet I once tried ~2 grains of Bullseye in a 14" barrelled Contender. Accuracy wasn't stellar.

I find 6.0gr. 2400 to be a universally accurate load in my four Hornets, with the gas checked Bator bullet cast at 12bhn. For a plinker load I use 2.0gr. Red Dot + 225438 gas checked (accuracy for me is poorer sans gas check), cast at 8-9bhn. In all cases bullets shot at as-cast diameter (large enough luber die employed to merely seat/crimp the GC & lube, and not interfere with as-cast bullet diameter). Small pistol primers employed of course in these loads too.

[redhawk44]

2400 works for me.

[uscra112]

If my remembery isn't broken, 2400 was originally developed for the Hornet, and the number 2400 was the velocity it could achieve.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I like IMR 4227.

[Larry Gibson]

I am looking for a load for my 40-45gr. lead bollits in my 340 Savage.

Thanks,

Terryt

Been shooting various cast bullets in different 22 Hornets since the early '70s. I've settled on a couple loads which have shot well in every 22 Hornet rifle and also my 10" Contender.

In 16" twist rifles with 22 - 24" barrels a 225438 over 1.5 gr will just stay subsonic at 1050 fps +/- with usually excellent accuracy. Ane excellent load for suppressed use or as a standard 22LR equivalent load. The 225415 at 50 gr with a FP did not fair well at this low a velocity in the 16" twist. Sometimes it was decent to 50 yards but beyond it went south.

In 14" twist barrel the 225415 is a favorite for hunting small game. For suppressed use in the 10" Contender and M40 barrels I use 1.9 gr of Bullseye under the 225415. Very, very quiet out of the suppressed Contender and not bad out of the M40 Savage. For unsuppressed hunting loads the 225415 over 4.5 gr of Unique is very accurate in the 1700 - 1800 +/- fps range. For a HV hunting load the 225107 or 225415 ove Blue Dot, 2400 or 4227 in the 2200 - 2300 fps range.

I also shoot the cast bullets "as cast". I will seat and lightly crimp a Hornady GC using the GC seater in a Lyman 450 with a .225 H&I die. I the will either lube the bullets in a .228 H&I die or will simply tumble lube them in LLA. Almost all my sub sonic bullets are lubed with LLA.

Over the long haul having tested many cast bullets I've found the Lovern designed 225462 to be the most accurate cast bullet in 22 Hornets. It's just not the most efficient killer of small game/vermin. The FP'd 225415 and 225107 or similar bullets perform much better.

The thin walled 22 Hornet cases can be a PITA due to the thin necks. I've found that NSing [I use a Redding Bushing die or a Lee Collet die] is best. Backing out a standard FL die usually results in stretched and crooked necks. Also I suggest the use of an M die to expand the thin necks the GC or base of a jacketed bullets is inside the neck. That had brought my scrunching of necks to zero.

[StrawHat]

If my remembery isn't broken, 2400 was originally developed for the Hornet, and the number 2400 was the velocity it could achieve.

Correct!

And the original rifle that aided in the development of the Hornet cartridge was something like this,

316342

This is a Springfield Model 1922 originally cut for the 22 Long Rifle. This one was built in August 1922. At some point it was converted to chamber, fire and eject the 22 Hornet.

Kevin

[Leslie Sapp]

In 16" twist rifles with 22 - 24" barrels a 225438 over 1.5 gr will just stay subsonic at 1050 fps +/- with usually excellent accuracy.

Larry, I've been looking for a 22lr equivalent load for my Savage 340. What powder were you using here?

[Larry Gibson]

Larry, I've been looking for a 22lr equivalent load for my Savage 340. What powder were you using here?

Bullseye.

Might also try 0.8 gr of Bullseye in the Hornet under a 14.3 gr Beeman Crow Magnum pellet. Ran 950 fps out of my 16" twist Hornets with good close range accuracy for plinking and vermin control.

[Leslie Sapp]

Thanks. I'll try that bullseye load.
Does anyone know of a powder that will have most of the case filled and still give good results with reduced loads in slow twist barrels?
I'm looking for something in the 1100 - 1500 fps range with a 225107 or equivalent boolit.

[Shuz]

Any of you Hornet fans have any excess brass?
I have a good friend who is looking for some.
PM me if you do.

[Trapper-Jack]

Graf & Sons have it in stock. $23.19 per 50.

[brokeasajoke]

Any of you Hornet fans have any excess brass?
I have a good friend who is looking for some.
PM me if you do.

https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/73806

[brokeasajoke]

I have used some Trail Boss but wasn't real accurate. 2" at 50yds. Not real loud. I never chronographed them.

[gnoahhh]

Of all the powders I tried in cast Hornet loads, Trail Boss gave the worst results. I could just never get it to return good accuracy. (I don't care much for it in anything else too for that matter. Worst "bang for the buck", IMO.)

[uscra112]

I never tried it in the Hornet, but did in the R2 Lovell, and it stunk. Figuratively and literally. Ditto .38 Special. Didn't even bother to keep detailed notes.