22 Hornet cast loads

[casterofboolits]

I have one of the Navy Arms Rolling Blocks in 22 Hornet and am looking for a cast plinking load for it.

Any suggestions for boolit and loads. Prefer plain base over GC.

[Wayne S]

Not sure what twist your bbl has, my Contenders have a 1-12 and they shoot the NOE 55 FN and the RCBS bullet very well, try 7.0 of 2400, or 5.0 of Unique both with pistol primers.
Do a search, I remember reading somewhere about 3.0 of Unique and a 55 cast going about 1050 fps.

[Larry Gibson]

I've used the Lyman 225438 w/o GC over 1.5 gr of Bullseye for 1050 fps with success in all my Hornets from 12" to 16" twists. Any heavier bullets do not do well past 50 yards regarless of the twist. However, accuracy of the 225438 falls of very quickly if loaded above that w/o GCs. GCs are essential to the best accuracy if the bullet is designed for GCs. A true PB bullet can be driven faster with accuracy up through around 1400 to maybe 1600 fps. The twist of your rifle, as mentioned, will determine what weight bullet will shoot well. A lot also depends on what is good accuracy to you.

Larry Gibson

[leadman]

I use the Lyman Round nose, 45gr GC. I found 700X to be a really accurate and clean powder in my 22 K-Hornet.

[rhead]

I use the Lee Bator bullet and 4.5 grains of 2400. It works well in my handi rifle.

[casterofboolits]

Thanks for the info guys.

[DLCTEX]

I'll bet you have to experiment to find what works in your gun. I went through a number of other people's favorite loads before finding one that mine liked. 3.2 gr 231 and the 225438 GC does it for my Ruger 77/22 Hornet.

[NVScouter]

12g of Lil'Gun over 55g Bator is minute of squirel at 75 yards but thats the best I've gotten with that 55g.

[Dale53]

My Hornet likes either the Lyman 225415 (preferred) or the 225438 cast of straight linotype with a gas check. 3.0 grs of Unique works well. I have had excellent results with small pistol primers with these loads.

My TC Contender Hornet will shoot ½" groups at 50 yards (scoped from a rest). It makes dandy squirrel medicine.

Dale53

[casper_zip]

Howdy to all:

A super good and accurate 22 Hornet load is: 2.3 grains of Red Dot; 55 grain FMJ bullet. I'll run it thru my chorno when I get a fresh battery for it.

For all other 22 centerfires of mine; 4.5 grains of Red Dot with the 55 grain FMJ bullet. This is a super accurate load in my 221 Fireball, 222 Rem; and 223. All of these thru my 10" and/or
14" T/C barrels.

One year I killed 21 big fox squirrels with one shot each from a good steady rest.
This kills squirrels instantly, no matter if you chest shoot them. The bullet drops em right there, doesn't tear them up. They are easily skinned out, none blown to pieces, or half squirrels to skin.

This 4.5 grains of Red Dot in these 22's runs almost the same as 36 & 40 grain rimfires. I have chrono'd this load many times. It runs just a tad faster than 22 rimfires, long rifle. I can go to my data and tell you exactly the FPS and also FPE. This is one load I don't go into the woods without. It's deadly accurate out to at least 80 yards, which is the longest distance I've shot paper targets with it.

All the best,

casper_zip

I love the reduced loads in everything. Call me a cheap shooter, but hey, a country boy has gotta survive. Reason I use the 55 grain FMJ, they are the cheapest I can buy, get them by the 1,000 in a box. One day, when I'm in better health, will cast some 22 bullets, too.

[canyon-ghost]

22 Hornet in 10" TC Contender
Lyman 225438 gas check 45 grain mold
7.5 grains of IMR 4227

[Four Fingers of Death]

Reason I use the 55 grain FMJ, they are the cheapest I can buy, get them by the 1,000 in a box. One day, when I'm in better health, will cast some 22 bullets, too.

I have been using 55Gn Speers in the little green plastic Army style ammo box for years. Half the price of other bullets and work a treat. I don't know how they will go in my new(ish) Tikka with the 1 in 8" twist, but no sweat, I still have a 222 Rem 788 to use them up in.

I also bought a 1000 46Gn Winchester Hornet HP bullets a year or two ago, realllllllllll cheap. Seems everyone wants 30Gn, plastic tipped nastys which are pretty expensive. The 46Gns worked like magic for half a decade of more, can't see them not working now.

I am currently without a Hornet (apart from 17AK Hornet on an Encore) and if the 46Gn bullets and my recent group buy 22 mould do well at Hornet velocities, I might resist buying another, I just plumb have more rifles than I can effectively use, so I need to cut back a bit.

Than rolling block Hornet would be a sweet thang!

[quilbilly]

I just put my first few rounds of CB's through my Hornet a couple hours ago and was amazed. The CB's out-shoot (accuracy wise) all of the J-word bullets (I have tried Speer, Horndy, Sierra, Remington, Nosler, and generics) except the Nosler 50 gr. The Nosler and my Lee Bators were well under 1 inch groups with the others hovering around 1-1/4. All are with 10.4 gr of 4198. I will be curious what the chronograph says soon

[clodhopper]

I'm happy with gas checked 225-438 with imr 4759 in a CZ.

[303Guy]

Any chance of a few photo's, casterofboolits?

[Newtire]

Took out a borrowed Handi-rifle in .22 Hornet equipped with a 10X Bushnell MilDot scope yesterday. One of our trusted friends had already loaded a batch of loads using the Lyman 225415 and 9.7 grains of IMR4227. I had some that I made up using the 52 grain Bator/hardened wheelweights and homemade Felix lube using small pistol primers and different loadings. The MilDot reticle made it nice to adjust for elevation differences. There was really no horizontal stringing at all between any of these different loads. 3.4 gr W-231 gave about the best accuracy with the Bator although everything was under an inch for 5-shots. I also used 9.5 grains of RX-7 and 4.8 grains Unique. I'm reading that I might have tried more RX-7 so will get that loaded up for more shooting next week. The RX-7 went just under .8 inch. The hoarfrost was so thick that it was hard to see to 100 yards so settled for some 50 yard shooting. This is a real fun round to plink with. This is only at 50 yards but showed some promise even in the 1-16" barrel. The real test will be 100 yards though. I was too cold to set up the chrony (wimped out!) but next time will have to get that out.

Temptation overcame me at last weekend's gun show and I caved in to temptation-picking up a Handi-rifle in .280 Remington. My bill at McDonalds that morning was $6.66 so am thinking this thing was pre-destined; I can say that "The devil made me do it!" but can't see how it could be evil.. After all, those barrels are pretty cheap considering.