Savage 340C--22 Hornet?

[rockrat]

Just picked up a 22 Hornet here. Anyone loading for this gun and what is the max boolit weight for this little thing?. Also, pet loads?

Sorry, no pics yet, cleaning it a bit.

[Larry Gibson]

I had one years ago and it was a serviceable rifle. I let someone talk me out of it after I picked up a #3 Ruger Hornet, letting the Savage go was a mistake. I had bedded it and worked the trigger over to a reasonable crisp 2 lb pull. It also had a K8 scope. I use the old "standard" Hornet load of the .224 Sierra 45 gr Hornet bullet over 11.5 gr of H4227. Velocity was 2650 fps and accuracy was sub moa. These days I would load up the 45 gr Hornady Hornaet bullet over 12.5 gr of Lil'gun and have at it. I didn't try cast in it for some strange reason......

Anyways, they do make nice shooting rifles with a little work. Sure wish I had kept the one I had......:-(

Larry Gibson

[rockrat]

Thanks

[stephen perry]

Larry
The 22 Hornet is the one rifle gun that seems to haunt allot on a Cast Forum. Few of us have ever seen or heard of one. Most times I hear of a Hornet is in a TC not in a rifle. I have brass and dies for a Hornet hoping to go down memory lane with yous that have one. What I have that most don't is a 6 TCU 60 deg in a rifle. Now that's a rare combo mine is on a 722 action, I only shoot Cast in the gun, 12x Leupold Scope Canjar Set with Douglas Varmint barrel. But that damn Hornet keeps eatin at me don't see much to buy. Either a Savage 340 or Ruger 77 would be fine.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[358wcf]

Stephen,
You must be too young to remember the most common and affordable Hornets out there in the 50's and 60's-- Those were the Savage Model 23D and the Winchester Model 43. Both of these basic, serviceable rifes were also available in 25-20 and 32-20 as well, both excellent cast boolit cartridges-- If I remember well, the Winchester was also available in 218Bee, but not to often. There were deluxe versions with checkering as well--
Do a search on the 'net for either, and note the current prices--- Ouch!!! These rifles were dirt cheap in the early 60's--
I grew up with a Win43 Hornet; took 5 or 6 Coastal Blacktails with it, and too many squirrels to count. Gramps had a Savage. Both are long gone today. All except the memory.
If you see one, grab it!

358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

[KCSO]

Loads for the Hornet depend on the twist of the rifling. If you have the older 1-16 you won't be able to go above 45 grains with much sucess in a JACKETED slug. Cast it will depend on how fast you want to push them. I had a Ruger #3 in Hornet and it shot up to 52 grain jacketed very well, but back then I just never shot cast in it. My most unusual hornet was a full stocked H and R break open. It was a buitiful gun but never shot real well and was very picky 40 grain jacketed bullet with 2400, and nothing else.

[stephen perry]

I was 10 in 1960. My first field hunting was when I was 12. My neighbor had one of those Savage O/U his was 22 mag/20 gauge. Later I found out that Savage made the 23D in 22 Hornet. By that time I had my Rem 722/.222.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[218bee]

I have two Win 43's one in 22Hornet and one in 218Bee and love to shoot them.
I have never shot cast boolits in either but plan on trying that.
I'm thinking 45-50 gr may be max but don't know I've never used anything higher than 45 in my Hornet basically because the following two loads shoot so well for me I never tried any others.
These shoot real well in MY hornet..never chrony'd them so cant tell what velocity is and again these are with jacketed bullets not cast.

Sierra 45gr with 10gr of IMR4227
Speer 40gr with 9.5gr of H110

Either will shoot around an inch from my rifle with a old scope and not much effort
Good luck and I believe you will enjoy the cartridge
No need to push it beyond its limits...it is what it is...enjoy it for that
Also beware of double charging your cases and weighing charges....when your using small amounts of powder a 1/2 gr or 1gr can make a big difference

[Screwbolts]

I have a Stevens 322 in 22K Hornet. I K'd myself, my favorite load is the 226-47 boolit from a BRP 6 cavity mold. I drive these with 11gr of 4227 2675FPS and don't get any leading.

Ken