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Thread: 22 Hornet cast bullets

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    22 Hornet cast bullets

    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

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    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?

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    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.

  4. #4
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    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
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    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.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
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  5. #5
    Boolit Man
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    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!
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by mvozz; 05-21-2021 at 01:24 PM. Reason: Typos

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by mvozz View Post
    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!
    Click image for larger version. 

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    That’s a thing of beauty!

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by mvozz View Post
    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!
    Click image for larger version. 

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    That is nice!

    How do those group at 75 or 100?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    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.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    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.

  10. #10
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    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.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    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.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
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    https://www.mp-molds.com/product/227...b-gc=gas-check
    I pick this one up in a group buy, pushing it with H110 going well

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by dh2 View Post
    https://www.mp-molds.com/product/227...b-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.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    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.
    Last edited by dale2242; 05-23-2021 at 07:43 AM.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master

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    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



    Click image for larger version. 

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  16. #16
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    I use the original Lee Bator with AA 1680.
    There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide. Ayn Rand

  17. #17
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fastleo View Post
    I’d sure like to get in on that mold if they would run it again.
    https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-...mold-gc-or-pb/

    in 3 cavity it is in stock

  18. #18
    Boolit Master

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

  19. #19
    Boolit Bub
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    Intel6

    Pretty little buggers aren't they!!

  20. #20
    Boolit Master


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    225438HP and 3.5 grains of Unique give me a nice, accurate, quiet starling load for use around the yard./beagle
    diplomacy is being able to say, "nice doggie" until you find a big rock.....

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check