Sizing back to parent cartrdge

[catmandu]

I was given a box of 22 K Hornet.
I have a stock 22 Hornet.
Can I size them back to the parent cartridge?

Paul in WNY

[BK7saum]

You can, but where the crease of the sharp neck and shoulder were may cause some issues with hardening/separation. I wouldn't convert all at once. I might form 5 and shoot them to failure (or at least 5-10 times) to see what the results are. if they fail on the first firing or two, you won't have wasted all the brass. I would trade or sell to someone with a K-hornet.

As K-hornet, they should last almost forever if not overloaded.

[CastingFool]

Should he anneal them before resizing back to 22 Hornet?

[Winger Ed.]

Should he anneal them before resizing back to 22 Hornet?

I would encourage it.

[15meter]

I would not anneal first, usually when you anneal you get the shoulder soft enough to crumple.

Try a couple of cases in a full length hornet die, SLOWLY. Into the die until you feel resistance plus .050", back out and turn the case a quarter turn and back into resistance plus another .050". Repeat until full length sized.

There is a reasonable chance it won't work, if it does work, keep doing.

If it doesn't work, try straightening the case back out to close to a straight cylinder, then re-establish the original taper/neck with the standard Hornet die.

A universal depriming die with a 30 caliber tapered plug for the straighten of the shoulder may get you there. LOTS of lube on the plug and ID of the case.

Redding I know makes long tapered expanding plugs.

Anneal AFTER the reforming.

Good luck.

I've done a bunch of forming over the years, the straightening then reforming the shoulder from scratch has worked for some silly reforming things I've done.

Post what works(or just as importantly, what doesn't)!

[15meter]

I would not anneal first, usually when you anneal you get the shoulder soft enough to crumple.

Try a couple of cases in a full length hornet die, SLOWLY. Into the die until you feel resistance plus .050", back out and turn the case a quarter turn and back into resistance plus another .050". Repeat until full length sized.

There is a reasonable chance it won't work, if it does work, keep doing.

If it doesn't work, try straightening the case back out to close to a straight cylinder, then re-establish the original taper/neck with the standard Hornet die.

A universal depriming die with a 30 caliber tapered plug for the straighten of the shoulder may get you there. LOTS of lube on the plug and ID of the case.

Redding I know makes long tapered expanding plugs.

Anneal AFTER the reforming.

Good luck.

I've done a bunch of forming over the years, the straightening then reforming the shoulder from scratch has worked for some silly reforming things I've done.

Post what works(or just as importantly, what doesn't)!

After a good night's sleep, 30 caliber may be taking it up further than you need, I'd be tempted to try 260 Remington or a 270 Winchester expander first.

[MarkP]

You will probably need to make them cylindrical first like a 270 Ren.

[catmandu]

Thank you, some very good advise.
I ordered a cartridge chamber gauge, Plan to make sure what I do meets minimum specs.
Per the advise given I will work on a few, make sure it works before continuing.
Thanks for the answers and help.

Paul

[Geezer in NH]

I would find some who will trade your K-hornets for regular hornet case.

[catmandu]

I got some tIme in the shop to look over this and have determined they are not K-Hornet, just Hornet brass that has a odd extra swell in the neck. I picked up a Wilson chamber gauge and they mostly fit. I Googled up a side by side pic of a Hornet / K-Hornet and that is not what I have. I would guess either someone did a weird partial neck size or used a 223 expander. Either way, I can use these and it’s nice to have a few more to reload.
Thanks to all who responded and I am now thinking about annealing these. It’s alway great to hear from others and the advise will work on some 358 Win that I am making out of 308 brass.

Thanks again,
Paul in WNY

[15meter]

Annealing will certainly help with case life, not as much as you would like, most of my hornet case lose has been from burn through about half way up the neck as opposed to brittle neck splitting.

Next cause of case lost is case head separation. Annealing won't help that.

I think annealing helps but not like other thicker cases. But I do load them hot. There are Ruger #1 and #3 specific loads in an older Hornady manual that pushes the Hornet pretty hard.

Shoot them til' there gone, the Hornet is just too much fun not to shoot.

[Rich/WIS]

At one time had a Ruger No 3 in 30/40 Improved that I replaced the barrel on with a take-off No 3 barrel in original 30/40. At the time had about 200 casing formed for the AI and being cheap decided to see if they could be saved. By partially FL sizing and then rotating the case was able to salvage most of them. I did anneal before doing this concentrating on the sharp shoulder, none collapsed but the lost cases had definite small wrinkles at the neck shoulder junction. Have not had issues using them for my cast loads, but the loads are mild, about 1600 fps with 173 gr 311291 boolits sized .310.

[shaggybull]

Lots of people looking for 22 k hornet maybe make a post to trade