Titegroup in a Hornet

[six_gun]

I shoot a 225450 Lyman over 4 gr of W231 at about 1600fps for NRA Hunters Pistol Silhouette.

Last year I won 4 lb of Titegroup at a match and have thought of using it, instead of the w231.

I looked for some loads, to start with, and have come up empty handed. It seems that according to the guys that make the loading manuals, you should only shoot jacketed, 40 to 45 gr bullets, as fast as they can go, in a Hornet.

If anyone has a good starting place for Titegroup in a Hornet, I would be interested in hearing about it.

Sixgun

[w30wcf]

Howdy Six-Gun,

I have used Titegroup in my '43 Winchester .22 Hornet in .22 W.C.F. duplication loads. 3.0 grs. / CCI500 primer = 1,550 f.p.s. in the 24" barrel under the NEI 45 gr. g.c. bullet. 3.3 grs. of 231 produces pretty much the same velocity. Accuracy with both powders was very good.

Based on that a 10% reduction from your 231 load using Titegroup should put you in the same ballpark. Of course different lots of powder could equal slightly different results.

Have fun.
w30wcf

[Duckiller]

Have an older H&R 22 Hornet that does not consistantly shoot anything. Factory ammo probably the best, reasonable group with only one flyer that doubles size. Best J handload has slightly larger groups. Monday before rain started, I shot cast ,40 gr, with 2.0-3.7 gr 700X I got pattern not group. Extra full at 50 yds. Only reason I have kept gun is my daughter likes it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks

[w30wcf]

Duckiller,

What 40 gr. mold are you working with? Powder / Charge wt? I've basically used 45 gr bullets (NEI 45 and Lyman 225438) in the Hornet with good success. I have found that cartridge OAL to be important in getting good accuracy.

My best cast bullet groups came with the bullet about .03" back from the rifling which in the case of the NEI 45gr.bullet in my '43 WInchester requires a cartridge OAL of 1.75". If seated at the normal 1.67" length, groups tend to double in size. A friend has a .22 Hornet that requires the bullet be seated to 1.64" to be just off the rifling.

Assuming your 40 gr. bullets are well made, .225" diameter, and wear gas checks, try a bullet seating depth from just touching the lands to .03" away. Hopefully that will improve things.

w30wcf

[beagle]

Titegroup with a 225450 in the Hornet.......

Titegroup 5.0 grains gave me 2082 FPS out of a Ruger M77. The 225450 was sized .225.

I tried some 5.5 grain loads but they appeared too hot so I think 5.0 is about max. It is for me at any rate.

Having that much Titegroup makes it workable powder. I'd go with Lil Gun or Longshot if I was buying for the Hornet./beagle

[mainiac]

i have a stevens 322(same thing as a savage 340), and it shoots groups with jacketed better than it has any right to! Wanted to shoot cast in it,so picked up a lyman 225415(only 22 mold i have so i dont want to buy the gas checks) Shooting them bare-assed,at 22lr velocity,they key hole the paper at 25 yards. (found this out because at a 100 yards,i couldnt even hit the backer! Adding more BTU,s to the case, it will stabilize just barely,because i cant get groups under 4 inches at 50 yards. so for cast,it seems that im at a loss as well! with the sierra 45 gr hornet bullet and a full load of lilgun,it will shoot easy .5 groups at 50.

[Dale53]

mainiac;
You have just been trying too long a bullet for the twist in your rifle. Lyman 225107 GC 37grs (old mould) or Lyman 225438 GC 44 grs will probably work just fine. You might ask Bullshop if he casts either of those two bullets and buy a few to see if they work before you invest in a mould. I'm bettin' that either will work just fine in your rifle.

I definitely recommend the GC in small bore bullets. You will also need a good lube. Size .225" and since I have linotype metal, I would use linotype (heat treat ww would no doubt work as well).

Dale53

[six_gun]

Just to let you all know, I am having success with the Tite group in the hornet.

The load that I settled on was 3.7gr of titegroup with a CCI small pistol primer.

Velocity is 1694 and accuracy was not one hole but all shots touching at 50 meters (pig distance). Standard deviation was 9 for a 10 shot group.

I have to keep the accuracy down so there is no target damage so I don't think I will try for more velocity.

I did test a load with a fmjbt 55 gr Winchester bullet. At lower velocities it tips a little bit so I decided to see what it will do when it goes fast. I looked in the new Hodgen manual and the starting load was 12 gr of lil'gun for around 2500 fps from a 15 inch barrel. I got 2400fps from a 10 inch barrel. The load is on the hot side and the bullets were slightly tipped. Accuracy was about 2 inches at 50 meters. The twist rate is one in 14. I think Hodgon may be starting a little hot with this load. Primers were flat but not cratered. I think I will back off a little and try for around 2250 and see what happens.

Sixgun