Advice needed: 22 K Hornet in a SBR.

[Crosshair]

I have a 7.75" Encore barrel in 22 K Hornet for my Encore SBR. I am planning on using 40 grain Armscor JHP bullets in it.

The barrel is threaded, so I'm of course going to put my .223 can on it. I don't, however, want to fill the can up with unburned powder and such. So the normal 22 Hornet meme of "Fill case with LIL' GUN, seat bullet on top" isn't going to work. I'll want something a bit faster that will burn more completely in the short barrel, leaving less fouling in the can.

Looking around the internet, this Hornady data for 40 grain 22 Hornet seems to sum up my findings pretty well and I'd like to get your thoughts on it.

https://press.hornady.com/assets/site/hornady/files/obsolete-data/22-hornet-handgun.pdf

So, get something between Alliant 2400 and Vihtavuori N-110 and load it with 7-7.5 grains to start. I have a bunch of Shooters World Heavy Pistol, which is about the same burn rate as AA#9, which is within that 2400/N-110 band of powders. Use a small pistol primer and I should hopefully get ~1900 FPS to start with. I can then adjust things for accuracy and velocity.

Any reason why this wouldn't be a good starting point? Thanks for any input you can give.

 

[Swampman]

I have no experience with either the K Hornet or Shooters World Heavy Pistol, so take this for what it's worth.

As I see it, you're using data for a regular Hornet to try and interpolate K Hornet data for an unlisted powder based on it's relative position in burn rate charts.

Even leaving out the differences between a long ogive boat tail spitzer and a short ogive round nose HP flat base, that seems like too many variables to me.




Just as an example, the minimum Hornet load listed for Lil'Gun is a full 2 grains below what current Hodgdon data shows as minimum for the K Hornet. With H-110 the difference is even greater at 2.8 grains. Given the size of the cases involved, these are huge discrepancies.

Too light a charge can potentially be more dangerous than an overload, I'd look for better, more specific data before I started loading for this project.

 

[FROGO207]

I would try shooting some known loads without the can and look for unburned propellant before condemning that load first. See if you actually have all that unburned propellant actually there. The LilGun load is for a regular 22 Hornet and not for the K Hornet as far as I can see in researching for my possible chamber reaming I am contemplating. Failing all else contacting the various powder manufacturers and asking them about K Hornet data would be a good place to start were it me. YMMV

 

[jmorris]

I don’t have any data for you but you might just try and see what your results are. All of those powders live in the same neighborhood as far as burn rate goes.

Lilgun is a winner in my hornet, 2400 is the fasted powder I have tried but my barrel is 22 inches.

If I were in your shoes, I’d be tempted in trying some HS-7, 3N37 or 3N38.

 

[SlowFuse]

I'm in the same camp as Swampman, have no experience with the K Hornet but have made reduced/subsonic loads with 223 using fast burning pistol powders. Not sure if that's an interest here. I've seen quite a few different faster pistol powders used like unique in the regular 22 Hornet. So data is probably out there with people that have experimented, it's just not guaranteed published data. I think you'll find that if you start looking at these type loads most of them are using cast lead, less chance of sticking in the barrel at low velocity. Using plain lead opens up another can of worms in your suppressor if it isn't user serviceable...

All that said, this is in the do at your own risk territory, not likely that many people on here would recommend specifics unless they have first hand experience with your exact cartridge. I do agree that your logic for the extrapolated data makes some sense, but the different bullet and caliber would make me iffy. I would personally stick with your already proven loads without the can to see if its really producing a lot of un-burned powder. You can clean the can if you feel that its getting too heavy/dirty for your liking. There's info on doing this on sealed suppressors with something called "the dip" (a little controversial) or just soaking it in certain cleaners. Some of these methods depend on the material of your suppressor. You could probably send the can in for service as well if you bought it from a reputable manufacturer, some may even clean it for you.

 

[WestKentucky]

The issue I would be most concerned with is case fill. Pistol powders aren’t bulky and working blind (without known data) I would guard against accidental doubles. Have fun and wring it out, but be safe.

 

[FROGO207]

That Encore barrel and receiver should be plenty safe for whatever you try. I have a Savage single shot Hornet and the plan is to bore it out bigger when the leade is shot out. There is plenty of meat in the chamber area to make it a 223 or even a 22-250 safely. Each step will get the leade into new barrel area for me.

 

[horsemen61]

I have a 7.75" Encore barrel in 22 K Hornet for my Encore SBR. I am planning on using 40 grain Armscor JHP bullets in it.

The barrel is threaded, so I'm of course going to put my .223 can on it. I don't, however, want to fill the can up with unburned powder and such. So the normal 22 Hornet meme of "Fill case with LIL' GUN, seat bullet on top" isn't going to work. I'll want something a bit faster that will burn more completely in the short barrel, leaving less fouling in the can.

Looking around the internet, this Hornady data for 40 grain 22 Hornet seems to sum up my findings pretty well and I'd like to get your thoughts on it.

https://press.hornady.com/assets/site/hornady/files/obsolete-data/22-hornet-handgun.pdf

So, get something between Alliant 2400 and Vihtavuori N-110 and load it with 7-7.5 grains to start. I have a bunch of Shooters World Heavy Pistol, which is about the same burn rate as AA#9, which is within that 2400/N-110 band of powders. Use a small pistol primer and I should hopefully get ~1900 FPS to start with. I can then adjust things for accuracy and velocity.

Any reason why this wouldn't be a good starting point? Thanks for any input you can give.

can’t help you with load data but I’d love to see the lil guy sounds adorable like a newborn puppy!

pics please!!!!!!

 

[GarrettJ]

As noted, too many variables to be guessing at.

The Speer #12 manual has K-Hornet data for a 40 gr. bullet using IMR 4227, 2400, and IMR 4198 powders.

 

[rbernie]

If you want close to 100% powder burn, you're probably looking at something in the Unique / Power Pistol burn range.