Bullets for the .22 Hornet

[ArkansasFatboy]

Guys I was browsing midway and was noticing that they sometimes listed "Hornet" Beside some of the .22 cal. Bullets. I know some of the older hornets were.223 diameter but this was also listed beside some of the .224 diameter bullets are the other bullets not listed as "Hornet" unsuitable for the hornet. My rifle is a new model "Handi Rifle" so the barrel is .224. Also what are suitable powders for this cartridge I notice imr 4227 is listed alot for this caliber and also lil'gun any info would be appreciated.

 

[NuJudge]

A lot of old Hornets have .223 grooves

It is unlikely that yours has .223 grooves. You could slug your bore to check.

It has been quite awhile since I loaded .22 Hornet (my Walther KKJ resides in my safe), but it uses what I would term to be really fast rifle powders, perhaps some really slow shotgun powders. IMR 4227 was my choice, plus 4198 and 2400 were traditional choices. Add to that Lil'Gun, 296 and H110.

An internet search showed a couple articles:

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/reloads/0512/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_Hornet
http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/22h.html
http://www.accuratereloading.com/22hornet.html
http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.22hornet.html
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

CDD

 

[Walkalong]

Like you said, unless you have an OLD .22 Hornet rifle, it has .224 grooves. Even if it is an older rifle it still may have .224 grooves instead of .223.

The link provided by NuJudge to Hodgdons data center should provide some usefull data.

 

[fineredmist]

Hornady 45 gr. Hornet (#2230) + 13 gr. Lil Gun = 2800fps (+/-). This is one HOT hornet load that I have used on prairie dogs out to 150 yds (+/-) and it does the job.

 

[GunTech]

Lil' Gun is a superb hornet powder.

Hornet bullets are often round nose, and shorter to allow them to be stabilized in slow twist guns. Many hornets have twists as slow as 1:16 and will not stabilize long bullets.

 

[Byron]

L'il Gun again for best powder.I use the Hornady 35 grain V Max which gives very good accurcy. Byron

 

[rcmodel]

are the other bullets not listed as "Hornet" unsuitable for the hornet?

In addition to the reasons already listed concerning bullet length / rifling twist, there is another reason they are Hornet specific.

The bullets intended for the Hornet / .218 Bee are more lightly constructed with a thinner jacket then the bullets intended for the larger center-fire .22's.

This is to insure good bullet performance at the lower Hornet/Bee velocity levels.

On the other hand, a Hornet/Bee bullet fired out of a 220 Swift at 4,000 FPS would blow up before it got to the target.


rcmodel

 

[wolfe28]

+1 on Lil-Gun

I have been loading a 40 grain hornady v-max over 12.9 grains of Lil-Gun (winchester brass and primers) and have loved the results. Sub 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards out of my TC Contender (21" barrel). The group would probably be smaller if it wasn't for the guy jerking the trigger.

The only problem I have heard about using "Non-Hornet" bullets is that they can exceed standard COL and not be able to be used in a rifle with a magazine. This obviously doesn't apply to my TC or your Handy Rifle.

D

 

[Ndenway]

I use lil'gun and the hornaday 45gr "bee" bullet for the most part, but the remington 45gr HP and winchester 46gr HP are also pretty decent performers in my H&R and ruger.

 

[OLD DOMENION]

.22 Hornnet

I bought my H&R single shot hornet in the 70's and now have a Ruger 77/22-Hornet.
Before WW-II hornet barrels were 223, after the war they were 224. I have shot both diameters in the 4 Hornets I have owned. There were no problems with either bullet in a 224 barrel.

 

[Byron]

Old Domenion, I too bout an H&R 22 Hornet in the mis 70's. I am unable to come up with an accuate load.What is your data?
Also,my Ruger 22 Hornet shoots the Hornady 35 grain V Max well. Byron