hornet shooters

[.22cal]

I've noticed that Hogdon's "LIL GUN" is mentioned by some 22Hornet shooters as their powder of choice. Does anyone reload with that powder? Would you share your information or point the way to where I could find it? Thank you.

 

[3006mv]

13.0 grs. with the 35 gr. Hornady V-Max for around 2,842 fps out of my CZ 527 American. Or 13.5 gr w/ 45 gr SP bullet. Both are accurate. I've used H110 which is also good.

 

[loadedround]

I use Hodgdon's Lil Gun in both my 22 Hornet and 22K-Hornet rifles. All the information you need is on Hodgdon's website. www.hodgdon.com. All bullet weights and starting and maximum loads listed. Good shooting!

 

[Linear Thinker]

I tried both Lil'Gun and N110, and went back to 4227. The velocities were higher, but the accuracy wasn't there. A friend of mine swears by Lil'gun in 22H, and he is a good shooter. Go ahead and try the Lil'gun, let us know how it works for you.
I will stay with IMR4227 for now.
LT

 

[eldon519]

One of the best things about Lil Gun is that it delivers top velocities and somehow manages to do so at some of the lowest pressures. That's a real blessing when you're dealing with the paper-thin Hornet cases.

 

[KI.W.]

Lil Gun top velocities. VihtaVuori N-110 top accurates with my Brno-rifle and T/C Contender pistol. Bullet 105G Sako 50 gr.

 

[Byron]

I use 12 grains of Lil Gun with a small pistol primer and the Hornady 35 grain bullet. Sierra recommended the small pistol primer. Accuracy is under an inch at 100 yards in my Ruger 77/22Hornet. Byron

 

[GunTech]

12 grain of lil gun in my K-hornet with 40 gn SP. I use pistol primers, which really improved group size.

 

[Walkalong]

I have not loaded .22 Hornet for some time, but I used IMR-4227 when I did and it worked well enough that I did not experiment any further. I was using 40 and 45 Gr. bullets from Speer & Sierra.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Lil'gun is the best thing to happen to the Hornet.
However, it isn't perfect. It's best with bullets 40gr and heavier.

For the 35gr, I still prefer H110. I use 11.7gr for around 3,150fps from my Ruger 77/22 KBZ (heavy bbl, stainless steel).

My best and most favorite load is the Sierra 40gr Varminter at 1.780"oal over 12.5gr of Hod.Lil'Gun for 3,000fps. It does any and everything I want a Hornet to do. For some reason, my gun just dosen't like the 40gr Nosler BT.

All my loads are either in W-W brass, or Sellier&Bellot brass. Before I started reaming primer pockets and neck turning the brass to uniform the necks, the S&B brass was superior, but with the "processed" WW, I'm getting equal performance.
I also use W/W small pistol primers................

Just remember that .22Hornets are very "picky" about what they shoot, and almost every rifle is a "rule unto itself".
Many report good results with AA1680 (but lower velocities), H and IMR4227 and #2400, but I've never gotten that good of results except with the AA1680 and 50gr bullets........ but even then the velocities were rather low.

I've owned over a half dozen "Hornets" and each one was unique. Wide variations exist in chambers, throats, and bore diameters to make reloading for more than one a nightmare.............

ie: I had a Ruger 77/22 blue carbine w/20" bbl. It had a "HUGE" chamber. Loads that were nominal and "semi-accurate" (best gun would do was ~1.5" three shot groups at 100yds, with a cast bullet at .225") wouldn't even chamber in my new gun. The most accurate jacketed bullet load was the 35gr Hornady V-max over 12.0gr of H110. That load will crater primers and "stick" the bolt on my newer one.


I've found that with HodLil'gun, you can go over the recommended max's, but accuracy seem's to fall off, as well as velocities above a certain point. With the .357mag its 17.8gr with a 158gr bullet, and with the Hornet and 40gr bullets, it's 12.5gr for me........ at 13gr+, velocities and accuracy fall off.......
Perhaps it's just my gun and the two lot #'s I've tried.... But, 2lbs will load a LOT of Hornet ammo...........

 

[Ndenway]

lil'gun, CCI BR primers and hornaday's 45gr "bee" HP bullet at 2800fps works decent in both my hornets, one will get 1 1/4" 5 shot groups and the other 1 1/2" 5 shot groups,

I've never heard of using spp in one, but I might have to test a few rounds and see if they'll tighten up the groups a little.

 

[dabzy05]

iv found for my ruger 77/22 to be very accurate is 35g vmax with 10.5g off adi ar2205 powder federal premium gold medal primers and crimping the bullet and neck sizing only with remigton shells iv found after fireing the loads it to be verry good on the shells. iv also had my trigger lightend and the barrel floated in the stock witch helps. on a good day head shots arnt a problem over a 100 meters it a great little gun

 

[theCZ]

I've used Lil' Gun with decent success. The key for me was to use small pistol primers AND crimp. I was having issues with the small rifle primer igniting and pushing the bullet a little ways out and then the powder igniting fully and I was getting terrible accuracy and awful velocities. I finally tried a crimp and it kept the bullet in place until the powder ignited and everything is peachy!

Lil' Gun is a great low pressure powder, and I like it because it's great for my 410 (which it was designed for!).