22 Hornet, Cont.
An important point in Hornet accuracy is bullet diameter. Your load should be good with the proper bullet diameter.
If you've been loading .224 bullets and getting bad accuracy, try .223 bullets. If your Ruger doesn't like either, go to 40 grain bullets.
My Hornet likes Speer spire Points.
If you've been loading .224 bullets and getting bad accuracy, try .223 bullets. If your Ruger doesn't like either, go to 40 grain bullets.
My Hornet likes Speer spire Points.
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v35,
I'm glad that you resurrected this topic because I wanted to add some other information but the original was closed.
All of the points about loads and bullet diameters and preferences of Hornets is good. The statement about low quality brass is significant.
But the point that is so often missed in these discussions is the rifle itself. It is the poor design of the Ruger 77/22 Hornet that is the cause of most of the inaccuracy. Specifically, it's the 2 piece bolt and the way that it doesn't fit together repeatably, that is responsible for poor accuracy.
This fact has driven many gunsmiths and shooters absolutely crazy until this design failure was discovered and a fix determined. I am not the one who came up with this. The space between the bolt parts needs to be measured accurately and then shimmed to take up the slop. It still needs to move and not gall but that space has to be filled in order achieve any semblance of repeatable accuracy.
Ruger is responsible for the horrific waste of materials and time by shooters and reloaders because they let a crappy design out of the planning stage. They should be required to pay their customers back for this deception. You might say that I'm picking on Ruger and you will be absolutely correct. This cartridge will shoot out of its league in other rifles including the #1 by Ruger. They need to change the design and improve the concept to be fair to their customers.
The point about the small pistol primers is significant to fine tuning loads for the Hornet, also.
Best of luck!0 -
thanks for the info nononsense. now im thinkin of dumpin my 77/22 and gettin a #1 or another old savage 23D. has ruger admitted it was a bad design or will they do anything about it?
tater0 -
FYI, JUST BOUGHT A CHARLES DAILY MINI MAUSER (1 PCS BOLT) AND AFTER A LITTEL MINOR TWEEKING (GLASS BEDDING, TRIGGER ADJUSTMENT) IT WILL REGULARLY DO <1" @ 100 METERS W 14.0 GNS OF WIN 680 AND HORNADY 35 GN V-MAX BULLETS. ALMOST AS WELL W/ 40 GN V-MAX,S. (REM. NICKEL CASES W/PRIMER POCKETS UNIFORMED AND REM. BENCH REST PRIMERS). 0 -
The Charles Daly is an excellent vehicle for the Hornet just as Mike points out. The rifles are well made, reasonbly accurate out of the box and a decent price.
I have done a couple as K-Hornet versions (Kilbourn Improved) in order to solve problems with the brass since I don't care for the nickle brass. Brass life is much improved by this conversion. The addition velocity isn't the goal, just better brass.
22 K-Hornet
Historical Notes:
Originated by Lysle Kilbourn in 1940, this was one of the first of the so called "improved" cartridges. It is based on the fire formed and blown out of the 22 Hornet case with a straight body, sharp shoulder and short neck. There are other versions, but this is the most popular and is representative of the lot. It has been used for a good many years and is still popular in varmint shooting circles. Extensive experience with this cartridge in the Thompson Contender show fairly substantial improvements over the 22 Hornet.
General Comments:
The popularity of the 22 K-Hornet was based on increased performance, plus the fact that any regular factory loaded ammunition could also be fired in the same chamber. In addition, the conversion is quite cheap, and any Hornet rifle can be rechambered. Ammunition is no problem because the round is based on easily obtainable factory ammunition. It brings the 22 Hornet into the same class as the 218 Bee with the added advantage that the 22 Hornet was chambered in several good bolt action rifles. It is suitable for the same range of varmints and small game as the 218 Bee. Those lucky enough to find an original Kimber rifle chambered for the 22 K-Hornet can pride themselves in owning a superb rifle.
Source: Cartridges of the World
View 22 K-Hornet (35?) Drawing View 22 K-Hornet (40?) Drawing View 22 K-Hornet (Variations) Drawing
22 K-Hornet Reloading Data
Bullet (grs.) Powder / (grs.) MV ME Source
45SP IMR-4227 / 12.5 2875 825 Ackley
45SP 2400 / 11.5 2900 840 Ackley
45 IMR-4198 / 14.5 2800 780 Ackley
50SP 2400 / 11.0 2700 810 Ackley
http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w22khorn.html0 -
Be sure to use .223 bullets in your 23D. The only complaint I ever had about mine was that I knew I couldn't replace the barrel if I shot it out. Of course I never saw any sign of wear. 0 -
It is good to see that somebody else that appreciates the 22 K-Hornet as much as I do. I converted mine (years ago) for the exact same reason... extended case life, and it is MUCH easier to reload. The added cartridge performance is nice too[^]
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Hi Art! As long as we're on the topic, don't forget about the Savage 342. This variation of the 340 was only made for 5 years and $300 should be able to bring a nice one home to your cabinet. I got mine door to door for $230 about 2 years ago, and am not sure I own a more accurate gun. The little shred of target taped to the top of my computer here at work came as a result of that little gun. 6 rounds @ 50 yds and the holes all touch! The gun has a vintage Savage factory side mount and a 35 year old Lyman 4x American aluminum body scope; not exactly the gun you would plan to take to Camp Perry ( even if they WOULD allow it!)but since the 6 holes on this target could be covered with a dime and the entire rig was about $270, I figure you'ld be hard pressed to do better!
PS- favorite load is a Sierra .224 40 grain hollowpoint, RP brass (my Savage won't accept the Winnie stuff), small magnum pistol primer, 10.5 grains of IMR 4227 and a COL of "1.723.
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"When I was 14 I used to marvel at how ignorant my old man was...by the time I was 21 I was truelly amazed at how much the old bugger had learned in the intervening 7 years!" Samuel Clemens
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
Hi,I'm a not too proud owner-shooter of a Stevens 219 single shot in 22 Hornet.Not too proud because of my own failings.I found four boxes of OLD Hornady 50 gr. spire point bullets that are .2225 diameter,Thinking they might shoot well in the old Stevens,I loaded her up and at twenty five yards got a 4 inch group..So much for that. What I am wondering is,,What are they good for??I had assumed that they had to be made for the Hornet VERY early..How far off am I ???It is not lack of loading experience as I load for 22-250,220 Swift,218 Mashburn,just to name the 22s.Any insight gratfully accepted.modoc 0 -
The Hornet, in either version, is well suited to varmint pistols such as the Contender and another single shot, the Martini. The barrels don't have to be long and fat since the ballistics and recoil are mild. A Hornet of one flavor or another always goes in the truck when I leave for varminting.
Best.0 -
They must have been intended for an R2 Lovell or a 22-3000. Back in the early 30s there were no .22 barrels made for 22 centerfire cartridges, so gunsmiths would use M22 Springfield barrel which were made from the same steel as the 30'06 barrels.
quote:Originally posted by modoc
Hi,I'm a not too proud owner-shooter of a Stevens 219 single shot in 22 Hornet.Not too proud because of my own failings.I found four boxes of OLD Hornady 50 gr. spire point bullets that are .2225 diameter,Thinking they might shoot well in the old Stevens,I loaded her up and at twenty five yards got a 4 inch group..So much for that. What I am wondering is,,What are they good for??I had assumed that they had to be made for the Hornet VERY early..How far off am I ???It is not lack of loading experience as I load for 22-250,220 Swift,218 Mashburn,just to name the 22s.Any insight gratfully accepted.modoc0 -
Ahh that makes sense...Thank you..Joel Black...I had a 2R, rather a 22.3000 but dumb me, it was built on a Martini Cadet and it kept blowing primers, SOoo rather than THINK,I had it change to a 218 Mashburn with a different barrel.Same problem..Didn't bush the firing pin hole.Different storythen..Had all the fixins,including three boxes of Winchester "NEW" 25-20 Single Shot cases I let go of plus a couple hundred fired cases.OH WOE is me, what a FOOL. BUt the guy who got that bunch was VERY HAPPY.modoc
BILL
KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.BUT NOT HOT.....single action S&Ws are keepers0 -
modoc; those could also be for the .22 jet, S&W used interchangable cylinders to convert to .22 l.r./.22 jet. 0 -
Bill,
I had a number of hornets and bees on Martini actions that had that problem when I first got them. It was an easy job to bush the firing pin hole, but I never could understand why some of the well known gunsmiths (including Neidner!) who had made them failed to do it.
quote:Originally posted by modoc
Ahh that makes sense...Thank you..Joel Black...I had a 2R, rather a 22.3000 but dumb me, it was built on a Martini Cadet and it kept blowing primers, SOoo rather than THINK,I had it change to a 218 Mashburn with a different barrel.Same problem..Didn't bush the firing pin hole.Different storythen..Had all the fixins,including three boxes of Winchester "NEW" 25-20 Single Shot cases I let go of plus a couple hundred fired cases.OH WOE is me, what a FOOL. BUt the guy who got that bunch was VERY HAPPY.modoc
BILL
KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.BUT NOT HOT.....single action S&Ws are keepers0
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