22 Hornet Brass

[rjtfroggy]

I run 9.3gr. of IMR 4895 with a 40gr. Sierra through a Savage single shot, brass only lasts about 3-4 loadings.

 

[MGYSGT]

Don't crimp. It's a Hornet, not really for shooting 50 gr bullets. I shoot those small 35 gr VMax with H110. No problems

 

[PopCharlie]

I had a TC Contender in .22 Hornet. I shot w296 with 45 gr Hornady bullets. Shot well as I recall. 1/2 inch at 50 yards. It was a 10 inch barrel with a 2x scope on it. I did have issues with brass. I used primarily Winchester brass. I had a new unfired batch of 100 that would not hold a primer. I returned them for replacement. The replacement batch was good. I got split necks after about 6 firings. The neck walls are very thin. So the brass would flow easily, so I had to trim after every firing. Hence the split necks.

PopCharlie

 

[Bill K]

I would say Bullseye, in your rifle, is not the best choice. You are getting pressure and that is causing the short life of your brass.
Go to another powder, look up some other loads i.e. Lil gun or others and work up from start load.

 

[Frankm]

1680, lil Gun, etc are a 22 Hornets best friend!!

if you re playing with BE (Bullseye) for a reduced type load I d echo someone’s comment that it’s too fast.. should reduced loads be of interest to you I d suggest you research BD (Blue Dot).... I ve shot thousands of rounds of reduced BD loads in a 223 with under moa accuracy and minimal barrel heat. I would think a Hornet could be utilized similar. Be cautious working up a load though; fast powders in small cases can get sudden and high pressure spikes!

 

[cwebster]

I use h110 and a 40 grain Sierra "hornet" in a model 43. I have not loaded for it in about 8 yrs. Haven't shot it in a few years until last fall. Started splitting necks right away...
Give the loads a slight bump in the seater press as it seam with the 22 Hornet that the longer it sits loaded the stickier the Bullet is to the brass.

I had the same thing happen to me. 10gr vv110 Nosler 40bt had been loaded for 10 yrs at least. Took it out and fired and just about every one of them split. Threw the rest away. Ruger no. 1 .. That load gives me sub 1 inch consistantly at 100. Nothing else will......

 

[cwebster]

Lil gun, and H110 are good choices, and i believe i used pistol primers also if i remember right.i was using 35 gr vmax bullets.

Lil gun sticks to my powder measure hopper like a mother.. Other than that it shoots well with the 35 vmax out of my No. 1 VV 110 does real good too. 22 hornets are some tempremental chits.

 

[Bojo]

I had the same thing happen to me. 10gr vv110 Nosler 40bt had been loaded for 10 yrs at least. Took it out and fired and just about every one of them split. Threw the rest away. Ruger no. 1 .. That load gives me sub 1 inch consistantly at 100. Nothing else will......

Figured out just put them back in the press and reseat them ... way less crack .
Only thing i can figure on is that tin foil thick neck and the slug must kinda bond together, get sticky.
Just a reseat seams to free them up and split far fewer pieces of gold.

 

[lawman29]

Split necks and separating case heads is a genetic predisposition in a 22 hornet. Hence the khornet was created not to go faster but to extend case life.

 

[Sundown]

Had 2 - 22 Hornets...never did get them to shoot. I used the brass for cribbage pegs. Any old use Hornet brass, send them My way.

 

[SeabeeKen]

well a Mossberg 16 guage is more accurate than either one of my 77 rugers
Wayne

My 77/22 was the same way. Shimming between the bolt halves turned it into a tack driver. Horrible design. A guy in AZ sells a shim kit for it. Mine needed .015” shim

 

[RED DIRT]

CZ527 22 Hornet
CZ Factory Steel Scope Rings
Scope: Burris Signature HD 3-15x44

Neck size only
Small pistol primers
Hodgdon Lil`Gun (12.5gr)
Hornady 35gr VMax #22252

I anneal my cases.
I`m on my 5th reload with my Remington case`s, no splits, and still loading them until they do, split.

Equates to clover leaf (5-shot) groups @ 100 yds consistently.
I`ve headshot coyotes out to 150yds. Dropped right in the dirt where they stood.

The Lil` 22 Hornets have been my favorite gun to load and shoot for years.

 

[Fire Dog]

CZ527 22 Hornet
CZ Factory Steel Scope Rings
Scope: Burris Signature HD 3-15x44

Neck size only
Small pistol primers
Hodgdon Lil`Gun (12.5gr)
Hornady 35gr VMax #22252

I anneal my cases.
I`m on my 5th reload with my Remington case`s, no splits, and still loading them until they do, split.

Equates to clover leaf (5-shot) groups @ 100 yds consistently.
I`ve headshot coyotes out to 150yds. Dropped right in the dirt where they stood.

The Lil` 22 Hornets have been my favorite gun to load and shoot for years.

Just this evening annealed {AMP} some 22 Hornet cases for a club member.
Have also done some for a chap with a K Hornet…
They both love the Li’l 22 and said that they would never sell them.
Both use the on rabbits and foxes out to 150.

 

[dvraa]

I've got a model 43 Winchester not the best action for accurate shooting. Through the years I have tried IMR-4227, 2400, H-110, and 296.:I've seldom achieved sub MOA groups with it. I finally settled on H-110 and a 35 grain pill for hunting critters. For the Hornets limitations this works and I have killed dozens of fox, rabbits, untold gophers, and a nice whitetail buck with it.

 

[Webster]

I have a T/C Contender in 22 Hornet. My brass life is terrible. There are 2 problems. First is split necks and the other is loose primer pockets. I seldom get over 3 loadings per case. I load 4.0 g. Of BE with a 50 grain bullet. The load is accurate but brass life is short.
It may be headspace in the contender. Your thoughts?

Split necks with 3 firings. You must have a big chamber neck, Don't know how you anneal a tiny cartridge. Enlarged primer pockets can only come from high pressure.

Check out VARMINTAL.com. Al is a big Hornet fan and a lot of info on his website. Check out VARMINTAL.com. Al is a big Hornet fan and a lot of info on his website.
I think Al shoots a 22 Hornet AI, 17 Hornet. I would check out his website any how. Interesting reading. He was involved with designing hydrogen bombs.

Google 22 Hornet load map, several good sites come up.

.22 Hornet Load Data - Shooting Times

The .22 Hornet officially turned 90 in 2020, and it is still one great little cartridge to reload; here's some load data information to get you started.

www.shootingtimes.com

 

[C.E.Smith043]

I have a T/C Contender in 22 Hornet. My brass life is terrible. There are 2 problems. First is split necks and the other is loose primer pockets. I seldom get over 3 loadings per case. I load 4.0 g. Of BE with a 50 grain bullet. The load is accurate but brass life is short.
It may be headspace in the contender. Your thoughts?

I had same problems. Switched to the 218 Bee instead and have been much happier.

 

[LCazador]

Since 2021 when this post was started there are good brass options including Norma. That old Winchester brass was horrible and the PPU was even worse. LiL Gun powder is best and of course front lug rifles such as the CZ are much better on brass. Single shots are very good on brass as well. Rear lug guns exacerbate the stretching brass problem that the 22 Hornet is prone to.

 

[sacre]

I have 4 hornets, Browning 1885, 2 Browning A Bolts, and a Ruger 77. I only use Lil' gun and no bullet heavier than 35 grains. Collet neck sizer. Brass life is at least 5 reloads before any cases show signs of problems. Yes, a case here and there will fail due to individual brass faults.