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?
Howdy guys.
have a Sako M78 rifle in K Hornet. Most of the forum discussion is re standard Hornet, the K can hold 1/1.5 grn more powder. There is much discussion re "inaccuracy" (and case life) of the Hornet family. I have some observations, findings which may improve the accuracy of your rifle/s. The Sako M78 is factory, based on rimfire action, no front lock up, only few mm engagement bolt into chamber/receiver. Look at ADI powder website, Australian powder maker, (producer H, IMR and others) you will see two targets of mine shot with the rifle at 100m posted on the ADI site. Four shot clover leafs, one 0.19 MOA, the other 0.2 MOA. these are centre to centre measurement, one raggedy hole (two raggedy holes).
The following may not work in you firearm, however after many hundreds of rounds with varying changes, these are the results. Not interested in speed, way more interested in accuracy, no accuracy without control!
Moved from Winchester brass to S&B, (fireform from standard Hornet to K). The 1.5mm flash hole seems to be a key, same load with Win. to SB, groups "much" improved (Win case 51 grn, 2mm FH, SB 55 grn, 1.5mm FH), slight change in internal capacity, therefore pressure, may have some bearing too.
Annealing cases for K forming or standard, to set headspace also seems to be beneficial. Fully prepped cases, annealed, trimmed, flash hole de burr and chamfer etc. Small pistol primers also appear to be a trick, have used many, SRP's; Win., CCI, Fed, Magnum, way best accuracy achieved with S&B SP Primers. Have tried many projectiles, 35/40 grn; Hornady, Berger, Sierra, Nosler etc. Far and away the best, Hornady 40grn Z/V Max.
Seating the projectiles 'long', I am something more than 2mm over magazine length, about 0.005" short of lands. Neck size only; 2.5/3mm down from case mouth only.
Using ADI 2205 (check charts for equivalents, H, IMR) 11.3 grn. (This load may not suit your firearm/s, start 10% or more below and work up, looking for signs of over pressure etc.). Hornady 40 grn Z/V Max (OH Hornady bring back the Z Max, price point sensational). S&B Small pistol primer. S&B 22 Hornet case, fully prepped and FF, and leave the small flash hole alone! other than clean up.
I am achieving several reloads per case with the technique, Hornet brass is very thin, as we know. Annealing appears to be a benefit, (strip, anneal reload new factory load ammunition too), (only anneal if you know the correct procedure). Neck sizing only the first couple or three mm of the neck seems to help too.