.22 Hornet primers?

[TRECustom]

Awhile back I asked about primers for the Hornet/K-Hornet. several people recommended the small pistol primer because a small rifle primer would overpower the small powder charge. I'm ready to load 50 rds, and am seeing nothing but small rifle primers in the loading books. The small pistol primers make sense to me with the 10-13 gr powder charges, but I don't want to use them if they might perforate at rifle pressures.

Am I worried about nothing?

Thanks, Tom

 

[cliffy]

CCI 400 small rifle primers are MEANT for your .22 Hornet application! Don't use pistol primers. cliffy

 

[mod70]

I have used small pistol primers in 2 different K-Hornets, and they worked fine. I have even chronographed them and accuracy tested them compared to small rifle primers. No more than 25 fps difference between the two, and better accuracy with the small pistol primers.
John Roberts

 

[Travelor]

The SAAMI max pressure for a 22 Hornet is 43,000 psi. THis is too high for pistol primers if loaded in this range, in my opinion.

I know, we have all shot pistol primers in Hornets with light to moderate loads.

George

 

[TRECustom]

I loaded 5 rds with 12grs of H-110, 40gr Speers, and Fed small pistol primers. Then, 5 more identical rds except with Winchester small pistol primers, and last, 5 more identical loads with Fed 205M small rifle primers.,Listed in the Sierra book). My intention is to fire form cases in the K-Hornet chamber, chronograph them, and then compare accuracy and velocities. I don't know how detrimental the fireforming will be to accuracy or velocity, but the results should still be comparitive.

Cliffy, If I could get the CCI 400's, I would have to buy a brick of them.

These loads are for a 23' match barrel Contender. Since I don't know how much protection the Contender gives from perforated primers, I will either fire the 1st rd remotely in a rest, or just wear good polycarbonate safety glasses for all of them.

Whenever I get a chance to shoot the gun, I will update this thread.

Good info, thanks to all, Tom

 

[BradY]

I used to shoot 12.3gr of H110 with winchester small rifle primers in winchester brass and 35gr vmax. It shot very well. I too wouldnt try small pistol primers, pistol primers were obvioulsy made for pistols and rifle primers made for rifles. With a 23' barrel and the hornet case, it all means rifle to me.

Another very good powder apparently is lil'gun. Supposed to make a K hornet almost a 222.....

 

[TRECustom]

Made it to the range yesterday. Had to shoot the K-Hornet at 50 yds. Work going on at the 100 yd range until after I was through shooting the T/C.

Results:
No primer perforations with the small pistol primers.
Best bullet, 40gr Speer spire pt.
Best primer, Fed 100 small pistol, at this point.
Best group, .4',at 50yds=.8 moa) with Fed 100 primer and 40gr Speer.
Worst group. .8',1.6 moa) with 205M and Hornady 45gr 'Bee'.
Best S/D, 18 with Win small pistol primer and 40gr Speer.
Worst S/D, 51 with 205M,45gr 'Bee'.
Avg velocity, 2850 fps with 40gr Speer. 2550 fps with 45gr Sierra spitzer and 45gr Hornady 'Bee'. Loads with 45gr bullets had one grain less powder.
Average velocity gain with Fed 205M primer, 22 fps.

Chronograph is an Oehler 33 with 4' screen spacing.

Scope is a nice old 3 x 9 x 32 Burris mini.

Powder for all loads was H-110.
All loads were fire-forming to the K-Hornet chamber. No split necks or shoulders in the 25 rounds fired. I cleaned the barrel after each 5 shot string, so each string included a fouling shot.

All 3 bullets are very short and jump a long way to engage rifling. I haven't measured it yet.

I was not having my best day shooting, and the difference in accuracy between the two pistol primers may change with more shooting.

As I can, I will try some different powders, probably 'Lil Gun for sure, and tweak the charges up and down in 2/10ths gr increments. The gun is fun to shoot, and I am optimistic that it will go sub moa at 100 yds.

Good shooting, Tom

 

[fivering]

With all the mental giants recommending and telling how they get by with using pistol primers in rifle loads, I just can't figure out why the manufacturers don't quit bothering to make both kinds and just make the pistol type!
Not only can you get an eye full of hot gas with a pierced primer, it also acts like a cutting torch and you can ruin your bolt and or receiver.

 

[tbugher62]

i agree with fivering,watch what happens the minute someone takes all these, experts ) advice,and that someone gets a blown primer,and also gets hurt real bad.You will see all the experts get sued,along with this web site! The manufactures make different primers for rifles and pistols for a reason,THATS WHY WE HAVE RELOADING MANUALS,FOLLOW THEM,and maybe you will live to a ripe old age..............

 

[people]

I use Russian small rifle primers. I would not use pistol primers for reasons stated above.

With my rifle I have tried Winchester and CCI small rifle benchrest. The CCI worked the best but the russian are very close in quality in this rifle. Winchester my tried and true primer for almost everything would only shoot a 3 to 5 inch group. Using Russian I could keep it one inch and less.

I am using a Ruger M77/22 Hornet. I only use it for PD at ranges 100yds and less. I have not done any of the extra stuff to make it shoot better because if I can keep them in one inch I will not have any problems hitting a PD at 100yds.