I've all dat to set up for the Hornet. Brass right length, powder is what I want. I am using 50gr Nosler Varmageddon bullets. My problem is when i try to set the bullet to the length of the cartridge (1.723). the bullet is pushed so far down I'm not getting a good crimp. Would it be ok to bring it out far enough so it crinps on the side of the bullet instead the point. Did I get the wrong bullets.
Confused about trying to reloding 22 Hornets
- Thread starter 173ABN
- Start date
You got the wrong bullets ...if you want to keep the overall length and crimp...get 22 Hornet bullets with the correct short nose profile in 40 to 45 grains...or seat the bullets have out longer and single feed if they don't fit the magazine...but make sure they will chamber when they are set out longer.
Like he said, they are hornets that use .223 and some .224 and bullets for loading and you have have to use what right for your barrel and size for that and I have never crimped a Hornet
Ha! Ha!
The 22 Hornet predates World War 2 and predates the introduction of the 35gn V-Max by around a half century. The 35 VMax is very well suited to the Hornet and was pretty well certainly designed for that cartridge.
As there were no jacketed .22 cal varmint bullets around in the 1930s when Col. Townsend Whelen and A.N. Other developed the cartridge, IIRC they used that from the .22 Velo-Dog, an obscure and long obsolete French bicycle mounted pistol designed at the turn of the 18/19th centuries to protect cyclists from attacks by fierce farm dogs. (As Frank Barnes said in COTW, the only example in history of human welfare being put ahead of dogs'!
) Winchester adopted the new wildcat and designed IIRC two 40gn varmint bullets in SP and HP forms.JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
If your loading for a magazine length, that will about determine what bullet will work.
Your 1.723 length looks to be a standard length for the Hornet type bullets
“Did I get the wrong bullet” depends as mentioned above there are those of us that have shot other than Hornet style bullets with good success. If your going to do that you need to have an understanding of what your doing, and from your question above I don’t think you do.
As also mentioned crimp is unnecessary.
If your going to shoot that bullet you better know what twist you have as well.
I shoot a Ruger 77/22 hornet and its a tack driver. I use the 35 gr NTX and a Lee collet die. No crimp. I set them to fit mag. I dont think I've ever FL sized them, just collet die. Rifle accuracy was horrible when I got it. Two piece bolt was sloppy. Shimmed the bolt to be tight and man this thing shoots!
50 gr seems heavy for a hornet and you are seating it too deep. Find your max length to the rifling and go from there.
50 gr seems heavy for a hornet and you are seating it too deep. Find your max length to the rifling and go from there.
I don't think 1.723 is a legit number. My nosler book shows that to be the number for the 40 gr Varmageddon. Common sense says it will be longer for a 50 gr. I would try another reference or call Nosler. You should never be crimping that far up on bullet. As someone mentioned potential pressure issues, I wouldn't shoot them.
I run a Winchester 43 in 22 hornet.
The dedicated Sierra Hornet works best for me overall. Several other shoot good or maybe even slightly better, but all of those require me to single load which is a pain in the ass on that little action / scope combo.
AS OTHERS HAVE SAID
DO NOT CRIMP !!!!!
The case necks are thin and brittle enough as it is. No need to overwork what is barely thicker than tin foil to start with.
The dedicated Sierra Hornet works best for me overall. Several other shoot good or maybe even slightly better, but all of those require me to single load which is a pain in the ass on that little action / scope combo.
AS OTHERS HAVE SAID
DO NOT CRIMP !!!!!
The case necks are thin and brittle enough as it is. No need to overwork what is barely thicker than tin foil to start with.
I have the same rifle. I just got it last year from the estate of an old friend of the family so I haven't tried very many different bullets (since most are hard to find) but it shoots the Hornady Bee/Hornet bullets pretty well at magazine lengths. I'm sure I'll find some Sierra's someday.
As you mentioned, most bullets will not fit the magazine if seated out far enough that the case mouth is before the taper of the bullet starts.
I shoot my 22 Hornet quite a bit and have found that the right crimp does improve the consistency in my rifle. With the right crimp I get the lowest velocity variation compared to uncrimped or too heavy of a crimp. It is the only rifle cartridge that I crimp other than my heavy recoiling BG rifles (375 H&H, 416 RM, etc.).
Ha! Ha!
The 22 Hornet predates World War 2 and predates the introduction of the 35gn V-Max by around a half century. The 35 VMax is very well suited to the Hornet and was pretty well certainly designed for that cartridge.
As there were no jacketed .22 cal varmint bullets around in the 1930s when Col. Townsend Whelen and A.N. Other developed the cartridge, IIRC they used that from the .22 Velo-Dog, an obscure and long obsolete French bicycle mounted pistol designed at the turn of the 18/19th centuries to protect cyclists from attacks by fierce farm dogs. (As Frank Barnes said in COTW, the only example in history of human welfare being put ahead of dogs'!
Sorry I guess I didnt word it correctly. In my paperwork Savage recommended the Hornady 35 grain v max in this particular model.
Don't apologise! It's just me letting my incurably pedantic side get out of control again. I have a personal grouch with this cartridge too having tried it many years ago in a well-used old Savage 340 and never overcoming its tendency to produce 4+1 groups, the 4 often being wonderfully close together and the 1 an inch or more away from the others at 100 yards.
The 35 grain Vmax is probably the most popular 22 Hornet bullet now, but mine shoots the 45 grain Hornet Hornady bullet a little better. For varmints such as groundhogs and foxes out to 150 yards or so the 45 does a good job. You will certainly get higher velocity with the 35.
Is the 173 a reference to the Herd? Fine outfit.
Is the 173 a reference to the Herd? Fine outfit.
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