fire forming 22 K Hornet with factory 22 Hornet ammo?

[tominboise]

I picked up a Contender Rifle awhile ago with a Bulberry 22 K Hornet barrel and am wondering if I could use factory hornet ammo in it, and end up with fire formed brass. Or is the neck too thin for full power loads to fire form?

 

[mmcu]

Yes, it will form quite nicely.

You may split a few necks, but that's to be expected when forming to the K-Hornet.

 

[tominboise]

Reason I ask is that the first factory hornet round I fired today split the neck and the case and the neck is now stuck in the chamber. The ammo in question is new Nosler Varmageddon 22 hornet with 35gr BT. The rifle came with several hundred handloads with cases already formed and has been shooting fine. Not sure with the first factory hornet round would have broken like that.

I need to figure out how to get the neck out of the chamber without gashing anything up. I tried a cleaning brush but it seems to just pull back out. Maybe I need a bigger brush, but I am worried about sticking it in and getting it stuck.

 

[Outrider27]

Sorry for your problem. When I did mine (about 1999), Hornet ammo was in short supply and I took what I could get (the only people that seemed to have it in stock that week was Cheaper Than Dirt), a hundred rounds of Winchester SuperX 45gr. No case splits or anything fireforming in my K, a Ruger 77 22Hornet rechambered with a Clymer K Hornet reamer. It was a painless experience.

 

[snert]

Keep trying the brush and add a little oil or Shooters Choice. It wil help. A dental pick might work too, but usually a brush will get it. Not always recommended, but you might try going in from the muzzle (maybe a bore snake?) being real careful of the crown, and push it out with a bronze or nylon brush

I shoot a K. Ive made 500 brass and figure in about 3-5 loss per 100. New brass fireforming.

Mine was a bullberry too.

 

[RussellJ]

I picked up a Contender Rifle awhile ago with a Bulberry 22 K Hornet barrel and am wondering if I could use factory hornet ammo in it, and end up with fire formed brass. Or is the neck too thin for full power loads to fire form?

tominboise;
I tried doing the same thing in my Cooper rifle. Results were not good, do to the Hornady factory bullet wasn't seated out far enough to touch the barrel rifling. If you pull the bullets and re-seat the to touch the rifling you will have better results.

 

[biggun2869]

I had the same thing happen on a pistol barrel. I used an easy out, tightened to just start engaging the neck then tapped it with a small hammer and it popped right out. Only happened the one time.
Since the hornet headspaces on the rim I don't see why you'd go to the trouble of pulling and reseating bullets IMHO. Gary

 

[tominboise]

Ok - thanks for all the replies and tips. I shot it with oil yesterday and left it overnight. I will try again sometime today and report back. The good thing about the contender barrel is that access is open to the chamber.

 

[tominboise]

Well, success with an EZ out, so at least that is behind me. Next time I go to the range I will take it along in case another neck lets go. Hopefully this was a fluke. Otherwise I will have to buy another rifle in straight 22 hornet to use the Nosler ammo in.

 

[Idaho-45]

tominboise, Sir, I'm glad that it worked out for you, finally!!!! That sucked to have it happen to you!!! I have a 22 K Hornet Super 14 Contender barrel that I've had for years, & not really shot that much. I always hand loaded rounds for the fire-forming, with Winchester brass, & never had an issue. I always wanted to get a rifle (Carbine) barrel for it!!!! All these years, I decided I'd rather shoot a rifle, than the single-shot pistol... Ha Ha. Let us know how that Bullberry barrel shoots!!!

 

[SBOOMER]

In the future. Plug the barrel a tad in front of the stuck neck with a small cleaning patch and pour some cerrosafe in the chamber. A light push/tap with a solid cleaning rod and it will pop right out.

 

[FJVance]

IMOP, the Remington brass is softer and less splitting. Some brands are harder alloy and thinner.
Results will vary.

 

[snert]

See your PMs

 

[PigButtons]

We're still waiting on your range report and on if you continue to have problems.

One thing that helps when fire forming in my K Hornets is to lightly oil the cases at the neck down to just below where the shoulder will form. It may just be placebo but I don't get as many cracked cases when forming as I used to without the oil. I just put a small amount on my finger tip and thumb and spin the cases / rounds once around. Very, very little is needed. I don't know the physics of why it works but it works.

 

[tominboise]

Well, since I had this experience, I found someone who wanted the K hornet worse then I did, so it went to a new home. But, just today, I picked up a CZ527 American in 22 hornet, and i hope to get it sighted in and see what it will do on Friday.