K-Hornet

[Hippy]

I have a Ruger 77/22 that was unfired when I sent it off to have it "K'D" --with 45 + years of reloading experience these Hornets have me stumped. In those years the Hornet is the ONLY cartridge that has me talking to myself.

I can not get it to shoot less than 1" at 50 YDS !!!--Brass is prepped with weight separation , flash holes deburred, PP uniformed. I have tried all the so-called Hornet powders along with Small pistol, small rifle primers bullet weights from 33-45 gr and Crimp no Crimp what the %$*&&^^

Any help would be appreciated.

Jim

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have the same rifle but left mine as a 22 Hornet.. Same story wouldn't shoot for chit.. There are a few issues that you need to address. One, the two piece bolt design is a problem. It needs to be shimmed before the rifle will shoot. Second, the chambers are sketchy, I sent mine off and had a match chamber cut and a target crown. Third, the trigger needs some work. Once again when I sent mine off I had the trigger addressed. The guy I sent mine too did all the work, bolt, chamber and trigger. The tab was ~$200. It shoots much better now, but still isn't exactly a tack driver, but it gits er dun on varmints around here..

From what I read on the inter-web these are common problems with the Ruger Hornet. Seems a few shoot but many more don't.

 

[snert]

Worst Hornet I ever owned was a Ruger 77. Sold it, got a K Hornet barrel for the contender, love it.

Have to agree with previous answer...lots of 77's drive guys nuts trying to get them to shoot.

 

[MrMajestic]

I'll bet it ain't the shooter or load. Leaving... Sell it and buy a CZ ;D

 

['Freak]

http://www.ct-precision.com/
Click on “Ruger 77/22” in column on left.

 

[kolob10]

I have a Ruger 77/22 22 KHornet. The bolt has been shimmed, action bedded, trigger tweaked, and with lilGun, 35 gr Vmax bullets, it will do 3/4" 5 shots @ 100 yds. I have a Ruger no 1 that will do 1/2" without any tweaking except the trigger. Also have a T/C contender with a Bullberry 22 K Hornet barrel that will hit the magic 1/2" mark on a good day. I have a Browning 1885 that will do 3/4" without any tweaking. I KHornet every Hornet I get due to better brass life. Great cartridge that will keep you on your toes at times.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Where did you find 35 VMax?? I have yet to see any anywhere.

 

[bheadboy]

OKAY -- THE ANSWER

a number of the Ruger hornets were with a .223 bbl not a .224, thus you are in trouble if you don't have .223 pills or cast and size to the proper dia.

Almost all the original hornets by everyone until reloading became "the thing" were .223

Bob

 

[ballpowder]

I have a Cooper M38 22K hornet that has been all sorts of pain in the ass. It will shoot 15gr AA1680 with 45 gr Hornady but anything else it's time to punt. I want to put some time in working up a load with ill gun. My first outing with that powder resulted in blown primers and broken trigger. Not giving up as deep down I believe 1680 is a touch too slow

 

[rmist]

I have a Cooper M38 22K hornet that has been all sorts of pain in the ***. It will shoot 15gr AA1680 with 45 gr Hornady but anything else it's time to punt. I want to put some time in working up a load with ill gun. My first outing with that powder resulted in blown primers and broken trigger. Not giving up as deep down I believe 1680 is a touch too slow

How did you break a trigger !! How much are you using to blow primers ?

Lil gun is the best thing to happen to the hornet !! I use 13.1 gr with 40 gr v-max's and excellent results. I load them long and use a single shot follower.

 

[dedogs]

Please describe "broken trigger". What is it doing/not doing? All the old timers around here are using "Lil Gun" in their K-Hornets and swear it is the best powder for this cartridge. Some claim 3000 fps with the right bullet. Is it possible that some of the primer extruded into the firing pin hole and has buggard up the internal workings of your bolt? Kevin

 

[snert]

some studies reveal Lil Gun is all over the charts with pressures and SD.

i used it, with some pain to the primer pockets, and switched to AA 1680

 

[people]

I have tried it in two hornets it and it cut the groups to an acceptable level. I guess a little work every three pounds is not too much trouble.

I did fit a washer made from a feeler gauge that also tighten the groups.

 

[DaleS]

I shoot a T/C Encore, found a 26" heavy barrel for it... have no idea why anyone would want something like that but when I saw it come up for sale, I just had to have it... it started as a straight hornet, but I had it reamed out to the K- version after I saw how good it shot...

I really feel for you fellas that are having trouble getting your rifles shooting well... this thing of mine will shoot to one hole all day long with my lite load, Fed small pistol primer, 11½gr lil-gun, and a 40gr V-max... this is the load I use for fur under the lights... if I max it out to 13½gr with the same bullet and CCI small rifle match primers it opens up to a large sloppy clover leaf, BUT it's also getting 3250fps over a chronograph...

for those of you with T/C guns a word of advice, if you're having trouble getting 35gr bullets to shoot, forget it, not gonna happen... T/C uses a 1-12" twist in all their 22cal barrels... 40 gr on up is good... if you have a T/C in 223 or 22-250 you can shoot up to 65gr bullets well... good luck finding the cure for all those wild shooters...

 

[dedogs]

Curious to know what chronograph you are showing 3250 with a 40g V-Max on?

 

[SmokinJoe]

dedogs, with either LG or 300MP that is just a good warm load (about practical max) & I use an Oehler 35P.

 

[DaleS]

not sure but give me a day to get up with the guy that owns it...

 

[DaleS]

it was some sort of Oehler, not sure of the model number...

 

[BULLET 05]

I have a Ruger 77/22 that was unfired when I sent it off to have it "K'D" --with 45 + years of reloading experience these Hornets have me stumped. In those years the Hornet is the ONLY cartridge that has me talking to myself.

I can not get it to shoot less than 1" at 50 YDS !!!--Brass is prepped with weight separation , flash holes deburred, PP uniformed. I have tried all the so-called Hornet powders along with Small pistol, small rifle primers bullet weights from 33-45 gr and Crimp no Crimp what the %$*&&^^

Any help would be appreciated.

Jim

I had the same gun and tried several factory rounds and some reloads. I could get that gun to shoot 1/2" groups one day then the next time out I was lucky to get 2" groups. I tried everything, I even changed scopes same old thing. I traded it and bought a savage model 25t. I do not have that problem anymore. I have found it likes Hornady 35grain factory and I am working on hand loads as we speak. I also love the thumb hole stock and laminate wood of the Savage too.