22 hornet

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

Any of you guys play around with this little fella. Been a favorite of mine for a while currently loading for 3 of them using lil gun. What's the deal with using small pistol primers in them is it safe?

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:26 am Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

I do the Anschutz 1432 and the litle Thompson Encore in that caliber. Till now I had never problems with small pistol primers.
On the other hand: there a big difference between standard and magnum primers and often the magnums are performing worse. I think the pressure of the magnumprimer already starts the bullet moving which could result in a bigger case volume before all the powder is actually burning.
When reloading it's very difficult to get close to the performance of the Winchester HP factory round.

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

Ive got a h&r handi and a krico. Just picked up a liitle browning a bolt in lh drive. Currently ive been using federal small rifle primers and a 35gr v max im getting 3050 fps.

Elvis · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

re small pitol primers.......some folks swear by them for accuracy,others say its unsafe...hopefully DeerSniper will chime in...pretty sure he uses one....I know someone here uses hornet and has fantastic accuracy.....

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

I got given some small pistol primers with the rifle and it also had some pre primed brass with sp primers. I guess just wear some glasses if im not sure. get to finally get out this weekend and sight in test accuracy and chrony it

Vince · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2021 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

northdude wrote:

I got given some small pistol primers with the rifle and it also had some pre primed brass with sp primers. I guess just wear some glasses if im not sure. get to finally get out this weekend and sight in test accuracy and chrony it

Good luck with your testing mate. The SP/SR primer debate with the 22 Hornet has been going on for years, so they obviously both work well. The only caveat I would add is to not use Federal Small Pistol Primers. There is nothing wrong with them, in fact they are fantastic in a pistol (I shot some of my best pistol scores using them in my 586 .357 S&W revolver), but they are a rather soft primer, and at rifle velocities, even 22 Hornet, the possibility exists for a punctured primer and blow back.

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

if pistol primers are softer I guess they wont be a very accurate sign of pressure?

Elvis · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:35 am Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

oh contrar......they will react SOONER......

Aloysius · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:34 am Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

and when you get pressure signs with the .22 Hornet, you're probably using the wrong powder or bullet! Using the right components you could just fill the case with powder and set the bullet, without getting pressure signs. (not that I would recommend this method of reloading by anything else than blackpowder cartridges and soft lead bullets!)

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

Im using lil gun at the moment no chance of putting to much of that in. Got some win 296 i think it is to have a play with as well

Vince · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

northdude wrote:

Im using lil gun at the moment no chance of putting to much of that in. Got some win 296 i think it is to have a play with as well

Be careful using 296 mate. It’s a great pistol magnum powder, but is very sensitive to under AND over loading. Stick religiously to what the book says. I opted to use Alliant 2400 in my revolver as it has similar loadings, but is much more user friendly…these days I use it to load 20g shotgun. Another powder to consider is ADI AR2205…a good powder that has many uses, from pistol magnum loadings to smaller rifle calibres.

Elvis · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

northdude wrote:

Im using lil gun at the moment no chance of putting to much of that in. Got some win 296 i think it is to have a play with as well

I wouldnt be so sure...from memory lil gun is fine ball powder so would be relatively easy to fit too much in....
agree with Vinny on the 296...its one of them funny powders that packs a paddy when its not right.

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

As far as i can tell 13 gr is max book load ive tried it but its a super compressed load. 12.5 gr seems to be what my rifles like

Deleted_User_13284 · Member Joined: Oct 10, 2021 Posts: 127

Ok wife and I spent the day at the farm exercising our trigger fingures and getting shoulder massages. The new hornet was one of the rifles being tested. First off i tried it with some hornady match ammo it came with. Did 1 inch groups easy. One thing i did notice tho was the primers backing out of the case im no expert but im thinking it could be headspace as i knocked together a couple of hand loads that i know usually work with neck sized once fired brass that came with rifle and the primers were fine with those loads. One hand load did 1 inch and the other went an easy 1/2 ". We are still out here cooking some dinner waiting for possum time Smile

Its great to be back out again...

Aloysius · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:17 am Post subject: Re: 22 hornet

You can shoot the .22 Hornet all day, even without the barrel getting hot. And when you avoid Slimjim's distances you will be surprised what it can do. Just have a look at what eskimo's kill with that litle round and compare the volume and the weight when you pack a few hundred Hornet rounds in your backpack or pockets... besides that: listen to the sound and see at what short distance it's gone...
and you know why the .22 Hornet is called a poacher's round.

I'm sure you and your wife will have lots of fun with this litle thing.

(should you ever meet a 5,6x35 R Vierling, don't hesitate! They only differ a litle bit at the tickness of the rim, a problem a small lathe will easy overcome)