Reloading the .22 Hornet

[ovenpaa]

I have a .22 Hornet I would like to load for, it will be used for Rabbits out to maybe 150 yards plus some 50 yard target plinking, any suggestions for loads and bullets to start with please?

[Sim G]

35 or 40gn bullets and either Hodgdon H4227 or Lil'Gun. H4227 would be my first choice.

[Alpha1]

22 Hornet
Lil gun 10.6 grains.
45 grain bullet traveling at 2800 ft/sec.
This load works very well.

[Alpha1]

That's using a Sellior @Bellot bullet by the way cheap as chips to reload for and good fun.

[dromia]

Vihtavuori N110 underneath the NOE 37gn Hornet bullet.

All one can say is Phwoarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[Mike95]

Vit N110 works very well under a 45 gn bullet. I am only shooting plated for target. 8 gns Vit N110 will give you a sub inch group at 100 yds...half inch at 50 yards..perfectly flat trajectory...5744 also shoots well. S & B bullets also shoot well and provide probably the only target specific fmj bullet.

Mike95

[Hornet35]

I use 12.9 gr of lilgun under a 35 gr v-max, (worked up from 12) will head shoot rabbits and drop fox on the spot at the ranges you're talking, doesnt like wind though. Does more meat damage than a 40gr SBK out of the .223 though so head shooting is a must. Nosler 40gr varmageddon with the same load is accurate but expansion not so good, pro is less meat damage con is more ricochet risk. At some point will find the time to load test the 40 gr SBK in the hornet as they are supposed to be very good and much less wind affected.

For plinking I picked up some S&B 45gr FMJ for £6/100 which make a cheap practice round.

[ovenpaa]

I have some Sierra Hornet bullets and tried reloading a couple of dummy bullets last night after lightly chamfering the inside of the neck however the necks promptly collapsed. They were .224" bullets and I have not slugged the bore yet so maybe I was being a bit optimistic, especially with such a light chamfer.

Any tips for dealing with such thin necks?

[dromia]

The Hornet cases respond to "M" die type expanders for bullet seating.

I also like to keep my Hornet cases a little springy so careful on any annealing.

[ovenpaa]

Dromia, I was just thinking about flaring the necks very slightly, a suitable mandrel is easily machined to test the process. The brass is once fired and I have not annealed them.