Hi,

I would like to try some lead bullets in my .22 hornet single shot.
I can not find any .224 mold here (argentina) but have a friend that can make it.(he is mold and reloading tools maker)
I would like to know what design you like.
Also I would like see a picture or draws of those good bullets.
I preffer to use gas checked bullets.
Thanks
Martin

Martin---I dont have a hornet and not sure if this bullet would be too heavy for a hornet. I use the 58 grain RCBS in .222 and in 22-250. In both of those it shoots good and seems to do pretty good with any load I've tried. My .223 (Win mod 70) is a different story. I cant get that bullet to group and Ive tried several powders and loads--no luck. This is a gas check design and I have shot it both with and without the gas check. I've just about decided the gas checks are a waste of money as it shoots as good without as it does with them. I use to shoot a whole bunch of jackrabbits at night and this bullet worked out to whatever distance you could get a spotlight on them.

Good choice! I shall take some pictures of the case bullets I have used in mine. They are RCBS 55gr gas-check bullets. Since you are going to be getting custom moulds and sizers, may I suggest a larger than .224 bullet? Make that bullet to very closely fit your rifles throat and since yours is a single shot you may want to load without sizing the neck. That would mean making the base of the bullet fit snugly into the fired case mouth. If you use Lil'Gun powder you can compress the charge to the base of the neck and seat your bullet onto that - that stops the bullet from being pushed in. Give the bullet a slight taper to the nose to match the rifling leade. You can also surface lube the bullet but then you have to allow enough space for the layer of lube. With a round nose cast bullet you can shoot 60gr at a very healthy velocity out of a hornet. (I get around 2600fps with mine using 60gr Hornday bullets). If you are confined to H4227 class powders, 55gr bullets might be better. But either way, let the barrel swage the bullet to size. Oh yes, a lube grooved bullet puts the bullet weight forward which is good for stabilizing heavier bullets.

Do a search for the Lyman 225107 mould. It is long out of production, but it casts a 43-grain bullet if memory serves. The bullet is a round nose, and it shoots very well out of my K-hornet. I have built sub-sonic loads with that bullet and 0.5 grains of AA #2 and a cotton wad to hold the powder over the primer. Totally silent, and a single ragged hole at 25 yards for as long as you want to reload and shoot.

Thank you very much!
I will try to find pictures of the bullets you recomend.
Thanks
Martin

Martin; Go to midsouth shooters szupply, look for special order molds, open C-225-RF 22 bator, there is a drawing with design specs.

Thanks swheeler.
Martin

this is what I use:
Lyman 44gr 225438
Designed by Guy Loverin for the 22 Hornet. Closely resembles the 22 Long Rifle bullet in shape

longwalker...do you fabricate a hollow point in your bullet mould, as does John Goins/aka beagle or do you shoot as the mould originally casts ?

Alta.Separatist: No hollowpoint, I shoot the Lyman bullet as is, since I want it as as a small game and fur bullet, and so I don't want expansion.

quote:

Originally posted by Martin Godio:
Hi,

I would like to try some lead bullets in my .22 hornet single shot.
I can not find any .224 mold here (argentina) but have a friend that can make it.(he is mold and reloading tools maker)
I would like to know what design you like.
Also I would like see a picture or draws of those good bullets.
I preffer to use gas checked bullets.
Thanks
Martin

Martin

You need to determine the twist of your Hornet barrel before selecting a cast bullet. The old common twist for the Hornet was a 16" twist. It does not do well with cast bullets over 50 gr at much over 50 yards.

The Lyman 225438 as Longwalker suggests is a very good cast bullet for this. It is also a good choice for the newer faster twists for the Hornet. The Hornet is a fine cast bullet cartridge if the right weight bullet is used.

Larry Gibson

The Lyman 225438 is what I use out of my CZ 22 Hornet. Shoots nice.

Take a good long hard look at the Lyman mold #225415. If you cast it from WW, you can run it at 900 FPS to 21-2200 FPS with a GC and just about cover everything from Mice to Deer. Have been using it for over 40 plus years and it works outstanding. Started with a Savage 219, Win 43, now a Ruger 77/22 hornet. I have used Unique, H-110, Win 296, 2400. My favorite is Unique.

quote:

The old common twist for the Hornet was a 16" twist. It does not do well with cast bullets over 50 gr at much over 50 yards.

Mmmm... OK! I actually thought the hornet would do better with heavier cast bullets. I tried some 55gr RCBS bullets (I would have to find the mould) and they seemed to shoot just as good (or bad) as jacketed bullets. Groups definately opened up if driven too hard. I did not persue the cast bullets in it though. I wouldn't give up on heavier bullets - like I said, I shoot 60gr spire points in mine with 1-in-16 twist. The cast bullets are shorter for their weight. I also found the heavier jacketed bullets to shoot more accurately than the lighter ones. One advantage of the heavier cast bullets is that the long neck can be effectively used. I would rush out and do some tests but I find casting those tiny little bullets a bit difficult!