I have a new Ruger K77 in 22 Hornet 24" barrel.
I would like to try to find the harmonic nodes for this rifles barrel using 2 different loads.

1) Hodgdon's H110 powder with Hornady's 35gr V-max bullet, Win cases and CCI500 primers.
2) Hodgdon's LIL'GUN powder with Sierra's 45gr Hornet bullet, Win case and CCI500 primers.

I have fired these loads before but I have no clue if the bullets are exiting the barrel at the proper (top of the figure 8) node point.

The maximum shooting distance I have access to is a 150 meter range.

With the Hornet case being so small I thought making the loads up in one tenth (0.1)grain increments would be best. I am concened that I would not be able to detect shot nodes due to the huge velocity swings I have recorded on the previously firing of both these loads.
The rifle I'm using may not be capable of the accuracy or tight grouping necessary to make sence of the targets bullet hole pattern.
I'm hoping this test will help to find future handloads that when made at the node will let this stock rifle be the best it can be, Future trigger work and barrel free floating jobs would only serve to tighten group more.

Ideally I would like to see a straight vertical line of bullet holes with at least one cluster of 3 shots some ware near the top of the line of shots.

greenjoy, there is no magic about the ILDM. Take the starting charge from the book, the max charge from the book, subtract one one from the other and divide the result by 20. Thus eg. if the difference between max and min is 6 grains, then the increment is 0.3 grains. For cases like the .222Rem, it is not unusual to use 0.2 grains increment. I am not familiar with the Hornet. Weigh each charge. and remember that you will be loading 20 rounds for each bullet/powder combination. As I said there is no magic in this method. It simply shows those loads that are impervious to small changes in powder charge.
You are looking for groups formed by consecutive shots. I see the ILDM as an efficient way of eliminating combinations of bullet/powder. Shoot at 150 yards. rember the Ruger is not the most accurate rifle in the world! So you will not find the magic 1/4 load!
Peter

I went to home depot and they did not have any Audette ladders. Should I try Ace?

Hey greenjoy, Mr. Audette's Method(Ladder ) will get you there.

Since it is a short range 22Hornet, 100yd-150yds will do, but you may need to either shoot and then go mark each hole, or shoot the individual shots at separate Targets and then "stack them" with a bright light behind them to locate the best Harmonic Node. If you elect to shoot separate Targets, use 20# Typing Paper(or lighter) and afix each sheet to a piece of Cardboard as a backer. The Cardboard will help keep from tearing the paper.

I'd encourage you to work with the LIL'GUN Powder first. It was not available when I had Hornets and appears to be the very best Powder ever made to use in a Hornet. You can see lots of folks post pretty nice groups with it.

At the Pressure a 22Hornet operates, I always found a Small Pistol Primer to provide better accuracy than Small Rifle Primers. No idea if that still holds true with the LIL'GUN or not though. You can do a "Find" at the top of the page and see what others are using with it, or perhaps some more folks will jump in to help you.

I agree with you on the 0.1gr difference in Load Development for the Hornet. And yet, once you find the Harmonic Node, it may have a swing of 0.5gr(-0.2g, -0.1gr, dead-on, +0.1gr, +0.2gr).

If your rifle needs a Trigger Job, it makes the task of finding a good Load much more difficult.

Best of luck to you.

g-g,

A couple of suggestions.

The eternal primer discussion first. We've (fired many, many thousands) always had the best luck with Remington 6 1/2 primers in the Hornet. The CCI400's after that followed by the real expensive RWS primers.

Lil'Gun appears by far to be the best current potential immediate success ticket to both accuracy & velocity.

Velocity is a BONUS in loading for the Hornet, as 99% of our loads with vanilla-flavored Hornet bullets (45-47 gr.) USUALLY depict the best of all worlds right around 2500-2600 fps. and many fall way below that; sometimes into the 2400-2300 fps range.

The 35 gr. Hornady V-Max's & 33 gr. Speer bullets are another Kettle-of-Fish.

If you're content to take what load development ultimately affords you as far as velocity goes, great. If you're in search of the ultimate Hornet screamer load then you may get lucky with the 33 & 35 gr. bullets. If not; you'll have to go into the .221 Remington Fireball or .222 Remington range. I say this because occaisionally we get fellows that insist on a Screamer load and are most often disappointed; attempting making the Hornet into something it just isn't meant to be. If good fortune strikes and velocity comes along with an accurate load - great.

Our default load at this time is Lil'Gun & the Hornady 35 gr. V-Max's. We've found most Hornet rifles appreciate this combination from the Get-Go.

Alternate powder for the few Hornets that didn't appreciate the benefits of LilGun has been AA1680 & after that VV N-110.

Hornet can be touchy. Not on the .1 gr. load development but that most scales can't reproduce charges of .1 grs. dead-on, every time without some variation. Having said that, we always do the .1 gr. ladder test with Hornets anyway beacuse within .2 grs. you may easily see some load potential.

Opinions vary with the above of course and I'm not saying this is a HAS TO BE, simply a consideration for your load development.

Have fun with your Hornet load development.