Does anyone know the CORRECT trim length for the .22 Hornet case?

I checked two books, Richard Lee's first edition, and the Sierra loading manual. The Lee book gives an overall length of 1.403", while the Sierrra manual says 1.338"...that's 65/1000ths shorter than what Lee reports! Is either one correct?

While we're talking Hornet case lengths, another question: What is the correct trim length for an Ackley Hornet? Is it he same as for a standard Hornet?

And one last question, how about the trim length for a K-Hornet (Kilbourn Hornet)? Same as either the Ackley or the standard Hornets?

If you go to Varmint Als web site and look for his description of the poor mans chamber gauge you can make one real easy. The reason is that each rifle is different and the manuals give you a safe trim length. My new Sierra manual has a trim length of 1.393" for the 22 hornet.
The bullet diagram shows the case design dimension to be 1.403.
Trimming to the book trim length gives you a few loading before trimming again but you could actually trim at 1.400 and trim each time you resize and be okay.

The new Sierra manual has the K Hornet trim length to be 1.384" which looks odd to me since they have the same design length of 1.403

speer manul: max1.403 trim-to 1.393

Well, I usually trim to SAAMI overall spec less .010" in all my other calibers -- Guess I'll go to Ken Howell's book, look up the SAAMI spec for the Hornet, and deduct .010" from that, as we now have listed three different recommended lengths....1.338" (1970's Sierra Manual), 1.384" (newest Sierra Manual), and 1.403" (Richard Lee's first manual).


As I have three different Hornets, I don't want to use a gauge and go from what that may measure in any one of the rifles...although if I did, I'd have to pick the shortest of the three chambers. If I took the longest, it wouldn't fit in the other two. I do want to be able to use one batch of ammo in any of the chambers.

The Barnes manual is identical to the new Sierra manual. Design is 1.403 and trim to 1.393. They do not list a K Hornet.

quote:

Originally posted by GSP7:
trim-to 1.393

same for the K-hornet as well.

Check your chamber length. I have measured many chambers way longer than the manual.
There is not much point of trimming .010 short of maximum when the chamber is .040 longer.

After reading Varmint Als description of a cheap chamber gauge I made one and found out that I was trimming way too much. Now I trim to the design length only.

As stated before, I don't care how long the chamber is in this particular rifle, so long as it is at least SAAMI minimum.

If it was .040" longer than that, I definitely would not use that dimensional info for any purpose in this application, as ALL the rounds HAVE to also fit and fire safely in my other two Hornets as well. I do not plan to segregate them by length and keep different batches for each rifle. That's worth the trouble in my BR rifles, but not in my sage-rat plinkers.

Forgot to give a big THANKS to all of you guys who confirmed the 1.403" case length...that is probably SAAMI spec, as so many books list it. And, in that instance, the 1.393" trim length would be exactly the .010" under SAAMI spec that I always like to use. Thanks again for your efforts, time, and trouble.

Oh, and thanks Vapo for the confirmation of the improved Hornet length. thought that would be the case, but am very glad to have the confirmation.
AC

I think you worry too much.

quote:

Originally posted by MickinColo:
I think you worry too much.

If you are referring to me, I am not the one who is worried about the chamber length in my rifle. I just asked what the "official" length of the case is, so I can trim them all to one standard without worrying about which rifle they might be put into.

An answer to that question was all I asked for, not instructions on my rifles or what I should be considering or not considering in my loading. Fortunately, most folks understood that and gave me the info I was asking for.

I thank all of you for your good intentions and help.

Most of my books & charts list 1.403 as max.

I noticed that my old Hornady manual shows the length from the case mouth to the base of the rim as 1.338 and then shows the rim thickness as .065, which also adds up to 1.403".

Trim to 1.393" over-all if you wish to go with a standard measure.
However that might not apply if you are custom loading to your chamber dimensions.

Thanks, Chuck- That's what I am going to do...this afternoon as a matter of fact.Best wishe3s to you all....