I just purchased a new SS 24 inch 22 Hornet barrel for my Encore. I am wanting to put together a QUIET load. Which is more quiet. A light bullet going fast, or a large bullet going slower?? Any good load or bullet recommendations? Rifle will be used for eastern ground hog hunting out to 200 yards. Tom.

If it is above the speed of sound, it's going to have some "crack" to it. I've hunted around a lot of small farms with my Ruger 77/22 Hornet using a 40gr. VMax on top of Win 296. This load is plenty loud, I don't like to shoot it without earplugs, but it's a lot quieter than my .204 Ruger or my father's .223.

Hope someone else has more advice.
Good Luck

The speed of the bullet (once above the speed of sound) is irrelevant. The muzzle report is a function of the volume of gas and its pressure at the muzzle. To the extent that a heavier bullet load typically uses a lower volume of powder, the heavier bullet load may be a bit quieter; however this is not a result of bullet weight but of powder volume.

The quieter load will use a powder that is relatively fast for the cartridge, making it lower in volume and having a lower muzzle pressure.

If you can use less than a full power load, I like Blue Dot (6.7 grains under a Hornady 35 gr V-max). This produces about 2650 fps in my gun and is significantly quieter than a "full power" load with a powder like WW 296 or Lil Gun. It's a great 100 yard load, but 200 would be stretching it.

Stonecreek has it right!! A lot of new information on Blue Dot, especially in .223 but not for the average reloader. For myself, dropping small charges via RCBS Little Dandy powder measure using systems of steel rotors is just perfect! I have two links for .223 loads should you be interested.......r in s.

You will need to use a 40 grain bullet, heavier bullets will not stabilize with the 1-14 hornet twist when you shoot them with a reduced velocity.

My brothers #1 shoots 4 grains of bullseye both accurately and quiet, but work up the load using all the normal precautions, etc.

Try some cast bullets for a mild report. Never tried them in a hornet but in .222 and 22-250 give great results,but have not been able to find a load that shoots cast bullet worth a darn,but my .223 shoots jacketed very well.

I started with 35gr Vmax bullets.

Then 40gr Vmax and 40gr Sierra HP.

Now I am shooting 45gr Sp bullets and the hornet is a sweet shooter out to 200 yards.

Gerhard