Tried loading for a Browning single-shot 22 Hornet for the first time. Had read that Hodgdon H110 was a good powder for it. Checked Hodgdon, Hornady, Speer, and Sierra manuals. Max loads ranged from 9.5 to 10.4 grains with 45 grain bullets loaded to 1.75 inch COL.

Got lousy groups as the shooting started. Nothing suitable at all for varmints. Kept inching up the load. Increased overall length to 1.85 inches. Increased powder with no pressure signs. At ll.5 grains still no pressure signs but the groups tightend up a bit. Was getting late and turning dark so had to give up testing for the day.

The brass was new Winchester and the primers were Winchester too. Bullets were Hornady 45 grain marked specifically for the Hornet (0.224"). Dies were new RCBS.

Any thoughts on best loads for the 22 Hornet with 45 grain bullets with H110 ? with other powders ?

Hammer

Try Lil'Gun and 35 grain V-Max bullets. Also, try Small Pistol Primers.
Pete

I use H110, H4227 and 2400 in both of my .22 Hornets. The bullets I use are Hornady V-Max, Nosler Ballistic Tip(varmint bullets which are great accuracy wise) and Barnes VLC. I use bullets weights from 40 to 50 grains and I do no use the bullets stated for Hornet use. Lawdog

Hello Hammer: I recommend you continue increasing powder by 2/10 grain increments until you get too much pressure or groups you can live with. Seat the bullet slightly into the lands as you start increasing. I use remington 6 1/2 primers and they rarely leak. 1 1/2's leaked at lower pressure. My gun is a 77/22H with remington barrel and a chamber on the minimum end and near zero headspace. After trying lots of different bullets, I settled on the remington 50 psp and lots of 296 (which I consider to be 110 in a different can)(near 2700fps). Remember standard published pressure levels of the hornet have been reduced at least 3 times in the last 20 years. Published data is anemic in some cases now. Good shooting, ned

I use 13 gr. Lil'Gun with the Hornady 35 gr. VMAX and CCI small pistol primers. VERY accurate even from my factory TC Contender Carbine, I often get .75" or smaller groups at 100 yards in spite of my "inappropriate" 4X scope with duplex reticule. The cartridge is just darn easy to shoot well and the load seems to be pretty good as well. This is from field positions such as prone unsupported. I think a good benchrest shooter could do better.

The bullet has been called a "brick" and it isn't very aerodynamic but it does shoot well. If you want a bit more BC, I'd suggest the 40 gr. VMAX with the same powder load. These are both book loads in the Hogdon manual and work. The bullet works well in my .218 Bee with 14 gr. Lil'Gun so why not in the Hornet? Of course it works!

I used H110 and "Hornet" bullets when I started but it was too hard to get it to group and good loads were hard on brass (pressure was a bit high for the brass). H110 did not work well with the small pistol primers which seem to help so much.

Using the same brass is REALLY important with this cartridge. Changing brass makes a very noticeable difference because of the relatively big changes in capacity, etc. I use Winchester but if I do come across a box of Remington brass I've got a friend whose rifle prefers it to the Winchester. Individual rifles do have a preference.

The only other thing I do is ensure that all brass is trimmed to the same length (I can't recall what it is for this rifle) and I trim EVERY loading. Some need it and some don't but I find that it is necessary to check.

I'd like to hear more about the specifics of your experience. The Hornet is a FUN cartridge as well as effective.

Thanks to all for the information.

Today I started upping the H110 powder charge. At 12 grains there are still no signs of pressure. And the groups have shrunk in half coming close to acceptable. This is 2.5 grains (or 25%) more than some manuals list as maximum.

Have used the same five cases over ten times now with no problems.

Hope to continue the experimentation so it can be used for prairie dogs this June.

Hammer

Avoid shooting above maximum loads listed as it is hard on your rifle. Move to another powder IMR-4227, H-4227, Lil-Gun are kinder pressure wise and should give good accuracy below maximum loads listed. Lil-Gun is an ideal powder for the 22 hornet as you can not over charge the case. My 22 Hornet shooting the 45 grain bullet gave nice groups with both IMR-4227 or Lil-Gun powder.

The 22 Hornet tends to be hard to tune by virtue of case design, and brass life is short. I have replaced my 22 hornet with the great shooting 221 fireball cartridge. The 221 fireball is a better balanced case far superior to the 22 Hornet in every way. The 221 fireball is inherantly more accurte than the 22 Hornet and equal to the 222 Remington in my view.

I agree with Hobie........I'm shooting 13.0 gr. Lil Gun and 35 gr. V Max out of my Browning 1885 with very good results. .75 and smaller groups. .525 best so far.

Again, thanks to all for the information.

Might have to give 'Lil Gun a try. How does it flow in powder measures ?

Have some of the 35 grain VMax bullets. But are we allowed to shoot polymer tipped bullets in a 1885 Browning Hornet ? Seems like that would defy tradition. Not even sure they had invented polymer when the Hornet was introduced.

Hammer

By the way what is the twist rate on your Hornet? Lawdog

Doc,

This load is really amazing, isn't it? Seems to work well in every Hornet I've seen it used in.

I must have the only rifle that doesn't like Lil'Gun. I tried it with 35 and 40 gr. V-max, 40 gr. BT, 45 Speer and Hornady Hornet bullets, as well as Rem 50 Gr. PLHP. When I was about agree with several folks and admit that Ruger 77/22 Hornets don't shoot I tried the 35 gr. V-max pushed by 2400. Bingo!!! Groups went from over an inch to under 1/2" at 100 yards consistantly, like four groups in a row over two differnt shooting days. The other advantage to the 35 gr. V-max bullets is that seated out just short of the rifling of the Ruger, they still run through the magazine.

OK

Started over.

Used Winchester small pistol primers. Hornady 35-grain VMAX bullets seated to Hornady manual spec length. Loaded 13 grains of 'Lil Gun.

Groups are hovering about one inch.

What's ya'll's excuse for not speaking up sooner ?

Hammer

Tried the Hornet again today.

Once again used small pistol primers, 13 grains of 'Lil Gun, and 35 grain Hornady VMAX. Again good results.

Did nothing but change the bullet to Hornady 45 grain Hornet bullet. No die adjustment. No powder adjustment. Same primer. Also got good results.

So maybe it's the powder and primer.

POI was about an inch different with the 45 grainers than the 35 grainers.

Hammer

I have reloaded since August 1970. For the Hornet most of the time. I have never tried H-110 in a Hornet because it left a dirty residue in my .357 Mag.loads.
All with a 45 grain bullet.
Getting a .22 Hornet to group under an inch is "an almost impossible job". I tried the tried and true IMR-4227 load of 11.3gr; Win-680 at 12.0gr. I did try a load of 7.3 grains of IMR-4227 and got a nickel size group. [1850 fps?] I had never used 2400, so I said what the heck. I tried 9.7 grains of 2400 and got the suprise of my life...a 1/4 inch group. It is a maximum load, so work up to it.