I loaded up some Sierra Match BTHP, 52 gn on top of some 296 per the loading data in the Sierra manual. They all shot abysmally out of my CZ527 Hornet. I loaded 5 groups of 10 each increasing the charge from lowest to max. It didn't make any difference which charge I was shooting. It seemed from the holes that they were tumbling. Anyone else had experience with this bullet? The CZ's very accurate with Remington factory ammo and reloads I made with Remington soft points over SR4759 were not anything to write home about but they hit square.

Try shorter bullets. You'll probably have good results with 35-45 gr. bullets. Most CZ hornets shoot 35 and 40 gr. V-maxes very well. I'd try lil' gun, H110 or W296 for powders.

The .22 Hornet is a finicky beggar in the best of times. I suspect you have a good one though. Brno made this rifle for a number of years under their own name, and they were famous for producing excellent accuracy. However, I agree with the above comments. You'll probably have beeter results from using the lighter bullets. You might give Sierra Technical Support a call and see what they recommend. Their number is toll free and listed on their website. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I have the same rifle that I bought about a month ago on a whim. I also have a Sako P72 in .22 Hornet. They both love the Hornady 35 grain factory ammo; also, both shoot well with the Remington factory load. I purchased a variety of bullets and a set of Redding dies at the Valley Forge gun show on Saturday to start working up some loads for them.

Please, if you haven't tried Lil'Gun and the 40gr v-max in your Hornet your missing a golden opportunity. This powder worked wonders in my Hornet. Thanks

Ok, I've got a question, I loaded up some more case with Lilgun starting with the starting load given in the 2004 Hodgdon manual and working to to just below the max load given. My question is, why aren't these marked as compressed loads? It appeared to me that the powder, with the possible exception of the starting load, was coming close to the mouth of the case. I even double checked my scale. It was right on the money.

I use the sierra 45 gr .224 soft point bullets in my cz 527 and they give me great results and feed well from the magazine. These bullets where designed to be used in the hornet...they work well on foxes and are good for head shooting grassy's under the spotlight.

I've shot up to 13.5grs. of Lil'Gun in a standard Hornet with a 40gr. bullet and no sign of pressure. Dropped back to 13.2 grs. just to be safe. MV- just over 3000fps. and 3/4in. groups at 100yds. from a 26in. barreled Ruger #1
Pedro

Is this a compressed load for you? After looking around the net I feel more confident but Hodgdon doesn't list these as a compressed load. Listed pressures still seem much less than most other powders.

My Ruger 77/22-H shoots a group the size of a dime. I can not comment on Sierra bullets or what a CZ does.
Find out what twist you have. They shou be either 1-16 or 1-14:
Start a tight patch; being sure the jag is tight on the rod.
Mark the rod with a felt tip to indicate Top Dead Center and a starting point.
Advance the rod until it comes back to Top Dead Center.
Measure the distance traveled from the start mark. That is the rifling twist, one turn in xx inches.
A lot easier than trying to estimate the amount of twist in a foot.
Bullet weight and twist have lots to do with accuracy.

Something doesn't sound right. 13 gr is well under a case load and close to max with the 40 gr bullets. Another thing to check is shoulder set-back. this will kill Hornet accuracy fast. The Lee Collet die is the best way to go on such thin brass.

I've never shot heavy bullets in mine, but every thing from 45gr down has been very good and the 35gr V-Max with 13gr of Lil Gun is the cats meow. Just remember that little changes mean a lot in the Hornet so east does it. I really don't recall very many positive results using heavy bullets.

The Hodgdon .22 Hornet load data says 13.0gr of Lil'Gun is a max load regardless of bullet weight up to 45 gr. The Winchester cases they used will hold 13.5 gr without using a longer drop tube. Remington cases I have will hold more powder than the Win cases I have.

It has been said, supposedly from a Hodgdon tech, that you can't put enough Lil'Gun in a Hornet to hurt it. I load 13.5 gr with a 40 gr V-Max in Win brass and CCI 400.

CZ, back when it was known as Brno, made their reputation prety much on the acuracy of their .22Hornet. It can be a finicky little bugger, mainly due to the size. I'm planning on my next rifle being a CZ527 in a Hornet. They don't usually shoot the heavier bullets well though. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

For what it's worth, I had my 527 reamed to K-Hornet before I got it. I would recommend that conversion to anyone. My rifle will produce .5 groups consistently. Just a thought.

Obviously, the bullets are too long for the twist rate of your barrel. If it is a standard .22 Hornet twist, it is 1/16", whereas the bullet you are shooting needs at least a 1/12 or steeper at Hornet speeds to stabilize them. The standard Hornet twist rate is intended for 40 to 45-grain, slightly blunt bullets.

Based on the pressures shown for those Hodgdon L'il Gun charges vs those produced by the other powders listed, I'd guess that the reason they are MAX is because that's all the powder the case would hold!!