Can someone with a Ruger K77/22-VHZ Hornet rifle, measure a magazine, and post what the maximum C.O.L. that will fit in and feed out properly?

I have ordered a Ruger K77/22-VHZ rifle in 22 Hornet but it will take some months to arrive.

A lot of published load recipes show bullets loaded longer than the 1.723" SAAMI standard C.O.L.

I've tried to purchase some extra magazine's but the stores here are out of stock on this item too (typical).

I've ordered the rifle and 2 extra mags but it will be quite awhile before it all arrives.

I got box of factory Winchester ammo to try first plus I have dies and tools and components on order, they will arrive long before the rifle so I want try loading up a few cartridges.

Measured the inside length of the magazine at 1.805". The maximum length cartridge I load for it is the Blizking at 1.802”.

MickinColo:
Thank You very much for taking the time to measure one of your magazines for me and for the info on your bullet choice.

I was able to get my hands on two boxes of Sierra stock number 1210 the 45 grain Hornet bullet.
I got this bullet because it closely matched the rounded semi-spitzer profile of the factory made Winchester ammo I have.

Good luck with the new rifle.

Im looking forward to purchasing a 22 Hornet in the very near future. Im going to pivk up the Ruger 77 as well with the laminated wood stock and stainless heavy barrel. Should make for a fun gun...

The blued model is much lighter, I'm having one of them converted to .17 squirrel

Greenjoy:

I think you will find that the 35 grain V-Max along with Lil Gun Powder, is the way to go. There are a number of Hornets in my shooting group, everything from 77's to Model 43 Winchesters, they all like a load of 12-13 grains of Lil Gun with the V-Max. The 45 grain Sierra Hornet bullet you mentioned, does not shoot as well in my Hornet, as it does in my 218 Bee.

Good Luck

Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Greenjoy:

I think you will find that the 35 grain V-Max along with Lil Gun Powder, is the way to go. There are a number of Hornets in my shooting group, everything from 77's to Model 43 Winchesters, they all like a load of 12-13 grains of Lil Gun with the V-Max. The 45 grain Sierra Hornet bullet you mentioned, does not shoot as well in my Hornet, as it does in my 218 Bee.

Good Luck

Jerry

Jerry,

Interestingly, that 45 gn Sierra Hornet bullet is the most accurate bullet for my 77/Hornet. I do use 13.0 gns of Lil-Gun and Fed Small Pistol primers. And, I can't find a pointy nose bullet that will shoot well in my rifle. I tested every one of the 45 grain and below pointy noses and none would deliver good accuracy.
Guns are like women...

I shall not go furtner with that thought..LMAO

Don

Just a point of interest: In Steve Hanson's book A Varmint Hunters Odyssey he discussses many different rifles/cartridges. On page 118 he lists the accuracy loads for several .22 Hornet rifles- some with factory barrels/some with custon barrels.The most accurate was his Ruger-Clark 77/22. It has a 21.5" Walther barrel and using Berger 40g.moly with IMR 4227 11.7g gave velocity of 2782fps and grouped 0.39".The other rifles were Kimber 82 factory 40g. Nosler WW680(discontinued) 11.5g 2660 fps and 0.66";Browning Micro Med factory barrel Calhoon 42g IMR 4227 11.2 g. 2666 fps and 0.72";Cooper 38 24" Shilen Nosler BT 40g IMR 4227 11.3g 2765 fps and 0.48"; CZ 527 23.6" factory Berger 40g. IMR 4227 11.5g. 2814 fps and 0.58".
Earlier he indicates primers that seem to give him the most consistent results were Rem 6.5 and CCI BR4. He cautions loads were safe in his test rifles but exercise caution when developing loads and start with 15% less powder than listed above.
His Ruger-Clark and the Cooper 38 were both single shot rifles and according to him had slightly smaller chambers.
With 40g V-Max or Nosler BT he zeroed 1.5" high at 100yds and was 1.1" low at 200yds.
He does say what many have found with the Hornet- when you find a bullet it likes it will shoot it consistently under 1" If it doesn't like the bullet it may spray them like a shotgun pattern.
This book was published in 1999.

Jim M

I really liked the 40 Grain Ballistic tips, but I had to shoot them as a single shot in my rifles. They were too long for me to use the magazine.

Jerry