At one time, some one had a topic on sub-sonic loads in the 22 Hornet and people came up with fast pistol powder loads that were right at speed of sound. I did some looking around and found that the 22 Hornet Loadbook has loads with all of the IMR powerders. This is the only situation were you test loads useing the lightest bullet with the heavest charge first. Don't even like the thought of ponding a bullet out of my barrel. Used IMR 4350 and 4831 and with 40-45-50gr bullets at 10-10.5-11gr each. Also used a lee factory crimp die. It is like shooting a muzzel loader as you have to run a cleanig patch down the bore after each shot because of the unburnt powder in chamber and bore. The loads ran from the mid 900's to mid 1100's with high extream spreads. Most were 4-5" @ 50yd but one did 3/4". The guy on the next bench said they sounded like 22 shorts going off. Going to do the test over with with SR Mag primers and see if that cuts back on unburnt and high extream spreads.

Try some Trail Boss. It should work for the Hornet as well as it does elsewhere.

anything can be loaded sub sonic. ever try a sub sonic 317 wham bang manglumum

tiggertate: I have tried Trail Boss in past and it is a bigger pain in the Obama than a hemorrhoid. I don't like to take my powder thrower complety apart to clean it. Because of its static the 4th load thrown would be light and the 5th heavey. Most of the Cowboy Shooter tried it when first came out and have since droped it because of extrem spreads. Hodgdons load data is very strange, when used in the 32S&W -32 H&R Mag - and 32/20 with the same load and same bullet the pressure goes up with each LARGER case. I called Hodg. techs and asked them why and got 10 min of tap danceing and a final "well thats the way it is". I asked all the shooter that I know in area and most said they had tried it and didn't want it so I impressted the grand kids with a baby Atomic Mushroom Cloud on the 4th of that year.

I am shooting my 221 Fireball at subsonic loads and they are very accurate.
Using a South African shotgun powder.

I shoot alot of foxes at night and due to the bs laws in this country, we (licensed shooters) are not allowed handguns for humane dispatch so when I'm using the hornet for free shooting fox there is always the possibility of wounding. To this end, I carry 3 or 4 sub sonic loads for dispatch and have had to use them a few times.
I use 1 grain of trailboss and a pulled 22lr 40grain anything (hp, rn, whatever), stuff it in and it works a treat.
I tried them for accuracy once and to be honest, they were shit.
Subs are a cheap, handy and QUIET close in alternative to a normal load, especially when working in a city like London at night.


Sorry, forgot to add - spoke to an old boy a while ago about using cast bullets and he had great sucess using I think a Lyman mold through his BSA 22 hornet. They wern't sub sonic though, around 1100fps

Talk to Hot Core..

he uses 22 Hornet subsonic loads for Elk hunting in the Carolinas..

He sent me some of his pet loads using Blue Dot... but I can't find them right now...

( happy thanksgiving to you and the family Hot Core!)

Nothing new here, I've been using Trail Boss on 22 hornet and its various wildcats for a year now.

Easily done with right powder. Been using subsonics in suppressed .22Hornet for 25 years. I don't hunt elk with it though....I leave that to HC.

Larry Gibson

I have posted this numerous times on this site, but about ten years ago I started using the Lyman 225107 cast bullet atop half a grain (0.5) of Accurate #2. It is just about the smallest measurement you can throw repeatedly out of an RCBS powder measure, using the small cylinder.

I use standard SP primers and a small wad of cotton atop the powder to keep it pushed against the primer. Nothing but a "click" out of my NEF Handi-Rifle, and one boring, single hole at 25 yards as long as you want to shoot them. The only issue is that the cotton lodges in the barrel and has to be blown out (I use my breath).

quote:

Originally posted by Fat_Albert:
tiggertate: I have tried Trail Boss in past and it is a bigger pain in the Obama than a hemorrhoid. I don't like to take my powder thrower complety apart to clean it. Because of its static the 4th load thrown would be light and the 5th heavey. Most of the Cowboy Shooter tried it when first came out and have since droped it because of extrem spreads. Hodgdons load data is very strange, when used in the 32S&W -32 H&R Mag - and 32/20 with the same load and same bullet the pressure goes up with each LARGER case. I called Hodg. techs and asked them why and got 10 min of tap danceing and a final "well thats the way it is". I asked all the shooter that I know in area and most said they had tried it and didn't want it so I impressted the grand kids with a baby Atomic Mushroom Cloud on the 4th of that year.

That's good informantion to know. I haven't had the same problem yet but I will be on the lookout.