Here is what I have: a drilling with .22 Hornet barrel with 1:16 twist and .223 bore diameter marked for 2.55 grams bullets which translates into 40 grains bullets.
I would like to get velocities around 1200 to 1500 fps or even lower, with best accuracy possible. I have ordered some .222 and .223 bullets in 40 and 45 grain.
What are your suggestions in terms of bullet choice, loads or anything else.
Thank you.

Don't sweat the bullet diameter. You may find that .224" bullets shoot better than the smaller ones (or vice-versa). A jacketed bullet .001 or .002" oversized is negligible.

Unique is an old standby for reduced loads. I don't have any data for its use in the Hornet, but if you'll cast around you might find some.

I do use Blue Dot for reduced Hornet loads, but my loads generate somewhat more velocity than you are looking for. Blue Dot shows an uncanny consistency in light loads, so you might try about 5 grains (my Blue Dot Hornet loads use about 6.5 grains) and see what the result is.

A relatively new powder that seems very adaptable to reduced velocities is IMR Trail Boss. Perhaps someone has some experience with it in the Hornet and can comment.

The load you are seeking falls somewhere between a .22 LR and a .22 WMR. Whatcha planning to shoot with it? That might dictate which bullet to recommend.

I am planning to shoot small critters, squirrels, an occasional grouse and I don't want to mess them up with all the power of the .22 Hornet.
Is there any problem leaving a lot of free space in the cartridge with these small powder loads?

In regards to the bore diameter I casted the chamber and the measurements were in fact .2225 with cerrosafe 1 hour after casting. Next morning the cast measured .223, but I guess it expanded a little.

Years ago I developed a squirrel load for my two Hornets using CCI 22 mag solid bullets that were available in bulk at gun shows. The load was a Remington case, Federal SR primer and 4.5 grains of Unique. This load would put five rounds into one small hole at fifty yards, and dropped squirrels as DRT. The Hornet, due to its small case size, is very sensitive to primer changes and powder charge variations. If I varied the brand of primer or the charge by .1 grain it showed up on the target as a larger group. I've just about ran out of the CCI bullets and they haven't been available for years so, I've started to experiment with cast bullets. I'm shooting a 45 grain gas checked bullet from a Lyman mould, don't know which mould as the bullets are from a friend, that shows promise with the same case and primer and 4 grains of Unique. I need to do more experimenting with this bullet to see what it can do.

I would think that a little experimenting with 40 grain bullets of any type and Unique powder would yield good results.

Elk Hunter,
You mentioned that you changed primers for your excellent load, and groups opened up.
Did you test any Small Pistol Primers?
If so, what velocity/accuracy did you get?
I'm using Federal Small Pistol Primers for my full charge Hornet loads, 13.0 gns of Lil-Gun and 45 gn bullets.

Thank you,

Don

Don,

No, I didn't try pistol primers, although I had considered it. There was no need to once I found my load. I just know that if I changed to another SR primer the group opened up. The same thing happened if I changed the powder charge by as little as .1 grain. I suppose that I could have tinkered with the load with other primers and got different results. I never chronographed this load. I guessing it was in the 1200 to 1400 FPS range. My Winchester mdl 43 would shoot this load into one small hole at 50 yards. My Ruger #3 groups were only slightly larger. Since I hunted squirrels with the Winchester I never tried to refine the load any further for the Ruger.

My full house loads use the Nosler 45 grain Hornet and 11.5 grains of win 680 powder. I don't believe either is still available, but I probably have enough to last me.

The Unique load was developed probably 25 years ago. The squirrel population has been way down for years, so I haven't been hunting for them in quite a while.

I found that 7.1 grains of Trail Boss and Federal small rifle primers with the Sierra 45 grain spire point gave me a pretty consistant and fairly accurate 1225 fps load. The 7.1 grains of TB came from filling the case to the bottom of the seated bullet, without compressing the load: and was an "eyeball" guesstimate on the conservative side. If you want to get a little more powder in, you could take the measurements and do the math. I didn't need to get the most out of this particular load, since I was looking for a light load to begin with. I plan to try the same thing with a cast bullet, probably the Lyman round nose (225438?). You really don't have to worry about using too much powder with TB, unless you compress it, in any chambering that I've heard of. It's a very good choice of powders for this kind of load. Gary

my ruger likes the 35 grain vmax pushed by 1680. Primer selection can be real critical in small round like the hornet. ive probably had better luck with cci small rifle match primers in the hornet then any other.

I finally got my Lee handloader and loaded Win cases and a few Hornady with PB 2.5 grains which is what I had handy. I used Sierra 40 and 45 gr. and got about touching holes accuracy at 30 yards. The velocity seems around 1200, but with a spread of 80 fps. I got to do more shooting for better statistics. The PB leaves almost half of the case empty.

Sliver,

We see alot of insert barrel use here in Europe primarily in 22 Hornet. The European standard has been .224" in Hornet barrels for quite some time now but I'm sure there's others still in .223". Apparently yours is such. IIRC, Either Hornady or Spper (maybe Sierra?) makes .223" Hornet bullets.

Accuracy with them is pretty much dependant on what the shooter demands and invests; many are happy with (IMO) larger groups; others desire itty-bitty groups.

The vast majority purchase RWS Jagd/Match amunition which is topped with a proprietary 46.gr. Hollow Point. This is normally VERY accurate ammuntion in any given 22 Hornet.

Like someone else here has mentioned in rifles the 35 gr. & AA1680 is giving some of us excellent accuracy in 22 Hornet rifles. Other favorties are VV-N-110 & Lil' Gun with the same bullet.

I've had EXCELLENT results with reduced loads in 22 Hornets with:
RWS & W-W Super brass,
Remington 7 1/2 primer and
5 grs. Unique with the RWS 46 gr. bullets.

The flaky Unique fills the case about 75-80%; and I've never had small charge/powder position issues with this load.

Good Luck with your endevour.

Thank you, all for your suggestions and advise.
I like the less dense powders because they fill the case better with such light loads. The noise and recoil on these low velocity loads are negligible. They are lovely to shoot.
I think PB and Unique have about same density as I measured them on the scale. I will definitely try some other combinations as suggested.
Thanks again!