I know it is controverial whether it will work or not...but I want to try it...no harm...no foul.

What would be the best powder to try to get 45 gr TSX to shoot out of a hornet?

It is a Browning 1885 low-wall...should have a 1:16 twist.

Baby powder.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
Baby powder.

KB

No idea on powder since I don't own a hornet, but I would push that sucker as fast as I could drive it if I really was committed to the Barnes. Barnes needs some speed to do its magic IMO. Not sure about that combo.

Probably still going to be Lil Gun, 2400, Rel 7 or one of the standard Hornet powders. I don't think the tiny case capcity allows a lot of options when changing bullet weights.

IMR 4198 would the slowest of them.

Man, I just don't know. I thought about it at lunch, and I think I have pretty much hit my limit with the .222/.223 on deer. I think I am going to have to say that the hornet would just plain not be enough for me. Not saying it can't be done, but just that I wouldn't. That is my honest considered opinion, not knee jerk reaction.

Not sure that was the intent but if I was forced into that situation, I'd sure have to limit myself to head shots. I always wondered why the Hornet was used in the USAF survival rifles when there were better choices availble at the time.

Hodgdon's 2011 Annual Reloading Manual:
22 Hornet 45gr Barnes XBT COL: 1.850

H4198 10.5gr 2217fps 31500CUP start
H4198 11.5gr(C) 2390fps 36900CUP max

H4227 8.5gr 2198fps 37000CUP start
H4227 9.8gr 2346fps 42700CUP max

H110 9.0gr 2323fps 35200CUP start
H110 9.9gr 2503fps 40400CUP max

Lil'Gun 12.0gr 2641fps 35700CUP start
Lil'Gun 13.0gr 2770fps 38500CUP max

I know what you are saying Tigger. I am not going there at all, trying to tell someone what they should or shouldn't shoot. I know it can be done.

ledvm- I have a thread going here on bullet tests for the .223 that I think you will find interesting. Obviously with the 16 twist you have to stay in lightweight bullets. By the data posted up here I can see that even pushing it you will be 2600-2700 max at the muzzle, less downrange. Look at that 40 Nosler ballistic tip I sectioned in my test. That sucker is made to take 4300 fps, but with that tip would still open up at low speed. If I was going to design a premium bullet for the Hornet, I'm not sure what I would do different than that right there. Thick solid base on it. I will be shooting a test at lunch today, may be tonight before I get the data up. One of the tests is a 40 NBT with a reduced load that might be just around the speed you would be going. Check it out, may be very interesting. I am really looking forward to that one.

I see little or no difference comparing the use of the Hornet, 17 & 20 cal, or the 223 for use on deer. All the same to me.

After all, it's only sport hunting - right? Brag about the ones ya get, and ignore the ones that get away.

KB

What about AA 1680??? A fellow hornet reloader told me it was the go to powder for the hornet and the best place to start.

AA1680 is the only recommendation I got from Barnes when I asked about the 45 gr TSX in the Hornet. They didn't recommend the bullet in the Hornet at all for reasons they weren't real clear on, but Ty finally said if you are going to do it use AA1680. I can't find the email. It was a few years ago. So I can't tell you what he recommended. But you probably can't get enough in the case to be too dangerous.

LWD

I have a K-hornet in a G2 contender that is twisted 1-12 so be careful with these loads. I load:

12.5 grn of Lil-gun 45grn tsx--dont know the velocity but its pleanty--

if I could get myimageshack account up I'd show you some dead does.

Dont know about AA1680, never used it--I've used some Rel 7, but thats been awhile.

Ed

I shoot a Ruger M77 Hornet, and my go to bullet for coyotes is the 45gr XLC. It works very well, within its limits.

I load 13.0gr of Lilgun in a Winchester case and use a Federal small pistol match primer. The velocity out of the 20" tube is right at 2,900fps, and the accuracy is MOA.

When I run out of the XLC bullets, I will switch to the TSX. Having done this in 270 and 30-06, I find the load data to be similar between the XLC and the TSX.

These bullets make the Hornet an impressive performer on coyote sized game.

I'm curious how the 40 grain CEB ESP Raptor does in a 22 Hornet.
The 40 grain Raptor sheers down to 1600 FPS and if not acts like a solid or use the solid end. The Raptor being a two sided bullet. The 40 grain Raptor makes an excellent bullet for deer IMHO. See the Terminal bullet performance thread page 201. With the tip I see that bullet being a 200 yard deer bullet in a Hornet.

Boom Stick,

Go ahead and send me a box of the Raptor's and I'll use them on coyotes with my Hornet and report back to you.

quote:

Originally posted by k-22hornet:
Boom Stick,

Go ahead and send me a box of the Raptor's and I'll use them on coyotes with my Hornet and report back to you.

I'll look into getting you some. What twist is your barrel? Are you shooting the improved K Hornet? What is the minimum you need for load development and sighting in and a few dead critters?

quote:

...I'll use them on coyotes with my Hornet and report back to you...K-22Hornet

Please also provide " PHOTOS " of your test results

PAPI

I'd try Lil Gun myself to get the velocity up.

quote:

Originally posted by LWD:
AA1680 is the only recommendation I got from Barnes when I asked about the 45 gr TSX in the Hornet. They didn't recommend the bullet in the Hornet at all for reasons they weren't real clear on, but Ty finally said if you are going to do it use AA1680. I can't find the email. It was a few years ago. So I can't tell you what he recommended. But you probably can't get enough in the case to be too dangerous.

LWD

Interesting. Barnes used to put out little email flyers, maybe they still do, and this is one I received on the Hornet. Not that I condone it, but . . .

22 Hornet
One of the most desirable
characteristics of the .22 Hornet
with the X-Bullet is that I can
take small game for the pot
without destroying meat and
then take larger plains game
animals — with just the one load
and one bullet — making life
simple for an African Bush bum
like me!
I have introduced many young shooters to hunting African plains game
with the .22 Hornet. Very little recoil and instant one-shot kills with the
45-grain X-Bullet make their first hunting experiences memorable and
fun.
One remarkable feature of the X-Bullet I have encountered after
autopsies of many animals is the effective wound channel created by the
rotating petals.
In a world that appears to be dominated by increasingly larger and
more powerful rifles and cartridges, the .22 Hornet may seem out of
place, but it works just fine when the proper bullet is placed in the right
spot.
— Dr. Ed Ashby

Boom stick,

I shoot a straight Hornet, and have a 1-14 twist. I could get by with 25-30 bullets for load developement and shooting a few coyotes. Autopsy pictures will be included.

For reasons unknown to me, Barnes has dropped the .22 Hornet from the current load manual. After the current manual came out is when I contacted them for load info and got the hem, haw, well if you really insist response.

LWD

quote:

Originally posted by k-22hornet:
Boom stick,

I shoot a straight Hornet, and have a 1-14 twist. I could get by with 25-30 bullets for load developement and shooting a few coyotes. Autopsy pictures will be included.

I'll see what I can do.
The 22 cal raptors are finishing development and I will see if I can get some or purchase some to send you.

Boomstick,

I have been hitting up Michael for some .224 40 gr Talons and he said they were not available yet.

But...if they (CEB) do a run...put me down for a box...I'll gladly purchase one to give them a whirl in my Hornet.

Glad you are as eager as I am. There are none to be had at the moment. We have to wait for Dan at CEB to make them first and that might be a week or two. I'll let you know when he does!

Lane, I have killed one deer with a Hornet, and lost one deer with a Hornet. In fact it was the only deer that I know that I hit and lost. After losing that one I stopped trying to shoot white tails with a Hornet.

The first one I shot however was maybe 80 yards or so away and i hit it in the neck and it went down as if struck by lightning. For sevearl years I used a Ruger Model 77/22 Hornet with the heavy barrel on my Javelina hunts. the load I used was a 50 grain Barnes "X" Flat Base bullet in front of 11.6 grains of WW296 Ball powder. out to 125 yards or so it would do a number on Javelina.

As far as using it on deer, I would keep the shots under 100 yards/75 would be better and limit my shots to the head or upper neck. JMO.

I always liked the Hornet, but in my hunting program, it was/is just too limited in its/my abilities.

Well here is a 100 yd 5 shot group of 45 gr TSX ahead of 14 gr of AA 1680 ignited with a CCI small pistol primer.

While not tack driving...not too bad for hunting esp if you throw out the flyer...I was shooting off a poor rest as well so they might do better. That is what the one bullet I could find looked like when I dug it out of the sand behind the paper.

Will chrono with next set.

I have shot both 45gr RWS and Winchester HP bullets with both IMR 4227 and IMR 4198 with 1" groups. I never checked velocity but would be surprised if they broke 2500 fps. Suggest you try that load again with Rem 6 1/2 primers and a LFCD. Might just tighten it up a bit.

I'm loading 13 grs. of Lil'gun behind a 35 gr. Hornady V-max with a cci small rifle primer in WW cases. Velocity is just under 3,000 fps. and 5-shot groups are under 1" at 100 yds out of a stock Ruger 77 that shot between 1 1/2" and 1 1/4" with other loads. Groups are frequently around 9/16" or 3/4". This load is dynamite on 200 yd. prairie rats.

ledvm,

Get some Lilgun powder, ignite with a small pistol primer of your choice, and you should see your groups decrease in size.

When you make any powder adjustments, do it in .2gr increments. You will probably find that 12.8 or 13.0gr of Lilgun will give excellent accuracy.

Lilgun powder has made a shooter out of many Hornets.

Dom,

Will definitely try the Rem 6 1/2's (was going to to begin with but did not have any and my supply store was out). I just happen to have some CCI SP primers. I should have said they were crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp Die.

All else,

My rifle will shoot V-max's less than an inch as well. I am trying these TSX to find a load that kids can shoot hogs with. 35 gr V-max's are poor hog bullets unless put right behind the ear.

I think these TSX will shoot through the chest cavity at 80 yds allowing the kids to kill a few pigs. Will get some Lil'gun and give her a whirl over the CCI SP primers. Saw some Lil'gun sitting on the supply house shelf when I was searching for primers.

I don't think I can get anymore AA 1680 in the case and get the bullet in. 14 gr in R-P cases was compressed quite a bit.

J. Lane... I've been foolin with a special order, 26" 1-12 twist Encore barrel for a couple years now... not sure why it had been ordered in 26" but when the chance arose to acquire it I jumped quick... I had this rechambered to the K-Hornet configuration, and haven't regretted it once...

all I ever load is lil-gun and mostly 40gr V-Max bullets for varmint shooting... 13½gr lil-gun, CCI match primer, and 40gr V-Max and I'm gettin 3250fps outta this tube... my fur loads, for night time shootin are 12gr l-g, fed sm pistol, and the 40gr v-max... shoots one hole all day long...

I only use W-W cases as I've found these a lot more consistent and a slightly better case capacity then RP...

good luck on load developement... HORNETS RULE...