22 K Hornet SM Pistol Primers?

I have read in the past about people using SM Pistol Primers in the 22 Hornet and K Hornet instead of SM Rifle Primers with good results. I have a good 22 K Hornet Laod for CCI SM Rifle Primers. But I am out of them and have a ton CCI SM Pistol Primers. So I would like to adapt the load to SM Pistol Primers.

How do Small Pistol Primers burn as compared to Small Rifle Primers in a K Hornet size case? Do I need to adjust my powder charge?

Currently I am using 13.5 gr of WW295, 30 Gr Barnes Hornet Varmint Grenade and CCI Small Rifle Primers. I use the same load with a 40gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Most SP primers have a slightly thinner cup than SR primers so they will contain a bit less pressure without piercing. Typically, the loads you would use in the realively thin Hornet brass would not produce enough pressure to pierce an SP, but to be on the safe side, particularly with that 40 grain load, I would back off a bit then work back up if switching to the SP.

By the way, although there's nothing particularly wrong with using the SP's, and they will even help keep you from excessive pressure in the Hornet case by exhibiting pressure signs sooner, I own three Hornets or K-Hornets and have found no advantage of the SP over the SR in any of them. Others disagree.

Standard deviation between shots was reduced when I switched to small pistol mag (cci) primers.

I was shooting ihmsa field pistol with a 10" TC, 52gr bullet, and max charge of H110 (not much different than w296).

Rifle primers weren't bad - it just worked out that the pistol ones worked better for me.

Perhaps load a few up of both, test them for accuracy and consistency, and post the results?

just what stonecreek said

I don't have a K hornet, but I shoot small pistol primers in both of my 22 hornets with better results than small rifle primers.

I got some SM Rifle Primers and loaded 5 of each and shot them (with my 30gr bullets). I was not able to tell a difference between the two group sizes. But 2 five shot groups is hardly enough data to really tell.

I am going to load a few more and chronograph them and see if that sheds any more light on things. I will post the results. Thanks for the input guys.

I would suggest the small pistol magnum version with the W296 style powder...

quote:

just what stonecreek said

+2

If you've got SP primers to burn and you're satisfied with the results - why not?

Our preference for 22 Hornet (or K-Hornet) when attempting to eak out every last bit of acuracy has always been the Remington 6 1/2.

Well I got set up and found out that the battery in my Chronograph was dead. So no Velocity Data.

I will try and take some more measurments.