Anyone loading for an old (.223 bore) .22 Hornet?

josquin

josquin

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Now that the warm weather has started I thought I'd have another go at getting my Parkerifled™ Martini .22 Hornet to shoot well.

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I've done some online reading on loading for this sometimes-ornery cartridge and gleaned a few tips, including a suggestion to neck-turn the brass for consistency, so that tool is on my list.

The main problem is that I used up my 45 gr. Sierra .223 bullets some time ago and they are Class A1 Unobtanium at present (like so many other reloading components.) I also have some Hornady Hornet bullets but they are .224. I have shot them before, with about the same results as the .223, ie less than excellent although no other problems. (Unfortunately I don't have any targets from previous sessions, but as I recall, I was getting "minute of tin can" at 50 yds. using 2400 powder & Rem. BR primers.)

Today I made up a "cat-sneeze" load (1.2 gr. of Bullseye) and fired one into some Duct Seal (!) and it measured .2150-.2220", which seems a bit tight even for a .223 bore. (1-14" twist, BTW)

Hornady224afterfiring_zpsb1ad9d96.jpg


I might have to postpone further work on this until the elusive .223 bullets reappear - if I live that long. It's not as if I don't have lots of other gun-related projects to occupy my time.
In the meantime, if anyone has experience in loading for these older Hornets, fire away!

:) Stuart
 
Yes,I had an old Sako BA at one time that was .223 sized and it wouldn't shoot .224 worth a hoot.Win 296 and IMR 4227 is what I used.You should be able to get a lee sizer and swage them down to .223 so you would have a bullet supply........Harold
 
Curly1 said:
Lil Gun or 2400 were the only powders that worked well in my Hornet. 224 bullets were fine.
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Was it a .223 or .224 bore? Anything manufactured after the 50s is likely to be .224.

Given how thin the jackets are on Hornet bullets, I doubt being swaged down by a thou when fired is going to be much of a problem, but I think Harold is right. .223 bullets are always going to be in short supply anyway because there is little call for them so I might as well get a swaging die on order ASAP. C&H makes them as well as Lee and their lead time may be a little shorter.

:) Stuart
 
Not sure of the bore on my improved hornet but Lil gun definately is the powder it likes. Last time out was about 3/4 in for 10 shots. Hope you find the one for your's they are a lot of fun.
 
josquin said:
Was it a .223 or .224 bore? Anything manufactured after the 50s is likely to be .224.

Given how thin the jackets are on Hornet bullets, I doubt being swaged down by a thou when fired is going to be much of a problem, but I think Harold is right. .223 bullets are always going to be in short supply anyway because there is little call for them so I might as well get a swaging die on order ASAP. C&H makes them as well as Lee and their lead time may be a little shorter.

:) Stuart
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It slugged at .223, also , bullets heavier than 45 grains group poorly with fliers. I ened up reaming my out to a K Hornet and my pet load was 45gr SP with 12gr of 2400 giving 1/2 groups at 100 yards. The Varmit grenades worked well also.
 
Wholesale has them in .223 (hornet) 40 and 45 grains, that's what I've been shooting. Lately I've been running through an Anschutz 1433, I think it was made in the 80's. That whole .223 and .224 thing is overrated.
 
west250 said:
Wholesale has them in .223 (hornet) 40 and 45 grains, that's what I've been shooting. Lately I've been running through an Anschutz 1433, I think it was made in the 80's. That whole .223 and .224 thing is overrated.
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That's where I got mine last time. I should call them to be sure they actually have them IN STOCK, though. They are backordered on the Sierra website.I even checked some US retailers (not that we can buy them anyway) and they're n/a from Midway, Midsouth, Cheaper Than Dirt, Widener's and Graf's.

As to casting my own, perhaps some day. I got a mould for my .310 Cadet from CBE in Australia a year or so ago but I'm just not ready to get into casting quite yet.

:) Stuart
 
sillymike said:
Nice rifle by the way!
was it a 22lr re-lined that got rechambered?
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Yes, a standard large-frame Mk.III. But from discussions I've had on the Martini-Henry section of the Gunboards forum (recently revived after a long hiatus) there is some question that it might indeed have originally been a .22 rf, then converted to Hornet. I have a reprint of the "1938 P-H Sporting Section Catalogue" (which I got from Cornell Publications):

P-Hcataloguecover_zpsc98536bc.jpg


which shows the rifle in both .22 rf and .22 Hornet:

P-HMartinipage_zps5c19b574.jpg


There are also pages on "Parkerifling" and the Hornet cartridge, mentioning the "new Winchester Super-speed Hornet Cartridge with a 46-grain hollow-point bullet" at 2625 fps.

:) Stuart

(ps- I'm pretty sure this rifle at one time belonged to CGN member "Riflechair", although I got it from Clay at Prophet River.)
 
I had a .223 bore Hornet and it shot .224 bullets just as well as .223 bullets... exact same loads... exact same results.
 
hoytcanon said:
I had a .223 bore Hornet and it shot .224 bullets just as well as .223 bullets... exact same loads... exact same results.
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I'm not surprised. In this little cartridge I doubt that it makes much of a difference. Once I get my neck-turning tool and more bullets I'll get her out to the range again. I have H110 (=W296) 2400 and Lil'Gun so I should be OK as far as powders go. One guy on one of the other forums swears by Remington BR primers and I have those as well, although some people have reported good results with small pistol primers, too.

:) Stuart
 
When I had my Brno 22 Hornet I used both 223 and 224 bullets and could not determine any difference. Lil Gun seemed the best of what powders I tried.
A heads up for new reloaders. The powder charge is very critical on these little guys. When you are loading full power, even an extra quarter grain will make a noticeable difference in pressure.
 
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