22 Hornet .223 or .224?

CZ_Brno

CZ_Brno

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I picked myself up a nice Brno ZKW 465 in .22 Hornet. The lettering is a little faded but I think it was made in "49". :D

I'm picking up some bullets, probably around 40 or 45 grains ( gotta watch the neck so I don't want to go heavier), and some LIL’GUN and H-110 powder. Does it matter much if I use the .223 or .224 diameter bullets? :)
 
Use .224 bullets as they are meant to follow the lands and grooves in the barrel to give it the necessary spin. i just looked into all the books I have and never seen a .223 diameter bullet. The .223 caliber guns use the .224 diameter bullets as do all the 22 calibers listed in the manuals..
 
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From Cartridges of the World (10th edition)

Early rifles had bores requiring bullets of .223-inch diameter. Sierra still offers such bullets. Later rifles had bores for .224-inch diameter bullets. Most manufacturers offer special bullets for loading the Hornet.
Click to expand...

I know that hornady and Sierra both offer .223 diameter bullets and I'm sure there's others.
 
A couple makers are still making .223 bullets specifically for the older hornets. They are out there if you look. Limited selection of shapes and weight.

That is the same bore diameter as the rimfire's still use, and some Euro makers are still using the .223 dimensions, CZ, if James Calhoons site is to be believed.

The Hornet is a bad pick for a guy that wants to immediately load up whatever the book says is max, anyways, so if you don't bother to slug the barrel and find out for sure, keep the loads moderate and you won't drive the pressures out of sight using the more common .224 bullets, according to what I'm seeing around the web.
There's still a few guys making hornets on rimfire barrels, which is no big deal apparently, as long as you don't expect it to shoot well with anything over 50 grains (with a 16 twist barrel). There are lots more choices in light bullets now than there was a few years back, in any case. Been seeing good write-ups on the 40 grain Vmax's.

Cheers
Trev
 
Good advice. I'll try slugging the barrel.

I have no need to soup up the Hornet. That's not what it's meant for and if I wanted that I'd just grab my Brno Fox 2 in .222 Rem. ;)

If anything I'll probably try some reduced loads at .22LR and .22WMR velocities. :)
 
I found some more information. In the Nosler Rerloading manual Number Two it uses the same gun as mine, and .224 bullets. I also seen mention in another manual that after WW2 the Hornets were made in .224 caliber and my gun is a 49 . So I'm sticking with the .224 size. :)
 
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