New to me 22 Hornet

S

stubblejumper

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It could pass for new,and was likely unfired.An older fellow was selling off his guns on the EE due to failing health.I ended up paying $1300 shipped to my door.I paid another $650 for the Kahles CL 3-9x42,and then mounted it with Talley rings.

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Nice Anschutz! Hornets are pretty fun if they shoot right off the bat, otherwise they can be pretty hellish to get shooting. What load you going to shoot?
 
The gun seems to like the 40gr v-max ahead of 12.5 grains of Lil Gun,in a Remington case,using BR4 primers(if I don't experience any more dud primers).It is very sensitive to seating depth,but will shoot sub 1/2 if seated .010" off of the lands.The five shot group in the picture measures .475".
 
That is pretty good, if you find that you are getting inconsistent groups, try switching to a Small Pistol Primer and upping the powder charge. I am shooting in 77/22 40 grains at 13 grains of powder it and groups very well.
 
I do intend on trying some small pistol primers in the future,but it may not be until spring.Any issues with small pistol primers in very cold conditions?
 
Not that I have seen but I am not out shooting the Hornet in minus 20-30 conditions - just not plain to hunt and shoot in those conditions. The nice thing is that the pressures are incredibly low and brass lasts a long time...
 
Not that I have seen but I am not out shooting the Hornet in minus 20-30 conditions - just not plain to hunt and shoot in those conditions.
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I do intend on taking a few coyotes with the Hornet this winter,and -20 is quite normal for us.
 
Based off the groups you are already getting - unless they are inconsistent, I wouldn't change anything that is pretty darn good. I happen to like the 35gr VMAX mainly because they fit in the Ruger mag but the 40gr VMAX are great too (I shoot them in my CZ527). Let me know how it works on coyotes. I plan on trying my luck with the 22Hornet on coyotes this year and seeing how the 35grain pills work.
 
I went with the 40gr v-max over the 35gr,because of the extremely low BC of the 35gr bullets.I actually trim the tips off of the 40 gr v-max in order for them to fit the magazine.It doesn't effect accuracy,and I am thinking that even with the plastic tips trimmed slightly,the BC is still higher than with the 35gr v-max.
 
Your rifle looks like it is the grand daughter of this one, my Brno ZKW 465, sporting a Texas Weaver K6.
I haven't found it's ultimate load yet, either.
I had it apart to refinish the stock and having some trouble getting the same barrel setting tension. And no, free floating was not good. I can now make five shot one inch groups at 100 metres, so must be pretty close to right. The twist of this one is one in 16 inches, which will not stablize the 45 grain bullets I have tried. I'm using 40 grain Speer Spire Point. I had some old Dominion factory loadings, so I loaded these the same length, as the factory ones seemed about right. I will check to see where the lands are and if I can get closer.
I too, am using LilGun, but I am using 13 grains. According to the Hodgdon site, this is maximum, but is very low pressure for a rifle. I started out with pistol primers, but the odd one was leaking pressure around it. Went to rifle primers and they were OK with that loading, but gave the impression of more pressure than they should have had. I am going to drop back half a grain and go back to pistol primers again.
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ben hunchak said:
I'd send the Hornet out and get it K'd, after my experience with the Mashburn bee!
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Mr. Ben, I'm too old fashioned to ever think of having a fine old rifle altered to such an extent as to change the cartridge designation!

It was Winchester pistol primers I was using and CCI small rifle primers.
 
Mr. Ben, I'm too old fashioned to ever think of having a fine old rifle altered to such an extent as to change the cartridge designation!
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I actually feel the same way.It just seems wrong to take a reamer to an Anschutz in such a classic chambering.Besides,I like the cartridge the way it is.
 
Everyone should be shot who has ever or thought about reaming a K-Hornet from the wonderful 22 hornet! With the powders and bullet selection there is really no need to do this. If you want more power buy a 223 or 222, its amaziing how guys will ruin great and wonderful guns such as Win model 54/70's BRNO 456's and Annies model 54's!! I have owned 4 hornets and just bought another, if you want bug size holes don't buy ONE!! I have bought Hornets as they are fun and a challenge, they don't hurt the wallet reloading and all have shot 1" to 1/4" at 100 yards what more could you want? I have uses IMR 4227 as my go to powder and also with moderate sucsess Lit'le gun. Primers I have used with success are CCI small pistol, CCI small rifle, but best of all was CCI small rifle benchrest for whatever reason this one was the all around winner! I have used alot of Hornady 45 grainers as well as some 52 grain FMJ made for 223. It take alot of fussing but its fun and challenging, I like your Annie 22 hornet your one lucky guy, please let us know how it shoots, cheers Dale in T-Bay
 
Hornets have to be one of the most finicky cartridges to load for accuracy; perhaps thats their charm. Last week I loaded 10 grs of 2400 with a small pistol primer behind a Hornady 45 gr bullet and it blew the primer out of the case and appears have to have enlarged the primer pocket. Go figure, it is supposed to be a factory equivalent load, and this was in new Winchester brass. Despite that I got minute of fox accuracy with 10 grs of 4227 and 9.5 grs of H-110 using the Hornady 45 gr .224" Hornet bullet. I tried Sierras, and expected them to be better due to their shorter ogive but the results were worse than dismal out of this old Savage 340. I saw a BSA Martini in .22 Hornet for sale in the Access, now that's tempting as are Clay's Mannlicher stocked CZz.!
 
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