Rate of twist in .22 Hornet.

dugasgunner

dugasgunner

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I was just wondering... WHAT THE HECK is CZ waiting for to change the rate of twist in their .22 Hornets?? Aren't the european also using longer bullets than they use to for many years now. What's holding CZ to twist their barrels to 1-14 or even 1-12??? I am complaining but still love their .22 hornets.
 
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As much as I like my 22 hornet I have accepted that it wasn't designed to shoot heavy bullets. It works fine on small game at moderate distances and does very little meat damage. But it is a rimmed bottle necked rifle case designed in the 30s using 1880s technology. Sounds like a 223 would fit your desires better.

I am not sure the rate of twist of my hornet, savage 340. But the Magazine is so short that some 40gr bullets to fit them in the magazine. The ogive was below the case mouth. So if the rifle Had a rate of twist to stabilize heavy bullets they wouldn't fit. Cz, Rugers and Brownings may be different.
 
I have quite a few 40gr bullets. So i'll shoot them and should be fine. Heard a lot of good from people using those. I really think there's no use for me sending them an email or mail'im a letter... Maybe someone around here knew the reason why they were sticking to that rate.
 
Ruger 77/22 Hornet is 1-14"

Browning A-bolt 1-16"

Older Winchesters and Savages I believe were 1/16"

What rate would you like, and for what purpose? As mentioned already, many wouldn't allow you to load a longer heavier bullet anyway.Will the CZ Hornet magazine allow for a longer bullet?
 
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Standard ROT was 1-16 and some of the older ones as well as some European were .223 bullet diameter.Tighter yet if re-chambered from .22 LR barrels .......Harold
 
There is a plastic spacer that can be sanded down a bit in CZ's magazines. 40GR ballistic tip can be fitted. Anyway. I will try that in the new to me CZ Hornet that should arrived this week. I would have like something more like 45 ish gr to get more thump but 40gr should be fine for marmots.
 
mbogo3 said:
Standard ROT was 1-16 and some of the older ones as well as some European were .223 bullet diameter.Tighter yet if re-chambered from .22 LR barrels .......Harold
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Pre war hornet's were standard 223 as it was a wildcat developed using Rimfire bullets. Post war new rifles went to 224 standard. 1:14 twist was standard on Savage model 40 which was built pre war so it was 223 bore.
 
98ssuck said:
As much as I like my 22 hornet I have accepted that it wasn't designed to shoot heavy bullets. It works fine on small game at moderate distances and does very little meat damage. But it is a rimmed bottle necked rifle case designed in the 30s using 1880s technology. Sounds like a 223 would fit your desires better.

I am not sure the rate of twist of my hornet, savage 340. But the Magazine is so short that some 40gr bullets to fit them in the magazine. The ogive was below the case mouth. So if the rifle Had a rate of twist to stabilize heavy bullets they wouldn't fit. Cz, Rugers and Brownings may be different.
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340s use the model 23 magazine which was developed for the first generation of 22 Hornets in the 30s.
 
what's the heaviest bullet anyone's loaded for their Hornet? the slower twists are good for lighter bullets, but I'm really curious what the story is for heavier bullets with a faster twist.
 
Best Hornet bullet was the 45 gr Nosler Hornet, solid base with the semi spitzer, but they don't make them anymore. My Anschutz was challenging because of the short magazine .
 
dugasgunner said:
I was just wondering... WHAT THE HECK is CZ waiting for to change the rate of twist in their .22 Hornets?? Aren't the european also using longer bullets than they use to for many years now. What's holding CZ to twist their barrels to 1-14 or even 1-12??? I am complaining but still love their .22 hornets.
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If you want a 1:7 Hornet barrel, just order one. When I wasn't satisfied with the accuracy from my M-700 .222, I ordered a 1:7 Gaillard, and it was the most accurate barrel I had up until that time, regardless of bullet weight. It might even be the excuse you need to upgrade to a K-Hornet.
 
fraserdw said:
Pre war hornet's were standard 223 as it was a wildcat developed using Rimfire bullets. Post war new rifles went to 224 standard. 1:14 twist was standard on Savage model 40 which was built pre war so it was 223 bore.
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The Hornet was simply a modernization of the older .22 WCF. It never used 'rimfire bullets', though a LOT of rimfire barrels got reamed out and fitted. And a LOT of rimfire cases got made into jackets for bullets.

CZ is unlike to change any time soon, as they are signed up with CIP, IIRC, the Euro eqiv. to SAAMI, by which cartridge dimensions and pressure specs etc. are standardized.

Kinda boils down to, if you want a different twist rate, buy a barrel and have it fitted. This will also open up the opportunity to get away from the differences in size between the chamber and the relaoding dies, that are built in to most of the older rounds too.

CZ is still using .223 bores too, according to what I see around the web, and modern .224 bullets seem to be working pretty well... I doubt they see any reason to change, as that would require that the standards for the ammo manufacturers be changed too.

Best to just love it for what it is, and get something different if you really feel the need to chuck a heavier chunk downrange.

Cheers
Trev
 
I love .22 Hornet's and i'm not into changing barrels at all. I will simply adapt. It's just sad cause it limits bullet choice. But in the end, the ground hog won't feel the difference between a 50 or 40gr bullet. So 40gr bullet with around 12,5gr of Lil'gun and Remington 6 1\2 primers should do the trick.
 
A ten acre pasture is 220 yds square, hedgerow to hedgerow , a very long shot for my Hornet especially if there is any wind, I honestly don't think heavier bullets than 45Gr would help as velocity would be way down . My No.1 in 218 Bee, on the other hand beats the Hornet by at least 400fps with a casefull of L'il Gun and the same bullet making the same distance a cakewalk.
 
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