Reloading Hornet Ammo

Zig11

Zig11

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Well I thought I would try reloading, bought all the stuff, bought the book on how to reload, got an area all ready, started lubing and sizing and blah blah. Guess what? No where does it tell you how long the finish cartridge is suppose to be. I am afraid my load may be over done. Here what I did:

Sierra 45 Gr. bullets
Win680 powder (older stuff that has been well packed) 11.5 Gr.
Bullet was seated to finished length of 1.720 or there about. I tried to take them to the 1.710 stated in that stupid $30 Lee reloading book but when I did it looked like there was a small crip on the end of the cartridge. Maybe I seated the cartridge too deep. I didn't get any instructions on how to set up the dies as they were bought second hand (couldn't find new Hornet dies).

Anyway, any reloading data would be appreciated. Are the loads I did OK? The loads with the crimp looking end are they OK? I am taking them to the gun shop in Clinton tomorrow for some advice.

Any info reloading data for .223 would be great as well. The powders I have now are Win680, HERC 2400 and IMR4227 for the Hornet with various bullets from 45 to 55 Gr.

Excuse my typing just trying to get my thoughts down and I am not going to bother proof reading. You get the jest.

Man I love this site, since I found it I have bought so much stuff, my wife is a little miffed though, sent her on a trip to Quebec to make up for it. Say I wonder if she can bring me back a ....

Zig11


After Note: I have a 340 Savage that is shooting Looney size groupings in 100 yds. Going for some change.
 
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I was just to the range today with my old Brno 22 Hornet, after tweaking the bedding a bit.
You didn't say what rifle, but if your bullets will chamber OK, I can't see any reason for not shooting them, if the load is OK. I am not familiar with W680, but it doesn't sound like a heavy load.
To set your seating die, turn the centre part well up. Then put the die in your press, but not all the way down, until it hits the shell holder, in the up position. About 1/10 inch from hitting the shell holder will be about right.

Load a round. Leave the center part well up, Then adjusting the centre part down, until the bullet is right depth.
If you locked the die in the ram with clearance, there will be no crimp.
No need to crimp, so just lock the die in the press, with clearance to the shell holder. Then adjust the center for bullet depth. Lock it when you get it right.
 
Zid

The Sierra manual says that COL for 45gr bullet should be 1.720".
Data for 2400 powder in hornet is 8.3gr to 9.8gr with a 45gr bullet. I'm not familiar with 680 powder although I have heard it is good.. None of your powders have data for 223. FS
 
I use Li'l gun in my K-Hornet, but my Winchester loading booklet from about 15 years ago lists the 45 grain bullet and a maximum charge of 11.8 grains of W680 so your load should be OK. In adjusting a seating die initially for no crimp, I usually put the ram and shellholder of the press right up, lay a nickle flat on the shellholder and then screw the seating die body down till it contacts the nickle. Then screw the lock ring down to the press and lock it up. This will assure you do not inadvertently try to crimp the case on the bullet when seating. As H4831 said, screw the center of the seating die back and then when you are seating, move it down in increments till OAL is correct, then lock it with the locknut. You should be OK at 1.720 unless your rifle has an unusually short throat for a Hornet. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Be sure to use the same headstamp hornet brass is pretty fussy for capacity. Another thing I tried with the hornet was pistol primers, with some combinations they shot better than rifle. WW296 was my fav for the hornet with a 45gr. Hornady Hornet bullet.
 
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