22 Hornet rechambering

[fredster22]

 Having just completed a successfull operation on my new 357 to max and a big thank you to all that encouraged me to do it myself. it
 was just as simple as stated. Now I want to continue on the next adventure, I know I have read on here that someone has converted
 a 22 hornet to 221 fireball. Have read up what I could find and have ordered a reamer and gauge from 4D and plan to do this on a 2002
 hornet ejector bbl. I also have heard that you have to change the ejector to a 223. is this part available from H&R, Gun parts, or
Brownell's? Have read Tim has one of these done by a member, how do you like it? Any Help would be appreciciated. Thanks Fred

[quickdtoo]

Like a couple others I have, it hasn't been to the range yet, have ammo loaded up for it tho.  Booyah did mine before I bought it from him, he did his on a lathe, I don't think I'd do one by hand, too easy to screw it up, you could always salvage it to a bigger .224" round tho, 223 ejector will work. You'll also have to convert the underlug for rimless ejection, that's covered in the FAQs.

Tim

[briannmilewis]

Please keep us all posted on this, another Hornet barrel rechambered to 221 Fireball comes after a K-Hornet job me. Even though one can do a K-Hornet by hand, a smith will only charge me about 30 minutes to do it, because he does not have to setup the job on the lathe. Good luck, and make sure you come back to this post and provide range reports, load data, and pics of targets or dead varmints.

[LaOtto222]

I am with Tim on this one. I would not do it unless I had a lathe. If you can get the the pilot into the bore, you have at least a chance of getting it straight, but if the pilot can not reach the bore, then it will float around making your chamber out of round and not centered in the bore.

BTW a 221 Fireball is a great cartridge, I presently have two of them and a Savage barrel to make a third if I desire. If your barrel is long enough and you use the right powders you can reach almost 3000 fps with a 50 grain bullet. They sip powder and cases last as long or longer than a 223. In a pinch you can make 221 FB cases out of 223's too. And that case, it is sooo cute

[fredster22]

 Thanks guys, I intend to have a very competent gunsmith in my area perform this one. Unfortunately I had a lathe that I inherited but
 let slip away during hard times. I am trying to get everything together, reamer gauges ejector and now read up in the faqs on modifying
 the lug and have everything done at once by him. Will post the results and tests when done. Have a 10" contender bbl in Fireball that I
 recently got and am impressed with.

[awp101]

Have a 10" contender bbl in Fireball that I recently got and am impressed with.

How much of a "fireball" do you get with that 10" tube?