22 K Hornet range report update

[LaOtto222]

I posted a while back right after I got my rifle back from a stub project. I could not mow this AM because the grass was too wet, so it was an opportunity to do some shootin' 

A review:

The rifle


Out of a clean barrel - relatively new (few rounds down the tube)





Today:

This barrel now has 400 + rounds down the tube and at this time it had around 70 rounds down the tube from the last cleaning. The barrel was warm, but not hot.





While all loads shot well, I think I am going to go with the 34 Mid South bullet, CCI 500 primer and WW 296 powder because the 34 Mid South is cheap and I have lots on hand (1200+) and I get North of 3100 fps I am using Remington cases BTW. I seated the Mid South bullets out to where the straight part of the bullet was all in the case and they were all neck sized with a Hornady 22 Caliber neck die #046040

[.375 Hawk]

Very Good Shooting LaOtto222 !!!!   What brand and twist is the barrel?  What did you use for the stub?

Thanks, Eddie

[LaOtto222]

Thank You very much. Some times it comes together. It is a Douglas Premium SS trimmed to 20" - It's a heavy one. BTW It is fully bedded with a pillar.

I forgot to mention that I removed the expander ball in the neck sizer.

edit: 1- 14" twist - my favorite for .224 caliber rifles. I had a factory fitted 22 Hornet SL I used for the stub. the serial number on the stub matches the frame.

[bigvarmnt]

Very nice, That baby is shooting good or I should say you are shooting it good. What distance. What scope? Is that 34 M.S. a hollow point? Feels pretty good when it all starts coming together, don't it? Good velocity and accuracy. I think that would be a lot of fun to shoot. Can you see the bullet impact with that weight barrel and light bullet? Critters better stay out of your back yard. Congrats.   

[zoner]

nice project and very good shooting.....

[LaOtto222]

OK; I have a Bushnell Banner 4X - 12X setting on it. These all were shot at 100 yards and are 5 shot groups. The 34 Mid South Varmint Nightmare is a hollow point and they just got them in stock Wed. I do not know how long they will last however. I have used both their 34 and 50 grain (spitzer soft point) bullets, for a cheap bullet, they shoot surprisingly well. As noted, I am using a small pistol primer and even though the velocity is high, there does not seem to be a lot of pressure. I got the load from Speer manual #14. They do not list loads for the K Hornet, so I used a load for a 22 Hornet. Beginning is 12.4 and high is 12.8 grains of WW 296 for the 22 Hornet. Since the brass is already fire formed; I used the 12.8 grain loading, knowing the capacity is a little bigger and the bullet has about a .1" jump to the lands. With W296 or H110 you have to be careful about putting too little powder in. My plan was to have it in the low to mid range of pressure. I can keep my eye on the target in the bottom of the scope field of view with this gun/load combination, even set on 12X. If I am shooting my best, no matter what I am shooting the scope will return to the target so I can see it. With harder kicking rounds the scope goes well above the target, but it returns so I can see it again. When that happens, I know I am shooting well. When you flinch or pull a shot, the scope will not return to the target, it will be off to the side. So when I shoot for groups, I concentrate on keeping my eyes on the target, even if the rifle jumps so that it will return to where I started. Consistency is the key, doing every thing the same for every shot. The same pressure on the shoulder, the same grip on the fore end, etc. Some guys do real well with free recoil, that way they do not influence the shot by pushing the the shot or a firmer or lighter grip from one shot to the next. Yes it feels good when every thing comes together. When you start shooting well, your confidence goes up and then you really start shooting well. BTW I was resting the fore end on the bags, Handis can shoot well when resting on the bags, if the fore end is set up right. There are basically two schools of thought on fore ends - a totally floating fore end and a fully bedded fore end. Both can work, but that is a subject that would take a long discussion about. What they have in common, is that the fore end cap does not have much pressure if any on the frame, making the barrel feel loose when in the open position.

[PHATINJUN]

Great work and thanks for posting. NOW JUST STICK ONE IN FDR'S EAR!! Kurt

[bigvarmnt]

LaOtto, Thanks for the info. I was able to get my Ruger Hornet to group like that a couple of years ago. I know the feeling was good but it changed for some reason. I hope to learn about bedding this winter. I bought some of the 30gr Varmint Grenade H.P.s I will try some of the M.S. I like a light bullet for the Hornet but not the short stubby ones. I've been using Lil Gun.
If I had that gun I'd be out shootin sumpthin with it right now. Enjoy!

[LaOtto222]

Lil'Gun does better with 40 + grain bullets than does W296 & H110; but when you start dropping below 40 grains the twins start doing better, velocity wise.

[myarmor]

Nice read Bro, but a MUCH nicer Handi!  Thats pretty sweet man, and a good barrel choice.



-Aaron

[zoner]

just a little FYI....i traded off my hornet because i didn't like the case life....as i developed loads i found that small pistol primers tightened my groups, and the only powder i tried was 296...when i used max loads primers were flattening regularly,backing off 1/2 gr from max tightened groups and eliminated the flat primers

[LaOtto222]

Zoner - I can relate. Case life on a 22 Hornet can be short if full power loads are used. I have had other problems too, like sticking cases and a pierced primers once in while. Case life can be short enough with medium type loads. Case life for a 22 K Hornet can be longer than a regular Hornet due to a defined shoulder - it helps keep the brass from flowing to the case mouth and away from the web area. I wanted the "K" for that very reason, not for more velocity. The loads I am using have nice rounded shoulders on the small pistol primers; I am not even thinking about increasing the powder charge. If I want more velocity, I have 221 FireBalls and 223's I can use.

[quickdtoo]

Neck sizing with the Lee collet die seems to work well for me to extend case life, that and using lil'gun which a max load is only 24kcup. 

Tim