Author Topic: .22 Hornet to 5.7x28 ???? (Read 4034 times)

ibgp3 · « **on:** March 04, 2012, 12:56:16 PM »

5.7x28 is a cartridge that cannot be reloaded for most of the weapons that fire it.
That is making for very cheap range brass.
It looks to me like the 22 hornet can be re-chambered for a 5.7x28 with a very long neck.
It also looks like a .17HMR or HM2 could become a version of 5.7x28 by running a 22 pilot until it needs to be changed over to a 17 pilot.

Any comments or advice will be appreciated.

moorepower · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2012, 01:12:39 PM »

The neck on the .22 Hornet is about 1.4" long and the 5.7X28 is a little over 1.1". Now you are looking at not just a huge jump to the rifling, but add another .300" before you hit the rifling. The 5.7X28 is already 5-600 fps short of the Hornet. A 22wmr could be rechambered I would guess. The extractor mod is easy from a 17HMR to a 17HH, but I don't know about the 5.7X28. I would say if you feel the need, start with a 22 mag. barrel. Hornet brass lasts 8-10 reloads, dies are cheap, and I realize you can only get 600 rounds per pound, but at the end of the day, you might save .04 per round after you pay for the reamer and the extra $$ for the dies over the Hornet.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2012, 02:18:44 PM »

One member did the 17x28 with a Hmr barrel, seems to me someone did a 5.7x28 too, but I didn't find it, it's certainly been discussed a few times tho.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,178932.msg1098860564.html#msg1098860564

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,159848.msg1098708145.html#msg1098708145

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2012, 02:29:54 PM »

None ever said wanting something different was a rational thought process.

I agree with Tim, use the 22 mag barrel. That's jsut way to long a jump for the bullet to travel. The neck area would be oversize where the brass form the Hornet would set, add the thickness of the brass to the .224 caliber bullet. The bullet could get cocked a bit before hitting the rifleing. DP

ibgp3 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2012, 01:37:32 AM »

Quote from: dpe.ahoy on March 04, 2012, 02:29:54 PM

No one ever said wanting something different was a rational thought process.

...and in my case wanting seems to involve a suspension of rational thought process in a majority of cases.

...especially if firearms or females are concerned.

moorepower · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2012, 02:04:07 PM »

I am not knocking your choice, but it seemed to me your decision was based on brass you have stockpiled. Like I said, the 22mag would be the way to go. I already have 8 rounds .22 and under, so I guess I am not looking. Real hard. Yet. Other than a 20 Vartarg.

ibgp3 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2012, 01:36:32 AM »

I make .22 bullets from rimfire cases. The 22 hornet does not like flat-bottom bullets and I tear a lot more cases than I like.
My choice was based on
1. frustration with the hornet and willingness to give it up.
2. availability of centerfire brass for ~$.06 each.

I may also consider 22 Jet.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:13:14 AM »

Quote from: ibgp3 on March 06, 2012, 01:36:32 AM

I make .22 bullets from rimfire cases. The 22 hornet does not like flat-bottom bullets and I tear a lot more cases than I like.
My choice was based on
1. frustration with the hornet and willingness to give it up.
2. availability of centerfire brass for ~$.06 each.

I may also consider 22 Jet.

A couple others to consider are the 218 Bee and the 224 GNR , brass for the Bee is not as cheap as the Hornet but can be had , while the GNR is a 357 MAX case necked down to .224 .

The Bee should be done on a 22 mag barrel for proper clean up , while the 224 GNR cleans a Hornet chamber very well .

stimpy

ibgp3 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:47:13 AM »

Stimpy's picture from his post 4 years ago when he first got his .224 GNR.(in the middle)
and a picture of the four cases I sent to the gunsmith for my 6.5xmaxi. It looks like GR went with a short neck too,
any problem?

A picture of other possibilities that I considered.

I've got a jet reamer and a bucket of .357 brass, if I turn the hornet barrel into a tomato stake, Oh well.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:53:13 AM »

ibgp3

Just remember that if you have never made jet case's from mag brass it can be a royal PITA , even with all the form dies - trust me on this one , been there / done that !

stimpy

ibgp3 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:58:29 AM »

Good point

Thanks
GP

gcrank1 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2012, 04:58:19 AM »

Ibgp3, have you tried the Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die? You can tune that collet to perfectly fit a bullet, unlike undersizing it in a std. die then trying to push too fat a bullet in. The other choice is to get a larger dia. expander ball for your die set. The truth is, too many FL dies WAY undersize case neck dia.s (for ease of manufacturing?), and depend on the expander ball to bring it back out. How to tell if you could use a larger dia. exp. ball?; by the pressure it take to press in a bullets and/or crushing case necks. These small cases are not fond of that much repeat 'working'; cases fail too soon; maybe annealing would help, but it is troublesome enough with even larger cases.

Esteves · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2012, 07:12:03 PM »

I did a WMR to 5.7x28
It was straight-forward enough after I stopped being an idiot about the ejector...
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,159848.msg1099345584.html#msg1099345584

ibgp3 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2012, 12:48:57 AM »

Allright!!
I'm gonna bet that you have popped some caps since July, was it too disappointing to report, or have you been having too much fun to write it up?

briannmilewis · « **Reply #14 on:** April 05, 2012, 09:08:12 PM »

Quote from: ibgp3 on March 06, 2012, 01:36:32 AM

I make .22 bullets from rimfire cases. The 22 hornet does not like flat-bottom bullets and I tear a lot more cases than I like.
My choice was based on
1. frustration with the hornet and willingness to give it up.
2. availability of centerfire brass for ~$.06 each.

I may also consider 22 Jet.

PRVI has really cheap 22 Jet brass - $27/100 from Grafs. and no mods required if you can live with a 22 hornet barrel rechambered.

22 Jet case length is 1.288", less than 1/8" shorter than the Hornet. If the 357 Mag fires well with a larger jump in a Maxi chamber, I can't see any reason the Jet should suffer much if at all.

The 5.7x28 is exactly 1.138" case length, and would fit a 22 Mag chamber length of just about 1" really well.

If it were me, I'd try the Jet in a rechambered Hornet first. However, if it failed to be accurate, you'd have to get creative about what rechambering would be next.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2012, 02:13:54 AM »

Here is another possibility...221 Fireball. Same OAL of a 22 Hornet, but bigger body size. Cases are easy to get or you can make them out of 223 brass, if you want to save some bucks (but some work). I have done that when 221 brass was hard to come by and I did not want to wait for the next batch run. You could make a rimmed version with 357 Max brass too. Cut the chamber with a 221 Fireball reamer then have the 'smith cut a rim in. I have 3 221 Fireballs, and accuracy is pretty good. Powder usage is naturally more than a 22 Hornet, but not by much. It takes from around 15 - 18 grains of powder, depending on what you use. Modern 22 Hornet barrels have a 1 - 9" twist older ones have a 1 - 12" twist and the real old ones have a 1 - 14" or 1 - 16" twist barrels, a 22 Mag barrel will have a 1 - 16 twist I believe. If you cut it out of a modern 22 Hornet barrel you could use heavier bullets (longer that is) and jump some or all of the gap to the rifling. 60 grain V-Max comes to mind, they pretty long. They are long enough to bridge the generous gap on a 223. I am starting to ramble...time to quit.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

ibgp3 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2012, 02:48:07 AM »

I think that Otto has answered the question that Brian left hanging: If I don't like the Jet, what to try next.

...plus, if I have already done the Jet I have a rim cut for the .221/Maxi.

Now all I need is to do it.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #17 on:** April 06, 2012, 05:50:40 AM »

I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes for you. I'm thinking along the same lines but I still haven't bought the barrel yet.

I picked up a set of Jet dies cheap and that's as far as I'm into it. I figure even if I don't get a jet, the jet dies would be easier to neck .357 max down to .224 and then I would fire form the shoulder for a rimmed .221. Well that's the idea anyway whether or not it'll work remains to be seen...

Tony

ibgp3 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 06, 2012, 06:19:15 AM »

To make 22Jet brass it only takes 4 dies: 8mm,7mm,6mm, & 5.56. I made the form dies by cutting off LEE RGB dies ($14/set) in 8x57, 7mmMag, 243, and 22-250. Then it is like neck sizing the .357 brass 4 times. Easy.
(Anybody need LEE bullet seating dies?)

I may have to get another 7mm die (7-08 will probably do it), this one is as far down as it goes. Then again I may finish with a 22Jet die.

Once the cases fit into the chamber they are ready to fireform.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #19 on:** April 06, 2012, 07:50:11 AM »

Quote from: ibgp3 on April 06, 2012, 06:19:15 AM

To make 22Jet brass it only takes 4 dies: 8mm,7mm,6mm, & 5.56. I made the form dies by cutting off LEE RGB dies ($14/set) in 8x57, 7mmMag, 243, and 22-250. Then it is like neck sizing the .357 brass 4 times. Easy.

Your way of doing it costs about a tenth the price of the Jet forming dies and should also work great to make .221 Rimed from Max brass...

Tony

ibgp3 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 22, 2012, 05:35:08 AM »

I finally got some 22jet dies to finish this up.

The 8x57 dies need the threads drilled out at the top. Every piece of brass is getting scratched.
The dies are cut off with a metal blade in a skill saw. Anybody can.
The brass has to be annealed. I use an electric hot plate.
I used one finished round to set the neck sizer dies. (light contact.)
Final sizing is with the Jet dies set at bottom.
These were done in a hand press, with very little effort. 25 pieces of annealed range brass from start to finish in 20 minutes with no cracks and no crushes.
Not enough savings in the price of brass to justify doing it, but I like being able to do it.
My next step is to ream out the Hornet barrel.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:26:02 AM »

With the news that Remington is thinking of dropping production of the 357 Max brass, that bucket full of brass could sell for enough to pay for a reamer. I would look at using a different case for a new wildcat. DP

ibgp3 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2012, 09:54:47 AM »

22 jet is made from .357 mag, not max.
Mag is not going away soon.!!??!!

....but max sure seems like a poor choice for a new wildcat parent cartridge.

Couger · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2012, 12:36:05 PM »

Those interested in the .22 Jet, why not instead go with the .22 Saber?

Never heard anyone discusss the .22 Saber.

Which is essentially a .224 version of the .256 WM with a similar sharp shoulder and
better use of the [full] voluminous .357 case.

Making 'Saber' cases is just as big a PITA as making 'Jet' cases and requires as many intermediate dies.

ibgp3 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 22, 2012, 01:30:20 PM »

Why a 22jet?

I found an unused 22jet reamer on ebay.
After I use it on my Hornet barrel I'll ask Tim if he wants to add it to his lending setup.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 22, 2012, 02:41:41 PM »

That's way cool

; love those old classic calibers.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #26 on:** April 22, 2012, 10:05:56 PM »

What barrel are you going to ream to .22 Jet? A .2 Hornet is .2" too long to clean up to Jet...

Tony

ibgp3 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 22, 2012, 11:23:03 PM »

I'm going to start with a .22 Hornet.
If it makes a pot-gun/plinker, I'll be happy.
If it doesn't I'll use a .221 reamer, (It'll already be rimmed.)
If I don't like that job, I'll have a new tomato stake.

If I get to the tomato stake stage I can start over with a .22mag barrel.
...or I can sell/store the jet brass and dies.

PS: if anyone wants to shoot factory ammo they should buy an original barrel or start with a .22lr barrel.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #28 on:** April 23, 2012, 11:26:01 AM »

Are you implying that a .22 Jet barrel is/was available reticently?

Tony

ibgp3 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:12:42 PM »

If you want one, list a WTB.
I was offered one here last month.
In fact, if you want one, let me know and I will ask the guy who offered me one if he wants to contact you.