Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 22 Hornet

I am getting another 22 Hornet. The last one I had I never reloaded for it. This time I plan to reload for it. Which brand of reloading dies have you all tried and liked for the old hornet?

I normally don't like most Lee stuff, it seems to be built cheap to sell at a certain price point. But the die set that I use the most for my .22 Hornets is the Lee. I really like the results when using their collet neck size die on the Hornet's thin brass. And many Hornet rifles have oversized chamber dimensions, neck sizing really helps accuracy and case life. The bullet seater seems to work well too. The factory crimp die may or may not help accuracy in your rifle.

Agree. I opened mine to K-Hornet, which IMO is an improvement for several reasons.

And the Lee Collet neck sizer works with the K version.

Good round. I’m out of town. When I get back to my computer, I will post a link to a lot of Hornet info and data.

DF

i have Redding dies both 22 hornet and 22 K-hornet like both cartridges and these reloading dies, but at my home i always have my Ruger bolt 22 hornet s.s. rotary clip rifle ready for a critter.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11407757/1

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...12061613/re-22-hornet-loads#Post12061613

Here are a couple of links with a lot of info (some B.S. but this is the Fire).

DF

I also have the Redding, and they are excellent dies. I'd also grab a Lee collet sizer if the neck die of the Redding wasn't so slick. I just dip the necks in graphite, run through, and move on.

Year's ago I shot a friends Hornet a lot. We shot cast bullet's and it was a blast but for one problem reloading. Shoulder is sloped and we had trouble getting many reloads without the case splitting. I wouldn't mind having one today but first thing I'd do is convert it to a K Hornet. Better yet, I had a 222 Rem years ago and would take it any day over a Hornet. You can do pretty much everything you do with the Hornet and for accuracy, my 222 Rem blew away the friend's Hornet. Great thing about both of them is you can shoot and watch the bullet hit through the scope even with jacketed bullet's.

I’ve sold mine off but really like the 45 grain bullets for the .218 bee. Very destructive

Thanks for the links.

For you guys using Redding, are using the bushing full length/neck sizing, or body die combinations?

Lee Neck Collet die is a lot cheaper and IME, does about as well as the high priced spread...

Nothing against Redding, I have my share and do like them. They are top of the line dies, no doubt.

But when cheaper is as good, IMO, it's actually mo better....

Or said another way, it's mo buzz for the buck...

DF

Or just get a .223 Rem. and load it with Blue Dot and you will have 22 Hornet performance and its a lot easer to get .223 brass.

Way too practical and un-Loony....



DF

Yeah, everyone should own a 22 K Hornet.

Loony stuff.

Congrats on the book.

DF

What he said. Along with a case full of Lil Gun, a CCI Small Rifle Mag primer, and a 40 grain polymer tipped bullet will likely get you 3K fps and great accuracy.

K version or std. Hornet?

DF

Thanks. It seems to be well received.

I just swapped out the scope on my 22 K Hornet. There was a 3-10 Bushnell 3200 on it, but that migrated over to the Grendel. The K Hornet has an older, 80s vintage 4x33 Leupold on it now.

You have a book out?

Yes, I do. It is a departure from my usual. It was inspired by this forum, COVID 19, and my family.

It's called 24 Hr Campfryer. If you go to the Canada forum and find the thread of the same name, you can read the table of contents. Mwmbers here have bought them, and the reviews are all positive.

You can also go to my site for a look as well.

www.303british.com

Thank you. I'll do just that.

Actually, I have been doing that too. The problem with most of the 223 rifles is the weight. I guess I am just continuing to look for that perfect mouse trap.

The Hornet with 40 gr. bullets is probably the answer you seek. I think dies are a matter of personal choice. If I was looking to buy again, I would start with a basic Hornady 2 die set. The FL resizer and seating die. I would get a collet die too.

In my case, I have an H&R single shot and use the chamber as a gauge to see when it needs a shoulder bump. For that reason, I have a 22 K Hornet Body die that I use in conjunction with the collet.

In fact, it was about one year ago that I finally got that body die after seven or eight month of problems. The store sent me the wrong die - twice!

Hi Steve,

I have some 40 grain Noslers and Vmax to try. I also have a 35 grain Nosler which is all copper to try. It didn't shoot well in my 223, maybe it will in the hornet.

You mentioned the 22 K Hornet body die. Do you have a K hornet or do you use it on the 22 Hornet?

I would only use 35 grain bullets if I was hunting ground squirrels or skunks perhaps. Certainly not raccoons, foxes or anything bigger. My experience with the 35s was bad. Depending on the animal, rib bones can mess up the little 35s. I had three or four bad experiences with them in my 22 Hornet. That rifle that is now a 22 K Hornet.

I gave it the K treatment to improve the accuracy and bump up the horse power a tad. The worst experience with a light bullet in the 22 Hornet was when the 35 gr. VMax first came out. I shot a fox. The bullet flew apart after hitting bone and turned the VMax into a fragmentation grenade. It peppered the chest cavity, eventually killing it, but only after it bolted away. My buddy and I looked for it for a while before we found it. I felt bad about that, but figured it was a 'one of' experience. The same thing happened a couple of other times, so it soured me on the 35 gr. VMax.

The body die is only for the 22 K Hornet. When it was still a 22 Hornet, I only had a FL Lee die set, but no body or collet die.

Switching to 40s stopped the severe fragmenting problem. It didn't seem to matter which 40. They all print under an inch.

As an aside, Ellwood Epps grandson reamed my rifle to 22 K Hornet.

As an aside, Ellwood Epps grandson reamed my rifle to 22 K Hornet.

Name dropper!

Those K cases are pretty. Sticking with the standard though as improving my Browning is probably not a wise financial move, and it does what I "need" as-is.

Yes, they sure are!

You need a K Hornet barrel.

Powder Valley has this Hornet compatible powder in stock and at a good price. https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/shooters-world-blackout-d063-02/

Shooters World Blackout is also known as Lovex D063.02. Originally it was specifically designed for performance in the 300 Blackout. Ballistic results for this propellant show it appropriate for both pistol and rifle cartridges that incorporate a near straight-walled cartridge case. The propellant gas generation rate is appropriate for .300 Blackout, 7.62×39, .30-30, .22 Hornet, as well as many straight-walled large pistol and rifle cartridges where rapid transformation from powder to gas is desired. It is similar in burn speed to Accurate 1680®.

Shooters World Blackout Powder is a spherical propellant that meters through charge plates consistently and will flow well in a high-speed loader. It contains a level of flash suppression, incorporated into the propellant.

DF

Thanks for that info DF.

I've done both the Hornet and K versions with LEE, RCBS, Redding and Forster dies.

The K Hornet uses Redding dies; they work just fine. Just size the case enough to run in the chamber.

For the std. Hornet, its a tossup. The RCBS dies made in the late 70's, early 80's work best with the expander ball removed for the two rifles so chambered. This is only an option because the dies I have and most Hornet brass are concentric enough to produce straight ammo. One plus for thin walled brass, generally speaking.

The Forsters for the std. Hornet work outstanding because the seating die isn't like most other Hornet seaters, being they are at home seating either a 45 gr. round nose, cast or a "sleek" 40 gr. Ballistic Tip or VMax. For the std. Hornet, I would recommend the Forsters both for case re-sizing and seating. My advise on case sizing is to partial re- size for maximum case life; something the Hornet will make you aware of if you aren't.

The caveats for short, small cases are to make sure the case is centered in the shellholder and to have a delicate hand sizing and seating.

I've had production 22 Hornets rival production 222's on paper, so it's reputation as a horrible, cantankerous cartridge has not been my experience. But bear in mind it has been given several bore diameters and bullets to throw in a wrench as far as dies, seaters, twist and the like goes.
The Hornet is a very amicable cast bullet cartridge if in a 1-16 or 1-14 twist barrel as well.

I use RCBS hornet dies 224. No issues. 40gr V-Max and IMR 4227
For max velocity Lil- Gun powder

I use the Lee Collet Die for my Hornet.

For the rare occasions I need to FL the case, I have RCBS, with no complaints.

Lee is Dog Schit. The RCBS Horn/KHorn Comp Seater,is a Game CHANGER. Hint.



The ONLY thing I'd use Li'Gun for,is kindling to get a pile of Varget going. I've shot the 35 'Max from inception,as have more than a few pards still doing same and the Venison Tally will fill Hell. Same goes Woofs and more than a "few" Bears. I prefer the 32 and 33gr V-Max and only shoot them in REAL(formed K-Hornet cases). Hint.



I cain't suffer the SALAMI Hornet and it's KHorn or bust in these parts and we obviously enjoy The World's Highest Density of same. The ability to headspace a true shoulder datum,is a magnificent thing,as Precision and case life go. Had a pard swing by yesterday,talking rifles and the like,in regards to his 5yr old. The 223 Wylde Krunchenticker 18" Rifle Gas LW he set up for him,is too much of a good thing,as reaching the trigger goes on the Hogue grip. I showed him The Dude's 22 KHorn 77/22 and multiple 100's of rounds of 35gr 'Max Form Loads(3030 fps in the 20") and told him to shoot it any time/all the time. Plenty of Deer Tags in these parts,for Duffers. Hint.

I couldn't forget KHorn come-ups,if FORCED to. Hint...................

I remember Deer island and khornets, lot of fun.

I use the Redding full length two die set in combination with the Lee mandrel neck sizer. Thirteen grains of Lil Gun and a 40 gr plastic tip bullet = 3000 fps and little groups from my 26" barreled No 1.