Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 30 - 35 gr. 22 Hornet loads

This one thread has provided more help than any board I've stumbled upon and my favorite gunwriter contributed too! Thanks to all but John I mostly only follow you in Rifle and Handloader at present. Where can I find your article on the varmint bullet work you mentioned?

It will appear in VARMINT HUNTER this year sometime. I sent it in a few months ago.

Glad you like the writing!

You talk about less "splat", and that is exactly why I shoot the Sierra 45 SP in my 218 (#1). I've used it quite a bit for shooting snowshoes for the pot, and the 40s - usually V-Max or BTs, while accurate and effective, sometimes the damage strays into the shoulders even when good head shots are made. The 45 SP Sierra, which is probably dramatically explosive out of a '250 or such at high speed, seems rather hard at Bee/Hornet speeds. I would have no qualms if a larger furbearer: lynx, wolf, etc found its way into the sights of one of these rifles loaded with that bullet.

The old Nozzy SB 45 grainer was also a prime candidate for a "bigger critter", as it was more of a weight retaining bullet.

My fav "cheap" 222 bullet was the std. 50 grainer, not the Blitz version. It has always shot better, but it isn't good for PD's simply because of the ricochet factor.

My first Hornet was a Savage 23D that was worn enough to shoot the .224" Nosler Solid Base very well. I bagged my first bobcat with a rifle using this combination. My second 22 Hornet was an H&R which also liked them but anything a bit warm or close to manual max. would stick the case. Regretfully both are gone now but I would have loved to had tried cast bullets in the 23D.

I have a M 43 Winchester and 35 V-Max has to be seated so deep to fit the mag. I have to shoot them single shot. I went to NEI .224 FN GC 37.5 grs loaded to 22 mag specs. real tack driver . Talk about cheap shooting! Killed a few things with it, my best was a 75 lbs. piglet, 40 yards behing the ear, not even a squeal!