Anyone here have any favorite light loads for 22 Hornet? I'm wanting to use the load to hunt small game without a lot of meat damage but want to put them down with authority.

Wish I hadn't sold my .22 Hornet, mine performed well on a diet of 45gr hollow point over 9 1/2gr of 680 Ball Powder. For safety sake in your rifle start at 8 1/2gr & go up in 1/4 gr increments. That round took Coyotes, Beaver, Badger & Gophers, it performed well for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Carwi,
I'am using an old model 19h savage 22 Hornet. The bbl and chamber are all one piece so I only use light loads. In this rifle I use Win brass,Rem small br primers,40gr Hornady v-max moly over9.5 to 10.5 gr of IMR4227. 2350 to 2450 fPS per the manual. It prints way under an inch at 100yds if the wind isn't blowing and I do my part. I seat the bullets to just touch the lands. I would go for head shots with this bullet, it creates a lot of shock and things tend to come apart, but it is extreamly accurate in this rifle. I use it mostly on pasture poodles. I don't know if this will help, ya won't know untill ya try. See Ya
Mick

A good load for small game (I am supposing squirrels and rabbits), recommended by Paul Matthews, is 5 grains of Unique under a 40 grain bullet (Speer #1017). It will give you .22 Magnum velocities (2200 fps). I used it frequently when I owned a Hornet.

If you have access to them, you could go lower (.22 LR levels) in velocity with cast bullets.

I have a KHornet in a Stevens Marksman(really weak!) and have found that 9.5 grains of IMR4227 and a 40 grain Vmax works well. It shoots straight, but i have shot anything with it yet or put it through the cronograph. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Catnthehat

Thanks for the suggestion guys! My problem is that I have misplaced my light loads that I wrote down to use in my 22 Hornet. Seems I used 3-4grs of Bullseye with a 40gr Hornet bullet. I sure hate starting over!! The velocity I got with the Bullseye was somewhere around 1500fps, but had little expansion. I just can't remember the charge! Keep the loads coming though because I do have to start over now.

I'm wishing that I'd come across this thread when it was active but I'll responde anyway.

I've been wanting a reduced load for the same reason and I've been pondering using 3 or 4 grains of TiteGroup. I'll check back after I've had a chance to try them.