Now that I have my Hornet, which has .224 bore and 1-12" twist, I need some small game loads. Who has some experience with it? I will be using jacketed bullets for squirrel and rabbit. If you have anything you have used for turkey please include it too.

I got decent accuracy with Speer 46gr FNs and 2400 with SP primers. Never used it on game. Have some 5744 to try too. Kinda low on my todo list though.

I will have to look at my notes.. Most of my stuff came from Paul Mathews book.. Shot grouse, tree squirrel, cottontails, and turkey with them.. A fun round... Give me some time!!

Are you looking for 22 LR or 22 Mag loads?

Blue dot with 35 gr v max works well for reduced loads.

Haven't used my Hornet for general small game, but I did take a fall turkey with mine last fall.
Used Hornady's factory 45 gr. SP ammo, sub-MOA in my rifle, and it did a superb job, with no meat loss and an instantly dead turkey.

I would be interested to hear how they do for you.

Great! I appreciate you taking the time to look. What book is written by Paul Mathews? Is it about small game hunting or the hornet?

I am guessing somewhere in between. Probably between 1600 and 2100 fps. I want to use jacketed bullets, so I want to have some expansion of the bullet without getting it stuck in the barrel.

Good to know. If I get in a pinch those factory loads should work.

nosler 45 gr. hornet . p-dogs, hogs in the ear, antelope , turkeys.pork-e-pines. works good on all.

Years ago I worked up a load for my Ruger #3 Hornet with IMR 4227 and the Speer 55 gr. FMJ. It has been discontinued for years but it was a semi-spitzer. I used 9.5 grs and if I remember correctly it gave about 2100 fps. It worked as you would expect on head shot squirrels.

An old “Dupont reloader’s guide” with a R-P case gave:
Max load: 11.5 grs, IMR 4227, a Hornady 45 gr spitzer at 1.720” o/all = 2515 fps (compressed). You can drop down a couple of grains to start.
Max load: 10.5 grs, IMR4198, Hornady 45 spitzer at 1.720” o/all = 2010 fps (compressed but not max pressure).

I also worked with IMR 4198 and the 50 gr Sierra Blitz Soft Pt and the Speer 50 gr Speer. I used from 10.5 to 11.5 grs (very patiently dribbling the powder) which was compressed but not max pressure and the 50 Blitz was very accurate at 2200 fps. (5 shots < 1.5” @ 200yds).

For added “whap” factor I think you’d do well to try the Speer 46 gr flat nose and somewhere around 9-10 grs of IMR 4227.

If you happen to have some IMR 4759, with the Speer 46 flat nose, I got:
7.1 grs - 1850 fps
7.4 grs - 1925 fps
7.7 grs - 1995 fps
8.0 grs - 2075 fps
8.3 grs - 2140 fps
The “Reloader’s Guide” gave 8.0 grs as maximum with the 45 gr Hornady for 2000 fps.

navlav8r,

Thank you for the information. As luck would have it, i have IMR 4227, IMR 4198, and some IMR 4759. For 50 grain bullets I have the 50 grain Sierra Blitz and the Hornady 50 grain SPSX. I don't have the Speer 46 grain flat nose though. I was thinking about trying the Sierra 40 grain HP and Sierra 45 grain Spitzer. i read these bullets are bit "hard" at reduced velocity, but may be ok for what I have planned.

I just got 1000 30 grain h.p. at an auction in unmarked boxes,other than weight and quanity-they look exactly like the 30 grain Seirra's that Federal used in their .22 WMR Premium ammo,plus they are in green boxes.Plan on trying them in my CZ hornet.

Sounds like a good bullet to try. I have these to try which I hope will work for what I want:

Hornady
45 grain Hornet
50 grain SPSX

Speer
40 grain SP
45 grain SP

Sierra
40 grain HP
45 grain Spitzer
50 grain Blitz

I lied; those Speers are FNs, not HPs. 7.5gr 2400, Fed 100M, Win brass. Just grabbed the load outta the air. 2400 Hornet data is all over the scale. Won't find data for that bullet either since it's a Bee bullet. No tweaking, just loaded some and went for it. My target shows 5 in about 1 1/4" at 100, with 3 of them touching. Plenty good for SG at ordinary ranges.

When I get too old and feeble to drag deer, SG will get the attention it deserves.

Varmint and Small Game Rifles and Cartridges by Wolf Publishing ISBN 1-879-356-33-3 has quite a few articles on 22 Hornet and small game.

Here's a link to a lot of Hornet and K-Hornet info. Some B.S., but this IS the Fire....

You can sort thru it for some hopefully useful info.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11390994

DF

All I can say is that when I first got my CZ 527 I tried to make it into something its not. I was lading 5o gr Hornady SPSX's. One bullet I tried and had good results with is an Armscor 45 gr HP. Bought hem to use in my 218 Bee but they work well in the Hornet at std velocities. Most any 40 to 45 grain RN, FP, HP will work well but the

I have a buddy who likes pretty much any tipped BT bullet between 35 and 40 grains in his loaded over between 11 and 13 grains of Lil Gun. He likes the BT because the start into the case mouth easier.

My go-to Hornet small game load is a blunt 52 grain cast bullet (Lee's Bator) over 6.0gr. 2400, small pistol primer. The bullet is short enough to stabilize in old school Hornet twists. The load behaves like a stiff .22RF Magnum, is universally extremely accurate in all my current Hornets, and costs but a couple pennies per shot.

That Lee Bator is sure an accurate bullet. I've gotten stellar shooting out of it both with and without gas check, at velocities from 22LR up past 22 Mag in Hornet, Bee, and 223. I've not found a bad powder from Unique to Lil Gun.

Thanks. I will see if I can find it.

I found a new copy online and it should be here soon. Thanks.

Tag good read
Hank

Barm,

So I've got to know... What rifle did you get????

Thanks,

Jerry

Hey Jerry,

It is a Cooper 38 with the Jackson style stock. I know some will hate the Redfield on top, but it is a really nice scope. It is just a little over 12 ounces and has the flexibility of 3-9x, plus it has 2 MOA spaced marks across the windage and elevation. I can dial or hold over with the reticle. I knew I would be shooting Lil Gun loads for groundhogs and reduced loads for small game and wasn't sure how the point of impact might differ. With this reticle I can just hold on a different hash mark to be close enough. The rifle as pictured tips the scale at 7 pounds and 3.6 ounces.