Hornet primers

[Lewdan 17]

A question for all the .22 hornet users .

Is accuracy better when pistol primers are used instead of small rifle ? over in the states seems they mostly use the pistol primers when reloading the hornet, just wondered what benefits there are.

LD

[mattydski 560]

always used small rifle primers ma sel.

13gr lil gun on a 35gr VMAX

hole on hole at 100 yards...

[charlie caller 3,654]

A question for all the .22 hornet users .

Is accuracy better when pistol primers are used instead of small rifle ? over in the states seems they mostly use the pistol primers when reloading the hornet, just wondered what benefits there are.

LD

I have wondered that myself mate, you are correct in the states they do seem to like pistol primers, personally only ever used sr primers myself, so would love to hear others results.

[Blobby159 0]

Hi there. Glad to hear some reloaders are still doing it for the .22Hornet! It is a VERY MUCH UNDERATED ROUND in my opinion!!

 

I personally have always used small rifle primers in my Hornet loadings (since 1987 so I've some experience here). Though the chamber pressures in a fired Hornet chamber are below that of most centrefire rifles of modern vintage they can still be well high enough to demolish (blow through!) pistol calibre primers, especially if your loads are on the 'warm' side like mine and the guy who has answered above (13gr Lil Gun under a 35gr VMax), which would be unpleasant to say the least, and won't do the face of your rifle's bolt much good either! Be safe snd go for the suggested primers in the load recipes seen in the variuos annuals etc. which will most certainly be of SR variety if you intend to shoot jacketed bullets.

 

I believe that where the SP caps get a mention with the vintage .22Hornet cartridge is where loads are being built for firing CAST LEAD BULLETS. For accuracy sakes these projectiles are fired at no greater than approx 2,200fps (accurate loads usually lower than that), so the chamber pressures are a good deal lower than when full chat metal jacketed bulleted rounds are being constructed. As a for instance, my .22K-Hornet gives me an instrumentally verified 3,070fps +/- 20fps or so with my load firing the lovely 40gr Sierra BlitzKing bullets.

 

Again I believe there are also some - all be it small - dimensional differences between the SR and SP primers which could just cause problems with possible misfires too.

 

My advice - Stick to SRs.... I use Federal Gold GM205M SR Primers exclusively in my loads, that specific choice being driven more by the sensitivity of these primers than any other consideration as my Anschutz Hornet rifle has a light striking firing pin and these primers have less thicker cups than many, constructed of seemingly softer metal also. I do feel though that my choice here may well add a positive influence to the terrific accuracy I manage with my load/rifle combo.

 

Hope this helps?

 

Regards (and happy loading),

Steve.

 

[mattydski 560]

Hi there. Glad to hear some reloaders are still doing it for the .22Hornet! It is a VERY MUCH UNDERATED ROUND in my opinion!!

 

I personally have always used small rifle primers in my Hornet loadings (since 1987 so I've some experience here). Though the chamber pressures in a fired Hornet chamber are below that of most centrefire rifles of modern vintage they can still be well high enough to demolish (blow through!) pistol calibre primers, especially if your loads are on the 'warm' side like mine and the guy who has answered above (13gr Lil Gun under a 35gr VMax), which would be unpleasant to say the least, and won't do the face of your rifle's bolt much good either! Be safe snd go for the suggested primers in the load recipes seen in the variuos annuals etc. which will most certainly be of SR variety if you intend to shoot jacketed bullets.

 

I believe that where the SP caps get a mention with the vintage .22Hornet cartridge is where loads are being built for firing CAST LEAD BULLETS. For accuracy sakes these projectiles are fired at no greater than approx 2,200fps (accurate loads usually lower than that), so the chamber pressures are a good deal lower than when full chat metal jacketed bulleted rounds are being constructed. As a for instance, my .22K-Hornet gives me an instrumentally verified 3,070fps +/- 20fps or so with my load firing the lovely 40gr Sierra BlitzKing bullets.

 

Again I believe there are also some - all be it small - dimensional differences between the SR and SP primers which could just cause problems with possible misfires too.

 

My advice - Stick to SRs.... I use Federal Gold GM205M SR Primers exclusively in my loads, that specific choice being driven more by the sensitivity of these primers than any other consideration as my Anschutz Hornet rifle has a light striking firing pin and these primers have less thicker cups than many, constructed of seemingly softer metal also. I do feel though that my choice here may well add a positive influence to the terrific accuracy I manage with my load/rifle combo.

 

Hope this helps?

 

Regards (and happy loading),

Steve.

 

Just to clarify your comments with regard to 35gr vmax over 13 gr lil gun..

This is a perfectly safe and tested load, on small rifle primers.

It was a little ambiguous in the above post.

[Blobby159 0]

Yes agreed, it (35gr VMax over 13gr Lilgun) should indeed be a safe loading, though I believe it is denoted as a MAXIMUM load in the Hodgons information and it is ONLY meant to be sparked off with a SMALL RIFLE PRIMER because of this and the reasons I gave above.

 

Apologies if this was concidered ambiguous in my original posting, that would never do given the stakes involved in reloading...

 

Best regards,

Steve

[Lewdan 17]

Hi there. Glad to hear some reloaders are still doing it for the .22Hornet! It is a VERY MUCH UNDERATED ROUND in my opinion!!

 

I personally have always used small rifle primers in my Hornet loadings (since 1987 so I've some experience here). Though the chamber pressures in a fired Hornet chamber are below that of most centrefire rifles of modern vintage they can still be well high enough to demolish (blow through!) pistol calibre primers, especially if your loads are on the 'warm' side like mine and the guy who has answered above (13gr Lil Gun under a 35gr VMax), which would be unpleasant to say the least, and won't do the face of your rifle's bolt much good either! Be safe snd go for the suggested primers in the load recipes seen in the variuos annuals etc. which will most certainly be of SR variety if you intend to shoot jacketed bullets.

 

I believe that where the SP caps get a mention with the vintage .22Hornet cartridge is where loads are being built for firing CAST LEAD BULLETS. For accuracy sakes these projectiles are fired at no greater than approx 2,200fps (accurate loads usually lower than that), so the chamber pressures are a good deal lower than when full chat metal jacketed bulleted rounds are being constructed. As a for instance, my .22K-Hornet gives me an instrumentally verified 3,070fps +/- 20fps or so with my load firing the lovely 40gr Sierra BlitzKing bullets.

 

Again I believe there are also some - all be it small - dimensional differences between the SR and SP primers which could just cause problems with possible misfires too.

 

My advice - Stick to SRs.... I use Federal Gold GM205M SR Primers exclusively in my loads, that specific choice being driven more by the sensitivity of these primers than any other consideration as my Anschutz Hornet rifle has a light striking firing pin and these primers have less thicker cups than many, constructed of seemingly softer metal also. I do feel though that my choice here may well add a positive influence to the terrific accuracy I manage with my load/rifle combo.

 

Hope this helps?

 

Regards (and happy loading),

Steve.

 

Thank you all for your replies. Steve, i also have a K hornet and must say its a cracking round. i reload using 12.7 gn of lilgun, with 45gn sierra varminter soft point bullet & cci small rifle primers. if i am on form i get 1/2" group @ 100 yds and 1 1/2" @ 150yds very satisfied with this. shot many fox and rabbits over the years. my rifle is a ruger 77 and because of the 1in14 twist i can use the 50gn sierra blitz king which are accurate and hard hitting @ because o the rotary mag i can load to 1.800" oal. What make brass do you find best for fire forming. mine are getting a bit thin now so need to by new, i recently tried some factory rounds from privy but every case was split after fireing :hmm:any tips you can throw my way will much appreciated.

Keith