.22 Hornet.

[Cedric 132]

I've been struggling with my .22 Hornet loosing zero. After eliminating scope etc. I'm down to considering the moderator and how it might not be seating identically each time I screw it on. Once fitted and zeroed it shoots consistently until it is moved again.

 

When I was checking the threads I noticed that the crown was covered in a granular, black crud. I looked inside the mod. and saw the same around the top of the threads. So I wondered if this was enough to stop the mod seating consistently? I've cleaned it off and will try it again this week, cleaning between uses.

 

My question is, is it usual for the Hornet to build up so much crud on the crown? It’s a short 16 ½” barrel and I’m using Hornady factory ammo and home loads with Lilgun. Could it be unburnt powder?

[SportingShooter 0]

If that grit has been causing the moderator to seat slightly differently each time then it could easily have an effect on it holding a zero,

 

The hornet can be a dirty round, especially with powders like Lil' Gun which are designed to have a higher volume to fill the case but not necessarily a quick burn rate, so there could easily be unburnt powder there.

[ianm 2,594]

Yep, sounds like the barrel is too short and is not allowing all the powder to be burnt in it.

[Cedric 132]

That could be the case, I wonder if I switching to a faster burning powder would solve it. I'm using Lilgun at the moment and I believe it is fairly slow burning.

 

I rezeroed today and have cleaned the threads, will see what happens tomorrow.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Try switching to H110 16" is a very short barrel on a hornet really, it does sound as if the crud could be causing the moderator to sit slightly differently everytime, I assume you have tried it without the moderator, and it holds zero?

[Cedric 132]

Too windy to try it today but after I had fired 20 rounds yesterday and inspected the crown and base where the mod sits there was no sign of any crud build up, well, not to any appreciable extent. I had been trying different mods on it, including a SAK ( not as high spec as the Nightingale) and wondered if powder residue was blowing back from the inside of the mod.

 

I have wonderd about the short barrel, it came short and as the threads were nakered I had to have it shortened even more. However, despite the loosing zero problem it is quite accurate, about 3/4" groups at 100 yards.

[SportingShooter 0]

What has the SAK been on other than the Hornet?

[Cedric 132]

SAK has been on - and off -10/22 and Anshutz 1417 .22lr. as I have a Swift Stubby as well.

[SportingShooter 0]

Was the SAK cleaned in between each rifle?

 

The two different types of moderator will alter the zero and personally I'd be careful using a SAK on a Hornet, it's a rimfire moderator and even though the Hornet isn't particularly powerful, it has about 6-8 times the muzzle energy of a .22LR,

 

I'd also be careful using your centrefire moderator on a .22LR because the rimfire produces a lot of unburnt powder, which if you then put it back on a centrefire, the much increased heat/pressure in the moderator could ignite it all in one go and bang goes the mod.

[IanB 0]

Try switching to H110 16" is a very short barrel on a hornet really, it does sound as if the crud could be causing the moderator to sit slightly differently everytime, I assume you have tried it without the moderator, and it holds zero?

 

CC do you use hodgson H110 in your hornet, I've got some here, keeping it contained is not easy, spills out of a powder thrower and jams up the tricklers..

[John Stott 202]

Just a suggestion, clean the silencers regularly too if you are not already. Amazingly mucky ammo this. Surprising where the dirt and crud can build up.

[Cedric 132]

The Swift Nightingale mod is easy to clean so no problems there. When I zeroed the rifle on Monday I stupidly forgot to mark which target it was, so had no reference today. I fired three , which were well off and rezeroed. Three shots touching at 100 yards. Took the mod off and screwed it back on again - no change of POI - so I'll try it again tomorrow and see if has altered. Maybe I've cured it !

 

As an aside, I loaded three batches of cartridges with different c.o.a.l's. One near the factory ammo, one at max recommended length and one in between. The result was no practrical difference at 100 yards, all shots touching, maybe a 1/4" in POI.