22 Hornet AI

[Blaser Ash]

I should have said of course that as a target round the .22 hornet is definitely better than .17 hornet, because you can actually see the bullet holes! It is also better for the range of loaded rounds and reloading components available for it. The K hornet will have these advantages, more power and longer case life.

Sorry I don’t know whether you can use your lathe in the way you want to. I guess it depends how easy the rifle is to disassemble and whether you can put the barrel in the chuck and spin that or whether you would have to have the barrel stationary and spin the reamer.

On the question of barrel fouling in 17 hornet, I put a cleaning patch with nitro solvent and then a bore snake through my rifles after use, so they start off clean with a dry bore. I have never noticed a reduction in accuracy from .17 hornet or .17 Remington while shooting. I wouldn’t have put more than 50 rounds through each though in a single shooting session, so I don’t know if things go down hill after that. I also don’t know what happens if you don’t clean the bore after use each time.
The .17 Remington has had about 1500 rounds through it and still shoots extremely well. I was stupid enough to leave it dirty with a mod on it once, so had to shorten the barrel to 22 inches. Luckily only the very end of the bore was damaged. The shortening and recrowning was carried out by Paddy Dane, and it shot at least as well as it ever did after shortening. I haven’t chronographed it, but I must have lost some velocity. It’s not noticeable though and surprisingly, the 200 yard zero was the same after shortening. I mention this just because so much is written about .17 centrefire bore fouling and bore wear, but in practice it’s just not a thing.

 

[Blaser Ash]

I was 21 years old in 1975 when I bought it. It cost £45 from Leonards of Brigg. I couldn't reload to my liking. One shop in Doncaster fobbed me off with small pistol primers and 50 grain bullets. I was using IMI (British) powders I had a Lyman 310 tool at the time. The only reloading supplies came from Thomas Bland and they were very intermittent in supply. I sold it and got a Krico semi-auto.
I then went to Zambia working in a lead zinc mine. I hunted once with a guy and got an impala with a 9.3x62 Brno.
I could have bought a genuine 375 H&H magnum for over 100 Kwatas (£650), but decided to come home after 2 years working there, because your remittance was restricted and I wanted to save more money. Probably a big mistake on my part, because the hunting was quite cheap to have. Although ammunition would have been expensive.
Nobody seems know if I could use a Myford Super 7 to ream to K Hornet?
Also, answering another person's comment. I heard that .17 Hornets need to be cleaned more regularly than most rifles. And I would probably be using the rifle up to 150 yards.
Warp Toad.

I think the equation shifts if you are only shooting up to 150 yards. A k hornet will be excellent for that.

 

[Bo Diddley]

If I wanted more out of my .22 Hornet I think I would just jump up to a triple rather than have the hassle of fire-forming cases into K Hornet.
The triple brass is thicker, you still own a cult calibre, and on the reloading front, it's the same cost for a primer and bullet, just a pinch more powder.

@25 Sharps has lots of experience with both I think .

Atb
BD.

 

[User00046]

I think the equation shifts if you are only shooting up to 150 yards. A k hornet will be excellent for that.

I made a mistake with my age. I was 21 in 1970 and went to Zambia in 1975. One thing I have heard, is that you have to be careful with second-hand rifles that have had moderators fitted. One gun dealer told me he had rejected trading in a lot of .243 rifles because people had left the mod on and the condensation caused by the heat generated of fired rounds had ruined the barrels. Because they had not removed the mods after use.
Unfortunately I can't afford a proper borescope but do have a fancy torch to illuminate the bore. But that was £80! Nothing cheap from Brownells!

 

[HistoricBore]

I had a .22 K Hornet in a German Kipplauf with set triggers. Great rifle but could never get a reload that was accurate, despite trying all sorts. Rifling twist was 1:18 so probably too slow.
I now enjoy my Walther KKJ in .22lr - superb single trigger!

HB

 

[User00046]

I had a .22 K Hornet in a German Kipplauf with set triggers. Great rifle but could never get a reload that was accurate, despite trying all sorts. Rifling twist was 1:18 so probably too slow.
I now enjoy my Walther KKJ in .22lr - superb single trigger!

HB

I had a KKJ in .22 Hornet with the ordinary trigger. I know Walther have always made excellent barrels, but to me in the hornet caliber the barrel looks skinny, especially if someone has modified it for a silencer. And the larger magazine looks out of place. Looks more than functionality.

 

[Smellydog]

I was 21 years old in 1975 when I bought it. It cost £45 from Leonards of Brigg. I couldn't reload to my liking. One shop in Doncaster fobbed me off with small pistol primers and 50 grain bullets. I was using IMI (British) powders I had a Lyman 310 tool at the time. The only reloading supplies came from Thomas Bland and they were very intermittent in supply. I sold it and got a Krico semi-auto.
I then went to Zambia working in a lead zinc mine. I hunted once with a guy and got an impala with a 9.3x62 Brno.
I could have bought a genuine 375 H&H magnum for over 100 Kwatas (£650), but decided to come home after 2 years working there, because your remittance was restricted and I wanted to save more money. Probably a big mistake on my part, because the hunting was quite cheap to have. Although ammunition would have been expensive.
Nobody seems know if I could use a Myford Super 7 to ream to K Hornet?
Also, answering another person's comment. I heard that .17 Hornets need to be cleaned more regularly than most rifles. And I would probably be using the rifle up to 150 yards.
Warp Toad.

Kudos friend.

Is there anything on YouTube about reaming a chamber on a small lathe, never done it myself.

 

[Smellydog]

I had a .22 K Hornet in a German Kipplauf with set triggers. Great rifle but could never get a reload that was accurate, despite trying all sorts. Rifling twist was 1:18 so probably too slow.
I now enjoy my Walther KKJ in .22lr - superb single trigger!

HB

Yep my 222 came with the same issue but I fixed it.
Before.

After.

 

[Bowland blades]

Hello all.

Can anyone with actual experience, tell me if they think the 22 Hornet AI is worth the effort?
I am under the impression that an extra 200fps ish and less case stretch due to the shoulder is to be gained.
I am tempted, possibly if I end up getting my CZ re-barrelled one day.
Will a variation be required? or will the FAC wording of 22 Hornet still cover it?

Ok , I have shot a lot of 22 hornet for a fair old time - so i ain't guessing but I am going to straight up say ( your wasting your money ) . The 22 Hornet really should not exist anymore but yet it does ! Why ? because of what it doesn't do not what it can .
The bullets are of poor BC 35 v max just make 3000 FPS but at a price of a pathetic BC , indeed at 2800 fps a 40 / 45 grain seirra hornet bullet will get to the target first with less wind drift and less drop ( there are better than that also) .
. 222 or .223 ( both can be downloaded if you wish ) offer better performance the only disadvantage is the powder fill and the report will then increase some.
If i was to change my hornet barrel i should take a really good look at making the std case into a .20 for better BC for those 300 yard shots but then i am looking at a fair spend on the reamer and the barrel , dies labour etc . Frankly i cant just throw money at such a project as the benefits in the field are not that great when i already also have a 223 , it might burn more powder but i dont need to drop a four figure sum plus my perfectly workable .22 version
K hornet is another possible change of course and many says it gets more out of a case , yet i loose the cases frequently in the grass ( especially at night ) . Dont expect a real noticeable difference in trajectory though and i have known a few badly home converted K hornets. If you see a SH one look carefully for bolt face pitting

 

[Bowland blades]

I had a .22 K Hornet in a German Kipplauf with set triggers. Great rifle but could never get a reload that was accurate, despite trying all sorts. Rifling twist was 1:18 so probably too slow.
I now enjoy my Walther KKJ in .22lr - superb single trigger!

HB

1-16 is the norm , why so slow i wonder ? Are some RF 1-18? and it was a RF conversion ?

 

[User00046]

Ok , I have shot a lot of 22 hornet for a fair old time - so i ain't guessing but I am going to straight up say ( your wasting your money ) . The 22 Hornet really should not exist anymore but yet it does ! Why ? because of what it doesn't do not what it can .
The bullets are of poor BC 35 v max just make 3000 FPS but at a price of a pathetic BC , indeed at 2800 fps a 40 / 45 grain seirra hornet bullet will get to the target first with less wind drift and less drop ( there are better than that also) .
. 222 or .223 ( both can be downloaded if you wish ) offer better performance the only disadvantage is the powder fill and the report will then increase some.
If i was to change my hornet barrel i should take a really good look at making the std case into a .20 for better BC for those 300 yard shots but then i am looking at a fair spend on the reamer and the barrel , dies labour etc . Frankly i cant just throw money at such a project as the benefits in the field are not that great when i already also have a 223 , it might burn more powder but i dont need to drop a four figure sum plus my perfectly workable .22 version
K hornet is another possible change of course and many says it gets more out of a case , yet i loose the cases frequently in the grass ( especially at night ) . Dont expect a real noticeable difference in trajectory though and i have known a few badly home converted K hornets. If you see a SH one look carefully for bolt face pitting

The thing is their inexpensive to shoot because of the 11 grains of powder against 23 grains for a 222. Also, you can get them cheap. I know of one gun dealer who gave one away to a valued customer, because he couldn't get rid of it when he was moving from retailing to only manufacturing. I think it was a 1958 model, but was said to be accurate by one of the local lads.

 

[Bo Diddley]

The thing is their inexpensive to shoot because of the 11 grains of powder against 23 grains for a 222. Also, you can get them cheap. I know of one gun dealer who gave one away to a valued customer, because he couldn't get rid of it when he was moving from retailing to only manufacturing. I think it was a 1958 model, but was said to be accurate by one of the local lads.

I'm cramming 13 grains of Lil'gun into my Hornet cases, and 23.3 grains of N135 into my .223 cases, so overall the extra few grains of powder in the big scheme of things it's not many pennies considering the other costs involved with shooting.

 

[25 Sharps]

Hello all.

Can anyone with actual experience, tell me if they think the 22 Hornet AI is worth the effort?
I am under the impression that an extra 200fps ish and less case stretch due to the shoulder is to be gained.
I am tempted, possibly if I end up getting my CZ re-barrelled one day.
Will a variation be required? or will the FAC wording of 22 Hornet still cover it?

K hornet can be held on a standard hornet slot as it can shoot the standard cartridge.

You don’t say what your uses are, if for target get a .222 or a .223.

If it’s for a short to medium range fox and rabbit gun then it’s perfect, I’ve not pushed fox past 160 ish yards and I wouldn’t want to.

As for K vs Standard hornet, if you are using it a lot then it’s probably worth it for better case life but I noticed no real advantage over the previous 2 hornets I had.

 

[25 Sharps]

I'm cramming 13 grains of Lil'gun into my Hornet cases, and 23.3 grains of N135 into my .223 cases, so overall the extra few grains of powder in the big scheme of things it's not many pennies considering the other costs involved with shooting.

It’s not just that, most hornets are 1:16 so you are very limited on bullet length, generally sub 50 grains. That combined with the relatively low velocities achievable you are just at a big disadvantage to a .222 or .223, for the sake of saving 7-15 grains of powder.

 

[User00046]

I'm cramming 13 grains of Lil'gun into my Hornet cases, and 23.3 grains of N135 into my .223 cases, so overall the extra few grains of powder in the big scheme of things it's not many pennies considering the other costs involved with shooting.

Depends if your an OAP or not. There is 7.7 pence/ round difference in cost of powder between a K hornet and a regular 222. That's at £45/pound for powder.

 

[Smellydog]

23.3 grains of N135 into my .223

What bullet?
I'm getting 24.5 in my 222 and 50 grn bullets.

 

[Smellydog]

inexpensive to shoot because of the 11 grains of powder

Get some A2400 and it'll run on 10gn.

Get fancy with some shotgun powders and it'll return 22 wmr performance for even less powder.

 

[Bo Diddley]

What bullet?
I'm getting 24.5 in my 222 and 50 grn bullets.

You won't like this but... 60 grain Vmax

 

[25 Sharps]

Depends if your an OAP or not. There is 7.7 pence/ round difference in cost of powder between a K hornet and a regular 222. That's at £45/pound for powder.

What load are you working on for k-hornet?

I’d guess only 6 grains difference between K hornet and .222 with a 53 grain flat based bullet.

The increase in performance, for target shooting, is well worth it.

 

[Smellydog]

Depends if your an OAP or not. There is 7.7 pence/ round difference in cost of powder between a K hornet and a regular 222. That's at £45/pound for powder.

Just stick to standard hornet. Plenty good enough.