Quiet load for the 22 Hornet.

[FT3CrowCall]

Hey guys,

I want to get into reloading my cz 527 22 Hornet.
Does a rather ‘ quiet ‘ load/powder exist for the 22 Hornet?
Anyone has experience with that?
The 22 Hornet is the min calibre we can use for hunting where I live, moderators and rimfires are forbidden here.
Targets are mainly fox and Egyptian geese, shots are between 50 and 80 meter on average, max. 100 meters.
Had some complaints about noise before in a certain area where I hunt with the 222 rem, which is ithe reason I bought the Hornet.
Would appreciate your thoughts.

Sam.

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

Hi Sam, I have no experience with the hornet however, it is possible to create a subsonic load with 50 or 55gn projectiles. I would personally be using these at the near end of your range especially for fox.

Once you break the sound barrier, you might as well revert to your 222.

 

[Smellydog]

You will still make a noise even if you go subsonic.
Ignore the complaints if you are legal.

If you want to try and reduce some noise try a slow shotgun powder like alliant blue dot but be very careful not to double charge! And don't go over 8gn!
I use to load 7gn of blue dot in hornet.
Keep all the primed cases upside down before charging.

 

[markyw]

Slightly different question, but could you not have downloaded the .222 Rem to where you needed it to be?

Regards

Mark

 

[FT3CrowCall]

Thanks for all the replies, I love different trying different calibres and I just bought this week a seoond hand reloading kit and ordered some Lil gun and 35 Vmax bulletheads based on the good reviews here. If all goes well I can start with reloading within 14 days.
, when the powder comes in.
Is Lil gun a good powder for reduced and quiet loads?

 

[Smellydog]

Is Lil gun a good powder for reduced and quiet loads?

Don't think so.
Ask Google and you'll get plenty info.

 

[Smellydog]

You are being redirected...

 

[FT3CrowCall]

Super interesting

 

[kenbro]

Slightly different question, but could you not have downloaded the .222 Rem to where you needed it to be?

Regards

Mark

Come come, markyw…..
if he did that he would have missed the pleasure of getting another rifle!
Need one, or not. .
Kb.

 

[B&W FOX]

Lilgun does not give sub sonic loads. It's a fast powder for full power loads.

 

[FT3CrowCall]

Any other powders for quiet loads apart from Blue Dot

 

[FT3CrowCall]

Any other powders for quiet loads apart from Blue Dot ?

 

[angusb1]

When I looked at the hornet for subsonics I thought it probably wouldn't work due to the slow twist most hornets have, often 1:14, likewise with the .222. I have been trying to work up a subsonic load with my 1:8 twist .223 but not managed it yet

 

[Smellydog]

Universal clays was mentioned in that web page I put up for you.

 

[Smellydog]

often 1:14,

Most hornets are 1:16" as is this cz.
22 LR is the same.
Your issue is not the twist.

 

[Smellydog]

The most common issue with reduced loads not working is using to slow a powder.
Poor ignition arises and velocity and pressure curves are all over the place.
By using a fast powder but little of it that lights up easily improves things in the breech and the barrel harmonics settle down.

 

[angusb1]

Most hornets are 1:16" as is this cz.
22 LR is the same.
Your issue is not the twist.

I looked at the fill % of the cartridge and it has to be very low to get a lighter bullet to be subsonic with fast burn pistol powders like N310. A heavier bullet means you can use more powder but a slow twist won't stabilise the heavier bullet. I also found measuring very small amounts of powder consistently is difficult. I've not given up yet but I haven't had much luck so far. I've got a quieter load that works ok in my .223 but not managed to get a subsonic one yet. I'm not saying it can't be done, just that I thought it would be difficult in a hornet and it has been so in my .223. I haven't tried magnum primers yet though.

 

[Smellydog]

It's a fast powder for full power loads.

You have that the wrong way around.
For any full power load, relative to case capacity , bullet type, bullet weight the slower powder is used.
It's slow in that it developes peak pressure over a longer period than a fast powder. Progressively propelling the bullet.
Faster powder does not mean it produces high velocity. It simply means it peaks quicker.
So using to much can become dangerous!!

Faster powders usually ignite easily which is good when very little case capacity is used.
In essence we give the bullet a little kick with faster powders but then want to stop pushing.

Trying to do that with slower more progressive powders is to wrong approach.
Once more, be careful. A double dose by accident will definitely get your attention!

 

[Smellydog]

I looked at the fill % of the cartridge and it has to be very low to get a lighter bullet to be subsonic with fast burn pistol powders like N310. A heavier bullet means you can use more powder but a slow twist won't stabilise the heavier bullet. I also found measuring very small amounts of powder consistently is difficult. I've not given up yet but I haven't had much luck so far. I've got a quieter load that works ok in my .223 but not managed to get a subsonic one yet. I'm not saying it can't be done, just that I thought it would be difficult in a hornet and it has been so in my .223. I haven't tried magnum primers yet though.

I'd recommend a flake type shotgun powder.

The powder you have is for a small case and a heavier bullet.
A flake shotgun powder has to work in a large volume space quite quickly.
In a roundabout way your 223 case has a large volume to the charge rate for a low velocity loading.

I get around sub sonics loads with just 6gn of herco, green dot and red dot just breaking sound with a huge range of bullets in my 30-30.

Paradoxically I remember loading hornet with way to slow a powder. Something like blc2 and h414.
Woefully to slow a powder for hornet and woefully inefficient. A case full of blc2 would be like 22 wmr performance and the 414 was like 22hv but very very messy. They just could not get pressure up.

 

[angusb1]

I'd recommend a flake type shotgun powder.

The powder you have is for a small case and a heavier bullet.
A flake shotgun powder has to work in a large volume space quite quickly.
In a roundabout way your 223 case has a large volume to the charge rate for a low velocity loading.

I get around sub sonics loads with just 6gn of herco, green dot and red dot just breaking sound with a huge range of bullets in my 30-30.

Paradoxically I remember loading hornet with way to slow a powder. Something like blc2 and h414.
Woefully to slow a powder for hornet and woefully inefficient. A case full of blc2 would be like 22 wmr performance and the 414 was like 22hv but very very messy. They just could not get pressure up.

Thanks very much for this advice. Much appreciated. I will have a look at these flake shotgun powders.