I have a Rugar #3 Hornet that I am haveing trouble getting it to shoot a decent group. I have tried scores of different bullets and powder combinations. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting it to shot straight?

I have a Rugar #3 Hornet that I am haveing trouble getting it to shoot a decent group. I have tried scores of different bullets and powder combinations. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting it to shot straight?

First step in anything is to start with a clean bore...really clean, no jacketed fouling allowed.

More than other calibers, the .22hornet really reponds to the small things in reloading...would definatly sort my brass even if it's the same headstamp. Trim the cases to a uniform length first. Prefer to sort by VOLUME, but sorting by WEIGHT is easy. Keep the cases grouped by weight class (colored marks-a-lot on the head will help).

Even inside weight grouped cases, if you notice the powder charge is visually too low, or too high, check that case a seocnd time...if still shows a volume difference, put that case to the side.

Small changes in powder charge have a larger effect....2/10th is a larger percentage of the total hornet charge; 2/10th variation in a 30-06 would pass un noticed.

Worth it to try various primers as well...and small magnum pistoil primers are also worth a try.

Seathing depth...try getting the bullet as close to the rifling as possible...it's a single shot, so you have no magazine worries. Keep to the 40gr. and 45gr. bullets designed for the Hornet...if you get them to work right, can branch out to other bullets, but it's hard to fault the accuracy of the little 40gr. Sierra or 40gr. Speers.

Being a #3, it's going to have some fore end pressure issues. To start, I'd put the bag under the front of the ACTION and let the fore end hang in the air. Then try some groups with the forend bagged normally. Do it again with the barrel band taken off the stock. Have been known to take the forend off completely as a test.


For a variety of reasons, the Ruger hates to have it's intenal parts dirty/sticky. Rather than take the action apart (which can be done, but isn't as easy as it looks), take the buttstock and fore end off soak the action in solvent (mineral spirits works and it's hard to catch yourself on fire with it)..bush...operate the block a few times...soak...bursh... operate the block a few times...etc. Once the mineral spirts is running off clean, either blow it out or let it dry natually, and apply a very SMALL amount of lube.

Other than those, the other advice is that it's been a lot easier to get good accuarcy at 2500fps than at max. loads...not that you can't get there, but it's nice to know before hand that the rifle can shoot well before attempting the hi-pressure loads.

You don't mention what size group your getting. If its one to one and half inch group size then that's par. The hornet is not a sub minute of angle gun in the accuracy department. There are some guns capable of this but on the average most are not. The No. 3 had a short barrel and you will have problems there as most guns getting good accuracy will have barrels in the 600mm or 24" length range. This is one caliber that length does make a huge difference. I found out by accident one day while shooting over my chrony. Factory loads varied from 1250 fps to 2555fps from a 20" barrel. This was a ten round string. It made me aware of this problem and I have noticed it many times since while PD hunting. I wonder if some of the initial bad press the hornet got for throwing bullets all over the place might be related to this.

1 1/2" groups were about par for the one I had. Ribbonstone is on the right track!

May be able to beat the 1 1/2MOA limit, but there is a reason .22hornets aren't in the top 10 at benchrest shoots. 1MOA is a reasonable goal...most rifles can come close to this, but it's easier to find this kind of accuracy at 2400-2550fps.

One that has never been all that fast, but has shot well in several hornets has been 10.5 to 11.0gr. IMR 4227 and any quality 40gr. bullet (and even though they are "stumpy" the little 40gr. Speer is a good choice...as is the 40gr. Sierra). Only looking at 2550 to 2650fps...but it it doesn't group well with this load, would start mechaincal tweaking.

In a hunting rifle, you either run out of power or you run out of accuracy. Power wise, not too pleased with the .22 hornet's perfomance past 200 yards. Given that range limit, and that the little critters shot at have about a 1.5 to 2" kill area, to make power and accuracy balance out, .75-1MOA would be about right.

IF you have a 1.5MOA .22horent, I generally stay withint 150-165yards. Basically, run out of accuracy a little bit before running out of bullet performance.

IF you finnaly got a 1/4MOA .22hornet, it would be fun to play with and shoot targets, but the range would still be limited to 200yards for good bullet performance.

Thanks for the info, did not get back sooner because had to take my son to the Jr. Olympics in Colorado. I would be more than happy with a 1 1/2 inch group, right now I think my shotgun has a tigther pattern!