Hi, new shooter here!
I have been shooting 40/45 gr bullets in my Ruger 77/22 Hornet (.224) and did ok with Lil'Gun at 10 to 13 (Max)gr's I have a load of 55gr Hornady SP's that I want to use, and was wondering what load to go with. I am new to all this, and wish to keep things safe. I thought that I would have to reduce the load with a heavier bullet, but I'm told that I should be ok with the same loads? Could anyone give me guidance on this please? I understand that 55 gr is about as heavy as I can go with the 77/22 ? I am just target shooting at the moment, with a bit of varminting now and again. I'm a newbie to shooting, and would like to get into the target thing more.
Thanks,
Chopsmate.

Welcome to the forum.

I don't load the Hornet, and Hodgdon doesn't list data for 55 grain bullets.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/22hornet.php

I can not recommend using 45 grain bullet data with a 55 grain bullet. Pressure will be higher, possibly dangerously high. One other thing. Your barrel twist may not be fast enough to stabilize a 55 grain bullet. There's a number of Hornet shooters here who can tell you what will work.

Bye
Jack

Welcome to the forum.

I don't load the Hornet, and Hodgdon doesn't list data for 55 grain bullets.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/22hornet.php

I can not recommend using 45 grain bullet data with a 55 grain bullet. Pressure will be higher, possibly dangerously high. One other thing. Your barrel twist may not be fast enough to stabilize a 55 grain bullet. There's a number of Hornet shooters here who can tell you what will work.

Bye
Jack


Think Ruger used a 1:14 twist on their 77/22, which might be enough to spin 55gr. at the speeds a .22Hornt case can produce. Might not...it's close...sharp pointed spitzers with boat-tails tend to be long for their weight, and some may be too long to spin even though they are 55gr....while a plain base bullet may work fine at the same weight. Really is on the heavy end for the .22hornet; wouldn't bother trying if the twist was slower than 1:14.

Nope..haven't used that powder...so can't give advice on charge weights. DO know that the heavier bullet will increase pressure over the lighter weight bullet, so using the same charge you used with 45gr. doesn't seem wise (unless it was a very low pressure loading for the .45gr. bullet). With other powders, is a 10-15% reduction in charge when going from 45gr. to 55gr., so supect that ratio would hold true in this case as well.

Even in a strong rifle, the limting factor is the thin .22hornet case...it's made for 40K pressure, and won't last long if ushed much past that...and a ruptured case, even as small as the .22hornet, can raise serious trouble with a rifle (and the shooter behind it).

I know that Lil'Gun is a very, very low pressure powder...as shown in the Hodgdon data list. ie. 45gr HDY SP bullet...H4227,9.8 gr...42,000 cup.
H110 10.4 gr...43,000 cup.
LiL'gun 13 gr...31,000 cup.
That seems very low. The 55 gr sp is a plain based bullet, (shortish) But I'm a novice, and will listen to advice. My rifle is about 5 years old.
Chopsmate

I know that Lil'Gun is a very, very low pressure powder...as shown in the Hodgdon data list. ie. 45gr HDY SP bullet...H4227,9.8 gr...42,000 cup.
H110 10.4 gr...43,000 cup.
LiL'gun 13 gr...31,000 cup.
That seems very low. The 55 gr sp is a plain based bullet, (shortish) But I'm a novice, and will listen to advice. My rifle is about 5 years old.
Chopsmate

1:14 twist should spin a flat based 55gr....can't promise accuracy, but the bullet holes in paper should be round and not keyholes.

People do seem to like Lil'Gun. Been a Hornet fan for a long time, am happy with the loads I use...but if for some reason decide to work up a new one, will proably give Lil'Gun a try.

Proably not pushing my Hornets past 33K...generally, look for good accuracy and long case life and not sweat the max. loads. Nothing is going to make a .223 out of a .22Hornet, so if it can't be pushed to the next "weight class" I generally don't.

Thanks for that Ribbonstone, I was put onto Lil'Gun by a number of Hornet shooters who said it was a
Revelation for that caliber. One guy I have just spoken to says I couldn't get enough Lil'gun in an hornet case with the 55 gr bullet to cause any pressure problems!!?? I must say that i have been impressed with it, and have loaded with 13 gr behind a 45 gr Nosler ? Compressed, with no problems at all in cases that have been loaded 4 times. But with 55 gr bullets I just didn't know. I think I will try with around 10 grains, and take it from there. I agree about looking for accuracy and long case life, and the Lil'gun has certainly been helping with that aspect.
What do you use? i.e. bullet/powder /load, and what do you shoot?

Each gun seems to have it's likes and dislikes, with the Hornet that seems esp. true. The current one likes the 40gr. Speer and either H4227 or H-110.

With some effort, shortened a mold so it casts 45gr. plain ased fFN bullets. Not real useful of high velocity, but for dupicating .22LR or .22WRF ballistics, it's working great.

Guess that's all I really want from a .22Hornet...40gr. Jacketed at 2700-2800fps and cast bullets at 1300-1500fps. IF that can't get the job done, will reach for a bigger gun.

From the 2006 annual manual :
bullet 55 gr HDY SP
LG 12 gr 2551 fps 39400 psi
13 gr 2652 fps 42900 psi
PLEASE CHECK FOR TYPO'S BEFORE USING DATA FROM THE NET!!!
In my NEF with a 50 grain bullet 12.5 gr of LG went into .75 in @50 yards and 13 grains looked like apoor buckshot pattern. Start at 12 and approach slowly.
The Nef has a 1 in 14 twist and seemed to stabalize the 50 grain cast pills at least to 50 yards.

Have a Ruger 77/22 that came with a .22 Mag barrel. Replaced that with a Green Mountain heavy fluted barrel chambered in .22 Hornet.

My best loading has been the 35 gr Hornady A-Max over 13.0 gr Li'l Gun and a BR4 primer in W-W brass. Chrono's right at 3000 fps and is easy on the barrel.

Have a Ruger 77/22 that came with a .22 Mag barrel. Replaced that with a Green Mountain heavy fluted barrel chambered in .22 Hornet.

My best loading has been the 35 gr Hornady A-Max over 13.0 gr Li'l Gun and a BR4 primer in W-W brass. Chrono's right at 3000 fps and is easy on the barrel.

kdub am i reading this right? you took a 22 mag ruger and replaced the barrel with a green mountain barrel in 22hornet and that's it?? you went from rimfire to centerfire without changeing bolts ? i didn't know the hornet had the easy swap barrels like the rimfire models do but then again i have never looked at one or shot one (ruger .22 hornet).
what about the bottom trigger gard assembly and mag well liner, they the same for a hornet?

Upps, your're right Jim - I've got two 77/22 Rugers. One is the .22 Hornet and the other came as a .22 Mag. The Green Mountain barrel is in .17 HMR chambering.

I keep telling everyone my gunsafes are so full I can't keep track of things and they need to be emptied out so I can see what's in there! :eek:

Sorry for the confusion!!