25 in 22 Hornet

Picked it up Sunday 24th it's a 25 Lightweight Varminter in 22 Hornet.
All ready have every thing to reload, set down to check free bore an it's really long. 40gr Nosler to the lands 1.956" , 40gr Sierra 1.963", an 50gr Sierra sp 1.926". I know I may not have to run them that long, but as it stands I can only load to
1.750" C.O.A.L to fit in the mag. If it shoots good there ok, but I don't think .200" jump is going to be the best load.
Is there a mag mod. or has anyone done one for a longer O.A.L on the mag. Just thinking ahead don't want to have to single load.

I know what you are going through. I bought a new to me model 40 single shot around the first of the year,took it to the range and it would not extract,so I brought it to Savage and they replaced extractors.I finally got it to the range 2 weeks ago with the same results, 9 out of 10 cases stuck in the chamber, these were all loaded to 1.720 oal(sierra 45gr.) book spec.
Well shame on me I should have checked seating debth with the Sinclair tool, because when I did I found that it was 1.939 to the lands or 0.219 longer than the specs which I felt was too much. I loaded 50 rounds at 1.900 and went back this past Sunday and 41 of 50 extracted with no problems and one had a case head separation(old brass).
Accuracy not up to par for a Savage so now I am about to try different loads of LilGun at 7.7-8.6 five of each with oal of 1.880. Let you know how it works out.

Went to the range today to give it a try, 5 round each of 40gr Nosler to the lands 1.956" , 40gr Sierra 1.963", an 50gr Sierra sp 1.926" with Lil gun 11.5gr an 10.5gr, they all shot ok the nosler 40gr were the best. Also loaded the same with H110 at 11gr an 10gr, my have been a little to hot showed signs on cases, did not shoot good or ok. Did not have any extraction problems. I think I'll load up some Nosler & Sierra 40gr to fit in the mag an hope they shoot good, did not like the hand feeding them. The rifle is OK maybe it will get better.

for the hornet, 35gr V-max and Lilgun is just the ticket. about 11-12gr of powder per shot goes a long way. The 35gr Vmax is designed for the hornet and it works just right at hornet velocities

Well I am done working up loads for now. I started at 7.6 gr. of lilgun and worked up slowly to 12, some were like a shotgun pattern others were around 2.5" and two of the loads were just a shade under an inch(10.5 & 11 gr.).
Still have cases sticking but not as many,everything was reset, dies, seater and I adjusted seating depth, OAL from 1.900-1.875 and the 1.885 shot the best.
Definately not the Savage accuracy I am used to or was expecting. Now it is decesion time keep it and start this all over after BR season or dump it and buy a model 25.I may even send it back again for the extraction problems or polish the chamber to see if that helps.
Over all nice little gun just not as accurate as I was hoping for, but still 2-3 times better than the Rem. or Ruger I owned in the past.

I just noticed something interesting on my M25 Walking Varminter in 22 Hornet. The Savage web site states it's a 22" barrel.....well, mine is definitely a 24" barrel. Did Savage change the specs on them??

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Originally Posted by Willy

I just noticed something interesting on my M25 Walking Varminter in 22 Hornet. The Savage web site states it's a 22" barrel.....well, mine is definitely a 24" barrel. Did Savage change the specs on them??

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The lightweight varminters have a 24" barrel & high gloss finish. The Walking Varminter is supposed to have a semi-gloss / bead blasted finish & a 22" barrel along with the black stock. Oddly enough I saw a M25 laminate a few weeks ago, vry new production, and it isn't semi gloss. Bolt works smooth though.

Willy is this your 1st 22 hornet? I have a M40 which I love but I want a M25 laminate (or a CZ). I am hoping the M25 would be as accurate or better than the M40.

Yes, this is my first 22 Hornet; hope to take it out in the next week or so and check for shot groupings. Last fall I was grouping about an inch at 100yd.

I have a lightweight Model 25 varminter in 204 with laminate stock and gloss 24" barrel, and I just checked my Model 25 Walking Varminter in 22 Hornet with "dull" barrel and Tupperware stock and it is definitely a 24" barrel....honest, I put them side-by-side, and also measured them....with the same measuring tape! Gotta go check again to see if I'm not seeing something ....

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Originally Posted by Willy

Yes, this is my first 22 Hornet; hope to take it out in the next week or so and check for shot groupings. Last fall I was grouping about an inch at 100yd.

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I haven't had my 40 on paper with Hornady Vmax at 100yd but at 50yd it makes one big hole. At 100yd with other brands it doesn't group that great but is more than capable to whack chucks close to 190yd. Actually at 100yd Remington looks like a buck shot pattern.

Do any of thr reloaders here use a small PISTOL primer in their Hornets-22 or 17??

I use small rifle primer. A good friend of mine told me I might want to use small pistol primers when I was reloading (or was going to reload for) my Raging Hornet. I asked him why since the Hornet was a rifle round and it has never failed to fire with factory loads. He said, good point.

Why do you ask?

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Originally Posted by langenc

Do any of thr reloaders here use a small PISTOL primer in their Hornets-22 or 17??

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I'm using Remington 6 1/2 small rifle in my .17 Hornet.....was told by a Hornady Tech...."works great for the .17" , and they do. Note: ( 6 1/2 s/r primer works great with the .22 Hornet per Tech.)

I tried that small pistol primer idea with about 150 pieces of hornet brass in my Contender pistol, with a light charge of Unique for plinking. DO NOT DO IT!! The cups of small pistol primers are to soft, and crater.

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Originally Posted by tipper999

Picked it up Sunday 24th it's a 25 Lightweight Varminter in 22 Hornet.
All ready have every thing to reload, set down to check free bore an it's really long. 40gr Nosler to the lands 1.956" , 40gr Sierra 1.963", an 50gr Sierra sp 1.926". I know I may not have to run them that long, but as it stands I can only load to
1.750" C.O.A.L to fit in the mag. If it shoots good there ok, but I don't think .200" jump is going to be the best load.
Is there a mag mod. or has anyone done one for a longer O.A.L on the mag. Just thinking ahead don't want to have to single load.

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I wouldn't worry about the "jump" so much. The Hornady 35gr factory load is the shortest stubbiest 22 Hornet factory load and my Savage 40 is deep too however the Hornady will put 3 shots in the same hole at 50yd. This tells me being concerned about getting as close to the rifling isn't as important at least on the 22 Hornet. I can load them as long as I want in the 40 because it is single shot.

I am still trying to get a load that shoots as good as Hornady factory loads.

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Originally Posted by plinkin

I use small rifle primer. A good friend of mine told me I might want to use small pistol primers when I was reloading (or was going to reload for) my Raging Hornet. I asked him why since the Hornet was a rifle round and it has never failed to fire with factory loads. He said, good point.

Why do you ask?

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Sorry so long in getting back. Maybe you have some time now with the weather.

Pistol primers seem to result in a more accurate load for me and others.

A rifle primer starts the bullet moving before the powder gets lit. A pistol-not so much resulting in better accuracy-in the 22H at least. I dont know about the 17. Seems that would be exageratted w/ a rifle vs pistol in the 17.

I do not understand how the primer face being harder started the bullet moving before powder (ignites) however I have to say that Hornady factory 22H ammo shoots extremely accurate for me out of my Savage 40 & I am fairly sure they are using rifle primers.

As far as the weather goes I honestly don't want to work up a few loads and go out into the sub freezing to sub zero weather to test them. Currently I have about 10 rifles (including another new B.Mag) & 3 scoped handguns that need zeroed and it is to cold for me. I am missing out on some prime squirrel hunting because of this.

I use the recommended sr primers when loading for my M-25 .17 Hornet. They all go bang with no issues and the rifle is very accurate.

Dave

For accuracy info and load data: http://www.savageshooters.com/showth...geddon-Bullets

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Originally Posted by davemuzz

I use the recommended sr primers when loading for my M-25 .17 Hornet. They all go bang with no issues and the rifle is very accurate.

Dave

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Are you still loading those Noslers or did you go back to the Berger 25gr? I finally received my Hornady 17H die set last month & some 25gr Hornady Vmax the month prior.

Plinkin....I still have a quantity of both. But if you look at the link in my previous post in this link, the Noslers group better than the Bergers....at least from my rifle. And that was just using H-335. Since deer season came in, I've ignored any further load development.....but it won't be long until that will change.

Dave

I have the M25 22 Hornet with the laminate stock. For C.O.A.L. I simply took a 5/32 round chain saw file while pushing down the mag spring with a butter knife a filed a slot in the front of the mag to allow me to load three cartridges of 40 gr. V-Max out to 1.880. If I remember correctly I'm .030 of the lands. Currently the gun is at Savage for repair due to sticking cases and failler to extract and or eject

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Originally Posted by buddyb

I have the M25 22 Hornet with the laminate stock. For C.O.A.L. I simply took a 5/32 round chain saw file while pushing down the mag spring with a butter knife a filed a slot in the front of the mag to allow me to load three cartridges of 40 gr. V-Max out to 1.880. If I remember correctly I'm .030 of the lands. Currently the gun is at Savage for repair due to sticking cases and failure to extract and or eject

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You REALLY don't want to load that bullet out that far. Forget about how much of a jump it has. I know this goes against everything you may have heard or read but in my Savage 40 22 Hornet the absolutely most accurate round in the Hornady 35gr Vmax factory load. It is also the shortest of the factory loads I have seen. Randomly checking them for OAL I find they differ yet with the current scope they all land in the same hold at 50 yards.

Trying to load that short bullet out that far you have a greater change of the bullet hitting the lands off center than if it has to jump .200"

If you were loading 55+ grain pills then load them long. Don't take my word for it though, buy some Hornady 22H & try it yourself. I am still trying to get a load worked up that shoots that good. Hoping the weather breaks so I can put some loads together & try them out in both the 40 & the 25 along with the BMag

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Originally Posted by langenc

A rifle primer starts the bullet moving before the powder gets lit. A pistol-not so much resulting in better accuracy-in the 22H at least.

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Correct.

Rocky Raab has preached using a pistol primers or Rem 6-1/2s in the 22 Hornet for years. The necks of Hornet brass is so thin maintaining any sense of consistent bullet tension is next to impossible. As a result using a SR primer may send a bullet into the bore, on the lands or at least partially forward in the neck before the powder is ignited or 100% consumed.

The "cure"? Use a SP primer and crimp the bullets with a Lee Factory Crimp die. The SP primer doesn't have the "oomph" of a SR primer and the crimp prevents bullet movement for a more consistent powder burn.

You can read one of Rocky's posts here > http://www.huntchat.com/showthread.php?t=32813

Bill

I have loaded the Hornet since the mid-1990's, very fussy little round to load but lots of fun to shoot. I know this is a Savage forum, but my Hornet is a Ruger #3. Anyway, my best load is the Hornady 40 grain V-Max, 12.7 grains Li'l Gun and CCI or Remington primer at 1.835 OAL. I neck size the fired brass and use a factory crimp die as a last step. My point here is the factory crimp die loads are the ticket. On the other hand this gun will not shoot factory ammo worth a darn. My best three shot group with this load on a 70 degree fall afternoon (2013) (no wind) in South Carolina measured .225" at 90 yards. However, I have never been able to duplicate the group since. Average grouping is in the 5/8" range at 90 yards. The 1.835" OAL is approximately a .050" jump in my Ruger. I am giving serious thought to locating a Model 40 in .22 Hornet and develop it. Thanks, and pardon me for being so long winded.