I just "down-load" my .22 Hornet. I use 7.0 Grains of SR-4759 behind a 50 grain bullet. Also, 4.0 grains of UNIQUE with either a 40 or 45 grain bullet works fine too.

 

Similar Davers I would choose to load cast at low velocities in conventional .22 centerfires before I set about persuing a wildcat for such purposes. I'd have to check my notes for the exact load but reddot and a 50 grain cast gave me reasonable accuracy and velocity around 1600 fps. Served well for convincing vermin to seek other residences.

 

Has anyone loaded a 22 Hornet with a cast bullet and Trailboss powder?

 

Is it just me or does this seem to be a bit of over-reaction. Compare the cost and time to load 50 rounds of any center-fire cartridge with purchasing one box of 22 rimfire.

 

Looks like the .22 LR drought may be over, so you have a point. Loading the Hornet for getting 'small meat' instead of blowing up varmints is fun for some, not a chore.

 

There are also 'less Traveled Routes' for RF replacements.
Example: Powder Activated Tool Blanks and Separate Breech Loaded Bullets.
Example: ".25-10 Halsted", a CF Design to replace the ".25 Stevens RF" cartridge.
Example: .22CCM, a CF Cartridge that can be loaded to mimic .22RF performance.

Best Regards,
Chev. William

 

chevwilliam has been working on just such a round for several years. He's the expert on it...

 

Forum member Ranch Dog posted in another thread of his experiments using cast round balls in a variety of handgun cartridges. He's found them to be more effective for varmits than traditional .22 rimfire.

Basically, a case full of Trail Boss and a round ball. Pretty simple.

 

Thanks to bulk buying by multiple shooters 20 years ago, I can load 22K-Hornets cheaper than buying 22LR....even if I could find them for sale.

 

I sold all my 22RFs. I have rifles chambered in 218 Bee, 25-20 Win, and 32-20 Win along with components that will last me a lifetime. As MikeG stated, I started loading round balls in my 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and 480 Ruger leverguns and they are a heck of a lot more effective and fun than the 22s were. I'm doing this for less than 22 ammo costs. There hasn't been 22 ammo where I live since 2008.

The young people that visit find the above much more interesting than banging away with a 22. If they are visiting for a few days they are going to get in on reloading it as well. Once thing that I've noticed once they are involved in the process of putting their rounds together, they simply are not as wasteful at the range and in the field.

 

As MikeG stated, I started loading round balls in my 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and 480 Ruger leverguns and they are a heck of a lot more effective and fun than the 22s were. .

And the rifling intended for a slug works fine on a round ball?

 

I have found that my Marlin 94CL in 25-20 with my hard cast 73gr bullet works great on small game. At 1400 FPS over my chronograph it will drill a clean holes thru a rabbit. Also grate for turkeys when & where legal. I use quenched wheel weight alloy because it is hard & will not destroy small game the way soft nose bullets can. Since I have a lifetime supply of wheel weights I'm set.

As for round balls I have been using them for years thru my 32.20,38/357, 44 & so on. Tons of fun .

 

I am not aware of anything that has the convenience and low cost of .22 Rimfire. For varmints or vermin the .22 mag would be a next choice for me but at 3 or 4x the price. Not bad for hunting but for target shooting the price would be noticeable. Reloading the versatile .22 Hornet is always a good option due to it's ability to be loaded from 1300FPS to 3000 FPS.

 

K Hornet...Unique to Lil Gun with cast bullets works fine and so do jackets ones, but it's hard to beat a brick of cheap LR's a 10-22 and some empty shotgun shells.

You won't need to worry about ammo if H gets in because there won't be any guns left to shoot them in. If we each just convince one liberal not to vote solves the problem... sorry...I digress.

 

I have .22s, 22 mags and Hornets and I'd let the first two calibers go any day of the week but not my Hornet. I own one of the little Browning models that came out years ago….Medallion?…I dunno and I also own a Winchester 1885 in Hornet.

I know that I'll probably hear some rebuttals but I can use the Hornet on anything from squirrels to deer and I've killed a butt load of white tails with mine at ranges under 100 yards. It is a great little round for short distances in the woods. Simply shoot them in the white throat patch or where the head and neck joins and they will drop dead on the spot with no big and bloody mess. I use around 13 gr of Lil Gun and a 45 grain Sierra or some other quality soft point or hollow point, depending upon which rifle I use. But, I lean toward the Winchester….it's just so ****ed accurate.

I don't squirrel hunt but I wouldn't hesitate to use any load on a squirrel….and while I have killed squirrels with my Hornet using body shots with little or no meat destruction I'd rely on head shots.

 

22 K hornet. I have a contender with a 22 K hornet 14 inch barrel. You form the case by firing regular 22 hornet in it (getting surprisingly good group's in the process ) and the case is formed. I also resize that case to 17 hornet with is a nice small game round.
That being said,in lieu of this rim fire mess, I picked up a 22 caliber air force condor ss air rifle that mimics my 22 rim fire at ranges 50 yards and under. Uses a scuba tank to fill the on board air tank and is termed a PCP (pre charged phenumatic ).
This is not a toy and some shoot larger calibers like 45 and 50, capable of downing a deer or larger. There are a few people making custom cast heavy bullets for these air guns down to 22 caliber.
Sorry for the off topic rant away from center fire, but "The times they are a changing. .."

 

Speaking of larger bore air rifles, have you ever looked into the "air rifle" carried by the Lewis and Clarke Expedition? Yes, there was such a thing back then, and it has a fascinating history. Only had one with them, as I read it, but they were very much instrumental in impressing the aboriginal inhabitants, as well as used for camp meat gathering and general hunting. Air guns have come a long way, for a long, long time.

 

22 RF replacment

If you want to just replace 22 RF get a high lend air gun that will work well for squirrel, rabbits and other small game. However if you want to have fun and experiment with a center fire to nearly match RF performance, use a 22 hornet / jet, etc. using Lyman cast bullet manual loads and have fun with some Beartooth light weight 22 cast bullets.

Its not just the cost, its the fun of shooting.

 

30 blackout is real close me i just load my fireball light and use cast bullets and yes it is cheaper than 22 lr.

 

There's an interesting article in the latest BACKWOODSMAN about this. The author references light loads in the 25/20, 30WCF and 357Mag carbines. I have a stock of 148gr wadcutter loads of exceptional accuracy I can use in my 357 Rossi Model '92 clone. Also a stock of 135gr zinc base home swaged bullet handloads that are almost as good.
bob

 

32 the new 22?

I think the 327 federal is the all purpose round for this discussion. The 32 H&R would do as well. My Ruger 327 shoots wonderfully with 32 loads from 32 S&W on up. I know I can load 32 ammo with cast bullets and Unique for a LOT less than current 22lr prices that are around ten cents a round. I just won't pay that. My primer inventory was bought in the past as was my Unique. Using brass I already have I can load 22lr to 22 mag with larger diameter bullets for about three cents a round with home cast bullets.

Now all I need is a rifle in 327 Federal. A single shot would be fine.

Anyone?????

 

Right now, Sportsmen Guide has Geco 22lr pistol $4.27bx. Free ship with $49 order

 

i was looking at a 357 Mag Ruger bolt action, and I have been thinking about asking Savage custom to make a 5.7x28 (they used to make one but it seems to be no more)...

 

Sandbox


Welcome home Josh!

 

. 38 for me.

My favorite plinking replacement is 38 Special. Round ball wadcutter over 3gr Red Dot or 3.5gr 231. Brass lasts forever and I can load a ton in no time. Easier to see the holes in paper and squirrels don't seem to suffer. If you have a .357 rifle just use another half grain in the longer brass. I challenge you to find anything cheaper to shoot. Or easier to find components for.

 

Making my own version of a .22 CF

I've got enough .22LR to last me all day and half of tomorrow, so that's not the reaso. In my web searching found references to a .22 formed from 357 cases, under several names, all basically the same, so load data for one pretty much is load data for all. I'm still gettg the stuff together to form the nrass, cast .225 boolits, and all. Seeing as even slight variations in the finshied round seem to call for a new name for basically the same thing, I'll be coming up with a new name too. Hehehe Once I get a satisfactory round formed and loaded I'll have to make a chamber reamer, which will ba learning experience in itself, to say the least. My proof of concept shooter will be an old single shot shotgun, with a .22 barrel liner. Ovce I get the bugs all worked out, should have no issues just necking to .30, then .32 S&W long to .22 and/or .30. And why you may ask? Simple, 'cause I want to.

 

I've given serious consideration to getting a single action in 38/357 as an alternative plinking round instead of 22. As far as squirrels and such, my flintlock works for that.

Personally I think 38 special is a good substitute, plenty powerful enough for small game, accurate, low recoil/noise, cheap and easy to reload, and components are easy to find. And very, very economical of powder and lead. If you cast it's even easier to feed.

Probably the only reason I haven't invested in a few 38 firearms is it's just about as cheap and easy for me to load 45 colt since I already cast for this. Though it does take a bit more powder and lead, and I haven't tried squirrel hunting with a 45.

 

I never worry about. 22 availability, I have plenty, but even so I have two. 17HMR so no problem. .17HMR are still on the shelves in great supply. Also have a good supply of. 204 and. 223.
By the way, .22 Federal are going for $2.95 /50 here locally. Also spend more on extra magazines for my 10-22 than shells. Bought two 10 round banana mags for $5.00 each. At a LGS. I like them more than the 25 Rounders.

 

It is sad the 22 problem we have been experenceing for the last few years. And other than the 22 actions shoots my Son and I go to. We hardly ever shoot 22`s any more, even tho we have a good supply of 22 LR ammo on hand, that we have bought thru the years. We just shoot our 22Hornets & 218 Bee`s more. I have had a love affair with the Bee and the Hornet and have shot and reloaded for them for the last 50 years. They are great to hunt and plink with, cheap to reload, and supper accurate. So I have just been using them more and more.
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