Just purchased a 10" 22 hornet octagonal barrel for my Contender. I had previously read that it may not stabilize bullets heavier than 50 grains, and well....that appears to be the case.

I loaded up some Sierra 53gr FBHP and Hornady 55gr FBSP and the results weren't that great.....hard to get even 6" shot grouping at best @ 50 yards. My load was 4.5gr W231 with CCI 400 primers. I have read elsewhere this is a valid silhouette load for the 22 hornet and folks using it were getting good results with it.

I have some Sierra 45gr spitzers on the way and would like to know your opinion on a good load to use for these that will take down the rams and at the same time not smack me in the face when using the taco hold with my scope.

Thanks for your input, folks.....

I use a T/C factory bull profile 22 hornet barrel. The twist rates must be different between bull and octagonal. I like most other guys use 55grain bullets and 9 to 10 grains of IMR4227. Groups are real good.

Check out this article for lighter bullets in the hornet.
http://www.lasc.us/RangingShot22Hornet.htm

I have been using 55g pills as well. The accuracy is not quite there, the 45g factory ammo is better. I am now on a search for that right pill unless the barrel has been shot out.

Hosspower wrote:I use a T/C factory bull profile 22 hornet barrel. The twist rates must be different between bull and octagonal. I like most other guys use 55grain bullets and 9 to 10 grains of IMR4227. Groups are real good.

Check out this article for lighter bullets in the hornet.
http://www.lasc.us/RangingShot22Hornet.htm

Thanks for posting that link, very interesting!

I have several Hornets they all shoot sub moa at 100 yards using 55gr.nosler & VV110 Powder.

Hi
Last winter I ordered another 22 hornet barrel and put a scope on it. I already had a hornet barrel with open sights. I had a bunch of ammo loaded with a 55 gr smp Sierra, 4.5 gr of ww231 and a small pistol primer. This load shot good from my open sight barrel. I took the new barrel and my old ammo and went to the range today to zero the scope and see how the load shot in my new barrel. There was a 20 mph wind blowing so I didn't expect to shoot great groups. I was delighted to find that the load grouped acceptably. This meant that I could use the same load in both of my barrels. Both of these barrels were of later TC manufacture dates. They were packaged new in plastic instead of a box. I tried a TC hornet barrel bought new in the mid nineties that came in a cardboard box. This barrel would not group 55 grain bullets. It shot well with bullets 45 gr and below if you pushed them hard. I got rid of that barrel long ago. It appears that TC changed the twist at some point allowing heavier bullets to be used.

John

Do the cleaning rod test to see what twist your bbl. has, being as it's an older bbl. it may have a 1-14 twist.

BADDOG-0302 wrote:Do the cleaning rod test to see what twist your bbl. has, being as it's an older bbl. it may have a 1-14 twist.

It's definitely a 1/14 twist. Got some 35gr Hornady, 45gr Sierra spitzers, and 50gr Sierra spitzers I'll be trying out soon.