Hornet bullets

[njc110381]

I just had a word with my RFD about some Hornet bullets and he happens to have what I want in stock - Speer 40/45grn SP of the blunt nosed Hornet variety. BUT... They're .223". Now I know old Hornets were barrelled .223" and newer rifles are barrelled .224" like the bigger .22's. I know Speer make both sizes but as he has these in stock I'm tempted to try them.

 

Is the .001" diameter difference enough to be a problem? My CZ isn't that old and I normally use .224" Hornady V-Max but I wouldn't mind trying these. I don't want to buy a box if it's almost certain they won't shoot so has anyone tried these in a newer rifle before? I know we have some quite long standing Hornet owners on here who have been at it for a long time so perhaps I may be able to pick your brains?

 

I'm starting to do more Foxing in some pretty windy places and less bunny bashing I'm considering upping the bullet weight a touch. The 35's work ok but a bit more weight wouldn't hurt. I think I'll try the 40's and see what they're like and then maybe even up to the 45's.

[markbivvy]

40 grn blitzkings or 40 grn vmax for foxes= no runners.

mod the mag, and of you go.

 

Is the .001" diameter difference enough to be a problem

it could be, so is it worth it.

Edited November 6, 2010 by markbivvy

[wymberley]

Hi, my oppo got some by mistake and they made reloading even more of a problem than it already is/can be in a hornet. Accuracy is fine if you fancy your rifle shooting a true cylinder pattern if you get my drift.

Nuff said.

Cheers

[seeker]

My Speer manual of 79 vintage mentions the 223 bullet for early pre-war rifles (assume WWII) and advises 224 for all "modern rifles" ..

[njc110381]

Right, I'll get the .224's then!

 

Mark, How did you modify the mag? Take the plastic block out or grind it back?

[markbivvy]

Right, I'll get the .224's then!

 

Mark, How did you modify the mag? Take the plastic block out or grind it back?

 

take the block out AND grind it back, take of the amount the tips on the rounds stick out past the mag before the block is ground.

(if the tips are 5 mmm to long take the 5 of the mag block)

you will have to alter the bullet ramp as well, the back leg needs to come out the same amount you have taken of the block.

this bit cost me 40 notes for a new mag, pull it out to much and it snaps.

on the new ramp i just drilled a hole in the centre of the lag and put a very small self tapper in.

then ground the head of the self tapper down until it fed the rounds ok.

2 small pins hold the block in, small puch moves em,the material to be taken of Must come of the back of the block as the front has a built it guide on it .

easier to do than explain.

Edited November 6, 2010 by markbivvy

[njc110381]

Ok, thanks. I get what you're saying I think. Grinding the block back means the ramp is then too short. I think instead of bending the ramp I may try to make a longer one myself and keep the old one as a pattern to make more if I mess it up. I'm pretty good with metalwork with hand tools so I recon I can make another ramp easily enough.

 

Before all this I think I may try the round nosed Hornet bullets though. I'll just make sure I stick to the .224" ones!

[Hornet 6]

People say the CZ barrel is a half way size .2235" so either will work.

The magazine follower is very fragile, I bought a second hand one a while back, the follower had one leg snapped off.

I sent it back, but from looking at it I would not try to bend one without heat.

 

Neil.

[willy1]

If using 40gn blitzkings or v-max and you don't want to mod the mag before checking them out,then load singly.That's what I do,there's very few times when a fast second shot is necessary.

 

 

Alan

[markbivvy]

,there's very few times when a fast second shot is necessary.

but if one is needed then your ###.

[willy1]

,there's very few times when a fast second shot is necessary.

but if one is needed then your ###.

 

Agreed,

 

Alan

[njc110381]

I like all my hunting rifles to have a magazine. You have to be able to send a second and perhaps even a third round very quickly if needed. I agree though that if modding a mag it would pay to develop a good load first.

 

The rifle works very well with 35grn V-Max. I just want to play about with something different and I'm happy with all the rifles I have at the minute. I'm feeling the need to change something and the Hornet ammunition is a challenging way to go. I will steer clear of the mag adjustments for now though, simply because I don't really need the better BC of the long bullets at the ranges I shoot at.

[njc110381]

People say the CZ barrel is a half way size .2235" so either will work.

 

Could be worth a try then perhaps? I don't know. I guess £15 isn't the end of the world if they don't shoot is it - in fact I was more bothered about wasting time trying to get perormance from a bullet that's never going to work!

[Hornet 6]

in fact I was more bothered about wasting time trying to get perormance from a bullet that's never going to work!

 

Then just load 11 grains of H110 under a 35 grain V-Max

 

Neil.

[willy1]

Then just load 11 grains of H110 under a 35 grain V-Max

 

Neil.

Or 13gns Lil'Gun under a 35gn V-Max.

 

Alan

[njc110381]

Then just load 11 grains of H110 under a 35 grain V-Max

 

Neil.

 

I shoot the V-Max now and it works a treat. I just want a little more weight - 40-45grns. Don't know what it will do that the V-Max can't, but I just fancy a change!

 

 

Or 13gns Lil'Gun under a 35gn V-Max.

 

Alan

 

Or 12.8... That's what I use now.

[mr smith]

I'm currently using Sierra .224 45gr SP hornet bullets.According to Sierra these are designed for use in the hornet and have thinner jackets to aid expansion in the lower speeds produced by the hornet.I find these work really well and would be happy to carry on using them but will still give the 35gr V-max a go.

Edited November 7, 2010 by mr smith

[njc110381]

How do you find them for ricochets? Do they come back up often if you shoot on flat ground or when it's really dry?

 

EDIT...It's a shame you're so far away, we could have swapped a couple of dozen to save us both buying a whole box!

Edited November 7, 2010 by njc110381

[mr smith]

Haven't used a large amount of them so far about eighty or so,can only remember one whilst shooting down between the beds in a tattie field.

 

When i bought the hornet the guy gave me a load of soft point PPU rounds,the difference between the sierra's and the PPU's as in damage to the target is pretty obvious.The sierra's win hands down.

Edited November 7, 2010 by mr smith

[njc110381]

Perhaps the core in the PPU bullets is harder or the jacket thicker? They run at about 580ft-lbs and 2400fps so are by no means mild?

 

I think their idea might be to make the rounds more suitable for small Deer and similar sized game because the Hornet certainly was a popular Roe round here years ago. Having too much expansion early on would not be ideal for that.

 

The only down side I can see to the heavier bullets is their speed. 35's run at around 3000fps, 40's at 2800 and 45's at 2600. It is comforting to know that you've only had one out of eighty bounce that you can remember because I thought the lower velocity would make them much less likely to break up. I guess 2600fps is still fast enough to smash the bullet up on impact.