.22 Hornet Data

.22 Hornet Data

The **.22 Hornet Data** presented in Handloader Issue #209 – February, 2001 provides a comprehensive overview of load tests, accuracy evaluations, and comparative performance in modern rifles using contemporary components. The feature demonstrates how the Hornet, though a classic cartridge, continues to perform well with modern powders and bullets when load development is done precisely.

In this issue’s data, multiple rifle configurations were tested using bullets from roughly 35 to 55 grains. Powders such as IMR-4227, Lil’Gun, H-110, and W-296 appear prominently in the load tables, chosen for their clean-burning characteristics and compatibility with Hornet’s modest case volume. Several loads in the data reach velocities in the mid-to-upper 2,700s fps, depending on barrel length and bullet weight.

The article also discusses component variables: the influence of bullet seating depth, brass uniformity, neck tension, and primer choice on accuracy and pressure behavior. It shows how small increments in powder charge or seating depth can shift group centers or velocity extremes—especially in rifles with tighter chamber tolerances. The piece recommends that reloaders log every detail and use chronographs to refine loads rather than relying solely on maximum published values.

Ultimately, the data from Handloader #209 reinforces the enduring utility of the .22 Hornet. With careful attention to consistency, component selection, and methodical load development, this cartridge continues to reward handloaders who seek reliable precision in a mild-recoiling package.

Source: Handloader Issue #209 – February, 2001