.22 Hornet Jacketed Bullet Loads

.22 Hornet Jacketed Bullet Loads

The “Jacketed Bullet Loads” section in Handloader Issue #55 – May, 1975 presents classic handloading recipes using jacketed bullets in the .22 Hornet, emphasizing consistency, moderate pressures, and accuracy with modern-era components. The article underscores how jacketed bullets breathe new life into this vintage cartridge when properly tuned.

In the test data, bullet weights in the 35- to 46-grain range are featured, including soft-point and hollow-point designs. Popular powders such as IMR 4227, H110, and W-296 are paired with those bullets. The loading advice suggests beginning with conservative charges, working up gradually while monitoring velocity and pressure behavior to avoid overreach in this small-capacity case.

The article also highlights the importance of seating depth and neck tension in optimizing accuracy with jacketed bullets. Many loads showed best grouping when bullets were seated just off the lands, allowing uniform ignition and consistent gas expansion. Brass preparation (trimming, deburring, uniform primer seating) received special emphasis, as variability in those areas can degrade precision in the Hornet’s tightly balanced chamber dynamics.

These jacketed loads proved capable of delivering consistent performance in rifles of the era, demonstrating that the Hornet remains effective when loaded with modern bullet types—provided handloaders pay attention to detail. The 1975 article remains a valuable reference for reloaders aiming to blend classic cartridges with modern ballistic materials.

Source: Handloader Issue #55 – May, 1975