.22 Hornet Loading Data

.22 Hornet Loading Data

The **.22 Hornet Loading Data** featured in Handloader Issue #9 – September, 1967 provides vintage-era benchmarks for the cartridge, illustrating how handloading practices and components have evolved while still retaining the core principles of safe development. This early data offers historic perspectives on bullet weights, powders, and velocity expectations that remain valuable for comparison in modern development.

In the 1967 loading tables, bullet weights ranging from 35 to 50 grains are tested with propellants of that era—such as IMR 4198, Hercules 2400, and Winchester 296. While velocities are modest by today’s standards, the performance aligns with what shooters of that time considered optimal for varmint work and light game hunting. Many of these loads remain a solid starting point for enthusiasts aiming to replicate era-specific behavior.

The article emphasizes the importance of consistent brass prep, accurate powder measurement, and cautious incremental load increases even for these older recipes. It notes how small changes in seating depth or bullet jump can significantly affect point of impact and group size. In the context of the mid-20th-century reloading tools, this early data applied generous safety margins.

Though modern powders and bullets have expanded the Hornet’s effective range and precision potential, the loading data from Handloader #9 remains a reference point for understanding how the cartridge was utilized during its formative years. For reloaders seeking historical context or trying to develop ammunition compatible with vintage rifles, these tables are a valuable bridge between old and new practices.

Source: Handloader Issue #9 – September, 1967