.22 Hornet (Raging Hornet)

.22 Hornet (Raging Hornet)

The “Raging Hornet” is an enhanced variant of the .22 Hornet — essentially a tuning approach or wildcat-style loading that pushes the cartridge a step beyond typical velocities while striving to keep pressures manageable. In Handloader Issue #213 – October, 2001, the Raging Hornet is detailed with load experiments showing how far the classic Hornet case can be optimized with modern powders and precise component matching.

In the article, the author tests higher-pressure loads using refined bullets and “fast but clean” propellants to squeeze extra velocity out of the Hornet. Bullet weights in the test range from the mid 35’s to lighter 40’s, often in hollow-point or polymer-tip designs. The emphasis is on maximizing energy and flat trajectory without excessively shortening barrel life or producing unusable pressures.

One of the major points made in the piece is how critical seating depth, neck tension, and brass preparation become when pushing the Hornet. The Raging Hornet test loads show that changes of just 0.005" in seating depth can shift point of impact and pressure behavior — making methodical ladder testing essential. The article notes that some of the higher loads in the experiments approached the limits of factory tolerances in older rifles, so caution is strongly recommended.

While details differ by rifle, the Raging Hornet loads demonstrated that the Hornet case still has headroom when modern powders are applied carefully. In custom rifles with good barrels and tight chambers, those tested loads achieved small gains in velocity and comparable accuracy to standard Hornet loads — giving shooters an edge in flatter trajectories and slightly extended effective range.

However, the article also reminds readers that these enhanced loads come at a cost: increased throat wear, more frequent cleaning, and a narrower margin for variation in components. The “Raging Hornet” is not a load set to casually adopt in any Hornet rifle — it’s for advanced reloaders comfortable with pressure work and chronograph validation.

Source: Handloader Issue #213 – October, 2001