.22 Hornet (Speer Reloading Manual #14)

The Speer Reloading Manual #14 provides a robust selection of handloads for the .22 Hornet, carefully developed using modern components and pressures suitable for today’s stronger rifle actions. This edition focuses on using Speer’s own bullets, paired with a range of suitable powders, and includes both traditional jacketed soft points and TNT hollow points.

Load data was generated using Winchester brass and CCI 400 small rifle primers, ensuring a consistent baseline across testing. For the 40-grain Speer TNT HP, powders such as Lil’Gun and H110 delivered standout velocities and tight groups. With Lil’Gun, maximum charges reached over 2,800 fps—one of the fastest achievable loads for this bullet weight in the Hornet without excessive pressure signs.

Speer’s 45-grain soft point, a more traditional hunting bullet, showed excellent performance with powders like IMR 4227 and 2400. These mid-range powders produced smooth ignition and balanced pressures, making them suitable for older rifles like the Winchester Model 43 or Ruger 77/22 Hornet, while still yielding velocities between 2,400 and 2,600 fps.

For 50-grain bullets, such as the Speer JSP, performance was slightly lower in terms of velocity but offered great downrange energy and penetration. Accuracy remained solid, especially when paired with H110 or AA1680, which provided repeatable groups in the 1.0–1.25 inch range at 100 yards.

One notable point in the manual is its specific caution against using rifle loads in early Hornet pistols or break-action firearms, which may not be designed to handle the higher pressure figures shown in modern data. Users are encouraged to confirm firearm strength before proceeding.

The Speer #14 manual remains a trusted source for reloaders working with the .22 Hornet, providing tested, well-documented loads across a variety of shooting needs—from varmints to target applications. Each charge weight is accompanied by full pressure, velocity, and test barrel data, giving handloaders the confidence to fine-tune safely and effectively.