SmallCaliberCentral

I am just before ordering a Redding Full Length Die Set #80362 in .22 K-Hornet so the stripped size die can to go to Grants Pass, Oregon with my 21” .22LR Contender barrel that is to be re-chambered. There will likely be a long wait involved but in the end it should be worth it.

Rather than shoot factory loaded Hornet to get formed K-Hornet brass I want to load new Hornet brass but have so far been unsuccessful at rounding up my old regular Hornet dies. So for my possibly stupid question:

Is there any reason why I shouldn’t be able to use the K-Hornet dies to true the necks of new unfired Hornet brass or to seat the bullets?

Also, the guy doing the re-chamber reports: “My favorite of all for prairie dogs especially is a 20" K-Hornet I made with a .223" groove, 1-16" twist .22 LR barrel, and the bullet it shoot best is the .224" Sierra 40 gr. HP, not a "Hornet" bullet.” I assume this to be the Sierra #1385 and will be among the first I tinker with. For any of the .22 K-Hornet fans out there especially if using a converted rimfire Contender, care to share your reloading experience?

Thanks,
George

RoadKill: No reason whatever why you can't use your K-Hornet sizer to fix the necks of new unfired Hornet brass.......I've seen myself do it many times. Although you'll be happier when you find your old Hornet dies. If I'm working up a new batch of 100 Hornet cases in preperation for fireforming to "K", I always use Hornet dies for the initial loading. It's also best to use a Hornet seater too, but the "K" seater can be used in a pinch. (I use my Redding K-Hornet Comp Seating Die for both calibers)

Can't comment much about the .223" dia barrel and various bullets, every barrel is a rule unto itself. Both Sierras and Noslers work well in both of mine, but when it comes time to choose a K-Hornet bullet, try the new Barnes 30gr Varmint Grenade. In my 16-twist Browning Low Wall K-Hornet (at 3,400 fps), it would launch a ground squirrel a foot in the air at 250 yards, and give very impressive terminal performance with excellent accuracy to boot. I would think it would be a good performer in your .223" barrel.

Below: 204 Handload w/Nosler 32gr BT (SAMMI OAL), 22 K-Hornet w/Nosler 45gr Hornet, 22 Hornet w/Barnes 30gr Varmint Grenade (VERY explosive in the K-Hornet!)



Performance on rock chucks is not bad either. This one was taken with my K-Hornet last April:



The 40gr Sierras, all versions, along with the other poly-tipped 40's will all work, but for work inside of 250 yards with a K-Hornet, the 30gr Barnes VG is sure a hoot on hair.

Thanks Rick. I have the 36 grain Grenades in the ‘cart’ but it’s still waiting on the GO button and easy to fix. Was your Competition Seater a “custom” order? I’m not seeing it listed at Sinclair. The micrometer is fine but fumble finger friendly gets the money. I know where my old dies are supposed to be. My good (?) friend still hasn’t gone to his basement for a look see.

Your Oregon neighbor says he has had excellent results rechambering TC .22LR to .22 WMR or either of the Hornets including his own “favorite”. I have a hard time deciding so it will probably have to be the 14” and other 21” both getting the K-Hornet with 11 deg. crown and my ‘reject’ 21” just gets .22 WMR. Got to cheap out somewhere but I still get three TC factory barrels done rite for about the same as a single custom, so long as I don’t mind a wait. Should give me time to gather all the other $tuff. The .223 Rem. barrels have seen nothing but factory food and I’m still collecting for the Remington .204R too.

For powder, based on nothing more than the listed velocity shown in the manuals, A1680 and Lil’Gun are waiting in the cart. This is also subject to change pending any further love and/or hate response. Contender shooters or not let me have it. The only weird vs. bolt guns is the springy action and the need to ‘bump’ the shoulder back to maintain your desired headspace. This is easy to check with your barrel being the gauge and a few simple tools. I wish it were that easy watch in bolt guns.

George