Loved the Hornet since I was a kid , didn't get one till I was grown . I got a Savage 340 and have owned a few others over the years . Will not be without one . I've killed every kind of varmint found in Tennessee and Alabama with it over the years and two deer . Really don't recommend it as a Deer rifle but both the two I shot were bang/ flop's .
I have one in a Ruger no.1B. It's a fine shooter with Lil' Gun and Magnum rifle primers. It's the opposite approach from years of misleading info about the Rem 6 1/2 primer used in the Hornet. If no one believes me, read the many articles by John Barsness regarding Mag primer in the 22 Hornet. My results match his. If not handloading, Sellier & Bellot is the factory ammo to use.
Anyway, the 22 Hornet is a superb cartridge under 200 yards. Think of it as a 22 Mag Mag.
My dad had a Ruger no.1 that never shot a group that I ever saw. It shot many patterns but no groups. Never found anything it would shoot . Not the only Ruger Hornet I have seen that would not shoot .
My experience with the Hornets and Bee rifles has been that they shoot their best with small pistol primers . I tried many different small rifle primers loading for my 340 and the sr gave 1-1.5 average groups , Switching to sp primers gave 1/2" -3/4" groups average . Pretty much the same in all the others as well as in my m43 Winchester in .218 Bee . The load I use with the sp primer is 12.5 - 13 g of either W680 , AA 1680 , or Little Gun with a 35 grain Vmax . The Ruger is the only rifle I ever shot that would not put that load into a 3/4" or less group off the bench at 100 yards .
in order to make a hornet shoot you need to use rem. #6 1/2 primers. they are made especially for the hornet and the bee. the reason small pistol primers shoot the best is because they are close to the rem 6 1/2 # a small rifle primer is too hot. the flame from it will jump the powder charge and start the launch of the bullet before the charge ignites. the primer makes all the difference in the world,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Marlin Firearms Forum
4M posts
99.4K members
Since 2004
MarlinOwners.com is a community of Marlin Firearm Owners - Dedicated to discussing Marlin Firearms, Marlin Rifles and more. Pictures, help, discussions and more.