22 Hornet Load & Best Use for IMR 3031?

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ryalred

New member
A friend of mine has a Ruger .22 Hornet but doesn't reload. I had told him I would reload ammo for him if he'd pay for the components and the dies. Well, to make a long story short he went to a gun show and purchased bullets, primers, cases and powder, but the powder is IMR 3031, which is not nearly the best powder to use for the 22 Hornet. I'm going to buy another pound of powder better suited for his .22 Hornet and use the IMR 3031 for reloading for one of my other guns. I shoot a .243, .308, .30-30, and 30-06. I have read that the IMR 3031 is very good in the .308.

What to you feel is the best powder for the .22 Hornet shooting a 45 grain bullet? I'm leaning towards Hodgdon's Lil' Gun. Also, which of my calibers would be the better use of the IMR 3031? (We've already tried to swap the powder, but no one will swap because there's a little rust on the can--powder appears OK--and the guy & the gun show are long gone.) :confused:
 
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jmorris

New member
I’ve used 3031 in .223, 308 and 45-70. I had some problems with bridging with .223 so I only use it for rounds with “bigger holes” now.
 
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Prince55

New member
.22 Hornet---

I just bought an old July-August issue of Handloader magazine recently
especially for the article by Layne Simpson on the .22 Hornet.
He had 4 rifles but used a Kimber to fire 222 5 shot groups with various
bullets and powders.
After his tests he said that Winchester 680 and both of the 4227 powders
were best for all around use and accuracy.
He got his best groups by far with those powders and 40 and 45 gr. bullets.
I hope this helps some. It was a Great article as are most from Handloader
Magazine and very detailed.
 
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Ranger61

New member
I load a bit of 22 Hornet. 4227 and Lil Gun both work great. Winchester 680 was great but has been dicontinued. Accurate Arms makes a powder very similar to 680 but I think its called AA 1680. In my Kimber, 680 gives the highest velocity followed by Lil Gun and 4227 is a bit slower. :)
 
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saber9

New member
I have reloaded .22 Hornet for over 30 years and started out using 2400, the original powder used for .22 Hornet from its start. I later switched to WW 680 and it seemed to be better than 2400. I have only a little 680 left and when it is gone intend to go to AA1680, which is supposed to be an exact duplicate of WW680.
 
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Scorch

New member
I loaded 22 Hornet for a few years, and WW296 behind a 40 gr bullet is pure magic.

IMR3031 is a medium burn rate powder. I used to use IMR3031 in 30-30 and 22-250. It will work in 223, 243, 7X57, some 308 and 30-06 loads, 8X57, 35 Rem, and many others. I would say it is NOT for a 22 Hornet.
 
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thallub

New member
"I have read that the IMR 3031 is very good in the .308."

IMR 3031 is a very good powder for the .308 and bullets to 150 grain. My smallest .308 groups are fired with IMR 3031. My favorite deer rifle is a Remington 700 in .30-06. The load that I use is a higher than recommended quantity of 3031 and a 150 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter or 150 grain Sierra BTSP.

BTW: IMR 3031 is also a very good powder for the .223.


2400 is a very good .22 Hornet powder. Ditto for 4227.
 
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gb_in_ga

New member
Way back when, when I had a Winchester 88 in .308, my hunting load was (DuPont at the time) IMR 3031 behind a 150 gr Nosler Partition. Excellent performer. It also works well with .300 Savage.
 
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crowbeaner

New member
I'd go with 4227 or 2400 myself. The Hornet can be very fussy and case life can be short if you overwork the cases. Case head seperations are common, and the touchy attitude of the little buzzer is in the league of the .17 Remington. This is why the K hornet was developed; it gives higher velocity and doesn't have as many case problems. Neat little round, though.
 
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zeisloft

New member
lil gun does good for the hornet too. As for the 3031, it is my only powder for .222. I have tried about everything and 3031 with 52 gn SMKs generally run .3MOA through my CZ. I realize buying a $700 rifle to justift a $20 can of powder is prolly not the answer you want, however I also load it in a .308 and it will usually stay .6MOA or so. Yes, it does need a good tap here and there as do most stick powders in a case that size (.223 dia) but I have not been able to beat it for the .222.
 
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Jon Pieratt

New member
.22 Hornet

I recentlt traded for a .22 hornet Savage this paticular model breaks open and one round at a time is loaded directly into the barrel. I reload for my .45 glock 21sf. I started by taking all my brass to 1.393 because I discovered that it was measuring in at 1.420 + or -.010. I am taking so info off of the hodgon site and I plan to use a .45gn hdy sp with hodgon lilgun in the amount of 12 low to 13 high gr. I would like to be informed before i start with purchases so if this sounds unwise to anyone I would like to hear from you or if you have a rock solid proven method that would be good to here too. Primers are the last question what to use? My brass is Lapua. My goal is to key hole at 100 yards with 80% or 8 out of ten.
 
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Crankylove

New member
WW296 behind a 40 gr bullet is pure magic
Click to expand...

+1


Most of my Hornet loads get W296 or H110 (every now and then I throw in some IMR4227). I find my gun shoots the best, for accuracy, with 40 grain bullets and W296, but for max velocity, the H110 is my go to powder.
 
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Jon Pieratt

New member
Thank-You for posts

I am not fam w/ the .220, I have read about Khornet conversions but I dont convert stuff I'd just buy a k hornet. What is the .220?

Ok next question the T/C Encore w 15 in barrel 40 gr jsp H110 10.5 to 11.0 2265 fps Layman third edition pistol & revolver
May savage w/ 24 in barrel 40 gr jsp h110 10. to 11.2 2795 fps Hadgon reload data
What about pressure and can this load be used in both weapons
 
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p3cwst

New member
3031 too slow

Either H4227 or IMR 4227 is the ticket for the 22 Hornet - about 10 grains with the appropriate 45 grain bullet .223 or .224. WW 680 works well also. My experience is 2400 is good also but dirty. 3031 is excellent in my 38-55, and 308.
 
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