.22 Hornet loads in my CZ 527

[HandyAndy]

I have recently acquired a CZ 527 in .22 Hornet. The previous owner had told me the recipe for the loads were lilgun and 35 gr VMAX, however I was unable to get 35gr VMAX, so on checking the load data, I noticed that the lilgun load was a compressed load. Having had issues with compressed loads before I decided to give that a miss. Issues in that when I tried a compressed load in my .243 I was unable to get all the powder in the case.

I have settled for H4198 as it uses 10.5 grains on a 35 and a 40 gr boolit. So having acquired some 36 gr hollow points and some 40 gr VMAX I set to last night and loaded some up. Even with the lesser charge, it was still almost to the top of the rim, only a few mm off, so even this load is a compressed load???

I went up to the range and had issues hitting the paper at 100 yards, after realising that the shots were all low and off to the left. I managed to get some on the sheet, but the groups were not fantastic.

I have since put a case in the breech with a boolit lightly in the end and closed up the bolt on it so that it gives the correct length to the lands. There is quite a jump to the lands from the published OAL in the load data and the length I have measured out today. Only other snag is that the magazine is restricted in what length it will accept. I don't want to be messing about feeding rounds in by hand at night as I will be using it for rabbiting and foxing not to mention a few more uses.

Cutting to the chase I am looking to reduce the powder weight to say 9 grains and make up some more rounds to try out, the thinking being will be to make the round a little faster as the space in the cart should increase the pressure a little.

Has anyone tried a lesser charge in .22 Hornet in this way, with a slightly heavier boolit? How would I go about calculating if the lesser charge was at a safe pressure, is there a formula out there?

[ZAKDINGEL]

Not an answer to your question!!!!!!!!!!!! i have found that using 10grs of vectan sp3 and a 35gr-vmax gave me a thumb nail size group at 90 yards i have also herd that hollow points don't give a very good group???????? but unsure of this as i have never tried them the length of the bullet including the case for me was 43 mm ATB here http://www.peterlawman.co.uk/vectan

[tisme]

My CZ 527 .22hornet has really good results with 13 gr Lil gun 35 gr V max. They are not compressed loads.

Hope it helps

[Tank]

My CZ 527 .22hornet has really good results with 13 gr Lil gun 35 gr V max. They are not compressed loads.

Hope it helps

Same here, well 12.9 to be precise and no, not compressed. Shoots tiny groups at 100yds. Have you tired H110 instead? That's supposed to be a good hornet powder.

[Ruger_shooter]

My CZ 527 .22hornet has really good results with 13 gr Lil gun 35 gr V max. They are not compressed loads.

Hope it helps

Same here, well 12.9 to be precise and no, not compressed. Shoots tiny groups at 100yds. Have you tired H110 instead? That's supposed to be a good hornet powder.

12.5 grn is a compressed load for me so it must be very sensitive to the brass!

[mr smith]

12.5 grn is a compressed load for me so it must be very sensitive to the brass!

I found PPU brass would only take 12.5 gr of lil'gun whereas remington brass would have that with room to spare.

[missfire]

9gn Vit h110 is a go with sierra 40gn hps quiet as well.......

[Tank]

12.5 grn is a compressed load for me so it must be very sensitive to the brass!

I think you're right mate. The quality of the brass does seem to vary vastly.

[HandyAndy]

Thanks for the replies chaps, I will measure the OAL from the bolt face to the lands test I did, then I'll try and make one to the maximum length that the mag will take, this way I will know how far the bullet will have to jump to the lands.

missfire

9gn Vit h110 is a go with sierra 40gn hps quiet as well....... I have noticed that the Lee book states this load should use 10 gr. But if your getting good results with a little less propellant, I will try the same with the H4198. So with that in mind I will try and remake a few with say 9.5 grains.

[Tank]

Thanks for the replies chaps, I will measure the OAL from the bolt face to the lands test I did, then I'll try and make one to the maximum length that the mag will take, this way I will know how far the bullet will have to jump to the lands.

missfire

9gn Vit h110 is a go with sierra 40gn hps quiet as well....... I have noticed that the Lee book states this load should use 10 gr. But if your getting good results with a little less propellant, I will try the same with the H4198. So with that in mind I will try and remake a few with say 9.5 grains.

Will they fit in the mag or will you have to single feed them?

[HandyAndy]

Will they fit in the mag or will you have to single feed them?

Tank

If I made them to say 1 thou off the lands, I would have to hand feed them in. This is why I want to try and find out the longest possible load, to enable me to calculate the jump to lands measurement.

The only other option is to see if the mag will take a modification to allow for a longer round?

Small steps

if all fails its going to be off to get some 35gr vmax and lilgun to replicate the previous owners load.

[Tank]

Tank

If I made them to say 1 thou off the lands, I would have to hand feed them in. This is why I want to try and find out the longest possible load, to enable me to calculate the jump to lands measurement.

The only other option is to see if the mag will take a modification to allow for a longer round?

Small steps

if all fails its going to be off to get some 35gr vmax and lilgun to replicate the previous owners load.

That sounds eminently sensible to me mate. Reloading is great but when you're finding the right load it's a proper pain in the Harris!

[nicholiath]

I have cz 527 and use 13 gn lilgun the secret is to use remington brass as it has the largest case capacity and lilgun generates low pressure compared to other powders anyway also i recommend a light crimp to neck sized brass to aid in consistency of neck pressure.

[HandyAndy]

Well, I have had a measure of the longest AOL that will fit in the magazine and the test gauge I made by closing the bolt on a cart with a loose fitted bullet in the end, it is a staggering 5.53mm between the two. So that to me is a right bloody big jump from the case to the lands? What will stop the bullet from leaving the case twisted and entering the rifling on the skew?

Would it be worth modifying the magazine to remove some of the plastic block in the rear of the mag, then have a new follower bent up a little longer to replace the original one? This way I would be able to load nearer the lands and set a reasonable OAL to further the testing?

Decisions, decisions . . . . . . .

[dryan]

well before you do that just get remmy cases, lil gun and 35grain v max. replicate mr smiths recipe that you know works in the gun, assuming he didny have issues feeding from the mag.

Nice post time