Saubier.com  



Go Back   Saubier.com > Saubier.com Forums > Small Caliber Discussion Board

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-10-2021, 04:52 PM
T_the_Tinkerer T_the_Tinkerer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 63
Default New production Winchester 22 Hornet brass: go or no-go?

As the title says, I need some expert opinion on the newer production aka "red label" Winchester 22 hornet brass. I've heard rumors that it isn't good and can split on the first firing. I found a site that has some in stock, along with PPU 22 hornet brass. The PPU, I believe, when K'd will have a hair too little capacity. The WW should be enough, though.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-10-2021, 05:35 PM
TinMan TinMan is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,800
Default

I haven't had to buy any for some time, and generally prefer WW brass in general for my volume shooting needs, but he last time I had to buy new WW brass for my 220 Swift, I loaded a few rounds to do some load development. Those first loads, maybe a quarter of them had several neck cracks on first firings. Obviously, the brass was too hard from the factory. It even felt a bit hard, even on the first sizing. So, I annealed the rest of the brass before sizing and loading it, even the rest of the new brass (500 rounds total). After annealing, all worked great. That has been my practice since then, no matter the caliber. IF it feels too hard on first loading, it gets annealed. It is some extra work, but I do a lot of brass prep for all my brass, and like to get the best life out of it.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-10-2021, 06:33 PM
Bill K Bill K is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N.E. Kommie Kalifornia
Posts: 6,304
Default

In this day and age and the way supplies are short, if you need some hornet brass or want to stock up, then buy it. Don't go with RUMOR, check it out yourself and see if it is true or not.
If you don't like it, someone else will buy it from you.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-10-2021, 09:19 PM
sbranden sbranden is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Middletown, MD
Posts: 87
Default

I switched over to Hornady a while back for my CZ 527 22 hornet and it has been doing very well.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-10-2021, 11:04 PM
T_the_Tinkerer T_the_Tinkerer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 63
Default

Good info, guys. The reason I'm even looking for brass is because I was just finishing fire forming the last of my Remington brass, which I loaded light this time around. All of the brass came out too short OAL, from 1.396" unfired to 1.382" or shorter after FF when I needed 1.385" minimum.

I'll look into the WW brass further. By the way, how do you all anneal you cases?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-10-2021, 11:29 PM
GLWenzl GLWenzl is offline
Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,641
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by T_the_Tinkerer View Post
Good info, guys. The reason I'm even looking for brass is because I was just finishing fire forming the last of my Remington brass, which I loaded light this time around. All of the brass came out too short OAL, from 1.396" unfired to 1.382" or shorter after FF when I needed 1.385" minimum.

I'll look into the WW brass further. By the way, how do you all anneal you cases?
Is 1.382” after FF or after sizing the FF case?

I personally wouldn’t be scared of it being .003” - .005” too short. I’d load it again and shoot.

Pretty old school here but I anneal spinning the case in a map gas flame and for brass that I’m concerned about too much heat getting to the case head, I drop the brass into water. But now days there are a lot of good annealing options out there.
__________________
Shoot First... Ask questions later... On Saubier.com
__________________
NRA Lifetime Endowment Member
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-10-2021, 11:38 PM
Bill K Bill K is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N.E. Kommie Kalifornia
Posts: 6,304
Default

I'll look into the WW brass further. By the way, how do you all anneal you cases?[/quote]

Same way I anneal all my brass, when needed. With a small socket to hold the case and a blow torch. Depending on size of brass, just time it to the point of starting to turn orange/red.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-11-2021, 12:25 AM
T_the_Tinkerer T_the_Tinkerer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 63
Default

GLWenzl, that 1.396" was before sizing. The short length was after firming. The last batch that I did came out to 1.387" on average. The reason trim length is critical is because the rounds are crimped on a drive band.

I'll maybe try getting the WW brass and anneal then if they seem to hard.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-11-2021, 12:29 AM
TinMan TinMan is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,800
Default

Same here as Bill K. said. I use a standard propane torch and rotate it with my fingers or on a small socket on and extension to rotate. I only do the mouth down to the neck/shoulder joint. For 22 Hornet with my propane torch, touch the blue inner tip just shy of the brass itself, and it takes 5-6 seconds, timed with a metronome to get a dull red color.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-11-2021, 01:01 AM
T_the_Tinkerer T_the_Tinkerer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 63
Default

Gentlemen, do you think a butane torch would work as well, or is propane the way to go?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.