Just got back from the range after testing out some new .22 hornet loads.

Shooting an old Winchester model 43 with a Leupold scope. Have done some work on free floating the barrel and relieving stress points in the receiver. Have been shooting a 40 grain Sierra .224 hornet bullet ahead of 2400. Have tried 45 grain hornet bullets with the group size opening up. Test out some 52 grain match kings and could not keep the shots on the target board.

Groups have typically been around 1.25" with the 40 grain Sierra hornet bullet ahead of 9 grains of 2400 . Switched to WW-296 powder with Federal bench rest primers, no real change in groups.

Tried out some Barnes 30 grain Varment grenade bullets ahead of 11.5 grains of WW-296. MAJOR improvement in group size. Groups dropped to .65". Upped the charge to 12.0 WW-296 (max charge listed is 13 grains), with an OAL of 1.729. Groups took another drop in size to .45" with the best being .33" with a MV of 3001 FPS.

Done developing - time to start serious shooting.