.22 K Hornet and Harvey .224 Kay-Chuk

[wblairs]

I have been researching these two calibers online on how or if they interrelate and was hoping there might be an expert present that could assist or point me in the right direction. I have a fair amount of info on the Harvey .224 Kay-Chuck cartridge but not much on the K Hornet. Thank you.

 

[rockquarry]

What do you mean by "interrelate"? I would guess there is information on the K-Hornet available on the Internet. Before Internet, most of the information I recall regarding the K-Hornet was that Lyle Kilbourne (spelling may be incorrect) developed it in the 1930s. Whether or not it was the first blown-out, sharp-shouldered case, I don't know, but it was easily one of the first. I think Kilbourn worked for Lyman at one time. Whether this was before, during, or after the K-Hornet development, I don't remember.

I had a K-Hornet on a Winchester High Wall action about thirty years ago. It offered some velocity improvement over the regular Hornet, but many don't realize that these oddball cartridges are seldom pressure-tested and some, maybe most of the velocity gain might be attributed to hotter loads with increased pressures rather than the slightly increased powder capacity.

The Harvey .224 Kay-Chuk was developed about twenty years after the K-Hornet. May be wrong again, but I don't think it had a sharp shoulder, so it would bear no resemblance to the K-Hornet.

The late Kent Bellah of Saint Jo, TX was a well known gun writer during the '50s and '60s. He did a lot of load development and experimental work with the Kay-Chuk and had more to do with popularizing the cartridge than anyone else, though it's probably a stretch of the truth to say it was ever really that popular.

Somewhere, I have an old PRECISION SHOOTING magazine from fifteen or so years ago that contains a comprehensive article on Bellah and I think it has some mention of the Kay-Chuk cartridge.

 

[Bakebfr480]

I have a Ruger #3 I rechambered to the K-Hornet.........a real tackdriver. Also, an old Savage model 219 in the same caliber.

 

[WR Moore]

Per the load manuals, the K Hornet picks up about 150 f/s over the standard Hornet. Also supposed to reduce the need to trim brass as frequently. Since factory ammo can be fired in one too, it's a very useful chambering.

Chronographs being very expensive and unicorn rare outside ammo factories, independent testing labs and government facilities in those days, many of the velocity claims for some of the early wildcats were wild guesses by the originator.

 

[Homie]

Per Kent Bellah's article in the May '59 GUNS magazine, the Harvey .224 K-Chuk was a K-Hornet trimmed .050". Bellah also mentioned it in a couple of his articles in GUN DIGESTS of the period as well.

In his literature dated January '63, Harvey states that "Some time ago we discontinued the blown out case, the original variety, because of reloading problems.

The standard Hornet case is shortened or trimmed .050"."

Do you have a K-Chuk conversion?

Hope this helps.

 

[R.L. Helm]

Harvey .224 Kay-Chuk question

Some years back my dad gave me a S&W .22 long rifle pistol that fired shortened hornet rounds. Since my grandfather was a gunsmith I assumed that he had modified the gun but am finding out that I was wrong.
I will enclose a couple of photos and if anyone has any information or can steer me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Big Cholla]

I built myself a "walk around" prairie dog rifle in 22 K Hornet. I used a Ruger M 77 action that had originally been a 22 Hornet. The barrel was from my benchrest competition days and had dropped off in accuracy slightly after 3k to 4k rounds. It was a Shilen in 22 PPC. I shortened both ends, re-tapered the barrel, rechambered for 22 K Hornet and glas bedded the action only in the original Ruger stock. After load development it started shooting 3/4 MOA in no wind conditions out to 150 yds. Shooting in the PD fields I used this rifle off the bench out to 200 yds. with no wind or shooting directly up wind or directly down wind. Worked like a charm. Where I shoot PDs is hunted so much nowadays that the Dogs are only spotted out beyond 500 yds. I use much bigger calibers out of much heavier rifles.

 

[jcelect]

Some years back my dad gave me a S&W .22 long rifle pistol that fired shortened hornet rounds. Since my grandfather was a gunsmith I assumed that he had modified the gun but am finding out that I was wrong.
I will enclose a couple of photos and if anyone has any information or can steer me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.


View attachment 444793

View attachment 444794

Sir, what you have is a K-Chuk built by the Bennett guns works. Jim Harvey of Lakeville Arms co., Lakevilke, Conn. was the original developer of this round but sold the rights to the Bennett guns works. Bennett roll stamped the barrels and the grip frame under the grips! Jim Harvey did not mark his conversions done any S&W 22 cal guns. The cartridge is a 22 Hornet shortened .050" and then fire formed to a much steeper shoulder! 22 Hornet on the left and K-chuk on the right

jcelect

 

[gerhard1]

Brings back memories!! Jim Harvey (the Harvey K-chuck) wanted to make a handgun 'a trifle like a rifle' and I seem to recall Kent Bellah as well from a very old Gun Digest: I believe it was the 1961 edition.