I just acquired a Ruger #3 in .22 Hornet. After reading this blog, my previous thoughts of rechambering it to something more speedy, are stronger than ever. The 1 in 16 twist limits the bullet weights, but with so many good ones out now, I would appreciate a few suggestions from you die-hard varmiter shooters.
Thanks....
My friend The Infamous Engraver gave me a Ruger No 3 Hornet barrel a few months ago, and I too wondered about another chambering. I installed it on still another Cadet, this one a BSA, and chambered for the standard 219 Zipper. Preliminary shooting results show the 40-gr Nosler and the 35-gr Hornady will shoot less than 1 MOA, while the Sierra 53-gr Match bullet will shoot ~ 1.0 MOA. The flat-base 53-gr Sierra is my 'go-to' bullet for accuracy testing in most 22s, along with Bergers. I've tried the 33-gr Barnes varmint bullet in several rifles now and have gotten dismal results in all. Speers have been mediocre in most of my rifles although the 50-gr SP did OK in the Ruger/BSA Zipper, around 1.25 MOA. I emphasize that these are preliminary results with this barrel, and I was heartened by the early accuracy shown by such a good bullet as the 40-gr Nosler.
I do
not suggest the standard Zipper because A) dies are expensive and B) moderately high pressures will cause case sticking, see Frank de Haas' article about the Zipper family of cartridges. These case sticking issues are not present with the various Improved chamberings and so I suggest either the Donaldson Wasp (a moderate PITA to form, and fairly expensive itself) or the 225 Winchester.
Of course your Ruger will also handle any rimless case as well, so the door's wide open!
Regards, Joe
