How does one convert a 22 hornet into a 22 k-hornet?

Answer 1

The Kilbourne Hornet is an "improved" cartridge. The original "Hornet" was called the .22 Winchester Center Fire, was a black power cartridge and fired a lead bullet at about 1500 fps. The cartridge was first released in 1888.

Some time in the early part of the last century, P.O. Ackley took a liking to the .22 WCF, married it with smokeless powerd and renamed it the .22 Hornet.

Some short time later Lysle Kilbourne decided to push the shoulder forward on the cartridge and it became the K-Hornet or Kilbourne Hornet.

You convert a .22 Hornet into a K-Hornet by purchasing a reamer from a company like Clymer. The reamer is a cutting tool used to reshape the chamber of the .22 Hornet into the K-Hornet shape. You should not try this operation yourself, unless you are a competent gun smith.

Once your chamber has been bored using the reamer you must "fire form" your brass. The K-Hornet can fire factory .22 Hornet bullets. After firing those bullets in a K-Hornet chamber the powder capacity of the case is increased and the "improved" K-Hornet can be hand loaded to higher velocities.

The cost for a reamer as I write this is about $120.00 US. The cost for a gunsmith to ream the chamber is about $80.00 US. Using a rented reamer, ($26 - $36), makes the process even more affordable.

The results are worth it. :) Just did one myself today.