What rifle twist rates are compatible with the Hornady 55 Grain Spire Point .224 bullets?

The standard 55 grain flat-base profile stabilises efficiently across a wide range of .224 twist rates. It works reliably in classic slow twists like 1:12 and 1:14 found in older .222 Remington and .22-250 rifles, as well as modern fast twist platforms such as 1:9, 1:8, and 1:7 inches.

What is the effective operating range for these bullets when shooting varmints in the field?

These projectiles are optimised for short-to-medium range varminting from point-blank out to approximately 250 to 300 metres. Beyond 300 metres, the modest G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.235 leads to significant velocity decay and wind drift, meaning long-range pest control requires a higher-BC polymer-tipped alternative.

Are these Hornady 55 Grain Spire Point bullets suitable for hunting medium or large game in Australia?

No, these are dedicated varmint bullets featuring an exposed lead soft-point tip designed for rapid, explosive expansion and fragmentation on pests like rabbits, foxes, and wild dogs. For medium or large game hunting such as deer, you must use controlled-expansion or deep-penetrating projectiles like the Hornady InterLock or CX monolithic ranges.

Do I need to provide a firearms licence to purchase these reloading projectiles in Australia?

While these items are inert metallic components containing no primers or gunpowder, state and territory firearms legislation across Australia regulates the sale and postal delivery of reloading components. Depending on your state, you may be required to present a valid firearms licence matching the appropriate calibre class at the point of purchase.

Varmint Bullets - Hornady 2266

The Hornady Traditional Varmint .22 Caliber (.224") 55 Grain Spire Point (SP) with Cannelure (MPN: 2266) is an inert, non-loaded reloading projectile engineered for small game eradication, pest control, and high-volume target handloading. Featuring an AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Process) copper jacket wrapped around a swaged lead core, this projectile combines an exposed soft-point lead tip with a flat-base profile. Upon impact, the exposed tip initiates immediate, rapid expansion even as velocities decline downrange. The integrated circumferential cannelure provides a dedicated groove for roll crimping, preventing bullet setback during feeding cycles and under magazine recoil in centrefire rifles chambered in .223 Remington / 5.56×45mm NATO, .222 Remington, .22-250 Remington, and .220 Swift.

Key Features

Rapid Varmint Expansion: Combines an exposed lead spire point with a thin forward jacket to produce rapid upset and explosive terminal fragmentation on small game.
Integrated Cannelure: Features a knurled circumferential groove to allow consistent roll crimping, securing the projectile against recoil-induced movement in tubular or box magazines.
Broad Twist Compatibility: The 55-grain flat-base profile stabilises across a wide variety of barrel twist rates, functioning in traditional slow 1:12" and 1:14" twists as well as faster 1:9", 1:8", and 1:7" rifling profiles.
Concentric AMP Jacket: Built with Hornady's Advanced Manufacturing Process jacket to deliver uniform wall thickness for balanced flight and consistent accuracy out to medium ranges.

Product Specifications

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 2266
Calibre / Bullet Diameter: .22 Calibre / 0.224 in (5.69 mm)
Bullet Weight: 55 grains (approx. 3.56 grams)
Bullet Profile: Spire Point (SP) with flat base and cannelure
Ballistic Coefficient (G1): 0.235
Sectional Density (SD): 0.157
Overall Length: ~0.715 in (18.16 mm)
Component Class: Non-loaded reloading projectile (100 bullets per box)

Who is the Hornady Traditional Varmint .224 55 Grain Spire Point Bullet for?

Varmint and pest control shooters — Requires reliable, rapid terminal upset on rabbits, foxes, and wild dogs within 250 to 300 metres, utilising a .224 caliber varmint bullet with a 55 grains weight and a 0.157 sectional density that stabilises across common 1:12" to 1:7" rifle twist rates.
High-volume handloaders — Benefits from an economical flat-base projectile carrying a 0.235 G1 ballistic coefficient and an integrated cannelure to seat, crimp, and assemble dependable training and plinking handloads for centrefire cartridges like the .223 Remington and .22-250 Remington.

Less suitable for: Long-range shooting beyond 300 metres where the 0.235 G1 ballistic coefficient experiences elevated wind drift (where high-BC, polymer-tipped boat-tail projectiles are better suited), or medium-to-large game hunting such as deer and large feral pigs that require controlled-expansion, deep-penetrating bonded or monolithic copper bullets.

SKU	HN42748LP
Model #	2266
Brand	Hornady
Shipping Weight	1.0000kg

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Hornady 2266 224 Caliber Bullets 55 Grain Spire Point 100 Pack

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