The Sellier & Bellot .22 Hornet SP 45 Grain Rifle Ammunition is a dedicated centerfire cartridge engineered for small game hunting, varmint eradication, and target shooting. Loaded with a 45-grain (2.90 g) semi-jacketed soft point bullet, this ammunition delivers controlled expansion and mushrooming on impact while maintaining high weight retention. Fired from a standard 600 mm test barrel, it produces a muzzle velocity of 715 m/s (2,346 fps) and a muzzle energy of 741 Joules (550 ft-lbs). Each round features a reloadable brass casing, non-corrosive Boxer priming, and an overall cartridge length of 43.70 mm, packaged in boxes of 20 rounds.

Key Features

• Controlled Expansion: The semi-jacketed soft point (#2911) with CuZn 10 jacket material exposes a lead core designed for rapid mushrooming and high energy transfer upon impact.
• Mild Recoil and Report: Operates with significantly lower recoil and a quieter muzzle report than larger centerfire cartridges like .223 Rem.
• Factory Ballistics: Optimized for close-to-medium field distances with a factory Most Recommended Distance (MRD) of 129 metres and a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.138.
• Quality Components: Constructed with non-corrosive Boxer primers and premium reloadable brass cases weighing 7.5 g per finished round.

Technical Specifications

• Calibre: .22 Hornet
• Bullet Type: Semi-Jacketed Soft Point (SP)
• Bullet Weight: 45 grains (2.90 grams)
• Bullet Diameter: 0.224 in (5.69 mm)
• Muzzle Velocity ($V_0$): 715 m/s (2,346 fps)
• Muzzle Energy ($E_0$): 741 Joules (550 ft-lbs)
• Ballistic Coefficient: G1: 0.138 / G7: 0.070
• Sectional Density: 0.128 lb/in²
• Overall Cartridge Length: 43.70 mm (1.720 in)
• Box Dimensions & Weight: 88 mm (W) × 45 mm (L) × 18.5 mm (H); 0.16 kg total
• Quantity: 20 rounds per box

Who is the Sellier & Bellot .22 Hornet 45gr SP for?

• Varmint hunters — Requires reliable terminal performance on foxes, feral cats, and rabbits inside 150 metres, utilising a 45 grain soft point projectile operating at a muzzle velocity of 715 m/s.
• Small game shooters — Benefits from low-recoil .22 hornet rifle ammunition generating 741 Joules of muzzle energy for pest management where minimal noise signature and reduced shooter fatigue are priorities.

Less suitable for: Target engagement beyond 150 to 200 metres, where significant bullet drop and wind drift make higher-velocity .22 centerfire cartridges better suited, or medium-to-large game hunting that requires heavier calibres from .243 Win and up.