Author Topic: .22 WMR vs. .22 Hornet: Noise level please (Read 5286 times)

mannyrock · « **on:** September 26, 2011, 01:53:37 PM »

Dear Guys,

A few posts back, we got some great info on comparing these two rounds based on accuracy and range. But what about their noise level in a rifle?

I need a pretty quiet varmint rifle, for shots up to 100 yards only. I have lots of experience with .30 caliber rifles, but none in the small bores (except .22LR).

I have read that the noise of the .22 Hornet is one of the most modest of any centerfire round. I have also read that it is greater than the noise of a .22 mag. Not sure if this is true or not.

I can tell you this. About 25 years ago, a friend of mine had a new .22 mag rifle, and fired it off while I was standing about 10 feet away, wearing no ear protection. The noise was quite deafening (seemed very high pitched, like a .223) and the sound echoed across the mountains. I can guarantee that my neighbors, even those living 500 yards away, would hear it and be very annoyed.

Is the .22 Hornet louder? Or maybe has a lower "crack" to it?

Thanks for all advice

Mannyrock

gr8ful · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2011, 02:10:58 PM »

The hornet is a bit louder but not much, if you were 100 yrds away I doubt you would be able to tell the difference.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2011, 12:12:20 PM »

I agree... velocity = noise!

You could lower the V on the hornet to get less noise, but then you may as well shoot a 22lr.

DM

pastorp · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2011, 02:46:45 AM »

Mannyrock,

I believe you have shared before that you don't reload and don't want to..

With factory hornet ammo costing over $50.00 per 50rds and 22 mag ammo costing about $12.00 per 50rds I would think the 22mag would be a better varmit rifle for you as long as your shooting under 100yards anyway.

Just a thought.

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2011, 04:39:51 AM »

I had a couple of 22mags for a good number of years and don't consider them all that loud. More of a sharp CRACK! My buddy has a hornet and I have to have muffs on when he's shooting it. With the 22mag, I can shoot it without having the ringing ear thing going on. In my opinion, either one will have folks looking.

One thing I thought to mention, have you considered a 17? My BIL has one in a Ruger. Noise wise, it's quieter than my 22mag and pretty freakin accurate to boot!

HWD

.22-5-40 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:39:50 PM »

Hello, Guys. Here is something interesting...I shoot cast-bullets in my .22 Hornet 26" barrel single shot, as well as a 26" brl. Ruger No. 1 in .222 Rem.
With the Hornet..accuracy loads are with 7.0gr. H4227 and a 52gr. cast bullet.
With the Ruger..10.0gr. H4227 and same bullet.
Now with the Hornet..I only need ear plugs. With the Ruger..I MUST wear muffs..3.0gr. difference in powder charge! I am thinking the sharper shoulder of the .222 must be raising pressures and velocity?

Drilling Man · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2011, 05:01:35 PM »

3 grains of powder is a lot in those little cases!

DM

Keith L · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2011, 01:06:39 AM »

This is a RIMFIRE forum guys.

wolfe28 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2011, 08:24:29 AM »

My buddy's 22WMR was a little quieter than my 22 Hornet, but not a lot. It is about the same difference as going from 22LR to 22 WMR. Accuracy was no contest (I reload 22 Hornet, and I can cover a 5 shot group with a dime at 100 yards, all day long).

D

Iowa Fox · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2011, 07:53:59 AM »

If you are a reloader the Hornet hands down. I have found some fairly quiet loads with good velocity matching the Mag. Longer barrels are a plus for reducing noise.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2011, 02:54:46 PM »

You can also get a longer barrel in 22 Hornet and it too will quiet the round a little.
I have both and would shoot them around the house at pests and varmints. When I got a 17HMR I went with it due to the rocks and the Zing factor.

ironglow · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2011, 03:14:09 PM »

My Hornet seem much louder to me than my mags. My concern is what kind of neighbors do you have ? 500 yards distance and they get their panties in a bunch ?
Law here says 500 ft from an occupied building, and even then many allow closer after I ask their permission.

Much depends upon what varmints you want to shoot..up to coyotes, inside 100 yds a .22 mag should work. If you reload you can get off as cheaply with a .22 Hornet. If you don't reload..start thinking .22 mag.
..................................................................................
Keith; I know this is a rimfire forum, but he's asking for a comparison.. If he went to the centerfire forum, would he be chastised for mentioning the .22 mag ?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2011, 06:52:35 PM »

At the time most of the neighbors didn't mind as I was cleaning out ground squirrels that were causing a bunch a damage aroud the bridges that were most of the entry ways into the estates I had a guest house in.
But other than that I found that you can shoot from about 6PM to8PM when most people are in having dinner or watching TV and no one complains. Had a rat problem and was using the 22 shot shells and only time someone said anything was after 9:30.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2011, 12:15:38 AM »

If your going to reload I would opt for a 223 and just use reduced loads. I used to have a 14" contender and it was miserably loud with full patch 223 ammo. I tried several reduced loads and settled on blue dot for reduced loads. I had loads to replicate 22lr, 22mag, and 22 Hornet with buledot and they shot similar to poi of full power loads at 100 yards.

ironglow · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2011, 12:30:06 AM »

I have a Hornet as well as a couple .223s. Considering the cost of new ammo, case life..or available brass from many sources, I think the .223 is much less expensive to reload. It could also be used for larger game at longer range.

Keith L · « **Reply #15 on:** October 24, 2011, 01:03:48 AM »

Quote from: ironglow on October 23, 2011, 03:14:09 PM

..................................................................................
Keith; I know this is a rimfire forum, but he's asking for a comparison.. If he went to the centerfire forum, would he be chastised for mentioning the .22 mag ?

The discussion had turned to a comparison between the Hornet and a .222. As long as the rimfire Mag is involved it is on topic.

mannyrock · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2011, 06:12:27 AM »

Regarding the use of .22 mags on coyote, I am getting two totally opposite points of view.

On the varmint hunt board, they indicate that it is totally inadequate and I will be really sorry if I try to shoot coyote with it.

On other boards, people are uniformly saying that the .22 mag is OK on coyote if my distance is 100 yards or less.

Anybody have actual experience and advice on this matter? Is there some type of .22 Mag +P ammo that I am not aware of?

The Mag would sure be cheaper to shoot (both cost of a rifle and ammo) than a Hornet.

Thanks, Mannyrock

Drilling Man · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2011, 10:55:17 AM »

Quote from: mannyrock on October 24, 2011, 06:12:27 AM

Regarding the use of .22 mags on coyote, I am getting two totally opposite points of view.

On the varmint hunt board, they indicate that it is totally inadequate and I will be really sorry if I try to shoot coyote with it.

On other boards, people are uniformly saying that the .22 mag is OK on coyote if my distance is 100 yards or less.

Anybody have actual experience and advice on this matter? Is there some type of .22 Mag +P ammo that I am not aware of?

The Mag would sure be cheaper to shoot (both cost of a rifle and ammo) than a Hornet.

Thanks, Mannyrock

My hand is up! lol

A rib shot coyote with a 22WMR at 100 yards is a DEAD coyote! Use 40 grain HP's.

It's kinda like all those deer now days, that you have to have a magnum to kill cause they some how got armor plated!!

DM

ironglow · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2011, 11:33:43 AM »

Quote from: Drilling Man on October 24, 2011, 10:55:17 AM

Quote from: mannyrock on October 24, 2011, 06:12:27 AM

Regarding the use of .22 mags on coyote, I am getting two totally opposite points of view.

On the varmint hunt board, they indicate that it is totally inadequate and I will be really sorry if I try to shoot coyote with it.

On other boards, people are uniformly saying that the .22 mag is OK on coyote if my distance is 100 yards or less.

Anybody have actual experience and advice on this matter? Is there some type of .22 Mag +P ammo that I am not aware of?

The Mag would sure be cheaper to shoot (both cost of a rifle and ammo) than a Hornet.

Thanks, Mannyrock

My hand is up! lol

A rib shot coyote with a 22WMR at 100 yards is a DEAD coyote! Use 40 grain HP's.

It's kinda like all those deer now days, that you have to have a magnum to kill cause they some how got armor plated!!

DM

What drilling man said...DITTO.. bullet placement !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnDFYtxemEU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEKEM26TIzg

RevJim · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2011, 06:08:35 AM »

I use the Remington 33gr Vmax ammo in my 22 mag for prairie dogs,etc. It is really moving, and after seeing what it does to PDs, I am pretty sure a ribcage shot on a coyote around 100yds is very doable. I killed many hogs with head shots years ago, using MaxiMag 40gr solids. I've had a Ruger 22 hornet before and it was fickle, very expensive to shoot (factory loads) and alot louder than the 22 mag to me. Surprisingly, if you leave coyotes out of the deal, that 17 HMR is a PD killer as well, but loses it's destructiveness quickly after 100yds or so. I have heard of guys killing coyotes with the 17 HMR. A 22 mag is very well suited to fox and bobcat too.

mannyrock · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2011, 01:06:50 PM »

Dear Guys,

Thanks very much for all advice, on both sides of the coin.

I have decided, after lots and lots of thought, to go with a .22 Mag instead of a Hornet. I know that the Hornet is a much better coyote gun, but I have been hunting with rifles for 40 years, and know how to limit my shots to under 100 yards. I am just getting started with varmint hunting, and I don't reload, so I feel that with the .22 Mag, the factory ammo is so much cheaper than the Hornet that I won't hesitate to shoot lots and lots of practice rounds. (My practice place is just 25 minutes from my house.)

If I stay with varmint hunting for a few years, then I will probably "graduate" to the Hornet, and an expensive single shot rifle.

Thanks again,

Mannyrock

pastorp · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2011, 04:08:48 AM »

Good choice in my opinion..

Now which gun are you going to choose for your new rimfire varmit gun?

Regards,

mannyrock · « **Reply #22 on:** October 27, 2011, 04:56:24 AM »

Pastorp

Thanks for asking.

For an entry-level .22 mag rifle, I don't see how you can beat a Marlin 782 bolt action, with a walnut stock, for around $225 in VG+ condition.

But, please see my scope mount question in my new subject post.

Thanks, Mannyrock

ironglow · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2011, 04:31:32 PM »

Mannyrock;
You are going to get as many suggestions for a brand of .22 mags as there are posters here.. I had about given up on the magnums and had traded my last one @ yr old Marlin w/very pretty laminate stock, I just couldn't get a reliable sub 2" group at 50 yards with it..so I swapped it for a Savage 17HMR w/bull barrel and accutrigger.
I tried quite a few, and the only .22 mag I ever owned that delivered good groups was an Anschutz which I had given to my grandson years ago.
That savage 17HMR gave me such outstanding groups, I was very impressed and learned to appreciate the accutrigger.
Soon I was faced with just what you are looking at, an up to 100 yard coyote gun...so I took a chance and picked up a basic Savage (93F) with accutrigger. http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/
To my very pleasant surprise, outside the Anschutz, this rifle shoots better than any of them..perhaps including the Anschutz.
My local dealer is very easy on prices, so I bought it for $179.

I took a fox at 100 yards with the 17HMR ..chest shot w/ 17 gr ballistic tip, and he was DRT..but our coyotes in the northeast run large, thus the .22 mag.

T.R. · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2011, 06:26:34 AM »

This is my bolt action Marlin in 22 MAG. It should be called a grenade launcher because of the amount of tissue damage it produces. Sound level is soft compared to 22 Hornet.

TR