22 Hornet: 35 grain bullets on coyotes?

[mannyrock]

 
Dear Guys,
 
   I am trying to select a rifle for close range (under 100 yard) coyote hunting in the East.  I really like the Browning low wall model 1885 in .22 Hornet.  But, based on my research, it appears that Browning used a .223 barrel instead of a .224.   The result is that this rifle will shoot the lighter bullets accurately, but is really bad with the heavier bullets.
 
  So, if I get one of these, I may find that it only shoots the 35 grain bullets well. 
 
  I will be using factory ammo only.
 
  My question is:  I know people love the Hornaday 35 grain V-Max rounds, but do you think that these will be powerful enough for coyote out to 100 yards?  That is a pretty darned light bullet.
 
  One person suggested I just get a .22 Mag, which I think is routinely sold with 40 to 45 grain bullets.  But, I think that this round has far less energy than a .22 Hornet, and may even be louder than a Hornet.
 
  My brother shot two coyotes last year, and they both weighed around 35 to 40 pounds.
 
  All advice is welcome.
 
 
Thanks, Mannyrock

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   Manny, I am pretty sure the 223 dia. Hornet bullets came in 45 and 46 grain...If I were planning on shooting coyotes with my Hornet, that is what I would use...I killed two coyotes with my Browning abolt...both were taken with the 45 grain spire pt. this Browning uses the 224 dia. bullets...I would guess the 35 grain might be a bit soft for coyote, but never tried it...I have shot hundreds of p. dogs and gophers with it, and it is EXPLOSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Good luck..I think you will love the Hornet...I sure like mine...I have a CZ .22 mag..while I like it very much, with a bit of handloading, I can take my Hornet down to .22 mag. levels, but the mag. cannot equal the Hornet...I used my Hornet one fall for shooting fox squirrel in the east...it worked like a charm..even if you don't reload, you may have a friend who would load you a few or let you do some loading on his bench.....

[manofthe45]

The little 35 grain pill will do the job with the 100 yard range you are planning and have the benefit of being a perfect fox round out to 150 yards

[Catfish]

With the Hornet, and any bullet, shot placemant becomes extra critical.

[tobster]

As you probably know, they still make Hornet bullets for .223 bore Hornet rifles. Since the 35 grain is .224, why would you consider that a candidate for the Browning if they cut their barrels .223?

[Qaz]

 Manny- First, I have never handled a low wall that would swing worth a darn. They and the Ruger #1 make good bench guns, but are pretty poor when you need a second shot and there will be times when you get a second chance. A much better gun for predator hunting is the CZ 527 or the little Browning bolt action in 22 Hornet. Leave the single shot for the Ground Hogs!
 The 22 Hornet is plenty of gun for a coyote out to 150yds. Leave the 35gr V-maxs for varmints. Shoot a heavier bullet in either soft point or hollow point which ever shoots better.
 The problem with the 22 Mag is range. It works alright at 100yds, but not great. To be honest, I am not a fan of the 22mag for fox. In the east, you seldom have much time to shoot, much less try and figure out if he is in range. A 150yds is a good poke off hand or using sticks at a moving target. I have never had one stand still for me to shoot, they are either moving, or moving even faster if they know I am there!

[Ladobe]

I shot a lot of 33gr V-Max in in my 1885 Browning LW Hornet (yes 33, not 35... a Hornady/Remington project that didn't fly in the mid 90's).   Almost all of the 10K of them I had in various Hornets.   Mostly used the 33's for digger varmints to 250  yards, but also dumped a few coyotes, grey fox and badgers with them almost as far.   Like most of the other Hornets I've owned this little rifle also liked the Winchester 46gr OPE's a lot, so I usually had some of those along for predators when shooting diggers.    They didn't always allow time to reload, but the 33's got the job done just fine as well. 
 
I've owned a lot a 22 Hornets over the years, several specialty pistols and a truck load of rifles made both in the US and elsewhere.    Never had any problem of any kind using either bullet diameter in any of them.   So IMO that's a subject that is wasted time to worry about.
 
FWIW - YMMV
 

 

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   Ladobe, thanks for that information..I only have one Hornet a Browning bolt...and I really like it, but didn't realize the deal with.223 and 224 was so unimportant...I help off buying a Hornet until I could get the .224...passed up a couple beautiful model 43 Win. because guys made such a fuss over the diameter of the bore....

[Ladobe]

WCH,
Some people make a big deal about it... thats their choice.    I don't because long experience with many different firearms proved to me it made absolutely no difference at all in any of them (my choice).    
L.
 
 

[mannyrock]

 
Ladobe,
 
   Nice photo you posted.  Beautiful rifle.
 
   I notice the boxes of handloads on the bench.
 
   I was asking about factory ammo only.  Many people have written to tell me that the Browning, with its .223 barrel, was pretty bad with factory stuff.
 
Regards,  Mannyrock
 
 

[Ladobe]

No idea about factory ammo in the Browning Low Wall... i don't hink I've bought factory Hornet ammo since in the 50's when I started reloading.   I didn't buy the Hornet Low Wall until 2000 (whY I waited so long to get it I don't know when I fell in love with my 22-250 High Wall in the mid 90'S).   
 
Some say the 1:16 twist Low Wall Hornet doesn't stabilize heavier bullets, but i never had any problem with up to 50 grain in mine and had np need to go heavier.   I also had no problem pushing .224 bullets ssafely as hot as I wanted to in it, another reason I feel there is not enough difference in .223 ve .224 bullets to worry about it.