.22 Hornet

[Kates]

I am considering a 22 hornet for predator hunting.  I have to use a 22 wmr here in TN during the archery season, but Im wanting something a little bigger when I can use a centerfire.  Can someone give me a brief overview of the hornet with the pros and cons.  Does it lay somwhere between a 22 wmr and a .223 Thanks.

[oso45-70]

Kates

In my opinion the 22 Hornet is a fine gun for Varmint hunting, It is one of the best in areas where you have houses close by and the people might be sensitive to the noise, One thing you do have to watch out for is ricochets but if you put them in the boiler room,,,Not A Problem........Joe.....

[PA-Joe]

If you already have a 223 go to www.jamescalhoon.com and look up his gopher loads. You can download the 223 the be anything from a 22 mag to 22 hornet. One gun for fox to coyote.

[Jerry Lester]

In my opinion the Hornet makes a very good calling rifle. Most of my shots when calling range from "too close" to maybe 75 yards. At those ranges the Hornet can handle any predator.

AS far as the performance level, the Hornet is just about exactly in between the 22 magnum, and the 223.

[Lawdog]

I am considering a 22 hornet for predator hunting.  I have to use a 22 wmr here in TN during the archery season, but Im wanting something a little bigger when I can use a centerfire.  Can someone give me a brief overview of the hornet with the pros and cons.  Does it lay somwhere between a 22 wmr and a .223 Thanks.

I have been shooting the .22 Hornet since the early 1960’s.  It was my first “varmint” rifle.  Still have three of them in the house.  Two Ruger No. 1's and a Ruger M77/22 VHZ.  One of, if not the best, calibers for called in Coyote/Bobcat for hunters that want to harvest the pelts.  Really “pelt friendly”.  Sorry ‘oso45-70’ but the Hornet doesn’t have any more of a ricochet problem than any other .22 centerfire.  Using the right bullet, like one should and they fragment upon hitting most any surface.  The .22 Hornet is easy to reload and a one pound tin of powder seems to last forever.  There is a reason why they have never been able to kill off the “ole Hornet”, It just keep working.  Doing it’s job that it was designed to do and doing it out to 200 yards or so.  Lawdog
 

[DWARREN123]

Also check out the 221 Fireball.

[Lawdog]

Also check out the 221 Fireball.

From the data I have read on the .221 Fireball it looks to be like a good one.  What kind of success/results have you had?  What load are you using?  My only problem with the .221 Fireball is the lack of availability of ammo locally.  Ask at the local Mom & Pop Sporting Goods store and they state that they would have to order it as they don’t get enough people asking for it.  Lawdog