Author Topic: 22 hornet squirrel hunt (Read 2689 times)

oneredbarn · « **on:** December 26, 2011, 07:24:51 AM »

Took the 22 Hornet out this morning squirrel hunting. Got 5 within two hours along a ridge near the river in indiana. Used the loads I had used in Oklahoma on the prairie dog shoot and they were a bit messy for squirrel. Need to find a buullet that will not blow them apart as much. What loads are other people useing for squirrel in there hornets ?

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2011, 07:28:41 AM »

My load is a 17MII.

Kurt

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2011, 07:35:45 AM »

Thats not so hard, just go with a std 22 bullet of the same or close to the same weight. There is a number of 40G bullets made to hold up to 4000+ fps. Shot out of the hornet at under 3000 would likely keep them together.

I just loaded up 100 Hornets today myself! Mine where Hornady 45G HPs with a compressed charge of IMR4198 powder. These produce 1" or less groups at 100 form my barrel.

CW

keith44 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2011, 12:35:55 PM »

Sadly I can no longer use my K-Hornet for squirrel. Ky saw fit to outlaw all centerfire cartridges for all small game

Back when I could though, I'd run the 45 grain "Hornet" roundnose bullets from Nosler (I believe) right at 1,800 fps, and would not take a shot that was less than 50 yards. I also would not shoot at anything other than a squirrels head. Still kinda messy, but once cleaned all the meat was good. A hit in the neck / shoulder area

very messy, even after cleaning.[size=78%] [/size]

Crow Juice · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2011, 02:50:34 PM »

I have been using 50gr Midway Dogtown's with 12.9 grs of lil-gun in my Contender Carbine. These don't seem to be as explosive as my 40BT's were. They shoot sub MOA.

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2011, 02:59:34 PM »

Are we talking about tree squirrels? Geez. I use a .22. My 17HMR was too much.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2011, 01:52:16 AM »

I am not sure what the twist rate of your Handi is, but if is a newer variety with a 1 - 12" or 1 - 9" twist barrel, a 55 grain FMJ wold not blow up. Push it out at about 1800 fps or so. If it is a slower twist barrel, then a bullet designed to go fast (not a Hornet/Bee bullet), pushed at less than 2000 fps should not expand too much.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

geezerbiker · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2011, 05:35:16 AM »

The .45g Sierra varmint bullet seems to be more solidly constructed than other brands of .45g bullets. You might try some and see if they work as well for you as they do for me...

Tony

cwlongshot · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2011, 02:11:01 AM »

Generally speaking a 45 and 46 G bullet is a "Hornet" bullet. Designed to expand within the vel parameters of the smallest of 22CFs.

Most makers offer 22bullets are made in three different vel ranges.

1) "Hornet"
These are made for the Hornet, Bee and various small cased wildcats. Say 200 yard guns at under 3000fps They differ in construction and profile as the hornet and bee can be limited in OAL because they are chambered in many bolt guns.

2) "SX" or "Expander" or "TNT"
These are made for the 221, 222 and 223 "class" of cartridge. These are say a 300 yard gun with mid 3000 fps range. These have a std profile and can be used in the bigger CF's if violent expansion or lower vel performance is needed.

3) Regular or STD
These are for all other cartridges say 22-250, The Swift, 225 etc. These are capably for 4000 with the lightest offerings.

One other problem found with loading the "std" bullets in the hornet is what I mentioned before. The profile of the bullets and the box mags many are chambered in. The bullet needs to be pushed into the case so far the neck is exposed. It will shoot fine but may not feed so well.

dave29 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:14:53 AM »

Quote from: STUMPJMPR on December 26, 2011, 02:59:34 PM

Are we talking about tree squirrels? Geez. I use a .22. My 17HMR was too much.

I use a .22 Long Rifle as well.

keith44 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2011, 06:06:20 AM »

Quote from: dave29 on December 29, 2011, 03:14:53 AM

Quote from: STUMPJMPR on December 26, 2011, 02:59:34 PM
Are we talking about tree squirrels? Geez. I use a .22. My 17HMR was too much.

I use a .22 Long Rifle as well.

If you've never sniped squirrel from 150 yards (while they are on the ground) you just don't know what you're missing.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2011, 06:11:52 AM »

Quote from: keith44 on December 29, 2011, 06:06:20 AM

If you've never sniped squirrel from 150 yards (while they are on the ground) you just don't know what you're missing.

Oh yeah!!!

The only squirrels we can hunt here are ground squirrels, tree squirrels are protected, my longest shot has been 158yds(lasered) to the rock he was sitting on.

I've read of a 392yd prairie dog hit with the 17hmr, although it took him 8 shots to get it!

Tim

murphdog · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2011, 06:03:53 AM »

oneredbarn,
I've shot a few squirrels and several plastic bottles with my 223 using 40-45 grains bullets over a full load of trailboss. Muzzle velocity is 1800 to 1910 fps (less than hornet velocity). At that velocity, with target at 50 yards, I found that Sierra 45 gr SP, Sierra 40 gr HP, and Sierra 40 gr Hornet (round nose) were not explosive. Hornady 40 gr Vmax was still very explosive. All were minute-of-squirrel accurate. On squirrels, Vmax tears up more meat than I like. The pointy-tipped Sierra 45 SP doesn't tear up meat, but doesn't always anchor the squirrel a quickly as I like. I'm thinking a flat-nosed bullet like the Speer 46 gr 218 Bee bullet might be the ticket, sort of a WFN bullet for small game, but I haven't had time to try that out yet. (Currently trying to turn my 357 into a squirrel-getter instead.) Hope this helps, and best of luck. Let us know what you find. There are several of us out here hunting tree squirrels with down-loaded centerfires.
Duane

Joe S. · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2011, 06:39:54 AM »

Yall must have some big squirrels there. The lil guys here would turn to vapor with a hornet. Ha

Gohon · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2011, 08:42:48 AM »

45 grain cast ahead of 3.0 grains Unique for 1598 fps makes an excellent squirrel load.

spooked · « **Reply #15 on:** December 31, 2011, 08:53:07 AM »

Quote from: Gohon on December 31, 2011, 08:42:48 AM

45 grain cast ahead of 3.0 grains Unique for 1598 fps makes an excellent squirrel load.

Not to mention being very conservative on the pocket book.

oneredbarn · « **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2011, 05:05:57 PM »

looking through my 22 call bullets and found some Speer 55gn soft point's. I think I will load a few of these with 7.5grn of win 296 for around 1,900 fps. That will be about a 1,000 fps slower than the 40 grn V-MAX I was useing. My hornet has shot good with 55 grn fmj 's at the range befor so hope this load does to.

keith44 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2011, 05:34:23 PM »

best of luck with that, I hope yours will shoot 'em at that velocity. I've got to run 50 grainers at 2,400 fps or more to get anything even close to accuracy out of my K-Hornet

Fred McIntire · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2012, 05:26:53 PM »

I think I'm going to have to find myself a 22 Hornet, or maybe even a 218 Bee. These centerfire .22's are as addicting as the Handi rifles themselves.

"Honey, I Swear ! It Ain't Another Woman ! It's Those Darned Ole Handi Rifles !"

oneredbarn · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2012, 03:31:44 PM »

Well the 55grn soft points still did to much damage on squirrels might try a 55grn fmj or the 218 bee bullet. Found some loads in my Lee reloading manual that use IMR4064 or 4350 with a 45grn bullet for 1280 to 1545 fps. I will see how these shoot and then try them out on squirrel if they shoot good. Will post results for other hornet shooters on here

keith44 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 08, 2012, 03:47:25 PM »

Quote from: oneredbarn on January 08, 2012, 03:31:44 PM

Well the 55grn soft points still did to much damage on squirrels might try a 55grn fmj or the 218 bee bullet. Found some loads in my Lee reloading manual that use IMR4064 or 4350 with a 45grn bullet for 1280 to 1545 fps. I will see how these shoot and then try them out on squirrel if they shoot good. Will post results for other hornet shooters on here

What range are you shooting?? if you are under 50 yards it is very destructive on squirrels. If you are further out (75 - 150 yards) then if started at 1,600 to 2,000 fps the round nose profile bullets (applied to the area of the head between ear and eye) tend to not be overly destructive. If you can slow the bullet down to a MV of 1,300 fps it'd be between a .22 LR and a .22 Magnum

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #21 on:** January 09, 2012, 08:46:50 AM »

Paul Mathews suggested 5 grain of Unique and a 45 grain Speer I believe...10 years or so ago, I used that on some W. Va. fox squirrels..worked fine...but have shot no squirrels(tree kind) since that time...

tacklebury · « **Reply #22 on:** January 09, 2012, 11:41:07 AM »

Using 4.2 gr. Unique and a 46 gr. Winchester HP at about 1100 fps per chrony from a .223. Very close to .22 LR specs, except a little more kinetic with the heavier bullet.

Mines going into 1 hole at 25 yards and 1/4" at 50 yards.

ratdog · « **Reply #23 on:** January 09, 2012, 03:22:26 PM »

i went to Colorado and the squirrels are as big as some cats how big are the ones your talking about ?.

hoytcanon · « **Reply #24 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:58:56 AM »

Centerfire squirrels??? You better load it DOWN... as said above Hummers were too much for us... HM2 is just about perfect... accurate and flat enough for head shots out to 120 yards with a good rest... we use Steady Stix.

streak · « **Reply #25 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:16:58 AM »

Quote from: ratdog on January 09, 2012, 03:22:26 PM

i went to Colorado and the squirrels are as big as some cats how big are the ones your talking about ?.

Ratdog,
What part of Colorado are you referring to??

Bugflipper · « **Reply #26 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:46:19 AM »

55 gr fmj should do good. I used to use them in a 221 fireball. Velocity shouldn't be that much difference.