Author Topic: .22 Hornet (Read 9878 times)

Pecci · « **on:** December 09, 2005, 06:02:25 AM »

What type of Hornet rifle do you have and what are your opinions?

Ravenwolf · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2005, 09:12:20 AM »

I used to use a Ruger 77/22 laminated/stainless in 22 Hornet. I say "used to" as my daughters have pretty much liberated that rifle from me. Handloaded 40 grain moly coated Berger bullets are all I ever used in it and Winchester moly coated 45 grainers. Accuracy is around 3/4 to 1 1/4" consistently and both girls have taken woodchucks with it out to 225 yards. I've also used it on called in fox and coyote in the woods with the longest shot a little over 100 yards. The Hornet is a great urban cartridge for varmits where you don't want the noise of a bigger case. The lack of recoil makes it great for beginners and oldtimers alike. Just a fun round...RW

BS · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2005, 12:17:59 PM »

I had a Ruger #3 with a 1 in 16 twist barrel, with a full load of IMR 4427 it shot 50 grain Sierra Blitz quite well. If I was buying a new one it would have a faster twist...........

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2005, 01:45:27 PM »

Quote from: Pecci

What type of Hornet rifle do you have and what are your opinions?

Right now we have three Ruger .22 Hornets in our house. Two No. 1b's and a M77/22 VHZ. All shoot the 45 to 55 gr. bullets with better than MOA accuracy. The Ruger has a .224" bore instead of the .223" like some other rifles do(CZ, Browning, etc.). I know many will say that .001" doesn't make any difference but that isn't what the technicians at RCBS have to say. I tend to give what they say more value. Lawdog

roper · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2005, 03:13:57 PM »

I owned acouple ruger # 1 in 22 hornet and 218 bee and they were OK shooters nothing to brag about be fine for the average shooter. You want to step up to the next level get a Anschutz or Cooper rifle in 22 hornet. I've got a Cooper and it's a great shooter if you can find some of those first old Kimber 22 Hornets they shoot pretty good also. The first hornets had a bore dia of 223 which there are alot of bullets in that dia the new ones have a 224 dia. You can shoot a 224 dia bullet in the old hornets better than you can shooting 223 dia in a newer hornet with a bore of 224. For alot of years some custom bullet makers you could order a what they called stubby bullet and order pressure ring size to fit the bore on either the 223 or 224 dia for the hornet. In my Cooper I do pretty good with Berger 40/45gr bullets you get to shooting heavier bullets velocity drops off too much for my liking. If I do my part the Cooper will have groups 5 shots in the .4's at 100yds. Well good luck.

coopershooter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2005, 02:49:17 PM »

i have a 21inch carbine barrel in .22 k-hornet, for my contender. it wears a 6-18 simmons, airgun scope, shoots about 3/4 inches, with 35gr. v-maxes, and i love it! it,s one of my rifles that are more apt to hit than miss with.

longwalker · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2005, 10:37:26 AM »

Handi Rifle 22 Hornet. Good gun for what I use it for. It is pretty accurate and simple to use. Being a break action gun it is single shot only. However as a varmint gun I usually don't need lots of follow up shots at running game.

I like the Hornet for three reasons, 1, it's relatively quiet 2, It fills a niche for me when hunting Prairie dogs and larger critter like skunks and racoons and cats. 3, I like the name.

In my opinion it is a great 200 yard gun. Past 250 the .223 does a little better job.

longwalker

PA-Joe · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2005, 11:04:17 AM »

You can also get a 223 and use reduced gopher loads from www.jamescalhoon.com

Joel · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2005, 12:16:39 PM »

I'm down to my Savage 24V. Had a Handi-Rifle in it, but my son-in-law talked me out of it(for a price). I use the cartridge strictly for hunting small game up through turkey. Both rifle's are very accurate with the loads I use. Not a varmint hunter anymore ,but when I was the Hornet would do well out to around 175 yards on chucks.

Joel · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2006, 12:50:12 PM »

This is what the Hornet does to a squirrel with a 46 gr speer FP and 4.2 grs of Unique(1500 FPS). If you look close at the necki, you can see the entry hole. Shot at about 60/70 yds. Bullet opens up nicely on Turkey without exploding. Farthest shot on a turkey so far is 80 yds(paced) and the bullet hit at the juncture of the neck/body and the turkey just flopped in place. No meat damage at all.

poncaguy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2006, 02:00:37 PM »

I shoot a Handi in 22 Hornet, best group, in the 1/2 to 3/4 inch range.

akpls · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2006, 04:29:21 PM »

I have the CZ 527. Well made with a nice smooth action, but I've yet to get it out after critters.

Godsdog · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2006, 08:19:15 AM »

I shoot a TC Contender 21" barreled Hornet and it's very accurate out to 300 yds. My pet load is 11.3 grs of AA#9-C with a 40 gr. V-Max and a CCI 500 Pistol primer @ 2910 fps. Godsdog.

Range Finder · « **Reply #13 on:** March 09, 2006, 03:30:33 AM »

Pecci:

I've got a Savage M40 Varmint Hunter and I just love it. I picked it up a couple of months ago and haven't put any handloads through it yet but even with the factory ammo ( Winchester and Remington thus far) it shoots great. I really love the AccuTrigger even though I had to get use to it. Rifle is a tad heavy but for me balances very well. Soon as the weather permits I'll be giving it a real going over. Will keep you posted.

Good shooting!

Range Finder

P.S. I've got a Weaver V9 on top of it. Don't know how I forgot to mention that ... Ah the "golden years".

Mirage · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2006, 01:40:57 AM »

Have a CZ 527 w/ 3x9 B&L 3000.

Love the rifle. Perfect size, balance. The rifle so far has been my most accurate rifle I own. 35 gr / 40 gr. Vmax / 33 gr. speer TNT can all lay groups between 3/8" ~ 6/8" with W296, LG and H4227.

With exception of 1 coyote, all of shooting has been @ the range. The 200 yd. spinners are no contest.

2520 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2006, 02:03:33 AM »

Have a Hornet in a Savage 219B and a K-Hornet in a custom Martini. Use 40 and 45 gr bullets and 4227 powder with small pistol primers. Excellant accuracy. Have owned others as well. Never could get the Rugers to shoot real well.

smokepolehall · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2006, 01:22:23 PM »

Have 2 of them both H&R model 158 & 157,sweet shooting single shots. Groups avg. 1 1/4" at 100 yds. Use 10.5gr. IMR 4227 Nosler 45gr. bullets.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2006, 05:57:05 AM »

Quote from: Mirage

Have a CZ 527 w/ 3x9 B&L 3000.

Love the rifle. Perfect size, balance. The rifle so far has been my most accurate rifle I own. 35 gr / 40 gr. Vmax / 33 gr. speer TNT can all lay groups between 3/8" ~ 6/8" with W296, LG and H4227.

With exception of 1 coyote, all of shooting has been @ the range. The 200 yd. spinners are no contest.

I too went the CZ-USA 527 route and have started a love affair. I have only shot some Winchester factory rounds in it so far, but will be having a load of fun working up different hunting rounds for it. I got the American model in Birds Eye Maple. It is gorgeous.

seezee · « **Reply #18 on:** May 19, 2006, 03:43:39 PM »

Hello- I've had a CZ 527 for three years now and just now found out it's .223 bore. Sure can't tell it by the way it shoots. I use bulk bullets made by Remington. The .45 grain hollow point. Cost is about 7 cents a bullet. Me and a buddy of mine shoot shotgun shell brass at 120 yards stuck on the ends of sticks and I always win. The best shooting Hornet I have ever owned was an old Savage model 23D. They have a .223 bore. Dimes at 150 every time. The 23D was the first .22 Hornet made. The model 43 Winchester was second.
seezee

drags · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2006, 02:21:11 AM »

seezee, I have a cz-527 22 hornet also mine was'nt as accurate with the .224 bullets but shot the sierra 45gr .223 bullets into a half an inch. Are the Rem. bulk bullets .233 or .224 diameter?
Drags

ratgunner · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2006, 03:15:02 PM »

Ruger 77 varmint in .22 Hornet.I use HSM factory ammo with Calhoun DBL. hollowpoints in 42&37 grn.bullets at about 2800fps. best group so far is less than half inch for 3 shots at 100 yds.Worst about one inch. And they say Hornets arent accurete. :roll: Three lbs. trigger with good glass.Havent shot any critters with it yet.

Range Finder · « **Reply #21 on:** May 21, 2006, 12:19:38 PM »

Pecci:

Haven't had a lot of time to shoot my M 40 VH but have taken two critters with it. Nothing spectacular in anyway but another good indication I've got a shooter. Shot a crow approximately 80 yards. I was using a hasty sling with my left elbow resting on our propane tank. Toast! Right now I'm using Winchester 45 gr. soft points. I also missed a chuck at about 45 yards! I know I know but I want to be as accurate as I can be in reporting on this rifle. Said miss had nothing to do with the rifle. It was me and my over-confidence in MY ability. To make matters worse I fired at this chuck from a sitting position in hasty sling. Very humbling.

A couple of weeks ago I took a shot at a chuck in my pasture that was a good honest hundred yards and probably closer to one ten. Again, no big deal except that when I put the crosshair between his eye and ear there was a black berry stalk that bent to the left and covered that whole area. I just held a little high to pass the bullet over the bush and at the shot the chuck rocketed up and on his back. Upon inspection of the deceased I found that the bullet had hit the chuck right where the crosshair had been plowing a furrough across his skull opening it up just a tad. I have the rifle zeroed to be dead on @ 100 yards from this past coyote season. I'm going to zero it to be dead on at 150 yards for chucks, feral cats, crows, and the likes. I really like this rifle and expect more out of it with my reloads. Good Shooting.

Range Finder :grin:

1armoured · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2006, 03:17:21 PM »

I cut my 'Hornet' teeth on a Brazilian made single 'hammer' shot CBC,
shooting mostly feral goats, and the odd rabbit at fairly short ranges.

Fun, but not particularly testing the potential of the cartridge.

I later acquired a Brno (CZ) 5 shot bolt gun with double set trigger.

Fine little lightweight gun, and even though the barrel was stuffed,
I managed to shoot under an inch with the right fodder.

I found the best round was a 35gr V-Max, going as quick as you can get it out.
Factory Hornady rounds were very fast (3,000fps) and accurate as well.

Waiting to get my hands on a Savage Mod 40, so I can work up some good loads and shoot some small groups with a calibre I have grown to appreciate. Cheap to load and fun to shoot.

I rate the round as a good 200mtr cartridge.
If you want to shoot any further, then maybe you need a .223.
I also own both .222 Anschutz (great accurate rifle and sentimental old favourite),
and Weatherby 'Red Mist' Varminter in .223. Great little gun. Love it !

cheers,
Sean in 'Godzone'

hdj2520 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2006, 03:49:21 AM »

O.K. so now I miss my old hornets and want another one. What is the best
gun for the money?
I like CZ rimfires and suspect they may be the top choice but I'd pay more for the right rifle.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #24 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:35:58 AM »

Quote from: hdj2520

I like CZ rimfires and suspect they may be the top choice but I'd pay more for the right rifle.

:-D

hdj2520 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2006, 11:12:59 AM »

Yes i KNOW a hornet is not a rimfire ..... i like their rimfire rifles and am sure their CENTERFIRE rifles like the hornet would be good too.

handyman06 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 28, 2006, 06:01:48 PM »

nef handi rifle a little rough around the edges but shoots great

turkey45 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 23, 2006, 03:56:14 PM »

model 23d savage,,,a real oldie...tack driver bolt action..

Gregory · « **Reply #28 on:** October 23, 2006, 05:14:54 PM »

Browning left hand Micro Hunter. Love this rifle!! One inch group at 150 yds so far. And I'm still working on a "best load".

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #29 on:** October 27, 2006, 02:55:38 AM »

Quote from: Gregory on October 23, 2006, 05:14:54 PM

Browning left hand Micro Hunter. Love this rifle!! One inch group at 150 yds so far. And I'm still working on a "best load".

Hey Gregory, keep us posted on the results. This little cartridge is fun to work. I am using a pistol powder now and getting great results. The powder I am using is WC820. It is a surplus pull down powder that was used in .30 cal. carbines.