Hornet

[Kates]

I am considering getting a 22 hornet.  I cant decide between the Superlight or the standard Handi.  Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

[quickdtoo]

Get the one that suits ya, the Superlight may not be the best choice for colony shooting, but for a carry rifle, it can't be beat!

Tim

[stimpylu32]

Not trying to talk you out of the hornet , but if you do not re- load for it they will cost you fortune to shoot factory ammo , the last box of Rem. i got was just over 28 bucks .

That and i just like the 223 better . 

[Paul5388]

I have one extra rifle barrel right now, with everything else on a receiver.  My SL Hornet always stays mounted, it's the .223 that's in a bag!

I was playing with some reduced Blue Dot loads the other day with cheap Win 46 gr HPs and shot this 100 yard group.



It's a load that probably duplicates a .22 Mag load with a better bullet than the .22 Mag.  I'll play with it a little more and see if I can get the group size down a little more.  Of course, my new glasses may help a lot too, when they get here! 

[bluebayou]

stimpylu, doesn't Winchester sell a white box value pack?  I was thinking that WalMart carried it. 

For a plinking rifle, would a 223 be that much more noise and recoil for a kid?  Was planning on a 22 Hornet youth model, but the 223 would be more practical down the road...

[myarmor]

I believe we would all love to have a centerfire rifle that would deliver performance and still not have to use Ear Plugs.... but I suppose it's the old addage "You can't have your cake and eat it too.."
That is unless someone goes all out and rechambered a rifle barrel for a 9mm, 40S&W, or 45ACP... That should be plesently quite out of a 22" barrel.
Untill then I'll throw in a pair of Ear Plugs in every bag and glove box I own in case the need arises.
-Aaron

[stimpylu32]

Bluebayou

I took both the Hornet and 223 to the P-dog shoot and could not realy tell the diffrence in muzzle blast or recoil out of my handi's .

The 223 also grouped better with my handloads than the Hornet did with factory ammo .

[dw06]

I've had a standard handi in 22 hornet for 15 years,have reloaded for it only and it does great with 40gr vmax or ballistic tips.Also the 35 vmax.I 2nd stimpylu,if you don't reload I would go with the 223.

[Woodchuck Sniper]

Not trying to talk you out of the hornet , but if you do not re- load for it they will cost you fortune to shoot factory ammo , the last box of Rem. i got was just over 28 bucks .

That and i just like the 223 better . 

Thats not true if comparing apples to apples.  While there is value priced re-loads etc. and flat out low grade cheap ammo available for the .223 and not the Hornet.  If you compare decent quality to decent quality stuff the Hornet is actually a solid 20% less cost than the .223 ammo, not more cost..

Hornady V-Max ammo cost about $14.00 bucks per box for each.  The differance you get 25 rounds with the Hornet and only 20 with the .223.  Or just over 20% more for about the same price.

As a factory ammo shooter.  Most whom do so end up shooting .................what shoots good rather than value stuff.  While the .223 has decent quality value ammo such as Winny White box, Black Hills re-loads,etc.  Apples to apples with the good stuff (best IMO) ........."Hornady" the Hornet is 20% less.

Unless shooting colony varmints this should be of little concern anyways.  Shooting 50 Woodchucks a year along with a little paper punching hardly breaks the bank.  Nor does it justify the set up cost of re-loading.  Re-loading much like fly tying (which I am very avid at) should be done for enjoyment and better quality(accuracy).....................not "to save money".  Unless if you are a very avid colony varmint hunter or shoot a ton of paper as in bench rest comp.

W.S./Bill

[Woodchuck Sniper]

I find the Hornet has much less muzzle blast than a .223 along with less recoil.........half the muzzle blast IMO.  Definately more than a 22wmr but much less than a .223

My Handi Hornet shoots about m.o.a. 5 shot groups with factory ammo.  IMO, thats certainly plenty of varmint accuracy for it's couple hundred yard varmint hunting range.  While some .223 (along with a few 22 Hornets on here) apparently approach half minute of angle accuracy with 5 shot groups.  As an avid varmint hunter,  I would not even look for ".5 moa" until shooting varmints in the 400 yard range.  Even so, once past 400 yards I find judging range,wind,come ups,knowing actual trajectory,etc. likely more important than the added 1/2 moa of accuarcy for field shooting rather than bench.

I have never owned a true 1/2 MOA rifle the closest I have owned is in the .6's-.7's for 5 shot average not best.

I guess my point is the Handi Hornets shoot very well.............plenty well for their range and I prefer less muzzle blast,re-coil for my type varmint hunting . 

[myarmor]

I'm interested in hearing what Kates plans are for this rifle, what to hunt and if they reload?
My choice would be varied depending on what the use would be.
Still, over all I am a big fan of the 223. You can sqeeze a lot of performance out of a varity of bullet selection. Not that the 22 Hornet can't be shot with different grain of bullets, but the slightly heavier bullets cater to the 223 better. And the varlty of  factory offerings is excellent, with lots of different loads from the same manufacture.
Example:
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7519&categorystring=653***690***
Where as the Hornet is limited in choices.
Example:
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7515&categorystring=653***690***
 The little Hornet has a lot of history, and I am sure is a fun round. I would like to experiment with it and own one sooner or later.
But for now I'll just take one of my 223's when I need a small cal rifle for the occasion.

[dw06]

Still much cheaper to reload.$14 a box for v-max comes to 56cents each,I can reload 40gr v-max for 18 each counting powder and primer.So I can shoot 3 reloads for every 1 factory load.But as woodchuck said does not justify the set up cost to just reload one cartridge.However like most reloaders I don't have to worry about that as I reload for 15 or so calibers.
Also I shoot my hornet around 300 rounds a year,so must reload to afford it.                                                                  I agree with woodchuck sniper about the muzzle blast,Hornet has alot less blast.Guess I'm saying get one and you won't regret it,I'm very happy with mine.

[Kates]

I appreciate everyones comments.  First, this will mainly be a truck gun.  I do predator hunt alot and was looking for a gun to shoot fox and bobcat with no fur damage.  I have heard some folks use them for coyotes, but I have a .243 for that.  My max range would be 75 yards, that was why I was considering the Superlight with open sights. 

I dont reload, but realistically I probably will not shoot two - three boxes of ammo a year with it, so factory ammo will be what I will use.  I have used a .22wmr for what I just talked about for several years now, and I have lost a coyote and a couple foxes due to pushing its limits.  Im looking to step it up one more notch.

[dw06]

The superlight should serve you well,and hornet will too.Good luck

[myarmor]

The superlight should serve you well,and hornet will too.Good luck

By the sounds of your uses I totally agree.
And while your at it, save that brass. You never know if later down the road you might want to start reloading, and if so you will be glad you did.
And if not, you can always pass it on to other Hornet owners

EDIT: Heres a little info that you might find interesting:
http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/22h.html
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/notes/notes0402_0419/

[Woodchuck Sniper]

I appreciate everyones comments.  First, this will mainly be a truck gun.  I do predator hunt alot and was looking for a gun to shoot fox and bobcat with no fur damage.  I have heard some folks use them for coyotes, but I have a .243 for that.  My max range would be 75 yards, that was why I was considering the Superlight with open sights. 

I dont reload, but realistically I probably will not shoot two - three boxes of ammo a year with it, so factory ammo will be what I will use.  I have used a .22wmr for what I just talked about for several years now, and I have lost a coyote and a couple foxes due to pushing its limits.  Im looking to step it up one more notch.

Use the Hornady 35 gr V-Max at about 3000-3100 fps in the Hornet.  I mostly have got pin prich entrance no exits on Woodchucks.  About MOA from a Handi Hornet.
If you already have a .243 you will luv the Hornet.