22 hornet or 221 fireball or?

[adcoch1]

Reading the current 22 hornet thread has really thrown fuel on the fire of my desire for a centerfire 22 for sub 223 tasks. I really want a lightweight field rifle for a lot of the tasks a 22 mag would be the bottom end for, and I'd like to be able to load for it. The 22 mag I had was ammo sensitive, and I couldn't always find what it liked for food available.

So I believe my best contenders for a light field rifle would be a 22 hornet (maybe k hornet) or a 221 fireball. A 22 TCM would be cool too, but I want to be able to get brass in the future..

So, any input? What would you pick for a light, handy little bolt gun for occasional varmints and general plinking? Btw, looking at cz 527 and other micro action rifles for the most part...

 

[troy fairweather]

cz is the best bet for cost, a old sako would be nice nut hard to find. i would look for a 527 in 222rem the load down nice. 221 is a nice round to

 

[adcoch1]

I could make my life easy and download 223 but the fireball uses a lot less powder, and the hornet about half as much as 223. Plus the bigges bullet I want to run is about 55 grn max with the vast majority between 40 and 50 grns

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The Hornet has a slow rifling twist and many will not shoot anything larger than 45 grain with any accuracy. The Hornet really shines with 35 grain bullets.

 

[Varminterror]

If you’re open to rimfires, take a look into the 17WSM. For “sub-223 tasks,” I have found the 17 WSM does very well in this role.

Of the 22 Hornet and 221 FB, I like both, but have generally employed them differently. My 22 Hornets and K-Hornets have been walking varminter type rifles, light and svelte running tiny bullets at short ranges. My 221’s were first specialty pistols, then more of a prone/bench varminter, meant to run ~45-55grn bullets a little farther out.

I personally would probably go to 221 FB and custom build it, maybe on a Rem 7, or maybe even something uber sexy like a 60* throw GAP Tempest, and run like a 20” Sendero or light Palma contour for a little weight but not terribly heavy.

 

[adcoch1]

Just looked up the Gap Tempest action. I like the way you think.

build it, maybe on a Rem 7, or maybe even something uber sexy like a 60* throw GAP Tempest, and run like a 20” Sendero or light Palma contour for a little weight but not terribly heavy.

I really want to avoid rimfire for this rifle, and I'd like at least a stabilized wood stock, not looking for plastic fantastic. I will probably have to build the whole thing custom or buy a 22 hornet from cz. They used to build a fireball, but they are discontinued and sell for ridiculous prices..

 

[Varminterror]

I ditched the polymer stock on my Bmag, had ordered the stock before I even bought the rifle. Just a laminate boyd’s, but at least it’s wood. But your stance is why I asked - if rimfires were an option, I’ve been very happy with my Bmag - I think in field application, it lands much closer to doing things like a 223rem than it is to a 17HMR or other rimfires. But it IS one of those things which makes me itch in the back of my mind sometimes - for the cost of the rifle and cost of the ammo, I could come very close on a total cost of ownership by reloading a 17 FB and have more options.

I do love grabbing a box of ammo and a rifle and just going afield to hunt small game sometimes, so there are two sides to that coin - I can get 17 WSM at Walmart near me, can’t get 22 Hornet or 221 (or 17 FB).

I love the little 221 FB case though. Something about those chubby looking little cases which brings joy whenever I take one out.

 

[Hanshi]

I have a fine Kimber of Oregon .22Hornet. It's the only centerfire .22 I've ever owned and it's the only cf .22 I'll ever want. Very old case design but oh what a performer.

 

[jmorris]

I only have one .22 Hornet, it is very accurate for a lightweight rifle (4.4 lbs with optic). The case itself is a delicate one to load for and took a bit more tweaking to get the fantastic groups. I also can’t say I use it for anything I wouldn’t use a rimfire for but they are not in the same league, that’s for sure.

If your working up your own loads a .223 would be my pick. Brass is very common, much more durable and can be downloaded to Hornet levels.

 

[horsemen61]

Sounds like a fun gun

 

[Matthew Clark]

Well I have to recommend the .22Hornet but only because it's just plain fun to shoot and I don't own a Fireball. There isn't a single thing wrong with a Fireball, it's one I would like to get someday. There's a ton of history and nostalgia in either cartridge and you'd be well served with either one you choose.

Recommendations for the CZ for what you want it for are very valid. They are lighter than the Savage 25 Lightweight Varminter I own and every bit as accurate from all accounts I've heard. They are solid firearms. They do make a walking varminter Savage that is lighter but I believe it's kevlar stocked only.

The idea of loading down cartridges to perform less of themselves in theory and practice can work but why do that when the whole idea is to get another gun that does something a little different? That's just my thoughts on it, others do it mostly to save money instead of paying to own many firearms and I get that if you have to.
I guess I have an addiction to firearms but it is expensive to placate my desires.
Good luck with your choice and Happ Shooting!

 

[adcoch1]

I think the real issue for me is that I can realistically only afford one of them. Otherwise I'd buy both. I am in the market for this rifle or a fine 22lr to scope up since I don't have a 22 with optics, and I think a center fire is going to make me happier in the long run. If I had 2k sitting around I'd have a nice 22lr a 22 hornet, and a 221 fireball. But then i would need another 1k for optics...

 

[LRDGCO]

222 Rem. I have a Savage 340 beater and a Savage Walking Varminter for prairie dog decimation. The CZ 527 looks delightful. I am also always on the lookout for a bargain on a Sako Vixen.

 

[Matthew Clark]

I think a center fire is going to make me happier in the long run. If I had 2k sitting around I'd have a nice 22lr a 22 hornet, and a 221 fireball. But then i would need another 1k for optics...

I feel your pain .......we have not chosen a cheap pass time my friend.
In my opinion you will be happier with a Centerfire given what I took from your original post for it's purpose. All that were mentioned are good suggestions for caliber, however for your intended purpose the 22Hornet is really ideal IMHO. The extra umph the slightly larger calibers offer isn't really needed (critters yote size sucumb inside 200yds every time) and shooting cost will be less. Unless of course you shoot more because it's so darn fun to shoot

 

[MihiT]

223 is universally available and can flick everything from 30gn to 90gn depending on your twist.

If I went hornet I'd ackley or K.

I have no experience with 221FB but looking at the shape says "throat erosion" to me.

204 rug could be another to consider.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Throat erosion with a Fireball is a non-issue. Powder charges of under 20gr makes it even less of a barrel burner than the .223.

I understand what OP is looking for.

Unfortunately, the .22Hornet can be VERY fickle to feed. I had a Mossberg MVP Predator in .223. It had a 1/9”twist barrel, and shot very well.
It would do what you want. Accuracy was excellent, it would shoot 3/4” 5-shot groups with Berger 70gr VLD’s. 35-55gr bulllets will shoot fine. Unlike the Hornet, magazine length won’t be an issue.

I cast, so loading the .223 down to even near .22lr is easy. I have three .22 molds, one is 49.5gr, and with 7.2gr of Unique gets 1,950fps and shoots to POA/POI at 50yds with a 200yd Zero with 55-64gr standard.223 loads.
With 2.7gr of Bullseye, it gets 1,180fps, but needs a resighting to shoot poi/poa. Accuracy from my older 18.5” Remington Mod-7 is as good as regular.223 (1.25-1.5MOA).

Push come to shove, .221 Fireball brass can be formed from .223, but with .223 brass being so abundant, and factory rifles so pricey, I suggest just a light, Compact .223.
I was rather fond of my Mossberg MVP. Particularly with a Magpul 10shot magazine. It eliminated the sharp, hard corners of the factory 20rd metal magazine.

Now, my Marlin M1894 in .218Bee is another issue....!
It’s just TOO FUN to shoot. The Ruger M77/22Hornet hasn’t even left the gun room since 2017 when I aquired the .218. Neither has the Mod-7 .223...

Two days after I aquired the BEE, it did this:

 

[GooseGestapo]

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

No bad choices here.

I think it mostly comes down to which rifle action you prefer, since you've a rimmed vs. rimless issue. If single shot, then Hornet -- the rims make single loading and picking out the cases easier. You can start cheap with the Hornet, too. There are lots of sub-$200 H&R singles are floating around, and they shoot better than you'd think. FWIW, the Hornet ammo looks much cuter, especially the Kilbourne version. Also you'll be a magnet for the old guys at the range, like shooting a Garand in amongst the AR15s.

The Fireball is a better match to a double-column magazine, but options there tend to be somewhat pricer than Hornets. It has much heavier brass than the Hornet that should last forever if conservatively loaded. You can form them from .223 brass, but expect some annealing and neck turning when going that route. Personally, I'd take vanilla .223 over the Fireball unless the specific rifle platform in question was compelling. A .223 can be downloaded to get whatever you want -- I've even loaded some with Hornet bullets and Trail Boss for quiet plinking.