22 Hornet

[lizziedog1]

As some of you know, I just became the owner of a rifle chambered in 257 Roberts.

I like those oddball calibers. I don't mean odd as in strange, I mean as in they are not common. I don't own a 30-06. I know it is probably the most versatile caliber for most North Amercan hunting, but everyone and their grandmother has one. Too common for me.

The next rifle on my list is something chambered for the 22 Hornet. Another caliber you don't see everyday.

Does anyone here own and/or use one?

Who makes a good, reasonably priced rifle in this caliber?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have a Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet. At the present time, I don't believe Kimber makes a Hornet, but you can probably find one used on Gunbroker or Gunsamerica.

The Hornet started out in the mid 1880s as a blackpowder cartridge, the .22 Winchester Central Fire (WCF). That explains its tapered shape and loose chamber dimensions. For best accuracy, you need to handload and use fireformed brass.

I use a Lee Collet Die, with a washer on the shell holder to cause the collet to activate early, sizing only half of the neck -- this centers the bullet in the throat. I like the 35-grain Hornady V-Max loaded ahead of a case full of Hodgdon's Li'l Gun, and I seat the bullet to touch the rifling. I get sub-minute of angle accuracy from my Kimber, and shoot crows and coyotes out to 200 yards easily.

 

[Bigdog57]

My particular Hornet rifle is the singleshot break-open BRNO ZBK110. Very good shooter, though with a gritty trigger that takes getting used to.
I too prefer to reload with Lil Gun powder, with H110 being my back-up. Been doing good with 40 and 45 grain bullets, now about to try 34 grain Dogtown and 35 grain V-MAX bullets, as many other Hornet guys say they do better for accuracy.
It's a little tricky to load, as the thin case can crumple if not careful.
My best groups have been 5/8" at 100 yards with gunshow handloads from a few years back (vendor hasn't been back for awhile). I am trying to duplicate this load, and have just about got it. I am shooting under an inch.

 

[Michael R.]

Browning a-bolt micro hunter. Awesome gun, my dad has killed 3 coyotes and a deer with it

 

[redneck2]

Just got a Ruger77/22 in .22 Hornet. Haven't shot it enough to have an idea of accuracy yet. It's really quiet compared to most any other center fire

Thing I like is that it gets about 3,000 fps with just a smidge of powder

Does anyone here own and/or use one?

Use the search function here and in the Reloading Forum

 

[Furncliff]

CZ makes a nice rifle with a short Mauser action perfect for the Hornet.

 

[mdauben]

The next rifle on my list is something chambered for the 22 Hornet. Another caliber you don't see everyday.

I don't own any firearms in .22 hornet, but I have to admit I have always been somewhat fascinated by the caliber.

I almost picked up a Savage 24 in .22 Hornet/20 Gauge once, and I've regretted not jumping on it ever since. I've also been tempted to pick up a Contender in that caliber as a light varmint gun, but I've never actually gotten around to doing so.

 

[Walkalong]

I have a 77/22 in .22 Hornet. It will never match the accuracy of the old Savage 23D I used to have, it is a good shooter and lots of fun. Good for crows out to around 200 yards, although 200 is pushing it a little for the accuracy of the gun.

 

[Sniper66]

Hornet Recommendations

I have few ideas about 22 Hornets. I shot a friend's Ruger 77/22 Hornet and hit a plastic gallon jug of water at 180 yards. It shoots quite well, but for smaller targets I wouldn't be trying shots that long. I have seen and handled a Savage Varmint 40, which is a single shot 22 Hornet, but goofed and didn't buy it...wish I would have. I saw a used one at Cabela's in KC the other day, but it had a junk scope on it and they were not willing to sell it without the scope, so I passed on it. I don't think Savage makes this one anymore. What I am holding out for is an Anschutz. The Germans like the .22 Hornet and manufacture really good ones. But, they are pricey. I found a good one at the Tulsa Gun Show, but had already bought a gun, so I had to pass it up. Of the American models at reasonable prices I would go with the Ruger. Another issue is the availability and expense of ammo. My friend who has the Ruger loads his own and since they use such a small amount of powder, it is much cheaper to load your own. The long thin neck on the cartridge makes them a little tricky to load, but that is a minor issue if you have good equiment and prepare the empties well. It is a good varmint round for prairie dogs out to 150 yds or so. Happy shooting!!

 

[subdude]

I have an old Stevens 322A in 22 Hornet, and love it. Accurate as heck with 35g bullets over a full case of Lil Gun with small pistol primers as others have stated. Minute of squirrel at 150 yards all day with no problem.

 

[GooseGestapo]

If I were getting a new Hornet, it'd be a rifle/carbine barrel for my T/C Contender, because I have a T/C.
If not a T/C, I'd get the .22Hornet MicroMedallion.

I have a Ruger M77/22Hornet and really can't recommend it. It's my second one. The first one was worse than the one I have now. The first had a badly oversized chamber that was out of round. The second one has a decent chamber but the bolt has so much slop between the bolt halves that I had to put a 0.50" wire "bushing" between them to get it to extract w/o using a wooden mallet.
After free floating the barrel (KBZ-heavy bbl stainless steel), working down the trigger to ~3lbs, and glass bedding it besides the bolt tweeking above, it will "occasionally" shoot to 1.5" at 100yds. A single 5-shot group was shot with a 50gr Hornady SX that went 0.4" with 5 touching, but subsequent attempts with 5 exact same cases and everything about the load ran to 1.2"......

IMO, the CZ or the Browning Micro are the way to go. However, Savage has their new Mod.40 that may be a good choice....

 

[VancMike]

see also the "22 Hornet or .223" thread.

 

[Hanshi]

I have an older Kimber M82 Hornet that is one of the finest rifles I've ever owned. I've killed a few deer with it, among other critters, and it's a sub moa rifle with just about any powder I've used. My favorite is H110.