22 Mag or 22 Hornet?

[engravertom]

Hi Folks,

I need some input.

I currently have a Mossberg "Chuckster" 22 mag bolt gun, for back yard woodchucks. When we moved in a couple of years ago, our land lady said "feel free to shoot any woodchucks you see." They are undermining barns and outbuildings, etc. It is a rural area, but she prefers we not shoot much above the 22 rimfire, due to noise considerations. i think a high powered varmint caliber is out of the question. I have shot two so far, and the both were able to get away, and die later. Is it my marksmanship? Would a 22 Hornet make a difference? If coyotes and fox enter in to the question, would the 22 mag be up to it? Coyotes are on the rise in Western NY, at least in our area.

If I just try to improve shot location, can i just go with the 22 lr on the chucks? in that scenario, shots are around 75 yards. I would like to range farther afield and go after chucks elsewhere, as my 14 yeard has expressed an interest, and it almost seems like a public service!

Budget is limited, and i don't want calibers to proliferate. I have my eye on a Handi rifle in 22 hornet. Could eventually add a barrel in 45-70 also. Already have dies and brass for that.

Just stick with the 22 mag? the need to stock up on stuff i already have makes me hesitate to by the Hornet, as the ammo, dies, brass, and the rfle itself will take funds away from powder, lead, moulds, etc., for other guns.

Thanks for any good advice!

I'm not a hunter with much experience, but am familiar with guns and shooting to a degree, just to give some background.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[deacon8]

Personally, I would stick with the .22 mag. I have shot quite a few coyotes with it and they have all died...more often than not, dropping in their tracks. I don't seem why a woodchuck, wounded by a .22 mag, would instantly die with a Hornet.

Shot placement? If they aren't acting like they have been stuck by lightning, they need to be hit in better spots. The .22 mag packs quite a punch...

For whatever that's worth.

 

[engravertom]

Thanks,

The first one I shot crawled off, and left a serious blood trail. The second spun around and around like crazy, then sneaked away. They were both found later as half eaten carcasses.

Tom

 

[loadedround]

Your questions pose the proverbial question "what do you like best, chocolate or vanilla ice cream", but I'll try to give you an honest answer. I own a 22RFM and two 22 Hornet rifles(one of which is a 22K-hornet). Basically they both have the same report and feel practically the same off a bench. The Hornet will definitely out shoot the 22 RFM at over 150 yards, even though accuracy is about the same at 100 yds with the Hornet slightly better. The Hornet will best the 22 mag over 150yds and out to 250 yds if you need that distance. Factory ammo will run twice is much for Hornet compared to the 22RFM, but if you invest in the dies etc to reload you can bring the cost down belong that of the factory 22 mag's. I love the Hornet, it's a fun cartridge to shoot and it would be my first choice for the task involved. However you must consider, distance, amount of shooting involved, cost for a new rifle, scope and ammo, and that pretty much narrows it down to your 22RFM. Now however if you desire a new rifle...! Good shooting.

 

[rangerruck]

though I am not a fan of the 22 mag, out to 100 yds, it will do anything you want it to do, depending on shot placement. A headshot, earshot, neckshot, or front/side chest shot should do it. use a hollowpoint bullet, or a softpoint, bu preferably a hollowpoint. Now then, the hornet is much better, much much better, carries 100's of lbs more of energy, and will get them airborne.
if you go hornet, it is ideal to handload, and after a couple hundred rounds, the hornet ammo, will begin to make up in price, the cost of the 22mag ammo, and then begin to make up the cost for the rifle.
So over say a few years, the hornet can save you a few hundred dollars easy, if you are a high volume shooter, and will pay for itself, in deflected cost of 22mag ammo.

 

[MMCSRET]

I've never owned a 22 Mag, the price of the ammunition put me off in 1959 and it has never enticed me back on. I like the 22H a lot, I've owned 10" Contenders, 24" H&R single shots, and the best of the 3 is the Savage M40 I'm using now. I've never fired a factory round of 22H, although I have a box of 40 yr. old Remington ammo. I do not magnumize my Hornet I have a 221 FB for that. I found that a straight 6X scope on my Hornet is best, I don't overshoot the effective range that way. I've been a handloader for over 50 years so centerfire is always my first choice on close calls like 22 Mag vs. 22 Hornet. Good shooting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ArmedBear]

I would not have been interested in the Hornet until recently.

Lately, rimfire ammo has been so hard to come by, I'm a LOT more interested in a reloadable .22 than I ever was in the past...

 

[cyclopsshooter]

cci 22wmr tnt ammo

 

[Eb1]

I would keep the 22WMR, and possible change ammo. Either you are not using an explosive enough round, or the round you are using is not accurate enough in your gun.

You have not mentioned the 22WMR bullet you are using. I might suggest a 22WMR 30 grain Win HP, or an Hornady VMAX.

 

[engravertom]

Thanks for the additional input.

I do have a leupold VXII 2-7 that is not on anything right now. I just acquired it, and if I keep usng the 22mag, it will go there. If I buy the 22H, it will go there.

First chuck was hit with a CCI HP. Second was with an FMJ, as that is what was in the mag. These are usually shots of opportuity around dinner time. My bad on using the FMJ.

I will try better ammo in the 22 mag.

I will keep listening.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[35Rem]

Find some lighter weight hollowpoint ammo That Shoots Good In YOUR Gun. These little guys need lots of energy transfered to them in a hurry = hollowpoint. The 40 grain stuff is probably too tough.

 

[Walkalong]

.22 Hornet if you like to reload. It can always be downloaded to .22 Mag velocities. Much bigger choice of bullets.

 

[Eric F]

I agree reloading for the hornet is easy and cheap and the bullet choices are good too.

 

[Eb1]

Winchester Supreme 30 grain HP .22WMR might do the trick. Holds together, and delivers a whop!

 

[Chas.]

Just go ahead and get your 45-70 Handi and use that. They will NOT stagger away.

 

[dagger dog]

engravertom,

The advantage the Hornet has over the 22 Mag is bullet selection, if you are thinking coyote the 40-50 grain varmint bullets are avalible for the Hornet.

The modern rifles chambered for the Hornet with the 1-14 twist ratio are cabable of shooting the 35 and 40 gr V-Max very close to 3000 fps with Hodgdon Lil' Gun powder. It is a little bit louder than the 22 mag but not much.

That type of performance will stop chuckzilla dead in his tracks no matter where you hit him. Wiley doesn't stand much of a chance either if you keep the distance <150 yds.

A basic Lee Loader is less than 30 bucks a pound of Lil' Gun 25$ 100 primers,(you will probably have to scrounge them up) and buy some once fired brass (from the handloading buy sell trade forum).

You will enjoy turning out your own reloads, and especially if you hunt with them.

SO BUY THE HORNET you'll have a hoot of a time ,one of the best centerfire rounds going!

Oh yeah,one other thing, ground hogs are GOOD TO EAT!

 

[Eb1]

There is not doubt that the 22 Hornet is more powerful, but for the price of $10-$15, I would give another boxes/brand of cartridges a try. Although you can never have to many guns .

 

[mgkdrgn]

I have that exact same rifle ... and I -never- had a woodchuck do anything but be DRT when I hit it. Listen for the "thwack" about a second after your shot. If you don't hear that ... you missed. If you do, you'll find a DRT 'chuck where the "thwack" came from.

22LR ain't gonna cut it -at all- .... thats why I switched to 22mag. Maybe your Western NY chucks are tougher than the Finger Lakes chucks I was shooting 30 years ago.

 

[engravertom]

OK,

I happened upon a Remington 341-p yesterday. I went back to the shop where I saw it and got it today, so I will be saving my pennies for a 22 Hornet down the road perhaps, and working with the 22 mag for now.

Thanks for all the good suggestions!

Tom

 

[ENC]

CCI Maxi Mag HP+V

Its all I buy for .22mag. It works on anything I have ever had to use it on. A mean acting dog was the only thing that required more than one shot, and that was due to shot placement/shooting with it on the move.

Evan

 

[22-rimfire]

Shooting woodchucks with either a 22WMR or 22LR require precise shot placement. Aim for the eyes or ear. If you hit near, they won't do any running off. They will run into their holes just about every time if you shoot them in the chest. Not my first choice. The 22WMR is really pretty powerful. I had a Chuckster for a while.