can't decide which caliber

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grafsk8er

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i'm always changing my mind about which caliber i want to buy. it's definitely going to be a .22 caliber round. I've narrowed it down to 3 choices. 22 hornet, 221 fireball, and the 222. i'm going to say 99% of my hunting will be within 200 yards on pretty much woodchuck sized game, maybe a bobcat, but that's about as large as i want to go. i will be handloading, which i know makes a difference. i live in a semi suburban area, so noise is kind of an issue. which caliber do you think i should get, i'm leaning mostly towards the fireball and hornet because they can do everything i want, and semi quietly. which do you think would be my best bet?
 
But for what your hunting a 17HMR is just a better mousetrap. Less noise, less danger of ricochets, good on small game. AND this is important you need to check your local game regulations. Here in Arkansas it's illegal to use a centerfire on some of the game you describe.
 
Good luck hand loading a 17 HMR. Of the three you named I have only owned one, that was the Hornet. Nice round I liked mine real well. Next step up I went to the 223 but have seen a 222 kill deer from a Contender. I would buy another Hornet in a NY minute if I found what I was looking for with a good price. Good round for coyote sized game in the 200 yard range. Any you picked is better than a rim fire on that size animals IMO.

Krochus,
I am interested in what animal is illegal to shoot with a centerfire in Ar?
 
Krochus,
I am interested in what animal is illegal to shoot with a centerfire in Ar?
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Furbearer Hunting Methods: Furbearers may be taken with archery equipment, firearms no larger than .22 caliber rimfire or shotguns with shot no larger than T shot. Bobcat, Raccoon, and Opossum may be taken at night when treed by dogs during an open season for that species.
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Trust me the AGFC views 22 centerfire as being larger than rimfire

now here is THE only exception regarding bobcat and yotes, rather retarded if you ask me. A 300wby is OK but a 9mm carbine is verboten

Bobcat and coyote may be taken during day light hours with archery equipment, firearms no larger than .30 caliber or shotguns with shot no larger than T shot.
Click to expand...
 
i'm assuming you're from ny, eliphet? and as far as ny regulations go, i can't carry a centerfire rifle during deer season where i live, but there is counties around me which are rifle country. but as far as game goes, i can take them with w/e i feel necessary. for rimfires, i've already got myself a nice little 22lr, thats my gun for anything 75 yards in. i got permission from a farmer to do some woodchuckin on his property, and i figured most of my shots aren't going to be further than 200 yards. from what i've been told, the ballistics on the 17hmr die drastically past 150 yards. i don't think i'd try a shot on a woodchuck at 150 yards, it would have to be a clean headshot, and if i missed, that 17 grn bullet would just make that woodchuck suffer, which is something that i never wish upon any animal.
 
You missed my location by a couple thousand miles I am in Idaho.
Take a look at the data in reloading manuals for the calibers you have chosen, but remember none are what you can call quiet. A 223 if hand loaded can be loaded to Hornet velocities with Hornet weight bullets too. Thats one of the real advantages of hand loading, besides saving money you can tailor your loads for you needs. Nothing against the 17's but you have to take whats factory offered, hand load and you make what you want. Besides it's more fun for me.

Good data on factory loadings can be compared here. Some of the reloading sites or a manuals will supply more.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/

interesting regs Krochus, thanks
 
Furbearer Hunting Methods: Furbearers may be taken with archery equipment, firearms no larger than .22 caliber rimfire or shotguns with shot no larger than T shot. Bobcat, Raccoon, and Opossum may be taken at night when treed by dogs during an open season for that species.
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So does this mean a 17 Remington with a 20 grain bullet at 4250 FPS is legal? and a 22 hornet isn't? Does seem "retarded" huh?
 
Nope. the AGFC interprets that A: you must use a rimfire and B: it cannot be larger than .22 caliber
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I musta missed the exclusive "rimfire" point and was thinking a 17 is smaller than a 22, which it is. LOL.

Hornet factory loads has about 1/3 more power than a 22 WMR so it's gonna be at least that much louder.
 
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If you A) loading your own and B) want quiet for small game inside 200 yards, you won't be loading any of those cartridges to the max.

A 40 grain .22 at 2400 is a 40 grain .22 at 2400 so you may as well get a .223 for availability's sake.
 
Nothing wrong with the Hornet . You'll love loading for it as well, and it is a relatively quit round for a centerfire.

If I was going to the .222 I would skip to the .223 I'm re-chambering my .222 to .223 as we speak . (well, my buddy is anyway - I didn't have the reamers)
 
guys 17 hmr was not a choice...lts try not to confuse anyone. I would vote for the fireball if reloading and hornet if not. Fireball with 40 grain bullets is an easy 200 yd gun and really economical to reload and shoot.
 
Out of the choices given, I'd also vote for the Hornet...

However, none of these will be particularly quiet...

Personally, I'd just pick up a .223 Rem. and load accordingly...

Forrest
 
I have a Ruger 77/22 Hornet and a Remington 700 in 222 (1 in 14 twist). The 222 is the most accuate cartridge I have ever shot.I do handload but have found Winchester 50 gr sof pints to be accurate. I have owned 223 in bolt actions that were very accuarte but the 222 beats them all.
Byron
 
The fireball is a pretty solid round, but honestly a .22LR with the right bullet selection will get the job done on most varmint-size game while saving plenty of money and noise.
 
I would choose the Hornet , much quieter than a 222 or 223 and good for 200yds on the game you mentioned. I dont handload but $38.00 for 50 rounds which is about what Ive been paying dont hurt to bad.
 
"...live in a semi suburban area..." How 'semi-suburban? Make sure shooting anything is legal before you worry about what cartridge. Then go look for ammo. You may not be able to find .221 Fireball or .22 Hornet and sometrimes the .222 ammo, easily. Look in Walmart. If one has it, nearly all will have the same stuff. Although they've gotten kind of odd lately with shooting stuff.
If you hunt kitty, you need to look at the hunting regs. A lot of NYS is closed for kitty hunting.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/29475.html
It's a toss up which centre fire to go with. Both the .222 and .22 Hornet are relatively quiet. The .222 is likely easier to get ammo for though.
 
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