Looking into 22 Hornet

[Gordon]

.22 Hornet is a staple in my family for years. Usually bought as factory ammo most becomes a .22 k hornet after firing in our 3 K hornets. I have an Anschutz Exemplar pistol and a couple CZ made Springfield M6 s which are not reamed to K Hornet, the rest are . Lil Gun really kicks up the Hornet a notch if needed. With 40 grain bullet s in a K Hornet rifle 3100 fps is achieved with a few powders . Best accuracy in the Exemplar pistol is a 45 grain HP at 2500 fps from the 10" barrel with 2400 powder from the standard case. It shoots 3/4" at 100 yards off bags with a 10 x Burris . The Martini K Hornet with a 15x Lyman Super Targetspot is sighted in at 200 yards and has done sub 1.5" groups at that range . It is deadly on ground squirrels to 250 yards or so.

 

[Offfhand]

Everyone, sooner or later, should own a Hornet. Call it the Roots factor. I've fallen for the Hornet urge too many times, and still have three. A couple more: a Ruger bolt rifle and No.I single shot were incorrigible so I got rid of them and felt guilty doing so. Another Hornet was a Winchester M-43 that I would now happily pay five times what I sold it for to get it back. (sigh) The Hornet can be tricky to load for, with handloaders who normally have good results reloading for other calibers often being disappointed with their Hornet loads. Hornet factory loads typically being more accurate then first time reloading attempts. Cast bullets tend to make a tricky proposition even trickier. Here are a couple cast bullet that have worked reasonably well. As Mr. Gordon advises, Hornady Lil Gun powder has been a game changer for the Hornet. The three current Hornets are a M-70 Winchester, SAKO and a Springfield M-2 converted to K- Hornet by Griffin & Howe.

 

[NuclearMeltdown]

I considered one, but if you have a bolt action, you can make something similar out of a .223 using 50 grain bullets and H4895 using Hodgdon's 60% rule for downloading. I used 18.9 grains of H4895 and a 50 grain SP and got a 3/4" group at 100 yards on my first try (didn't have to experiment). Twist rate was 1:9. It was quieter than a standard .223 load and hit over a foot lower on target.

If you already have .223 brass and dies, all you'd need is some relatively light bullets and some H4895. Just keep them separate from your semi-auto loads unless you don't mind hand-cycling.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

You own some real beauts Offhand!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If they made a Little Badger in .22 Hornet, exactly like the .22LR and .22Mag, I'd be the first in line. I have a Handi in .22 Hornet with the big old hunking barrel, I've never encountered any problems reloading for it.

At one time, the Hornet was very popular with the Alaskan natives for killing seals, walrus, or anything else they wanted to kill.

 

[Crosshair]

Love my 22 Hornets. I neck size and have never had a problem with brass life and never seen the need for the supposed benefits of the K-Hornet chamber.

I bought about 6,000 of the 40 grain bullets that are for the 22 TCM and they work fantastic in the Hornet where magazine length is an issue. Cheap, but quickly expand/fragment in whatever you are shooting.

My single shot SBR I use a 50 grain SP. That expands and stays together.

Lil-Gun is the only powder I use.

 

[Sniper66]

I have a Savage Model 25 .22Hornet. First one has problems so I returned it and they built a new one that was hand-fitted to assure smooth functioning and now shoots incredibly well with my reloads. I would not recommended it as a target shooter with factory loads. I shoot 35gr Hornady V-Max bullets with 13gr of Li'l Gun powder and consistently shoot <.75" groups at 100 yds. Factory ammo is just too expensive and inconsistent. My reloads are great, but reloading them is tedious. I built mine to fill a niche in my p-dog arsenal, but found the 17HMR is almost as powerful, cheaper to shoot, and I don't have to reload. So, I shoot my 17HMRs and have my 22Hornet up for sale.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I’m very interested in the 22 hornet and would love to find a rifle chambered in it. I want it for small game hunting with cast Bullets.

Find you a .25-20. They can be had in lever, bolt, pump action and single shot, have twist rates conducive to slower, heavier bullets, and a bit more authority running low velocity loads with the .259" 85 gr RNFP.

I have two vintage Marlin 1894s and a Remington model 25 so chambered, they're among my favorites on range day. The model 25 and one of the 1894s are suppressed, silly quiet critter gitters with subsonic loads.

 

[Skeeter330]

I would never get rid of my CZ 527 American in 22 Hornet, it shoots like a laser. But I don't reload for the round yet. I bought a good amount of Hornady factory ammo for it and I've yet to shoot through all of that.

Hope you are saving the brass. If not ill pay your for it

Cant find brass for mine anywhere

 

[Olympus]

Hope you are saving the brass. If not ill pay your for it

Cant find brass for mine anywhere

I save all my brass from everything. But it will eventually come back in stock. Brass manufacturers are too busy trying to keep up with demand on more popular calibers right now, but once the demand gets under control you'll start seeing more Hornet brass on the market.

 

[Skeeter330]

I would go with 223. I have a CZ 22 Hornet and it is great but getting brass is a pain especially right now. I am pretty sure all the major manufactures are spitting out 223 brass to keep up with demand

There are so many more bullet offerings you can use in a 223 depending on twist rate. I would get a 1/9 twist. Great amount of match bullets between 55 - 68 gr and reasonable cheap in cost but not in quality

 

[DMW1116]

I would go with 223. I have a CZ 22 Hornet and it is great but getting brass is a pain especially right now. I am pretty sure all the major manufactures are spitting out 223 brass to keep up with demand

There are so many more bullet offerings you can use in a 223 depending on twist rate. I would get a 1/9 twist. Great amount of match bullets between 55 - 68 gr and reasonable cheap in cost but not in quality

Sounds like good advice. The 22 Hornet has just always intrigued me. I have 223 rifles to cover real needs and it looks like I’ll stick with that just based on availability.

 

[Sniper66]

Sounds like good advice. The 22 Hornet has just always intrigued me. I have 223 rifles to cover real needs and it looks like I’ll stick with that just based on availability.

I do have to say that the 22Hornet is fun and a very good cartridge in it's own right. Of course other calibers may be more useful in some respect. But, I enjpy my 22Hornet and take it top the range for the heck of it now ande then. I also take it on p-dogging shoots just to shoot it a few times. So, buy one in addition to a .223, not instead of.

 

[tark]

I've got a pair of Savage's. Model 23Ds. Love em' both. The bottom gun bears an original Weaver model 344 scope. I shoot it sparingly, it is a 99% gun. I shoot the other one all the time. It will hit a quarter at a hundred yards every time, if I do my part.

I've had remarkable accuracy firing bargain PPU Hornet ammo from both rifles, despite the improved chamber.

Same here, Dave. I find that PPU ammo to be very high quality. I have a case of it so I don't bother to reload.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

As mentioned, I do have a Handi-Rifle in .22 Hornet, but I would really like something much much lighter for long treks into the wilderness. Being able to load the Hornet down for small game and less noise, but at the same time being able to have some full power ammo for when that wolf pack that is out to get me shows up would be a plus for me. My question is, are there any very light .22 Hornet rifles out there? When I google most of what I see are pretty hefty full sized bolt actions. And again, the bull barrel on my Handi is not needed for my purpose. (great around-the-property varmint control and feral cat rifle)(not so much hike all day up and down mountains and busting brush) Again, I sure wish Chiappa made the Little Badger in .22 Hornet.

 

[Sniper66]

There aren't many 22 Hornets out there, so if you want one, you will probably have to settle for one with weight. My Savage Model 25 is medium weight and would work for the purpose you describe very well. Most importantly, it is very accurate and functions smoothly. But, will be hard to find and you'll have to shoulder the heft.

 

[tark]

How light is "light?" My Savage 23Ds come in at around seven pounds each. Including the scope.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I'm thinking more around 5-6 pounds.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

My question is, are there any very light .22 Hornet rifles out there? When I google most of what I see are pretty hefty full sized bolt actions. And again, the bull barrel on my Handi is not needed for my purpose.

Back when I had a local smith I could trust, I had the .223 bull barrel on my NEF Handi shortened to 16" and turned down to a lighter contour (ignore the weird forend and oversize scope in this photo -- it's configured differently now):



Add a Choate synthetic stock with the smaller forend and either a peep sight combo or a compact red dot and you should be somewhere close or under 6 lbs. My .38 Super carbine runs right around there, with a somewhat longer and heavier barrel:



Failing that, you could keep an eye out for a TCR 83 rifle with the .22 Hornet barrel -- they look elegant, but I think they'll still be pushing 7 lbs. A Contender-based carbine might get you closer to 6 lbs., depending on the barrel profile. Either TC approach could get costly right now though, unless you already have most of the components or can find them used.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Not a bad idea. We do have a very excellent gunsmith just over the border in Plummer Idaho. That just may be the way to go.

I like the looks of your .38 Super, and the stock. The only thing I don't like about my NEF is the contour of the stock. Kind of oversized. I wonder if Choate makes a straight-grip butt stock for the NEF.

Well I just put my snomobile up for sale yesterday, to finance a couple gun projects. But no bites yet. If she sells, I may just do that. ! Thanks.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Yep, anything .22 Hornet or TCR83 looks very expensive right now. Would have to go with option #1, which would be turning the barrel down and slapping on the Choate stock.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Yep, anything .22 Hornet or TCR83 looks very expensive right now. Would have to go with option #1, which would be turning the barrel down and slapping on the Choate stock.

For the benefit of science I got out my .223 H&R barrel and ran everything past my electronic scale.

.38 Super carbine with ghost ring rear aperture: 6 lbs. 1 oz.

.223 carbine with lightened barrel compact red dot sight (Bushnell TRS-25): 6 lbs. 3.5 oz.

Both barrels are actually 17 inches. Receiver and buttstock without barrel and forend weigh 2 lbs. 8 oz. Total length with 17" barrel installed is 31.5".

If you chopped your Hornet barrel to 16.1" and lightened the contour a bit further than I did (mine's a straight taper forward of the forend screw) , 6 lbs. seems quite do-able, especially with iron sights.

I don't think Choate does a straight grip for the Handi, but if you want one of their shorter 'youth' length stocks, PM me -- I've got two going spare in my junk box. Got a spare NDS peep sight too, though I'm not sure I want to part with that.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Now we are on to something, whether the snow-sled sells or not. Is the youth stock a straight stock...or just...short? I just prefer the looks of the straight grip, but the stock on your rifle looks very nice.

With the smaller hole in the barrel, I can see where the .223 is slightly heavier, assuming the red-dot does not have much weight to it. My Hornet, of course, has that same small hole. But anywhere in the close neighborhood of 6#'s will work for me. Perhaps I'll fill the stock with helium.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Okay, my .22 Hornet weighs 7.4 pounds. Has one of the big old red-dots on it. She needs to lose some weight. And the butt stock...it is butt-ugly.

 

[SwampWolf]

I would go with 223. I have a CZ 22 Hornet and it is great but getting brass is a pain especially right now. I am pretty sure all the major manufactures are spitting out 223 brass to keep up with demand

Go with both and plan on reloading, at least for the Hornet. Three of my favorite "walking around"/stalking varmint rifles are my Browning Micro A-Bolt, bolt-action, chambered in .22 Hornet and topped with a Burris Compact 2x7 scope; my Browning 1885 Low Wall, single-shot, chambered in .223, wearing a Burris Compact 3x9 scope and my Marlin Model 882SS, bolt-action, chambered in .22 Magnum and sporting a Simmons 2 1/2x scope.
The Low Wall is a mite more accurate but I like the A-Bolt best, mostly because it's significantly quieter to shoot than the .223; an important factor in the rural but somewhat populated Ohio farmlands I've been granted access to hunt in. And when it comes to quiet, the .22 Magnum really comes into its own, not to mention how much cheaper it is to shoot if you don't reload.