What do you think of the 22 hornet?

[cmdan]

I have never owned one of these, but like the idea of being able to reload a 22. Anyone have any experience with these and what do you think of them?

[WRTN]

I have never owned one of these, but like the idea of being able to reload a 22. Anyone have any experience with these and what do you think of them?

It will get the job done in most case. It is however an obsolete cartridge. Best bet is to go with a .223. Same caliber, very plentiful. Reloading components are probably the most available on the market. You can get brass MUCH cheaper and reload down to 22 hornet power levels if you choose. Really no reason to buy one. If you already have one, then it might be worth reloading for.

[Dawgus]

I'd have to agree, go with the .223. The hornet is an impresive little round, but I've never had much use for one. I've always had .22 mags, a .222 and .223's. It just didnt make sense to me to have something 22 cal in between.

[kawalekm]

Ditdo
I looked into getting a Hornet because I just wanted a little more umph than a .22RF. Like WRTN said though it is obsolete, so the options available are very limited. I too bought a .223, which works out OK because I also have a Mini-14.

One load you might try with the .223 is a 40 grain hollowpoint with about 7.0 grains of 700X. That should give you Hornet performance in most rifles.
Michael

[DM]

I've handloaded a few thousand Hornet rounds, including using my own cast bullets, as i have a 22 cal. bullet mould i bought just for it. It does get you into a cheap to shoot centerfire 22, but i never liked the long weak neck of the Hornet, so you have to be careful seating bullets into them. I moved up to the .222 Rem. and i like it a lot, they are VERY accurate, better than the Hornet... These days a .223 would be a good choise, if you also wanted a semi auto 22 centerfire.

The one thing a Hornet does do well, is it's a rimmed case, so it's perfect in break open guns, like a combo gun...

DM

[Pitdog]

Everyone has already said what I would say, and it has all been the same basic thing. I own .223, .222 and a Hornet. Although I have never loaded for the Hornet and do not intend to, I do like it. It is just outdone by the other to cartridges and reloading for them is cheap and easy, plus availability of brass and bullet selection make them hard to beat, plus you can eek just a bit more range out the .222 and the .223 especially.
But if you just got the itch, then scratch it!

[gunsmoke]

I have to agree with DM about the P. I. A. long neck on the hoenet. I have a Savage 23 in hornet as well ass a bbl in Hornet and another in K Hornet for my Contender. I much prefer loading the K and so shoot it a whole lot more.

The hornet has its role its a great little cartridge and you can handload it really really cheap once you get a stockpile of brass to work with.

To prolong the life of your brass in the Hornet keep the loads below maximum that looonnnnnng neck stretchs and splits easily. If you get a K Hornet you've got a aharp shoulder and shorter neck and you can get real close to .223 velocities with less than half the powder per load.

I've been thinking of getting a Ruger 77 and having it rechambered for K Hornet. It will make a very good quiet and CHEAP coyote killer with Barnes 50 gr. TSVs http://barnesbullets.myshopify.com/products/22-cal-224-50-gr-tsx-fb

Good luck and good shooting.

[hunter63]

Here is a little history on the .22 Hornet:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_Hornet#History

It was a wildcat round that went main stream.

I guess if you want something different, go for it.
Sometime it's kinda fun to have something that everyone does have.

IMHO I would op for the .204 Ruger.
Only reason for me is that it has more firearm options for it.
The even make a barrel for my H&R/NEF SS Handi Rifle in .204.

P.S. Just checked and you can get a .22 Hornet barrel also.

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

[docsoos]

To prolong the life of your brass in the Hornet keep the loads below maximum that looonnnnnng neck stretchs and splits easily.


Agreed.

I've never owned a Hornet personally, but after many years of picking up brass from a multitude of calibers at the range, a LOT of the .22 Hornet brass I've seen is either split down the long axis of the neck, or completely missing the neck brass above the shoulder. That'd be a pain to get out of a chamber, I'd bet.

I've even seen some .30-30 brass that has had real thin necks, and collapsed a few when I started reloading back in the early 80's. Live and learn, with a light touch on thin necks. :)

DocSoos

[gunsmoke]

http://www.accuratereloading.com/22hornet.html


Outatanding article with lots of loading data for the Hornet.