22 Hornet

[Mr_Logic 5]

I'm giving up on my BSA. I have my doubts about its accuracy, although it does mostly seem to be 1", odd flyers and missed rabbits (quite a few, not just the odd one) mean I don't trust it.

 

I still like Hornet as a calibre, so tomorrow I should get my ticket back with a one-for-one on it.

 

I want something with a detachable mag, and preferably cut.

 

Not a lot in Hornet (including the bloody ammo, but let's not go there...!) so choices are limited.

 

Thus far:

 

New CZ527, not cut, £410

2nd hand Ruger 77/22 Hornet, cut, £375

2nd hand (obviously!) Brno Fox, cut, £235.

 

And worth considering? Or shall I bin it and get 22 Magnum? This will be expensive because I have a variation for a quad with a barrel, rather than a 22 Mag rifle.

 

I will also be buying a 223, but not necessarily right now. Would just use 223, but one of the permissions isn't happy about anything that big, and 22LR is a bit small for it.

[Deker 3,491]

I suspect the lack of response is down to the relatively few (and dwindling) number of people who use the Hornet.

 

I suspect the .22WMR and then the .223Rem will do just about everything you want. Of course the Hornet sits quite well between the 2 and is a cracking round but does it justify itself.

[markbivvy 6]

but does it justify itself.

 

mine does, bought a crono the other week and did some tests with the hornet ,223,.17 hmr.

my hornet is running at 3100 fps with 12.2 grns of h110.

is stunningly accurate, and is cheaper to use than the 17hmr.

cz 527 by the way.its taken a good few foxes and many a bunnie.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I have my 'NEF Handy' Hornet. Notorious pig of a thing. I was all out for getting a Mag instead. But now I've sorted out what appears to be what, I'm just looking for a make of Hornet which'll suit me better.

 

What's finally swayed me is the 'bouncability' of the WMR. I had a Gray in the cross hairs yesterday, but I wouldn't take the shot because there was a stick in the way. I just wasn't 100% I could shoot round the stick and still hit central body mass. We'll meet again

 

Had that been a Mag? One look and I'd have walked on. Chances of it hitting that stick and then whizzing off who knows where would have made my blood run cold.

 

But there speaks extreme inexperience, backed by the advice of others. Maybe, if ye used to potential pingers (.22LR) ye've just learned to live with that sort of thing? I haven't. And I don't wish to. I'll keep to the Horner calibre

[James@Scarborough 0]

Given that you don't reload, and you have a shortage of ammo, I think It's time for a change. I still can't understand why your farmer (?) won't let you use a .223????

[woz 260]

i know iv pulled your leg a little over the hornet,but if your thinking of getting a 223 anyway,why dont you just get a 223 and some reloading kit...the reloading kit takes up very little space and you can run 223 with 32grain heads upto some quite heavy heads (im not sure how heavey )then you can tailor your 223 round to what and where your shooting.....iv got 22.lr which is handy,17hmr not sure how handy,223 will do pritty much everything i want..

[Mr_Logic 5]

Given that you don't reload, and you have a shortage of ammo, I think It's time for a change. I still can't understand why your farmer (?) won't let you use a .223????

Golf course, worried about damage to the greens and fairways from a 223 hollowpoint. Not particularly rational for the greens anyway, because I won't shoot on those ANYWAY.... But they're the boss.

 

If it weren't for that I would stick with 223 and be done. Which still points me at 22 magnum, but the initial outlay for a quad will be more than I will spend on the Hornet rifle, gotta see how long it takes for the cheaper ammo to pay for the difference!

[Deker 3,491]

I have my 'NEF Handy' Hornet. Notorious pig of a thing. I was all out for getting a Mag instead. But now I've sorted out what appears to be what, I'm just looking for a make of Hornet which'll suit me better.

 

What's finally swayed me is the 'bouncability' of the WMR. I had a Gray in the cross hairs yesterday, but I wouldn't take the shot because there was a stick in the way. I just wasn't 100% I could shoot round the stick and still hit central body mass. We'll meet again

 

Had that been a Mag? One look and I'd have walked on. Chances of it hitting that stick and then whizzing off who knows where would have made my blood run cold.

 

But there speaks extreme inexperience, backed by the advice of others. Maybe, if ye used to potential pingers (.22LR) ye've just learned to live with that sort of thing? I haven't. And I don't wish to. I'll keep to the Horner calibre

 

 

 

I'm a bit confused now DS??

 

Should WMR above be HMR????

 

The .22LR in most of its forms has a distinct chance of "pingers", the .22WMR is very rarely effected by this!

[Deker 3,491]

but does it justify itself.

 

mine does, bought a crono the other week and did some tests with the hornet ,223,.17 hmr.

my hornet is running at 3100 fps with 12.2 grns of h110.

is stunningly accurate, and is cheaper to use than the 17hmr.

cz 527 by the way.its taken a good few foxes and many a bunnie.

 

 

Mark

 

The more you go on about this reloading game the better it sounds, but I struggle with my interest levels about it, and time. For us sad people who have no idea about reloading, reasonable Hornet cost potentially 50p or more per pop around this way.

 

Factory stuff can be bought (if you know where to go) from about.....

.22LR 2.5p

HMR 18p

WMR 14p

Hornet 33p

.223 14p FMJ 18p HP

22-250 40p

.243 35p

.308 27p

7.62 20p

 

I'm not suggesting that all this stuff is match quality but it does for many of us, hence not a massive interest in reloading around some parts! Having said that, if we ever get together, I would love to try some of yours, or anyone elses, home brews, I could be swayed!

 

Deker

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Sorry, Decker. Probably my inexperience / basic ignorance showing through as I struggle to assimilate the jargon people throw at me as I go along.

 

I thought WMR was another (more 'proper'?) term for a .22 Magnum? Only I was recently assured that my Hornet rounds would disintergrate on contact with most things, where as a Magnum round still retained the ability to 'Ping'.

 

Either way, on my ground, there's so many large stones laying barely below the surface that Anything liable to bounce would have more than enough oppertunity to find something to deflect from. Even with a 'suitable backstop'. Thus I'm personally a bit disturbed about letting loose with any potential pingers.

 

Have I got all this about right, in your experience?

[Deker 3,491]

Sorry, Decker. Probably my inexperience / basic ignorance showing through as I struggle to assimilate the jargon people throw at me as I go along.

 

I thought WMR was another (more 'proper'?) term for a .22 Magnum? Only I was recently assured that my Hornet rounds would disintergrate on contact with most things, where as a Magnum round still retained the ability to 'Ping'.

 

Either way, on my ground, there's so many large stones laying barely below the surface that Anything liable to bounce would have more than enough oppertunity to find something to deflect from. Even with a 'suitable backstop'. Thus I'm personally a bit disturbed about letting loose with any potential pingers.

 

Have I got all this about right, in your experience?

 

 

DS

 

There are a number of Hornet bullets that may well "disintigrate" on contact but there are several that will not, the Hornet is available I believe between about 400-750ft lb with a considerable variation in performance and terminal ballistic effect!

 

The .22 Magnum, is correctly known as the .22WMR (Winchester Magnum Rifle) and it too, is available with some bullets that will "disintigrate" on contact but there are also some that will not. The .22WMR will hardly ever "ping" or bounce any more than any other round.

 

The .22LR (Long Rifle) in just about all it's forms, is the famous one for bouncing, don't confuse it with the .22WMR.

 

The .22WMR will not be deflected by small sticks or blades of grass to any extent, the round that is famous for this is the .17HMR (Hornady Magnum Rifle).

 

Edited March 20, 2008 by Deker