The 22 Hornet: Uses: Your Choices in ammo, on animals, results

[steve white]

A welder here in Dallas must have had over a hundred tiny little whitetail deer racks nailed up in his shop. He said he shot them all with a 22 Hornet in Llano, TX where the deer run abnormally small. An uncle sometimes uses one for deer on his own property, but he is an exceptional shot. I'm pretty sure both were picking their shots, but it is proven on deer in capable hands. The question is, are African game of the same size too tough for the Hornet. Let us know! And let us know the truth if the truth is it is a poor choice for Africa...

 

[Ridge Runner]

all modern hornets are/use 224 diameter. You'd have to get a 1950s gun or older to get a 223 bore.I use 35 gr VMAX factory ammo in a K-hornet ( fireforms well, excellent accuracy) and 52 gr bergers and TSX 45 gr in reloads. W296 is H110. I like Little gun and AA1680 best. AS I have a 222 as well I use the hornet only for Varmints.
Coyote/wolf up I use a 243.

According to the .223 and 5.56 reload data I have in 4 different reloading manuals both calibers use a longer than 22 Hornet .224 diameter bullets.

W296 and H110 are 2 different powders, but ranked ~evenly.

Lyman manual

H110 ranked #50
W296 ranked #51

Hornady Manual

W296 ranked #50
H110 ranked #51

I have tested both powders in my 44 mag. revolvers with 240 grain bullets. Much prefer the H110 over W296. Using the 260 grain Leighigh bullets I prefer the W296 over H110 in my BFR.

 

[Ridge Runner]

So I don't have a chronograph so I can't give you those numbers.

But my best load was 11grns of H110 with a Speer 40grn SP Varmint projectile. Seated at 1.73 in my gun. 1.49 on a CBOG.

I was also playing with some Lil Gun loads around the 13grn mark but I don't remember them really giving me the accuracy I was happy with.

Thanks for the information

Is the 11gr H110 loads compressed loads?

I loaded some test loads at 9.3 grains H110 using Sierra 45 grain FB HP. There didn't seem to be much space for 1.8 more grains. C.O.A.L being 1.723 inches in accordance to the Hornady and Sierra manuals.

 

[ActionBob]

Actually had to do some research.
I'm considering converting my 22 Hornet to 22 K for increase in brass life and velocity.

I'm thinking of it for the claimed increased accuracy. I have to experiment with various loads but so far the grouping is not as tight as I would like for these small critters.

What I understand is the K version spaces the cartridge in the chamber off the shoulder vs. the rim on the regular Hornet.

Any additional input regarding this from the many experienced hand loaders and ballistics experts?

 

[ActionBob]

A welder here in Dallas must have had over a hundred tiny little whitetail deer racks nailed up in his shop. He said he shot them all with a 22 Hornet in Llano, TX where the deer run abnormally small. An uncle sometimes uses one for deer on his own property, but he is an exceptional shot. I'm pretty sure both were picking their shots, but it is proven on deer in capable hands. The question is, are African game of the same size too tough for the Hornet. Let us know! And let us know the truth if the truth is it is a poor choice for Africa...

I think it is an excellent choice, in the right circumstances.

 

[Ridge Runner]

A welder here in Dallas must have had over a hundred tiny little whitetail deer racks nailed up in his shop. He said he shot them all with a 22 Hornet in Llano, TX where the deer run abnormally small. An uncle sometimes uses one for deer on his own property, but he is an exceptional shot. I'm pretty sure both were picking their shots, but it is proven on deer in capable hands. The question is, are African game of the same size too tough for the Hornet. Let us know! And let us know the truth if the truth is it is a poor choice for Africa...

As I was researching this caliber there were several mentions of the 22 Hornet being a good deer caliber.

Having witnessed the poor results of a .223/5.56 round on a deer makes me even more hesitant to recommend using any caliber less than .243 on deer size game.

The shot was at 40 yards on a moving away deer. The bullet ran up the deer's spine from the front of the hindquarters stopping at the base of the neck. The bullet had zero, I do mean zero effect on the deer. We actually thought it was a missed shot. We are hunting an island about 300 yards long at max width maybe 70 yards. We chased that deer twice around the island before his buddy dropped the deer with a moving brain shot at maybe 25 - 30 yards. It wasn't till we got back to my buddy's house and processing the deer that the 223/5.56 bullet was found.

I also have knowledge of a properly placed 223/5.56 bullet in deer's vitals has both dropped deer in their tracks and deer have ran over 200 yards before collapsing.

And back to the discussion: Yes. A .22 LR can kill deer but there are better calibers.

________________________________________________


Now back to discussing the 22 Hornet.

 

[D.M.V]

Thanks for the information

Is the 11gr H110 loads compressed loads?

I loaded some test loads at 9.3 grains H110 using Sierra 45 grain FB HP. There didn't seem to be much space for 1.8 more grains. C.O.A.L being 1.723 inches in accordance to the Hornady and Sierra manuals.

Yes slightly. Hears what I'm seeing

 

[Ridge Runner]

Yes slightly. Hears what I'm seeing View attachment 620991View attachment 620992

That's what I saw and reduced the charge from 10.3 to 9.3. The 9.3 charge came up to the base of the neck. Seating the bullets still felt like the charge was being slightly compress.

 

[Sarg]

According to the .223 and 5.56 reload data I have in 4 different reloading manuals both calibers use a longer than 22 Hornet .224 diameter bullets.

W296 and H110 are 2 different powders, but ranked ~evenly.

Lyman manual

H110 ranked #50
W296 ranked #51

Hornady Manual

W296 ranked #50
H110 ranked #51

I have tested both powders in my 44 mag. revolvers with 240 grain bullets. Much prefer the H110 over W296. Using the 260 grain Leighigh bullets I prefer the W296 over H110 in my BFR.

Well every article points to H110 & W296 being the exact same powder just in a different can & that is what Hodgdon also say, so should be the same powder !

I have shot a lot of animals (Deer included) with the Hornet & the K which is much better but didn’t want to modify nice old BSA, Brno & Anschutz rifles.

If using factory ammo the Euro stuff eg RWS Norma Sako is a bit better on big game compared to US ammo as I suspect they shoot Roe Deer with these as opposed to varmints in the US ?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Every Hornet load is essentially a compressed load.

 

[ActionBob]

I don't want more speed from the K version, just better accuracy. If anything I would slow the Hornet down just a bit for small African critters like I have been hunting with Bossie of Limpopo Big Game Safaris.

 

[Arctic97]

Picked up a CZ 527 in the Hornet a couple years ago. Love it. Have wanted one since the 6th grade when one of the nuns at school recommended a book she thought I might like called Deathwatch by Robb White. It had a Hornet in the story and I have wanted one since.

Loading the little guy is so different from loading the 458....lol

 

[Saul]

Picked up a CZ 527 in the Hornet a couple years ago. Love it. Have wanted one since the 6th grade when one of the nuns at school recommended a book she thought I might like called Deathwatch by Robb White. It had a Hornet in the story and I have wanted one since.
View attachment 621083

I never knew nuns were so cool.

 

[Arctic97]

I never knew nuns were so cool.

Lol...right!?

 

[AZDAVE]

I have shot 22 hornets and K hornets for longer than I want to remember. I use them when a 22lr just isn't enough. Mostly for prairie dogs in my youth. and later for calling coyotes and other small furbears. Mostly shot 40 and 45 gr WW or remington rounds Once I started reloading for them I found that Lilgun powder give the best velocity and accuracy in my rifles. Keep telling myself I need to get a 22 hornet barrel for my TC encore.

 

[WAB]

Has anyone used a Frankfort arsenal to trim hornet cases? I’m wondering if it will work given the minimal shoulder.

 

[D.M.V]

I get nostalgic when I shoot this cartridge. Has such a rich history.

 

[mooze]

Well every article points to H110 & W296 being the exact same powder just in a different can & that is what Hodgdon also say, so should be the same powder !

I have shot a lot of animals (Deer included) with the Hornet & the K which is much better but didn’t want to modify nice old BSA, Brno & Anschutz rifles.

If using factory ammo the Euro stuff eg RWS Norma Sako is a bit better on big game compared to US ammo as I suspect they shoot Roe Deer with these as opposed to varmints in the US ?

agree with above re: H110/W296, the differences in load manuals by 0.2 gr for Hornet/k-hornet is what you get with different charges of any powder. AA1680 is the best, especially for >45gr.
The 52 gr AMAX seems to hold together quite well at Hornet speeds ( about 2650 fps out of my Cooper K-Hornet, but I have only shot 1 small Haida mule deer with it, so limited experience. Winchester used to make a 50 gr PP, have not loaded it yet.
The only monolithics I have managed to get to shoot/stabilize in a 1/12 barrel are the old 40 gr GS custom and the Barnes TSX 45 gr, all 50 grainers are to long ( TTSX and GMX).



from left: Hornady 35 gr facory load
52 gr Berger Varmint
K-Hornet
45 gr TSX
52 gr AMAx

 

[375er]

I just loaded the 35 gr. Hammer Hunter in the .22 Hornet. Accurate on paper but have not used them on game yet. I am confident the results will be positive.

 

[Saul]

I feel like the Hornet is just begging to be necked up to 25.