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

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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

@Saul
It's been done but not as good as a 25-20 on a good solid action.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Actually has an old Zeiss Diatal-C 4x marked West Germany… incredibly bright scope. Have shot Winchester Super X out of it and it’s right at an inch at 50 yards. Need to test some other ammo as @dchum mentioned and stretch its legs out to 100 yards.

@jnotzon
Mine wears a meopta 3.5-10 x44. May be a bit of over kill on the K Hornet but great optics.
Bob

 

[WAB]

@Saul
It's been done but not as good as a 25-20 on a good solid action.
Bob

Ummm, that is a .25-20. That’s where the hornet came from.

 

[Ridge Runner]

@Ridge Runner
Be careful not all hornets will shoot 50 grainers due to the barrel twist. I would love to use them but my barrel sends them out sideways thru the target. Loves 40 to 46 grains and the little Varmit grenade designed for the Hornet
Bob

Thanks for the information.
What is your barrel twist?
What brand and types of 50 grainers did you use?
What velocities did you use for the 50 grainers?

I'm still needing to get out to the range to test the reloads I have made. The weather and weather apps are being very uncooperative.

EDIT: @Bob Nelson 35Whelen
Saw your responses after I asked them.
Working my way recent to older post
trying to catch up.

Thanks for all the information you provided.

 

[DrBob]

There was an article using the Hornet with the earlier, non-TSX, Barnes for small trophy game. The TSX is too long for standard twists. I modified the magazine on my CZ to increase OAL cartridge length for more powder but could not get the 50 grains for above to stabilize. The 45 gr was iffy.

 

[DrBob]

There was an article using the Hornet with the earlier, non-TSX, Barnes for small trophy game. The TSX is too long for standard twists. I modified the magazine on my CZ to increase OAL cartridge length for more powder but could not get the 50 grains for above to stabilize. The 45 gr was iffy.

The Savage has a better twist ....

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I’ve used a .22 Hornet on Muntjac deer (South Bengal), Duiker & Dik Dik (Africa) with excellent results. Also on the African Tiny Ten. My favorite .22 Hornet rifle would have to be the Anschutz Model 1771 (amongst rifles in this caliber that are currently being manufactured). The old BRNO ZKW 465s were also magnificent. In terms of ammunition, I’ve always preferred the Remington 45Gr soft point factory load. Nothing fancy, but I’ve been seeing & using it ever since my childhood years. And it’s never yet given me reason to complain.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ummm, that is a .25-20. That’s where the hornet came from.

@WAB
NAH
The 25-20 is the 32-20 necked down and the 218 bee is the 25-20 necked to .224 cal.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks for the information.
What is your barrel twist?
What brand and types of 50 grainers did you use?
What velocities did you use for the 50 grainers?

I'm still needing to get out to the range to test the reloads I have made. The weather and weather apps are being very uncooperative.

EDIT: @Bob Nelson 35Whelen
Saw your responses after I asked them.
Working my way recent to older post
trying to catch up.

Thanks for all the information you provided.

@Ridge Runner
I think my barrel is a 1:16 twist the same as the original.
Didn't even chrono the fifties. No use if they didn't shoot
Bob

 

[PerH]

.22 Hornet | Handloader Magazine

www.handloadermagazine.com

 

[WAB]

@WAB
NAH
The 25-20 is the 32-20 necked down and the 218 bee is the 25-20 necked to .224 cal.
Bob

I believe that the .22 Hornet was derived from the .22 Harwood Hornet, which Harwood made by necking down .25-20.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Ok. I was able to get out to the range today for a little recipe testing. Haven't done the math yet, but here are the results.These jugs were filled with water, one placed in front of the other.

45 grain soft point, 10.3 grains IMR4227, 25 yards.

The first jug exploded. They were back to back. As you can see not any more. About 3 feet apart. The first jug is resting beside the red shotgun shell.

That white junk to the right is part of the first jug. That white chuck, in the grass, top of photo, about 5 feet from the first jug, is what's left of the top of the jug.

Back at the bench looking at the devastation of jug 1.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I believe that the .22 Hornet was derived from the .22 Harwood Hornet, which Harwood made by necking down .25-20.

@WAB
I believe the great man himself Col Townsend Whelen( aka god) had a hand in the design along with Grover L Watkins. It wasn't derived from any other cartridge to my limited knowledge but what do I know.
Bob

 

[BlueFlyer]

Don't think I ever went heavier than 52gr in the hornet. That gave good penetration on medium game. I did avoid heavier bones and tried to go in behind the shoulder or through the neck. The hornet lack of recoil is such a pleasure to shoot.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Jug #2: 45 gr Bullet, IMR4227, 10.3 grains, 25 yards.

Handle sort of laid back in place.

Pieces of jug #2 back at the bench

 

[Ridge Runner]

Jug #1 & #2: 45 grain JHP, W296, 9.3grains, 25 yards.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Another range day completed with the 22 Hornet.

Loads tested:

Bullets: Hornady 50 gr SP
Powder: IMR 4227 10.5 gr
Primer: CCI Small Rifle
COAL: 1.77
Average Velocity: 2320.9

Bullet damage to gallon water jug is pretty much the same as with the previous jugs, with the difference being instead of exploding the top half of the jug off, the jug exploded in half length wise.

 

[steve white]

@jnotzon
Mine wears a meopta 3.5-10 x44. May be a bit of over kill on the K Hornet but great optics.
Bob

Great optics are worth it on ANY gun, just because...

 

[Fallschirmjaeger]

My hornet is a rebuilt Martini Cadet by Sportco. I think this is an Australian company who rebuilt these guns. No clue how it got to the US... It even has a safety in the triggerguard which isn't very ergonomic, but also very uncommon in the Martini world. I haven't really found what it loves to shoot yet. I've most shot PPU and Hornady.

 

[Ridge Runner]

UPDATE:

I have completed my test loading of my 22 Hornet....on paper for now.

Next testing will be on game in the next few days when I can get out for a day of fox squirrel hunting.

I have chosen to use Hornady 45 and 50 grain bullets as both are equally accurate as long as I do my part.

Hornady 45gr Hornet SP
Avg Vel: 2516.7
KE: Approx. 634 f/p
Powder: IMR4227
Primer: CCI Small Rifle
COAL: 1.775

Hornady 50gr SP
Avg Vel: 2438.0
KE: Approx. 660 f/p
Powder: IMR4227
Primer: CCI Small Rifle
COAL: 1.775

Chronograph used: Garmin XERO C1 PRO

To say the least the back to back 2 gallon water jugs test was explosive. Much more so than the previous photos.

Top photo: (rotate photos so factory hole is at 12 o'clock and the #9 is at 6:00 o'clock)

9 ring hole is the first shot for scope adjustments. The high 10 ring holes are ~12 fps variations in velocities. The center (5) holes are ~5 fps variations in velocities of respectful average velocity for each bullet weight. The ~5 o'clock hole is shooter error.

Bottom photo:

Factory ammo. 45gr SP, Avg Vel: 2463.6 fps, KE: ~607 f/p.

The bullet holes at top ~11:30 o'clock and at the ~ 2:45 o'clock outside the X ring are shooter errors.