.22 Hornet

[Teach]

Hi Guys

 

I'm new to this shooting lark and I have been researching .22 Rifles. Someone I know has a .22 Hornet for sale and I would like to know folks views on a .22 Hornet and what ranges they are good at, and there capablity on foxes past 100 -150 yds? So what do you think?

 

Cheers

[Greenbear]

Teach,

 

Whilst the Hornet is a nice round and capable of downing foxes out to 150 yards, I would advise to look maybe a little further ahead and consider one of the many superb centrefire calibres on the market, you wont go far wrong with the .222, .223 the superb 22.250 or if you may ever consider stalking at some time go for a .243.

 

There are many very experienced shots on this forum many of whom use more specialised calibres - most to stunning effect

 

if its only foxes your ever after my humble opinion is to consider the array of centrefire mentioned above.

 

 

Happy shooting

[Jager SA]

The Hornet is at its limit at around 175 yards, on a good day a fox might be on the menu at that range, the rest of the time its varmints.

 

All in all a good close range calibre but the other 22 CF are the mustard for varminting, and if you really want to the 6mm family are supremo.

[Jay Foxing]

Hi Teach,

 

I'm in agreement with Greenbear on this one. Forget the Hornet and go with a .223 for an outright foxer.

 

Good luck,

Jay.

[charly hunter]

Hi Teach, and welcome to the site, as your new to the game there are some real good blokes on here that really know there stuff, and they are only to willing to help out so ask all you like

 

I don't know a lot about the little .22 Hornet, but if you ask BOB TAIL he had one for years while he was in Ireland and he told me that he has shot loads of foxes with his Hornet and several at 250 yds, he reconds it worth having and you don't have so much noise that you would get from a .222 or .223 hope this helps and hopfully we will soon see you out playing and you will share your stories and pic's with us.

[Andrew]

I have never shot a fox with a Hornet but I own one and like it. I killed a bucket full of prairiedogs with it this afternoon at ranges to 175 yards using a 33 grain V-Max @ 2900 ft/sec. With a different powder I can make that same bullet kiss 3200 ft/sec. I would shoot a fox at 200 with it; at least those we have here.

 

What make is the rifle?? That can be a factor.~Andrew

[Guest vim]

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[charly hunter]

Well I have been considering getting rid of my 223 as I don't need a rifle to shoot 500 yds or more really, and I am now thinking to myself about getting the little Hornet if it can kill foxes at 250 yds that would be my limit anyway and being a smaller case it would be cheaper to reload for, and I am a tight arse.

[bob tail]

Hi teach, charley hunter is correct i did have the hornet for 2 1/2 years while i was living in ireland and it was a great little tool for me at that time. In 18 months i personally took out over 360 foxes with it and alot of rabbits to many to mention. But it does have its limits and although taking a fox at 200 yards plus is great when you connect i would have to agree with these guys that if you want to stretch your legs on distance go for the 223. happy hunting.

[Teach]

WOW, Thanks alot guys. I have my head in a bucket of Ice as I have a banging head due to being given so much to think about. I would like to thank you all for the excellent advice, I think a .223 will be the puppy. Any advice or experience anyone would like to share would be appreciated. Things like make, model, second hand new etc. What are your recommendations?

[tikka 223]

Buy within your budget to include a decent scope and home load , you will find a round that suits the gun

[bob tail]

[i got to agree with tikka find a budget and work with it .

[Greenbear]

Hi Teach

 

I have had 2 Tikka T3s which were both excellent, I currently have a Howa 1500 in .223 with a McMillan stock, I personal find the Howas excellent value for money and they shoot very well out of the box.

 

If you can, pop down your local gunshop and handle as many rifles as you can, you will soon know which you like and which likes you within your budget.

 

As for scopes, buy the very best you can afford, Leupold, Schmidt & Bender, Swarovski, are amongst the top flight even to the detrement of your rifle, dont skimp on the scope as you will soon want to upgrade.

 

An excellent fixed power is the Schmidt & Bender 8x56 (Hungarian) excellent low light capability for foxing - expect to pay around £380 for this scope.

 

From now on in its all about personal choice, I may rave about certain rifles and others on here may heartily dislike them, thats why I suggest you handle as many rifles as you can.

 

 

Good luck & ENJOY

[charly hunter]

[i got to agree with tikka find a budget and work with it .

 

You told me you would have a Hornet any day as it will kill charley at and you have killed loads at 250 yds maybe I will keep my 223 then

[charly hunter]

Excellent advice Greenbear. It is recomended by many that you should spend as much if not more than the rifle cost on a good scope, if you can afford to, I can't so I shoot that which promotes growth and vigour

[bob tail]

You told me you would have a Hornet any day as it will kill charley at and you have killed loads at 250 yds maybe I will keep my 223 then

maybe you should keep your 223 and as for me shooting loads at 250 , well you must be talking to someone else.

[njc110381]

As we have no idea of your budget I'll assume you don't want to spend much. I've just bought a CZ Varmint .223 which is a cheap gun. It seems very good so far, and my other CZ rifle shoots very well too so overall, they're accurate guns. I have a Schmidt and Bender 8x56 on my 6.5x55 Tikka, it's an expensive scope. It's also very good! So if you have the money I'd say go for a CZ .223 and a S&B 8x56 scope. You'll spend nearly as much on the scope as you will on the gun, but it's well worth it for the optics quality.

 

You could buy the best rifle in the world and not shoot well with it if you don't mate it with a good scope

[charly hunter]

So what is the max effective range of a Hornet then I read 150 -175 and Bob tail said he has shot a lot of foxes at 250 can someone give me the right info please????????

[ejg223]

I do not agree 100% with what the lads say,

buy the rifle you want and don't skimp. 223 is very good.

Scope is not as important! because: it is so much easier to

change. A good quality second hand scope is better than a new

ching chong scope. This can be sold later without loss and upgraded.

Look at r.macleod&son, they sold me a great second hand S&B scope.

 

The other point is I found one needs almost a year to really get to know

a rifle and get all the little problems sorted. Bedding etc. Don't want to change

the rifle all the time.

 

edi

[Bucko]

So what is the max effective range of a Hornet then I read 150 -175 and Bob tail said he has shot a lot of foxes at 250 can someone give me the right info please????????

 

I think it depends on the ammo used. I think that factory ammo is loaded a little on the gentle side, I certainly load my ammo a lot hotter than factory.

 

According to Winchesters website their 46gr Hollow Point Hornet rounds have an MV of 2690 fps and an ME of 739 ftlb. At 150yds the velocity has dropped to 1750fps which gives just over 300 ftlb. I wouldn't want to use any less energy than that to kill a fox with a chest shot.

Compare that to my loads which are a 40gr Sierra Blitzking with an MV of 3100fps and an ME of 850 ftlb. At 150 yds the velocity has only dropped to 2330fps which is 485 ftlb. There is still over 300ftlb left at 250yds so this round would certainly kill a fox at that range, providing that the shot was accurate enough.

 

Personally I would have the confidence to take a fox at 200yds in good weather conditions with mine, but I wouldn't want to go any further than that.

The furthest I have taken a fox with my Hornet is 180yds, chest shot and it collapsed on the spot. No shortage of killing power at all.

 

so for me, factory ammo 150yds, good hand load 200yds.

 

cheers

 

Neil

[charly hunter]

Cheers Bucko, I am thinking of getting rid of my 223 and getting a hornet as I don't use the 223 for anything like the range that it can reach, so I was thinking that a hornet might be the thing and I should imagine it would be quite a bit quieter. Not sure though as I have not heard one, Bob tail had his hornet while he was in Ireland and he said over there home loading was to expensive it was a lot cheeper to buy them off the shelf, will have to find out what rounds he used, thanks for the info though, I was under the impression that factory rounds were hotter rounds, so it's interesting to hear your views on them and you have obviously tried them against your home loads, thanks for that. Anyone else got 2 peneth worth on there views of the hornet, have you shot foxes at 250yds???

should I get rid of my 223.????

is the hornet quieter??????

[bob tail]

Cheers Bucko, I am thinking of getting rid of my 223 and getting a hornet as I don't use the 223 for anything like the range that it can reach, so I was thinking that a hornet might be the thing and I should imagine it would be quite a bit quieter. Not sure though as I have not heard one, Bob tail had his hornet while he was in Ireland and he said over there home loading was to expensive it was a lot cheeper to buy them off the shelf, will have to find out what rounds he used, thanks for the info though, I was under the impression that factory rounds were hotter rounds, so it's interesting to hear your views on them and you have obviously tried them against your home loads, thanks for that. Anyone else got 2 peneth worth on there views of the hornet, have you shot foxes at 250yds???

should I get rid of my 223.????

is the hornet quieter??????

 

I haven't shot loads foxes at 250 yrds with my hornet , yes i had a hell of alot of foxes with my hornet while i was in ireland but as for shooting loads deffinately not, as for the price of reloading in ireland , well it was illegal, you were not allowed to reload in ireland due to the fact that certain people could of been making bombs with the powder obviously. And the price of winchester and remington ammo was 25 quid a box for 50 which was expensive in 1994 because in the uk they were being sold for about 16 pound a box if i remember right. The hornet will be alittle quieter but not much , would be better with a moderator on but all the same its a cracking little round and will take care of anything within a reasonable distance .

[charly hunter]

Ta for that it was a long while ago that you said about it and I remembered you said you didn't reload just couldn't remember all the resons why.

[Scotch_egg]

charly hunter,

 

I recon for you to change would be a false economy. I don’t know what rifle you have or what you would get, custom or factory etc, but you are sure to loose money on the .223 you already own.

 

I have a T3 with pes mod, I shoot the federal "American eagle" branded ammo at £35 per 100, 50gr hollow points because I am too lazy to reload when this ammo shoots so well. I shoot out to 250 yards max at rabbits on my annual trip to the Hebrides, also fox in my local area. But I can also pop in a 55gr Sako game head should mr muntjac pop his head out whilst foxing.

 

You would be loosing the extra range. I know you state that you don’t take advantage of the capabilities right now but it’s nice to have the ability should the opportunity arise. Likely to lose money on swapping the outfit, I assume the ammo will be more expensive if you don’t reload. Generally home loads are hotter, so too reach out to the farther ranges stated you would be best to get a reloading set up, more expense. I can't comment on noise issues, but I know my .223 is not exactly loud.

 

This of course is just my 2 pence worth, hope it helps a little.

 

 

Dave

[ejg223]

Funny scotch, I used that combination also.

The 50gr hp eagles for closer fox and rabbits out to 300.

The sako game heads shot 1/2" higher and where great for

the longer fox. The fed AE's are a bit smoky but both shot very well.

 

edi