Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What action for 22 hornet

What options do you have to build a 22 hornet? Been considering building one. Any opinions/recommendations?

What I would do, maybe, is pick up a Ruger 77/22 hornet with the gray finished metal and laminated stock, set the barrel back enough to get a clean minimum spec chamber, then cut off whatever is beyond 20 inches.

The reason I said "maybe" is that the Ruger magazines won't handle the length of the 40 grain VMAX and Ballistic Tip so you have to single-load those. Of course, you don't HAVE to use the magazine. A buddy of mine from Colorado used a Ruger 77/22 hornet loaded with AA#9 under 50 grain VMAXes, single loaded, as one of his primary p-dog guns. Can't argue with results.

There are probably better rifles to start with but most of them use fugly cheap looking stamped metal magazines which stick out from the bottom of the gun. That's a look I just can't stand. I'd go with a single shot first. And, in fact, if you can find a Ruger #1 in .22 Hornet that'd be a good choice. Another good choice is a Thompson Center Contender carbine with an aftermarket barrel ... I like Bullberry.

I'd look really hard at K-Hornet instead of a standard hornet just to have it headspace on the shoulder, not the rim, hopefully improving case life a bit.

A good single-shot action like the Ruger No. 1, Browning Low Wall or something similar. Don't have to dink around with getting the best bullets to fit in a magazine.

Case life is good with neck-sized brass from a SS or bolt, without the K-Hornet chamber, especially when using Li'l Gun, as pressures are much lower than with most other powders. My own No. 1B has shot well over 2000 loads of Li'l Gun and various 40-grain bullets and still groups them very well--and I'm still using some of the original brass fired in the rifle.

Had a T/C for a while but even factory loads stretched 1/3 of the cases too much for safe reloading. Of course that could have been the individual action's fault, but that's what happened.

I have a factory Hornet in a Low Wall that is really nice.

Have had mine for a year or so. Hope I didn't get taken at $600 and change. I like it a lot.

CZ is front lug locking. That will give you an extra 100 fps over the Ruger rear locking bolt.

Cheesy that is a beautiful rifle. Looks like it works too!

Chessy, mine is exactly like that but w/a fixed 8X Lyman. Shot 800 rnds 13gr LG and a mix of 40 Varmageddons and VMax & Fed 205's @ gophers Memorial Day weekend. DBC'd the barrel before I left and didn't do anything till I came home. Plastic brush and Hoppes only and the groves & lands are as black as the day I DBC'd it, that stuff works. If I were going to spend the coin I would surely do another falling block single shot but on some sort of a high dollar action w/a good adjustable 1.5 # trigger and hammerless. The only things I don't really like about my WIN. LW are the crap stock (fit, checkering, that god awful huge Schnabel) and the trigger. BTW Cheesy were your factory scope blocks equal height above the center of the bore? Mine were .015" different and I had to shim the front one so the scope and/or barrel wouldn't bend when tightened and string 2 to 3" vert. Johnt, make sure you have some brass before you start your project, they are very hard to find right now. -Muddy

Hornets are very well suited to ss actions. My fav is the 1885 and a close second is the ruger no 3. I bought a cz awhile back but haven't shot it much but it might be the one. I would maybe look at the rem 799 if you can find one.. I had a ruger 77 Horne for years bought one of the very first ones to hit the shelf. My son learned to shoot with it and I have since given it to him. It wasn't paticulary accurate but good enough for its effective range of 150 yds.. I don't think you would be disappointed with one as long as you don't expect it to be a 220 swift..

Take off the barrel, stock, and scope.
A usable 1885 action alone is worth $600.
I can modify the extractor to fit any cartridge.
The breech cut on the barrel is a pain, though.

Man, it wasn't for me. Something was FUBAR with some of Ruger's heavy barrel 77/22 hornets at least for a while. The two I had cut case heads off at the web even with factory ammo. I'd get about 2 out of 10 with case head separations on the first firing and lose 2-3 more out of 10 during sizing. I started packing a pistol rod with a .357 brush to pull the busted cases out of the chamber.

In hind sight, I probably should have sent them back to Ruger. I was in a hurry for success, it was in the middle of varmint season, and I wanted to kill [bleep], not lose the rest of the season waiting for customer service, so I took them back to the store and swapped them for something else ... 700 LVSF in .221 Fireball if I remember right.

Tom

I'm going to order some of those Varmageddons from Shooters Pro Shop and give a try. Using a 36grain (or 35? I don't remember) Hornady "Hornet" soft point with good groups out of it. Dad loaded up some 40 Ballistic Tips and said they were tumbling on him. He swears he tried the VMax as well, but I don't remember buying any. Lil Gun powder, not sure what primer he used.



My trigger isn't terrible, haven't put a scale to it, but I've been tempted to drop it off at Lee Shaver's (supposedly one of the top 1885 smiths/shooters around), he is 20 miles from me so it would be convenient, and have him go through it.



The bases I bought were Burris labeled, from what I've picked up their the same as the factory/Browning labeled ones. I don't recall a height issue. Hiding it from my wife so dad mounted the scope up and did the load work up, he said the rings I sent with him (standard Leupolds I had leftover from something else) wouldn't tighten down on the bases right. He had a set of rings from a cheap Tasco scope I had bought 20 years ago that worked fine though. I think I'll clean it up with either some Talley's or go all out with Conetrol or something like that.

I've got or shot every Hornet thus far mentioned and some that ain't.

Pass the 77/22...setback,punched K-Hornet and lopped to 20". [bleep] 'Lil Gun and pass '296,headspaced shoulders,400's,a 32,33 or 35V-Max kiss and 3400fps+.

Have shot dozens of 'em so converted and they are easily THE pick of the litter.

Hint.

If I had to do it, I'd build an Improved Hornet as Boxer suggested. Personally, I'd quit messing around with the hornet and build a .221 FB pushing 40's at 3500 on a Rem 700.

I'd be hard pressed to go FB on a 308 lengthed receiver...especially when 223/223AI brass is all but free. I'd be quick to use about 2.500" of the available 2.800" COAL and spin it 8".

The 77/22's beauty is in the modest length(when bobbed to 20"),mild mannerisms,eerie Precision and that spectacular Ruger OEM magazine.

Couple Cadet's for me!
22H, 22K, 218 bee, 218 mash bee

Course no-one has owned or shot as many 22 hornets as B,
but I've had a few follow me home.


Buy yourself a pre-enjoyed Cooper model 38



whether in a 17 Ackley, 19 Calhoon or 22 Hornet

and don't look back.

You'll not be sorry.

Best,

GWB

Ruger 77/22 or the cz 527 which is my fave.

It is one of Life's more hilarious constants,that it takes but a single fact...to get a Texan Whining. Laffin'!







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I reckon I don't feel too compelled to apologize,for being afforded the luxury,of not being forced to guess. Though in fairness...the Texas Version of everything is [bleep] HILARIOUS!

Happiness is a Blued/Walnut Safe Queen,wearing windage adjustable rears. Nice to set 'em on the shelf now and again,so they can at least look out the window and see The Outdoors.

Laffin'!

Yet another of Life's hilarious constants is,them who Whine the most,"do" the least.

Bless your heart.

Good talk.

Laffin'!

Every Hornet I've owned over the years but one was a single shot of some sort. One Winchester LoWall that started life as a Winder Musket and built by R.F.Sedgley, one Winchester HiWall that started life as a .25-20 Single Shot and re-built by myself, two small BSA Martinis, and a custom 1B 30 years ago. (The 1B was the least accurate of the bunch and didn't stick around long.) The lone bolt gun was an M2 Springfield which was also the only K-Hornet. My old man had a liking for his M340 Savage, but I could never warm up to it. My current Hornet pet is a pre-war German stalking rifle in 5.6x35R that is blissfully accurate with the 50 grain cast bullets I feed it.

There is a small Greener Martini next in line for a project makeover- might as well make another Hornet since I have around 1000 cases on hand now. ('Twas gonna be a .25-20 cast bullet shooter until I came up against the cold hard facts of life concerning .25-20 brass these days.) It's a takedown action so perhaps a second barrel chambered in .25 Hornet to give me my small .25 caliber fix.

To say I like small classic single shots in .22 Hornet is an understatement. And since I love experimenting with cast loads in them, I'm not too concerned about going the K-Hornet route as brass life is boringly long with the regular cases and low pressure loads. When I want to shoot 40-50 grain bullets at 3000 or so fps, I reach for the .22 Maximum Lovell Krag and be done with it.

B,

jus' sayin.........




I enjoy pointing out that "there is more than one way to skin a cat", or even a hornet.







Nuttin like a figination of ones imaginement!!!!!!













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[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/DSCN3877.jpg[/img]

and if one of the hornet variatons don't float your boat

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17 Hornady Hornet, 17 Ackley Hornet, 19 Calhoon, 22 Hornet


There is always the 221 Fireball........

[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/DSC04980.jpg[/img]


And though you're in the northern clime of Kansas, try not to get too "hot under the Collar".

Best,

GWB

mighty fine, mighty fine.

I think you just gave me an idea!!!!

Best,

GWB

I LOL'd.

Yup,

its good to have a vivid imagination.!!!!





just sit on the shelf and pretend............



















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[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/hoglets/DSC02350_zps131cedfa.jpg[/img]


how 'bout you DC, how's your imagination??

Best,

GWB

Boxer, Damn nice trout!-Muddy

Yes ..... Nice trout and cool rifle too!

Either a really big trout or a really, really small rifle. Or both.

Trout, TFF.

I don't know STEELHEAD... Looks like one of those fancy sea-running trout to me.

Gee',

Keep doing your "best"...if only because it is funnier than [bleep]!

Bless your heart.










'223,

She needs a pump,to get daylight to 'em.

Laffin'!










'22,

Troutdom Splendors is held in high esteem,here in Kansas.

Few love a K-Hornet as much as I,but they are a compromised barometer of evaluation in Outlandish Troutitude...due mainly their modest receiver length and typically modest barrel length.

Flipside being a right proper Trout Rifle is of more substance,both literally and figuratively.





Just sayin'.










SuperKchunt,

GREAT time to pilfer one of your pictures of me,out of your Photobucket account and feverishly drive your insecurities even further up Stupid Mountain.

Laffin'!

You can't even remember the last time,your kchunt left the couch. Show no mercy and do not let the cat get your tongue.

Wow +P+.










Sig,

Fair to middlin' is all.

I've seen big.(grin)










'luk,

These midwest waters,only yield what they yield...but it's better than nothing.

Laffin'!

Kowabunga, B

I hear one may lead a guitar to water, but ya' can't tune a fish........



Cooper, 22 Hornet, CZ, 17 Hornady Hornet


well, I guess that's the long and short of it.......




unless you're pretendin'

Best,

GWB

Last time I left the couch was to find my Hornet when it fell behind the well worn cushions. I was fondling it while watching WILD TV and fell asleep.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/2439candace/June2609-1.jpg[/img]
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Bonus pic cuz you wondered!

Laffin!

SC,

Back at ya!




but be careful out there in them woods, just in case ya' ain't pretendin'



out for now!

Best,

GWB

SuperKchunt,

You sorry sorry kchunt,your Life's "experience",wouldn't shoot a good Wednesday in the ass.

Laffin'!










Gee',

Here's hoping you two Window Lickers go FULL Tilt and try to out-nothing eachother,in the fascinating Couchbound Chronicles of The Paper Hat Brigade.

It's ONLY [bleep] funny,because you two sad [bleep] really are doing your "best". Congratulations?!?

Laffin'!

That's OK Larry ... I don't need to chronicle my whole life and paste it on the internet over & over again in order to bolster my self worth.

Must be awful being bald down there.

Laffin'

Right on! ...... I wear the pink furries a lot, esp while watching hunting shows from the couch.

I wear mine mostly when I'm raising funds for my next rifle purchase.

Best,

GWB

SuperKchunt,

It's your Imagination,so be sure to Pretend with it as much as you NEED. Laffin'!

Congratulations on the sweet "satisfaction" that must be your's,in taking an entire lifteime,to get in an afternoon's worth of "Adventure".

I'm crying I'm laughing soooooooooo hard.

Wow +P+!










Gee',

You may as well start collecting SuperSoakers...as they'd bear you just as much fruit.

Laffin'!

LOL .... Is Alaska a country?

I'm OK with where I'm at, where I've been and where I'm going.

It's you that is short and bald and no matter how many pics of guns, trout, deer, bear, boats, trucks, scopes, bullets, blah, blah, blah you post you're still going to be short and bald and ain't nothing gonna change that!

Laffin'

Bought a new one today. Can't wait to try it out.

Got this one last week.

What the hell is that thing doing in a rifle discussion...luckily someone locked you out..
OK super soaker I get it

SuperKchunt,

Now ain't it a right proper "coincidence",that doing nothing is "rewarding" to you?!? No wonder you perpetually reiterate your ever growing list of incredibly WELL founded insecurities and the "satisfactions" of a lifetime of telling yourself you "could have too". Laffin'!

As an aside...when you Pretend something,how long does it take your Imagination to make it "real" to you?!?

Only fair to toss you something now and again,that you could actually answer in the first hand. Looking forward to the pending Excuses and the fresh batcha' Whine. Mebbe go FULL Secret Squirrel and lob a cartoon,quip phantom PM's and say again for the bajillionth time that you "don't care".

Laffin'!

You "hard chargers" are [bleep] riot!










'nm,

Cain't wait to hear the fascinating "particulars",of "all" the things you are almost gonna do with that piece of schit. Laffin'!

I know...I know,you've never failed a set of windage adjustable rears.

Laffin'!










'6,

Ask her just how loud her Imagination is,when she shoots it!

If only because she KNOWS.

Laffin'!

Shot this goup with it this morning.



Not bad for a 58 yo rifle and a 4x scope. The micrometer say's .396".

Not bad for any rifle, new or old. Should work just fine. Enjoy.

I learned long ago, with some folks, anything you got is lead. Everything they got is gold.

Mind over matter. You don't mind, and they don't matter.

Best,
GWB

Yup. The only thing that matters is killing some deer with it.

Well if the the rifle groups according to the pix, that should be no problem as long as the guy behind the trigger does his part. LOL

Best,

GWB

Yeah,the guy behind the trigger is defiantly the "wild card." When I miss I have only myself to blame.

The 300 Savage has been killing deer for a long time.

elk, you sure find some nice model 70's... I never really got into them.. The pre 64's were out of my price range when I was young.. But did have couple I wish I had back.. A mint .264 and a very nice .300 H & H..

Thank you WCH.

If you look and wait you can find good deals on the Pre 64's.

At a gun show last month there was a Pre '64 in .22 Hornet,the price was $2200...it stayed there.

Fascinating Dumb [bleep]. Congratulations?!?

Pass the Skinners goin' faster,from a shorter barrel and a smaller case...then pardon the 20rd containers that align 'em. ES/SD in single digits and 80+ MOA remaining on the erector,along with the padding on the windshield,all wrapped snugly ala TPS. Google it.

Laffin'!









Happiness is a 99.9% K-Hornet,set on the shelf with velvet gloves...so it can get some sunshine.

Laffin'!




The boundless dumbfhuqqery espoused here,is a REAL [bleep] treat.

Wow +P+!

10/4

My most disappointing miss in the last couple years came about after a long hot September day at the lease last year. I had been filling up feeders and fixing things that seem to just quit from month to month.

I have a spot that is at the back of our lease. It is about 1.5 miles in off the main gravel road we use to access our hunting areas. The path to access this spot is just wide enough to get an ATV through. I'll park my ATV and walk the last half mile uphill as its too thick and steep to access it any other way than on foot.



I call it "The Cliffs" as where I sit is a sheer rock face that is about 100' above the floor of a 350+/- acre bowl. Directly below is a dry creekbed that runs in an east/west direction






If you look closely you can see the spin cast feeder. It's about 160 yds out, to the right of the dry creek bed.





I had been working all day in the heat and had let myself get too hot and somewhat dehydrated. IIRC I got out about 5 PM. This time of year one can see until almost 9 PM.

I keep game cameras set out from time to time and Had picked up pix of a group of javelina that would come in from time to time. IIRC I had a half dozen pix over a three month period. Guess they would range in and out of the area as they did not show up on game cam regularly.



I was jazzed as I've been on this lease since 2004 and had not seen the first Javelina.

It was about an hour before dark and I was glassing the bowl. Sometimes will see Aoudad up high near the tops of the surrounding hills. I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I lowered the glasses and got just a glimpse of the hindquarter as it entered the brush and was lost to sight. I thought to myself that was strange. Sure didn�t walk like a hog. I watched the area for a few minutes and went back to glassing. About 10 minutes later I caught motion again on my left at the same spot where the critter had disappeared into the brush. I put my binocs on it and damn if it wasn�t a javelin and not only that, a monster of one at that. The javelinas I�ve killed are usually mid 20 to low 30 lbs. This guy had to have been at least 60 lbs. He was a stud puppy for a Javelina. He was walking a game trail on the far side of the creekbed and I figured where he would come out would be about 150 yds. Too far for me on a freehand shot.
I was not in the most appropriate spot or position to make the the shot.

This afternoon I was shooting my Rem 700 KS in 300 H&H, zero�d for 200 yds.

[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/latestgunstuff/IMG_0366_zpsd8f606f4.jpg[/img]

I was on an incline with my feet about 12 inches below my butt. I tucked my shooting sticks into my boot tops in order to get a rest, but due to my quivering from the heat and dehydration taken with the �buck fever� I was experiencing I could not seem to get a steady rest.

He came out of the brush and I knew I had a small window to make the shot before he disappeared for good.
I couldn�t get a steady sight pix, but I figured this might be the only chance I got and I let fly. I didn�t hear the "whop" and I sensed that I shot over him. It takes almost 30 minutes to get down from my perch to the ATV and then drive to where the Javelina was when I shot, but only 10 minutes or so to scramble down the cliff, which I did. I looked high and low till dark for any evidence of blood or fur, but to no avail. I was elated that I had got the shot, but bummed that I had missed. I hate missing.
Best,

GWB

GeeDub,look at it this way,there's ALOT of space around a Javelina.


Almost two years ago I went deer hunting (November on a Saturday & Sunday) and the only buck I seen was 400 yds out. Well,I sit down and get the buck in the crosshairs and BOOM! missed,shoot again BOOM! the buck moves off. I give my cousin directions to the place where it was,no blood,or hair nothing.

A month later in December,I go cow elk hunting with my cousin as both of us have a tag. We hunt all day and around a hour or so before dark we jumped a herd and as they are going up the other side of the canyon,I took a shot. It was about 150 yds away and slowly walking up. At the shot it turned to the my right,started to run back towards my left,where my cousin killed with a running shot to the neck. I told him "HEY YOU JUST SHOT MY ELK!" Long story short I missed it as there was only a shot in the neck where he hit it. 2 days later I killed a cow elk.

It happens to all of us.

Remind me to tell you the story of missing the best buck of my life and another darn good one on the same day due to My Kimber Classic in 300WSM, which by the way, was almost wrapped around a tree trunk till I came to my senses and traded it off.

Best,

GWB

Will do.

Still short and bald, eh?

Laffin'

SuperKchunt,

Keep using as much Imagination that it takes,to Pretend you could too. Though in fairness,I reckon you just GOTTA tell yourself something!?! Laffin'!

Very [bleep] few folks could "boast" of it taking a Lifetime,to get a Wednesday afternoon's worth of "experience" and "results" in.

Bless your heart.

Pretty sad that a guy can find some useful info on the Hornet faster with a Google search ending on Shooting Times' website with a Layne Simpson article than anything this thread produced. The Senator surely do love the smell of her own shet.