Was thinking about getting a Hornet of some kind for small game hunting and plinking...

Was wondering what everyone has, what you load and how they shoot... It is one of the rounds I have often looked at but never owned...for that matter I'm not even sure if I ever shot one...


Thanks...Bob

Bob,
I think I am a qualified "Hornet Nut". I have owned and hunted with many different ones and currently own six hornets. If you can love the Hornet for what it is, then by all means I recommend that you get one.....a couple of 'em. If I could look into you gun cabinet, I could probably tell if you are going to get along with the little raskal. Guys who also love the .17 HMR, the 250-3000 and the 7x57 usually do well with one. If you are a .300 RUM and .257 Weatherby guy then maybe not. The Hornet is not a .223 or a 22-250 or a Swift. It will deliver almost 3000 fps with 32 or 35 grain bullets and less with heavier ones. It will over achieve burning small amounts of powder, delivering almost no recoil and without alot of noise. I get extreme case life and wonderful accuracy with 13.5 grains of AA1680 and 35 or 32 grain bullets - Remington 7 1/2 primers. Others may recommend small pistol primers although the Remingtons had served me best. The varmints don't know they were struck dead with a obsolete little round and I have been able to hit well out to about 300 yards when I practice at it. I give the CZ 527 a strong recommendation for a first Hornet with the H&R HandiRifle also an economical way to get into one. Contender Carbines are also nice. Contrarary to what has been written, with a good chamber and good barrel the Hornet is very accurate.

John

Bob,
I agree with texasjohn. The CZ 527 would be my first choice. If you reload you can get a good 3000fps out of a 40-grain V-Max. I sent both my Hornets off to get K'd and love shooting them. I seem to go to my CZ the most because my Kimber M82 is a bit harder to feed. I will probably sell it this spring and just shoot the CZ. You will not be sorry for picking one up.

Yeah, I'm a CZ Hornet shooter, too. Fun little gun, fun little cartridge. I like 1680 and 34HPs, or Sierra's 40 Hornet bullet. Mine shoots quite well.

I have shot 10's of thousands, maybe 100's of thousands of rounds at varmints, mostly 22 LR, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 6mm Rem, 6mm PPC and even 25-06. I had never considered a Hornet until I saw an early Pre-64 Model 70. I got it and now wonder why at 57 years old it took me so long to find a round that has been around so long that does so much with so little!

yes i love shooting a little hornet but guess i am diff than most i hate the set triggers on the 527's i got a ruger and rem 799 got both triggers at 2 lbs. the ruger is more sleck and like how it feels and funtions. the rem is kinda heavy for a little gun and aint crazy about the mag. hanging down but out shoots the ruger hands down a freind of mine has got a 527 and the rem. shoots right with it. he had a smith work on his trigger(527) and took the set stage out of it and it pulls about 12 oz. so they can be fixed

For years my main varmint gun was a .22/250.

Now that I have a range finder and a Hornet I feel
that the smaller rifle will work for 90% of shots at ground squirrels.

YMMV

Thanks for all the replies!!!

I already have a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39...it is one of the older ones that I think had better set trigger than the newer one... Mine breaks very cleanly at about 1.0# and the set of course is in ounces... the Hornet in one of these would be nice...

Idaholton...I looked at the 799...very nice looking rifle... I would not get the Ruger as I have had some friends with them who were not pleased with the accuracy... Do they use the same barrel clamp that the .22 rifles have? I wonder if the new ones are screwed in barrels... If they were accurate I would buy one in a heartbeat as I love the looks...not of the big All-Weather but just the Sporter...

What else is ever one using for bullets when handloading?

Thanks again...Bob

We need Rocky Raab to do some talking about the Browning Hornet he has, and it's accuracy.
Reading his writings got me to buy a lower priced version of his, mainly because Browning doesn't make the model he has. Mine is the Huntsman, and it is far and away the most accurate out of the box Hornet I've owned. It's well made, and it's balance is superb. I have one CZ 527, 223 now, and sold one in 222. I consider The Browning Huntsman Hornet superior to the CZ 527's.

I also have a Winchester Model 54 Hornet, and a Ruger 77/Hornet that comes VERY close to the accuracy of the Huntsman. Accuracy of a Hornet for me is 3 shots in a 1/2" groups at 100 yards. The Huntsman did that my first range session, after sighting it in. It took a bunch of tweaking, and load work to get the Ruger/77 Hornet dialed in, but it now shooots close to the Huntsman's accuracy.

I had a Ruger No.1 Hornet and a Savage 219 circa 1950, so I have some Hornet time at the wheel.

I have a Browning Micro-Medallion that shoots extremely well. Rocky is another Hornet guy and hopefully he'll chime in with his recipes. Mine loves the 35gr V-Max and with it I've taken 200 yard shots at PA groundhogs with no problem.

Mine is a 77/22 with spring/sear/trigger upgrades. 35gr Vmax ang 46gr WW hollow points are very accurate. I carry it more than my .223 because it's lighter and effective. I've taken lots of groundhogs from 20-150yds, 3 beaver, and a couple coyotes with mine. The beaver was the biggest critter, 64lbs, it was a shade over 100yds when I brained it with a 35gr V-Max.

I wouldn't give up my hornet for anything. Granted mine is not a rifle... Its a Taurus Raging Hornet.
Its as accurate as I need it to be. Five shot groups have averages just over an inch when running with the 1x scope I somtimes run on it. With irons its no challenge to keep them about the same.
I have used mine on about a dozen coyotes without a hiccup since I got it a couple of years ago.

I run 40gr Nosler BTs and LilGun and yet to desire something else.

my go to load for hornet is 35gr. v-max ,13gr lilgun and small pistol primer (usually win.)when ran in my 799 give me about 2950fps and i have used some barnes varmit gernades(30grs) with same charge(you can go accorading to barnes to 14.4gr) and got about 3200fps accuracy was really good but not quite = to the v-max if i feed single shot i would subsitute bullet with 40gr v-max or nosler BT

I've had Hornets in CZ 527 American and Browning Micro Medallions. One CZ became a .17AH. One Browning Micro Medallion became a .19 Calhoon. Still have a Browning Micro Medallion in .22 Hornet. It like 12.5gr Lil Gun with a 40 VMax and CCI BR4 primer. All of them shot 13gr Lil Gun with a 35 VMax and CCI BR4 very well also.

I love my Kimber of Oregon 82 Cascade K-Hornet, although I wouldn't necessarily recommend the K version. With a little up-pressure on the barrel, it'll shoot about any bullet. I've taken p-dogs, little party pigs and a turkey or two. Current load is only 2500 fps with the late lamented 45 gr. Nosler Solid Base. With this quiet combo, I can whack an axis deer in the brain-pan and my central Texas neighbors don't know the difference!

My youngest boy spent a few years yanking the trigger on his single-shot H&R Superlite Youth Handi-Rifle stoked with 45gr. Nosler Solid Base.

He was deadly to say the least...

I'm another happy Hornet owner. Mine is a CZ527 with the trigger tuned to effectively eliminate the single set option. (I did this because of an accidental discharge with cold, unfeeling fingers.)

Mine loves Li'l gun powder, 13 grains of it in Remington case, partially neck sized and primed with a CCI small rifle primer. A 40 grain Hornady V-max seated as far out a magazine length will allow completes the recipe. This is the only load I've ever tried because there's never been any reason to look further. I've shot .25" to .375" 3 shot groups at 100 yds on multiple occasions. This load clocks just a hair over 3,000 fps.

One of these days I'm going to try some Nosler 35 grain lead free bullets and some of Barnes 30 grain varmint grenades too, but I'm so happy with the V-max load I'm not in much of a hurry to experiment.

I have owned a few Hornets over the past decade, including a CZ chambered for the K-Hornet. All have shot 1" or less for 5-shot groups at 100 yards with more than one load, but anymore I just load 13.0 grains of Li'l Gun and any good 40-grain.

There are a lot of Hornet loaders who advise small pistol primers, but I started loading my first Hornet with CCI BR4's and accuracy was so good I haven't found any reason to change since.

I tend to prefer the plastic-tipped bullets, for their violent expansion, but the magazines of some rifles won't handle their length. In that case I used either Berger or Sierra 40-grain holow-points. In my experience 40-grain bullets work at least as well at any range as lighter bullets, and far better at longer ranges. And yes, I have tried just about all the appropriate bullets on the market.

This load gets 2900-3100 fps, depending on barrel length, with accuracy in most rifles running under 3/4" for 5-shot groups, though my favorite Hornet (a Ruger No. 1B with 26" barrel) will shoot under 1/2" pretty regularly on a calm day. My other Hornet right now is a Ruger No. 3 that shoots almost as well. Muzzle velocity is around 2950 fps with the same load. This is my "walking" Hornet, as it weighs about 1-1/4 pounds less than the 9-1/2 pound 1B. Single-shots easily handle any of the plastic-tipped bullets.

I have two Hornets Left Hand Browning A-Bolt and SS Encore and both love Lil'Gun and the Hornady 40 gr V-Max. You will love this little varmint getter.

pre war mod 70. ww296 , cci bench rest primer and nosler 45gr. hornet bulleette. the long br, gets the most out of the 296, havent tried littlegun yet.

yep, Brno 465....best there is!

..I let one get away yesterday... Over on GunBroker someone put out a used mint CZ American with a BuyNow of $775.00...high "but", it had a 4-12 VX-II that brings around $225 used and if the BuyNow was used he was throwing 200+ rounds of Winchester factory ammo...that is worth $38.00 a box wholesale...so $775-225-150 would have been $400 for the rifle...and he pulled the auction just an hour after I saw it...

The Browning is a sharp little rifle... I'll be at a big gun shop tomorrow who carries Browning and see if they have one to look at...

Thanks again...Bob

domit,

Li'l Gun provides by far the best velocity-to-pressure ratio of any powder in the .22 Hornet. Here's the data for 45-grain Hornady bullets from Hodgdon:

Powder Velocity Pressure
H110/W296 2574 43,000
Li'l Gun 2787 31,600
H4198 2400 32,000
IMR4227 2484 42,000

Pressure is perhaps the majar factor in case life, and Hornet's are notorious for short case life, partly because the brass is thin and partly because handloaders often hot-rod the little case.

Li'l Gun provides plenty of zip with low pressure. Along with higher velocities and fine accuracy, I've experienced longer case life since switching to Li'l Gun exclusively in the .22 Hornet.

I have loaded 'Hornet' velocities for my .224 centerfires. Use a very light bullet and a fast powder. IMR's 4759 has been my favorite for reduced loads.

Sight it at shorter range for low noise shooting. No need to buy a Hornet.

..yea I know 99...I have a Remington 600 Mohawk that was punched out to .223 from .222 but am looking for an even lighter rifle and was hoping I could come up with some very lightweight Hornet... I think the lightest way to go would be an H&R Handy Rifle....

Bob

MD,
Excellent words on Lil-Gun powder for the Hornet.
For me, it's a Hornet loader's powder dream come true.
After using H-110, 296 and 4227, trying for find a load that shoots, 13.0 Lil-Gun shoots accurately from the git go with 45gn bullets, in all three rifles I have.
Thanks for posting those velocity/pressure numbers. They tell a big story about what powder is best for the Hornet.

RJM..,

My dad spent 30 years trying to get his .22 Hornet to shoot something other than a shotgun pattern. He was gone for 2 years before I found 12.7 grs of H110, 35gr Vmax bullets and small pistol primers would print under half an inch.

The only reason I have it now is because it was his 'project gun'for thirty years. Get a .223 or a 22 mag unless you just need something to do the rest of your life.

Notice how some say, "use small rifle primers", others say, "use small pistol primers" or "use 40 grain bullets" or "use 296" or "use H110", yadda, yadda ,yadda? There's a reason. Run away.

O

Its a poor musician that blames his instrument...

I have had about 8 Hornets over the years. Still have three. All have been shooters. AA1680 or the WW680 ( if you can find any )always gave the best accuracy for me. CCI small pistol primers and WW cases. And in the age of polymer tipped bullets don't over look some of those old Sierras or Speers you might have laying around.

Since 1995 I have used a little Browning..It has been great for everything from ground squirrels, praire dogs, woodchucks, tree squirrel though coyotes and wild turkey...lovely little round..

I don�t know about you guys, but beautiful and accurate rifles really float my boat.


Cooper model 38 classic in 22 hornet and grey fox


Cooper model 38 classic in 22 hornet and ringtail cat

Here is the test target supplied with the rifle.


I have had several hornets, including two rugers, a browning low wall and this Cooper. The Cooper is far and away the most accurate of the four, not to mention the best in fit and finish, to my mind. I bought this rifle somewhere around 2004, from a friend for under a grand, the Leupold 4.5 x 14 vari-x III came mounted on the rifle and was included in the price, which even at that time was a good deal in my opinion.
A while back I took the Cooper and some different loads that I had put together a couple of years ago when I had the browning low wall.
I realize that this test target was shot at 40-50 yds. with a 36x scope.
Here are the results of 5 different loads, shot back to back over a 30 minute period. The rifle was not cleaned before or during this session. It had about 30 rounds through the bore since the last cleaning. Temp was about 50 degrees F and wind at my back at 5-10 mph. Scope is a leupold vari x III 4.5 x 14. Distance is 100 yds., measured. Shot off rest on concrete bench.







[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/DSCN4089.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/DSCN4095.jpg[/img]

Observations,
1. As I don�t practice at the bench as much as I used to, my ability to shoot small groups is not what it was in the past.
2. This rifle is capable of shooting better than I can.
3. I have no problem nailing varmints at 150 yds or less (the range at which I shoot most varmints)
4. I love the [bleep] out of this rifle.
5. I like beer.
GWB

I hate Hornets. That being said,I love K-Hornets.

Make mine S/S 77/22 at 20"..................

+1 Browning k-hornet in action




Graphic *************

I have an Anschutz 1730HB that prefers the 40gr V-max ahead of 12.5gr of Lil Gun with Remington 6-1/2 primers in Remington cases. Five shot groups at 100 yards average 1/2".I have a Kahles CL 3-9x42 scope mounted in Talley rings.

A friend of mine found a Sako Hornet and brought it along on a prairie dog safari. It is a fun rifle to shoot compared to the 25-06 and .220 Swift I normally use.
The rifle can be a lot lighter and muzzle blast and recoil is much less. Now you have me talked into one.
whelennut

I have been playing with a Savage 342 with a Lyman Tang Sight. Have not found the magic load yet. Sounds like I need some 40g V-Max bullets.

Those have one locking lug, correct? My cousin has a 340, basically the same rifle, and his won't shoot well with warmer loads, so he uses a rather mild load of 296 and the Hornady 35 grain bullet(he moly-coats his). He claims his won't shoot well with anything much over the minimum load. Dunno if yours will act the same way as his rifle, but it might be something to think about.

My CZ likes the 34gr. Midsouth VNE bullets for cheap eats, and I use 1680 to push 'em. Cheap and fun to shoot, and shoots under 3/4" with no load development at all.

RJM....just a suggestion that's a bit "different".

In your original post you mentioned hunting small game as well as plinking......and most here have responded with very good "varmit" loads and ideas......not small game hunting loads.

I too "lusted" for years for a small game centerfire rifle. I had in mind something like a reloadable .22 rimfire....and "thought" a .22 Hornet was just the thing. I knew from use of smaller centerfire .22's that when velosity goes above 2000 fps (and CERTAINLY when it approaches 3000 fps) the distruction that results is NOT what you want on edible small game. My idea was to load a Hornet with heavier (50....or more....grain bullets and possibly hard-cast lead) to something like 1200-1400 fps. THIS, I thought, would give the small game performance I wanted.

Then, through a gun trade, I picked up a rifle that "ruined" me. Not a Hornet, but a Savage 23 chambered for the old .25-20. This gun is what I've always dreamed of. While there ARE some "high-speed" loads for the .25-20 using 60 grain jacketed bullets, the standard loadings of an 86 grain lead bullet at 1100-1300 fps made me fall in love.

These loads are "powerful" enough to penetrate and kill well on medium size game....fox, coyote (at proper short range) and are "perfect" for turkey. I'll even admit (though it isn't the "smartest" thing I've done) that I've killed smallish hogs (under 200 pounds) and a couple of deer with this load and VERY careful shot placement.

However, where it shines is on edible small game (squirrels and rabbits) where it kills well without excessive destruction to edible meat.

I still think a "down-loaded" Hornet could be just as good.....don't overlook the .25-20 if one comes along.

Thanks Rick... a friend of mine who I just shot today with has one of the Savage 23s as well as a Marlin 1894 in .25-20 and loves shooting it especially with cast bullets. I think he also has a pair of .32-20s also that he likes even more.

Just looking for a light weight rifle that doesn't have a lot of muzzle blast...just never had a Hornet and thoght it was about time...

Bob

Everyone should own atleast one .22Hornet

K-Hornet..............

I have 2. A low wall and a Number 1. Love the round. Excellent turkey rifle. I agree with what Mule Deer said on Lil Gun. If noise is an issue, the hornet makes for happy neighbors.

Punched a #1 K,but it was still a POS..................