colin lad Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 hi all iam thinking of putting in for a variation in the new year at the moment i only have a 22lr on my ticket but am thinking of getting a foxing gun in the new year. i know the obvious choice would be a .223 or 22.250 but i read an old mag article the other day about the hornet and it sounds a great little gun. have any of you guys used one are any good and more so are they up to the job? was looking at foxing 50-150 yard shots, all views would be a great help many thanks colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet 6 Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Perfect tool for the job and range you describe. I have a .22 hornet, and a .223rem, the hornet is my everyday go to gun for rabbit and fox. The .223 gets so little use now I am probably going to sell it in the new year. Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Perfect tool for the job and range you describe. I have a .22 hornet, and a .223rem, the hornet is my everyday go to gun for rabbit and fox. The .223 gets so little use now I am probably going to sell it in the new year. Neil. hi Neil how much are they to feed as i can also use it for long range rabbits i think a .223 would be expensive if bunnie bashing colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Perfect tool for the job and range you describe. I have a .22 hornet, and a .223rem, the hornet is my everyday go to gun for rabbit and fox. The .223 gets so little use now I am probably going to sell it in the new year. Neil. Hi, All the way. Are you going to re-load? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Hi, All the way. Are you going to re-load? Cheers have just been reading a topic on hornet from a few months ago on pw and i think that i would like to have a go at reloading if its not too difficult, also when i put in for variation i would have had my .22lr for about a year and used it quite a lot would i still need to find a mentor? colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 have just been reading a topic on hornet from a few months ago on pw and i think that i would like to have a go at reloading if its not too difficult, also when i put in for variation i would have had my .22lr for about a year and used it quite a lot would i still need to find a mentor? colin Wouldnt have thought mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 The Hornet seems a neglected and underated, but very capable calibre generally. Any mentor will be at the whim of your region! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 have just been reading a topic on hornet from a few months ago on pw and i think that i would like to have a go at reloading if its not too difficult, also when i put in for variation i would have had my .22lr for about a year and used it quite a lot would i still need to find a mentor? colin Hi,Have to agree with Dekers and foxbuster re the mentor, which might seem odd. Dekers has the definitve answer but fb also has a point in as much as you've arguably picked the ideal rifle for the job in hand; it has the energy required to do the job with the minimum residual energy. Unless, of course, your local force has a hard and fast policy regarding centrefires, if you bone up on the energy figures and be able to explain your geographics with regard to backstops, etc, etc and as the rifle is right at the lower end of the centrefire range plus the fact that you already have the LR, you may just be able to convince the FEO that you know what you're doing and crack it. Either way, good luck. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The Hornet is a brilliant round for close range work that needs more punch than a rimfire. The longest shot I've taken confidently with mine is 250 yards and that's pushing it on bunnies. For Fox I'd pull it in to under 200 to be happy of a clean kill. If you don't expect too much from it it's wonderful. I use one as my 95% of the time gun choice for anything other than Deer. Reloading is almost essential if you're going to shoot the Hornet. You don't need to spend a fortune on kit and £100 should set you up a basic second hand single stage press. If you want to have a chat before you buy then PM me as the Hornet has a few important needs that most calibres don't when reloading (crimping etc). It's all easy, you just need to know what to do. I load my rounds for about 25p per shot, the same as HMR ammo costs! .223 used to cost me 45p so there's quite a lot in it if you shoot a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 hi all iam thinking of putting in for a variation in the new year at the moment i only have a 22lr on my ticket but am thinking of getting a foxing gun in the new year. i know the obvious choice would be a .223 or 22.250 but i read an old mag article the other day about the hornet and it sounds a great little gun. have any of you guys used one are any good and more so are they up to the job? was looking at foxing 50-150 yard shots, all views would be a great help many thanks colin there is a far better plan than a hornet. I know a nice little .223 thats going to be looking for a new home mid January along with a fair few bits and bobs and certainly enough bits to get you started consumable wise for reloading. Best bit is you can try it as I'm not far down the road, lots more wallop on foxes and rather accurate. With an inch high zero you've spot on at 200yards so for winged vermin and rabbits you can certainly take at range. The biggest plus point is if you don't want to reload just use privi ammunition and its cost effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 there is a far better plan than a hornet. I know a nice little .223 thats going to be looking for a new home mid January along with a fair few bits and bobs and certainly enough bits to get you started consumable wise for reloading. Best bit is you can try it as I'm not far down the road, lots more wallop on foxes and rather accurate. With an inch high zero you've spot on at 200yards so for winged vermin and rabbits you can certainly take at range. The biggest plus point is if you don't want to reload just use privi ammunition and its cost effective. ...... just being picky....zero is zero, where the bullet hits what the cross-hairs are pointing at on the drop, not high or low.... First zero is the same point on the rise! With a 200 yard zero you are 1" high at 100 seems the phrase! ATB!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 I knew you'd post that when I wrote it, I find it easier to set up like that as I can shoot at 100 and see the holes rather than at 200 where I can't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 .223 is a nice round. If the gun and kit is at the right price it could work out as a good deal for you. Whether you go Hornet or .223 you're going to have to head shoot Rabbits that you want to eat to get reliable good carcasses. The Hornet is less likely to smash them up on a heart shot though especially with the heavier bullets and you may get a few that are edible that way. You can almost guarantee that a .223 will mash them up. For Foxes dead is dead. Either will work at the range you're talking about. The only thing that comes in really is ammo cost. You'll never get .223 for the price of Hornet reloads. If you're plugging the odd Fox and going bunny bashing once a week and will shoot maybe ten then it's no odds. If however you think you'll be shooting 50 rounds or more per week the difference is more obvious. This is what a .223 can do to a bunny - and this is clean! I didn't do anything to it, this is how I found it when I walked up to it. Weird or what!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) whats the problem there you don't need to worry about gutting it its when you don't reload and buy privi ammo when you can buy it for45p a pop that the .223 wins hands down Edited December 17, 2010 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) If I didn't reload I wouldn't have a Hornet. You are right there! And with the zeroing, I tend to go for high at 100 too. It's fine as long as you know where it's going at 200+ And it does save on spotting scopes/walking! Oh my god, I've agreed with you twice. Someone call a doctor, I must be ill! Edited December 17, 2010 by njc110381 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Personally I'd always go for the .223 for the added clout but and here is the big but if you reckon you may ever want to shoot deer then just go for a .243 I should have and I know thats why .223's come up on here all the time. A rimfire covers rabbits and with a foxing / deer gun you don't use enough rounds to make it worth having a .223 and a bigger one unless you plink with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 I knew you'd post that when I wrote it, I find it easier to set up like that as I can shoot at 100 and see the holes rather than at 200 where I can't Obviously set up howewer suits you, like I said, I was just being picky about the terminology! I was just thinking about that anyway, and was coming back with an edit, but I'll ask here...what .223 round produces those results? 1" high at 100 and zero at 200? I need to try some of those! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Personally I'd always go for the .223 for the added clout but and here is the big but if you reckon you may ever want to shoot deer then just go for a .243 I should have and I know thats why .223's come up on here all the time. A rimfire covers rabbits and with a foxing / deer gun you don't use enough rounds to make it worth having a .223 and a bigger one unless you plink with it. I don't think that suggesting .243 is a good idea. It seems the OP wanted something for Foxing with a little bit more punch than his rimfire, and a .243 aint that! I have a .243 myself, but there's no way it's a substitute for a Hornet. Really a Hornet is just a slightly more powerful gun than a HMR (600ft-lbs instead of 250) which can be used at the same cost. If you need a .243 for Deer then IMO you need that and a smaller round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Hi, That makes three 223s up for sale on one thread! Can we spread this out, chaps, or the bottom's going to fall out of the market. Naturally, mine's the best deal. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet 6 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) 1" high at 100 and zero at 200? I need to try some of those! Cheers My loads will do that, 23.5 grains of Vit N-120 under a 40 grain Nosler BT, and never really think about holdover sub 250 yards. Neil. Edited December 17, 2010 by Hornet 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 thanks all for your coments, the 2 main reasons for thinking hornet is 1.i want a gun that can deal with a fox up to a max of 150 yards but at the same time wont break the bank if no foxs about and i have a bunny bashing session, re-loads at 25p per bang sounds ok as i only go out once a week. 2.i dont know anyone who i could ask to mentor me iam sure if i asked on here someone may come and help but the problem with that is one of my permissions would be fine with me taking someone along but my local permission which i rearly want the gun for wont let me take anyone else along. the permission that will allow me someone is the farm i work for but they are arable and i only rearly go pigeon bashing on it. although it is cleared for .243 colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Man Work Posted December 27, 2010 Report Share Posted December 27, 2010 (edited) Colin, I've just posted on your Hornet Variation thread - good info in this thread on the Hornet mate, I've just done what you're looking to do - was always 22LR but just added a Hornet, and after a week of trying the Walther out, I'm very happy with the calibre; I was after exactly what you've said in points 1 and 2 above, and it's working out though I'm not set up for reloading yet. Cheers Edited December 27, 2010 by Tin Man Work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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