rimmie Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 hi all right i want to get a .22 hornet im going to sell/swap my .223 for a .243 and will then have my .17hmr and a .243 so in regarding to closer shots and other situations were the .243 is to loud/powerful and the .17 isnt man enough im thinking of the hornet.iv been doing some maths and i could reload the hornet 10-6 pence cheaper per round than the .17 hmr is to buy and i get it cheap at £8.50 a box!!! i alredy reload for my .223 and will also reload for the .243 so iv got all the equipment and 2 freinds already shoot a hornet so load data and tips etc.. wont be a problem also a kg of powder like hodgson lil gun or similer is very cheap per kg compared to eg vit n133 with i use for my .223.one of my mates uses pistol powder and has got 100's and 100's of rounds out of a pound let alone a kg!!!.the only thing that worrys me is iv read alot of things on the internet about some rifles being very unaccurate even with home loads and its a bit hit and miss to get a ''good shooter''.the rifle im thinking of is the ruger 77/22 hornet but i know there are quite a few makes of rifles chamberd in .22 hornet ADVISE PLEASE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magus69 Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I wouldn't write off the Ruger just yet go on you tube and type it into the search bar I think you could be surprised. The thing where people go wrong with the Ruger is everyone seems to go for the lightest bullet as fast as possible and this doesn't suit the Ruger,the twist rate lends itself to a heavier bullet such as the Hornady 50gr SPSX which is absolutely devastating through the Ruger. Many people will say that you have to have the bolt shimmed,have it bedded,free floated,re-crowned and all sorts of other stuff when all it seems to need is feeding with what suits it best. Mike... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimmie Posted May 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I wouldn't write off the Ruger just yet go on you tube and type it into the search bar I think you could be surprised. The thing where people go wrong with the Ruger is everyone seems to go for the lightest bullet as fast as possible and this doesn't suit the Ruger,the twist rate lends itself to a heavier bullet such as the Hornady 50gr SPSX which is absolutely devastating through the Ruger. Many people will say that you have to have the bolt shimmed,have it bedded,free floated,re-crowned and all sorts of other stuff when all it seems to need is feeding with what suits it best. Mike... yeah thats a good point but iv now got to find a ruger second hand there as rare as hens teeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I had a Ruger but ditched out of it because I couldn't get a x56 scope on the top of it. A long story but I tried all sorts of scaffolding and converters, ah well, I'm waiting for my new CZ.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannywayoflife Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I've just bought a hornet picking up in a few weeks. I did alot of research before I bought and everyone said go with a cz they have the best rep for accuracy. Also because of there mag o believe you can use a longer col than with a ruger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimmie Posted May 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I've just bought a hornet picking up in a few weeks. I did alot of research before I bought and everyone said go with a cz they have the best rep for accuracy. Also because of there mag o believe you can use a longer col than with a ruger. yeah i might go for the cz also mungler were abouts in essex are you mate pm if you prefer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 just ordered a cz hornet in the American myself. accuraccy seems to be related to chamber tightness and consentricity, two things cz are famous for due to the chamber being formed at the same time as the tube. most rifle chambers are cut into a pre-made rifled barrel blank. there is an article on the web from a uk gunsmith who bought a ruger brand new and the thing couldn't group 4" ended up spending a fortune and putting a Border barrel on it. A tub of lil gun should make about 700 rounds of hornet ammo by the way (sad i know i calculated it). Basically the maths goes very slightly cheaper in favour of a hand loaded Hornet. Have also found some neat info on reduced loads pushing only 1500 fps using IMR sr-4759, said to be non destructive on edible game, did't realy want two loads as i am looking to create a single carry, do anything but deer rifle. I already have to cz's here and they both shoot re-loading to a high degree of consentricity and with a light touch seems to also be the gig with them so i am getting some L.E Wilson bench rest dies for use in my arbour press rather than conventional type, have used these before on other guns and they are the doo dahs for consentric rounds with great feel over a blooming great big press. Personally i am hanging onto the hummer for a while yet, some of its work will maybee go the way of the hornet - but they are very different guns! the hornet carries double the weight of bullet + some and produces three times the energy, its also like half the windage at hmr ranges. My own issues with the HMR are "unpredictable" terminal results, big windages and not fully fox capable. My issue / doubt with the hornet is 700 ft lb in the wrong place could make a right mess of bunnies, wait and see eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 Hornet is a capable little round, best suited to a light walking/carry rifle. Accuracy is acceptable but it is not that powerful, best suited to small pests up to 150 yards, maybe a shade further in ideal conditions. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 Just one point which no one has mentioned and just in case you aren't aware - better safe than sorry. I've just had to turn down the offer of a rifle to die for - not to stand in the cabinet, but to use. Why? Because it was .223. They are still out there but more usually older models and as I discovered, not always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 Just one point which no one has mentioned and just in case you aren't aware - better safe than sorry. I've just had to turn down the offer of a rifle to die for - not to stand in the cabinet, but to use. Why? Because it was .223. They are still out there but more usually older models and as I discovered, not always. you can still get .223 hornet bullets though. i believe that is why the pressure limits were lowered to allow for someone using .224 ammo in a .223 , again a good reason to handload if you actually own a .223 or if you want to get the maximum potential out of a strong actioned, tight chambered .224 perhaps? Rifle to DIE for in more scence than one perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 Yep, you can but the choice is limited. Just wanted the OP to be aware of the problem if he wasn't already. Nice final sentence though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 My issue / doubt with the hornet is 700 ft lb in the wrong place could make a right mess of bunnies, wait and see eh? You're not wrong there. The Hornet loaded with light bullets is not a body shot option if you want to sell your kills. Don't get me wrong it's much more friendly than a .223, but if you're expecting HMR levels of damage then you're in for a surprise. I tend to go for very well forward front end shots and if I want to eat what I shoot I'll just cut the back end off and keep that. There's not a lot up front anyway but they won't be pretty for the game dealer! It's a bit late now because you've ordered one, but if you did want to shoot one you could have had a go with mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 You're not wrong there. The Hornet loaded with light bullets is not a body shot option if you want to sell your kills. Don't get me wrong it's much more friendly than a .223, but if you're expecting HMR levels of damage then you're in for a surprise. I tend to go for very well forward front end shots and if I want to eat what I shoot I'll just cut the back end off and keep that. There's not a lot up front anyway but they won't be pretty for the game dealer! It's a bit late now because you've ordered one, but if you did want to shoot one you could have had a go with mine! cheers its a bit too far from Lancashire though i have actually seen hornets in action a few times and know a few who have or have had them. its more a case of an odd brace with it now and again though i do fancy those reduced loads at 1500 fps though if it don't work out i am not too fussed i mainly want something more terminal on crows than the HMR and something capable of foxes yet with reduced power, weight and noise and recoil over the .243. Also burning 10-13 grns of powder instead of mid forties being able to get more than 1500 or so rounds down the barrel is also a big plus as i shoot a lot. I came close to buying a .204 ruger actually but like the .222 and .223 it offers little over the .243, perhaps that is why such an out dated rimmed cartridge has lasted so long when most have long gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 I think the Hornet will always have a good number of followers. It fills that gap between rimfire and modern centrefire very well. I'm considering selling mine on when I get my .223 and I have to be honest if I do I will be extremely sad. Me and this gun have a lot of history and some of my most memorable shots have been taken with it. When you know it well you can get outstanding results with it, especially on still days. Get to know it and you can do small targets at 250 yards with ease. I knocked my scope the other day and was out with a mate knocking over bunnies, I took a shot at about 200 yards with my mate spotting. 6" high and 6" left was his word - so I aimed 6" low and right on the follow up. Result - clean shot bunny. I knew the scope was out because the rifle is perfect. Me and this rifle are almost as one and if I could shoot any of my others at any range with that confidence I'd be very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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