[Old Griz]

:cb2: I know the .17 HMR is the new cool round for small game and close varmints. Some say it's great on coyotes, too. I'm wondering what ever happened to the .22 Hornet? It's flatter shooting (though not my much), not as affected by the wind, and has greater energy at any range (417 v. 136 @ 100 yards). And I'm not even gonna bring up the K-Hornet or the .218 Bee.

Which would you rather shoot, and why?

(I stuck the .22LR in for those who just don't like change of any kind!)

 

[Jerry Lester]

It's the Hornet for me "hands down". I've tried the 17's, and although they're fun, they just don't impress me at all on game. Sure, they'll occasionally give you a spectactular kill that would lead you to believe they're deadly, but then, I've had the same thing happen with pellet rifles.

I dearly love burning up 22 LR ammo in any gun, but between your 4 choices, the 22 Hornet is a true work horse on small to medium sized varmints out to at leat 150-200+ yards depending on the animals size.

 

[Greeenriver]

Although I dearly love my 17HRM, and I shoot it a lot, I voted for the 22lr simply because of the cost of ammo. I can get so much more shooting for the same ammount of money. I don't own a 22mag or 22 Hornet, so I can't comment on them.

The 17HRM has been much more effective on the common yard varments I shoot hee. Cats, Possoms, Skunks, the ocasional Dog or Coyote. I don't shoot much more than the above, other than Gophers, and I use the 2wlr for them. And ocasionaly, on a good day, I'll use the 45-70 for Gophers. It does a great job, but might be a bit of overkill on them.


Greeenriver

 

[Old Griz]

:cb2: Yep, that ol' .45-70 is quite deadly on gophers. The early settlers and gopher hunters decimated the great gopher herds that once covered the Great Plains. Even mowed down the poor gophers from trains just for sport. George Armstrong Custer even shot his horse in the neck by accident, when a gopher he was chasing lunged at his horse. Custer grabbed the reigns with both hands, but forgot, momentarily, that he had a cocked pistol in one hand. A charging gopher can make a man do things he wouldn't normally do. Thank goodness for .45-70s. We may have never won the West without 'em. And gopher herds would still run wild and free.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[Keith L]

They are fish from different seas. Both have their purpose. The little rimfire pills do a great job on small things, being accurate and available. .22 Hornet is great for gp varmit hunting including cyotes. To get the most from this one you have to reload. Both are cool, and not competing.

 

[Bullseye]

I used to have a 22 Hornet Contender barrel and a 17 HMR Contender barrel. I now only have a 22 Hornet barrel and the 17 HMR has been sold. In my experience the Hornet has much less wind drift and gets the job done better when shooting anything much bigger than the smallest critter. But most importantly, I do not have the changing POI with the Hornet that I had with the 17. Different lots of rounds would give me quite a bit of change in POI. Never have this problem with the Hornet.

 

[tatonka]

22 hornet proponent

I own & shoot all of them but the 17 HMR 2. I like them all & they all have their place. My favorite however is the Hornet or K Hornet. The K Hornet is the most versatile round I shoot. I can load it to 22 LR velocities
or near .223 velocities. It will shoot almost as flat as the 17HMR as long as I use 35 gr Vmax bullets. I have taken rats to coyoyte with the K Hornet and would feel confident to take a deer with it where appropriate.
It is low noise, low recoil, and I can relaod it cheaper than I can purchase the rimfire magnums. I do however have a 22 mag 16" contender that is showing a lot of promise currently. We surely are blessed to have the leisure time and resources to shoot whatever we desire here in this grand land of opportunity. We are truely a blessed people.

 

[doc-and]

I'll have to vote for the Hornet!! Have barrels for most of the above, but shoot the 22lr the most. Currently working on a new 14inch Hornet barrel, rechambering to K-Hornet.

docand 8)

 

[coopershooter]

I HAVE A 21 INCH .22 K-HORNET BARREL ON MY CONTENDER CARBINE. I CAN RELOAD IT CHEAPER, THAN WHAT I PAY FOR .17HMR AMMO. AND WITH MORE POOP ON THE RECEVING END! THE .22 HORNET IS VERY VERSITILE! IT GIVES BETTER PERFORMANCE AT LESS COST!
I OWN BOTH BARRELS, BUT PREFER THE .22 K-HORNET .
SOME GUYS SAY THE .17HMR IS LIGHT ON COYOTES? I THINK ITS LIGHT ON GROUNDHOGS AFTER 100 YDS!
THE LONGEST HIT WITH THE .22 K- HORNET WAS 230 YARDS. IT KILLED THE GROUNDHOG. IM SURE I COULD HIT ONE AT 230YDS WITH THE 17HMR, BUT WOULD IT KILL AS WELL AS THE K-HORNET?
BUT THEY BOTH ARE FUN!
WERE ON A GRAVYTRAIN WITH BISKIT WHEELS!
COOPERSHOOTER.

 

[TeePee]

Went with the 17hmr. The 17m2 was a toss up for me. Just like those remfires. Although have nothing against the 22hornet, just happens I don't own one or have shot one. Would like to shoot one , but no one I know has one at this time.

 

[tatonka]

22 hornet

22 Hornet without a question. Versatile, inexpensive, and effective.

 

[doc-and]

Got my barrel the other day and put it together. Changed mind midstream and went with an Encore Heavy Barrel. Topped it with a Burris 10x scope and will start breaking in the barrel on Saturday.

Darryl 8)

 

[Old Griz]

:cb2: Why do you suppose so few companies make anything for the Hornet? T/C, Taurus (shudder), and Magnum Research are all I know of. Anyone else?

I'd love a Ruger SA in .22 Hornet.

 

[KENTDEP]

:cb2: I'd love a Ruger SA in .22 Hornet.

That would be a cool little gun! I would like to try one in a Bisley format. If it could that be done on a SSS that would be super.

JC

 

[corbanzo]

In reality they dont compare... My old man told me a story that grandpa was given a .22 hornet pistol for self defense if he was ever shot down (fighter pilot) The reasoning was because it would do the work on a human, and also take down a small deer if food was necessary. Try and take out a deer with a .17hmr. It's just supposed to be small and fast. Squirrels, gophers, etc. The hornet is the hardest hitten, best flying out of all of the above. But they all do have their place.