Aw jees.
EMDFL takes me to task here a bit because I cast aspersion on the lowly 22 Hornet cartridge; seems that since the last time I looked at SAAMI specs, the 22 hornet has surpassed the rimfire cartridge in speed and power, and he poked fun at me for my ignorance.
See, I have this rifle. Well, it’s not so much a rifle as it is a bunch of pieces that I hope are someday a rifle once again. I’m a little afraid of doing anything with it, because when it was new, it used a cartridge which was probably double charged. Saami specs when this rifle was new were much, much lower than they are today, and now, apparently, you can load rifles way the hell up there.
And it’s still a 22 hornet, at the end of the day.
I get why people like the little hornet, though I think I’d like the 218 bee or the mashburn Bee better. Hell, if I was gonna futz around with an odd cartridge I’d probably even go for the Ackley Bee. I get the wildcat/odd cartridge thing. On the other hand, if you’re going to be serious about varminting, there are lots of far better cartridges better suited to the task.
At any rate, I have let that rifle sit because the idea of a 22 round that wasn’t as hot as a CCI stinger didn’t appeal; less so, because of the cost of operation. A box of 22 LR vs a box of 22 hornet? No comparison. Gimme the rimfire anytime and I don’t have to get down on my knees in the gravel and search for the expensive brass sized like hummingbird peckers. But as EMDFL says, it’s not your father’s 22 hornet. Thanks for the eeducation, dude!
Some like the .22 Hornet, some don’t. I do. It is quieter than most other centerfire cartridges and more powerful than rimfire magnums and comes in myriad rifles and pistols. I have a T-C Contender Bbl. in .22H that is a real little tack driver and deadly on varmints out to about 200 yds with 55 gr. spitzers. I also have a Baby Rolling Block which is so much fun to shoot it nearly requires a cigarette after a range session. I’ve used ’em both for coyotes, and the occasional rabbit and grouse, but mostly for Necco Wafers and Soda Crackers. I don’t think I’ve ever fired a factory cartridge in either gun, having got both specifically for handloading. Some years back one of the online shooting outlets, Graf’s or Mid South, most likely, had a special on Winchester bulk 40 grain bullets for super cheap. I tapped the savings account and bought 10,000 then found 10,000 small rifle primers at a local gun show. I already had an 8 lb. canister of Unique. Both my .22 Hornets are so easy on brass that it’s beginning to look like the 500 cases I bought will last the remainder of my life.
Gerry N.
Didn’t really mean to sound all snidey like over this. And I’m with you as far as there being a lot of better varmint cartridges around. But as Gerry points out, for what it is it is a lot of fun.
Bless you my son, go and sin no more heh, heh, heh.
Oh my, I just went back and checked out your rifle. WOW -if you ever feel the need to sell that PLEASE put me at the head of the line. Martinis are my major bangstick soft spot. My Zimmerschutzen is in 4mm…
Nah, when you’re right, you’re right. I had no idea. Still, it’s an affectation- like hanging onto old 50 caliber duelling pistols that I’ll never need.
Er. I’d hang onto duelling pistols. The rate things are going, duelling might make a comeback.
I’m not going to mess around with a cartridge that requires tweezers to load. My wife’s .22WRF Model 90 is small enough and I got a case of CCI 45-grain HP’s for it. Not good for Zombies however.
You’d think that the WRF would be perfectfor liberal zombies, given how much smaller are their brains.
This however is negated, due to the vastly greater thickness of their skulls.
You’d think a .577 Tyranasour seems a likely choice for some of ’em, but I’m more inclined to suggest a 16 inch, fifty caliber Naval gun for the worst (Peolosi) cases.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX