.22 hornet

[elhefe]

How loud is this round and it's effective range on whitetails? Know it has to be a centerfire to be legal. Daughter is wanting to hunt next year but it all spooked because of the sound. Ear muffs help but still nervous. It's all in her head but I thought I would help out as much as possible.

[bdchorn]

I'm not much of a ballistics guy, but is a 22 hornet enough for a whitetail at any range? Seems a little light to me.

[Artos]

Move to a .223 at least...get some GOOD ear muffs. Maybe even the soft plugs under the muffs when at the range. Let here shoot a lot and it will help.


Hornet round would be strictly head and neck shots at close range which aren't ideal for the kiddos.

[JBS]

I would not use a 22 hornet on a deer. Get her some cast ear plugs made.

[Jaspro]

My first deer rifle was a 22 hornet. Not real loud. Effective to about 50 yards though the first time I was ever released in the woods alone with it I killed a neighbors cow. I was about 8 if I remember correctly. In fact I still own this gun. Its a very good varmint rifle

[Fishndude]

the first time I was ever released in the woods alone with it I killed a neighbors cow.

neck shot??

[Reckless Cheri]

I love .22 Hornets. My daughters started hunting Whitetails with one and they have plenty of knock down power. I think they are great!

[johnsonzl]

Get her a 222 and keep it inside 100yds. Its not much louder than a 22mag and it realy doesn't kick. I have a very close friend that kills a limit each year with one and lots of kids in my family have been started hunting with the same round. Remember to take her out and let her practice with it, if she is worried about the noise then its probably still to early to let her shoot at a live target. I don't want to hear any arguments about a 22 is to small ember we are on a bow hunting site and it will put a dear down quicker than and stick and string out there.

[JMG]

Don't recommend the hornet for deer. My cousin has one and let his 2 daughters kill there first deer with it but both of them hit the backbone so the deer fell right there. If they hadn't fallen right there, it would have been a major problem tracking them. Little bitty entrance hole and not exit. As far as range, that gun is on out to 100yrds. I would get into the .223 or even the .243. With ear muffs, they won't know the difference.

[Mason]

My daughter has shot at two deer, both with a 22 hornet, one shot each, neither one left a blood trail, just a blood pool around their bodies.... both shoulder shots at 80-90 yards.... both dropped in their tracks.... and a head shot at 100 yards is pretty spectacular, if you like a red mist.

[visdata]

Ive shot more deer by far with my hornet than any of the other rifles I have. All neck shots and down where they stand. I don't go further than 100 yards but prefer under 50. They are great for head shots on pigs

[gofish24]

i shot my first deer with hornet and my nephew has shot his first 2 with it this year and last. just like with a bow or any other firearm, its all about shot placement.

[Cajun Blake]

FYI - ever considered the 221 Fireball ?

this cartridge falls in between the Hornet and the 223 regarding noise and recoil.

221 FB is very docile, and accurate



in my experience, the Hornet "accuracy" is below par when compared to other cartridges



Artos' had a beautiful Fireball for sale recently (may have been sold)

[Artos]

FYI - ever considered the 221 Fireball ?

this cartridge falls in between the Hornet and the 223 regarding noise and recoil.

221 FB is very docile, and accurate



in my experience, the Hornet "accuracy" is below par when compared to other cartridges



Artos' had a beautiful Fireball for sale recently (may have been sold)

I shot several deer with the fb blake...they were head / neck shots but I am currently 221-less & had to let her go.

I think once the girl gets past the noise issue, everything will fall into place. Usually a few trips to the range with double ear protection can fix the problem.


I had a great bullberry k-hornet at one time & a brno zkw-465 that shot very well with the old WW680 powder but you are right. It is a finicky round.

Have you looked at that FN 5.7 round?? It seems like an interesting little project to build up on a bolt. I've only seen them on the pistols and defensive / semi type auto's. It looks to be between a Hornet and the fb for case capacity??

[KZ]

A friend had 100 yard kill shot with my 22 hornet.