Caliber Preferences?

[Hanshi]

Falcon, I guess I've killed deer with everything from my .22 Hornet (I've owned three Hornets) to heavy 45/70 loads; even had a 45/70 bolt action long, long ago. The Hornet worked as well as anything I've used, with mostly DRTs and/or short panicked runs. My little M82 Kimber is just so spectacularly accurate and has such a light, crisp trigger it was no problem making a few neck shots; dropped them well with lung hits, too. I have loaded rounds and/or brass for calibers I never owned including the 8mm Mauser. I hunted with the 30/06 and .308 and love both. The .270 holds a permanent place in my esteem. But based on numbers of deer taken the .250/3000 and the .350 Rem mag lead. Of course I took deer with .45, .50, .54 and .62 prb and that's all I've used for many years. Never cared for inlines but am passionate when it comes to flintlock longrifles.

 

[user 23626]

As earlier stated I've always managed to hang on to the .22Hornet in one form or another. My current is a K hornet in the Ruger #3 action. A custom I put together about 16 yrs past. Leupold 3 X 9 compact with fine crosshair and dot ( my favorite reticule), Neidner gripcap and buttplate. Mossie

 

[Marty1]

As earlier stated I've always managed to hang on to the .22Hornet in one form or another. My current is a K hornet in the Ruger #3 action. A custom I put together about 16 yrs past. Leupold 3 X 9 compact with fine crosshair and dot ( my favorite reticule), Neidner gripcap and buttplate. Mossie

Beautiful setup! :thumbs up:
The .22 Hornet is a great varmint cartridge. I once hemmed and hawed over a .22 "K" Hornet that was in a local gun shop.

 

[Hanshi]

I once owned a Ruger #3 in .22 Hornet and a handgun in that caliber. I like the .22H because it's very accurate, quiet, pleasant to shoot and has plenty of power for deer.

 

[jims]

I shot a K hornet in a Savage break action back in the early 60s. Shot further than it should, had a small diameter scope.

 

[user 23626]

My #3 had been rechambered to 222 but I found an orig barrel in hornet and a new extractor and Walla, back to one of my "favorites". A few years later while turkey hunting around Crawford Ne a small lumber/hardware store was going out of the ammo business and I bought 15 boxes (50ea) of factory Win for 8.00 a box. Haven't reloaded since. While living in Artesia NM after getting out of the Army I bought the first TC Contender in the area. It was a Hornet and a feral housecat killing machine not to mention jacks, skunks etc....Mossie

 

[mark1945]

I have a 22K hornet thats a tack driver its a TC Contender ,have a few other barrels for it but they almost never get used. I never had a Hornet and a friend of mine gave me 1000 once fired pieces of K brass that he had ,so I just had to get a barrel and some dies. One of my best moves great predator round for Coons,Coyotes, and Bobcats.

 

[Marty1]

I once owned a Ruger #3 in .22 Hornet and a handgun in that caliber. I like the .22H because it's very accurate, quiet, pleasant to shoot and has plenty of power for deer.

The Hornet sounds a little too light to me for deer...even with a 55 gr. SP's.

 

[mark1945]

I agree Marty, dont think I would use my Hornet on Deer either. Have too many better choices. I do know several who do use a Hornet and also a 204 Ruger . Im just Leary of using such a small bullet.

 

[Buck Conner1]

.
Have owned many different manufactor's guns in .22 Hornet, but always come back to my good old Ruger No.1 in that caliber.

​

Nothing like one shot kills.
.

 

[Hanshi]

I've owned two Contenders, one in .22 Hornet and the other one in .357 mag. Truth is, I could never really warm up to those pistols. A handgun (to me) has to be handy and supremely portable. As far as the hornet on deer I agree it's rather light. I used 45 grain bullets and never lost a deer. Since I don't have "magnumitis" I've mostly used "minimum" cartridges for deer, with exceptions already mentioned. That's why I ended up with the .250 Sav being my all time favorite deer cartridge.

 

[Buck Conner1]

I've owned two Contenders, one in .22 Hornet and the other one in .357 mag.

.
Hanshi, what do you know about the Ruger LCR Six-Shot 327 Federal Magnum Pocket Revolver.
.

 

[heelerau]

I always would have liked at Brno in .22 hornet, double set triggers. I have my late fathers' Brno Mod 2 bought new by him in 1953 or there about, bolt is slick like silk. I find my .50 is good all round for rabbits to kangaroos. Caplock with set trigger, real tack driver, as I have to head shoot the rabbits. I find this an easy flat shooting rifle. I don't use it much as I am having a love affair with flintlocks !

 

[Standing Bear]

I really like the Hornet too. I call it my reloadable .22 Mag. Bought the Winchester Mod 43 20-25 years ago and intended to put a Leupold 2-7 in place of the low end 4x but it still does the job even out to 213 yards (laser range finder) on pasture poodles.

 

[Hanshi]

One thing I like about the Hornet is that I've developed a few loads in the 1900 fps to 1800 fps with 40 & 45 grn bullets that basically duplicate the .22 mag. The loads are very accurate and can do anything the .22mag can do. Mostly I shoot the 40 grn bullet approaching 2900 to 3000 fps. For deer I loaded the 45 grain.

Buck, I've never had any experience with the .327 Federal. In fact I haven't purchased a modern gun of any kind in well over 20 plus years. My last purchase, IIRC, was my Kimber of Oregon .45 acp Ultra Carry some 25 years ago. I would relish a small revolver, specifically a Colt 1862 Pocket Police (.36). I don't need a new modern revolver, already have a 7.65mm PPK and a small .38 spl. And it's been a very long time since I purchased a Ruger - my BHs are the 3-screw models with all but one purchased new, for instance.

 

[evansbruce]

.
Have owned many different manufactor's guns in .22 Hornet, but always come back to my good old Ruger No.1 in that caliber.

View attachment 2412​

Nothing like one shot kills.
.

Damn, but that is a beautiful rifle. If I wasn't so old it would give me woody just looking at that gorgeous piece of wood. Modern platform rifles are certainly more ergonomically efficient, but I love me some curly walnut.

 

[Buck Conner1]

Damn, but that is a beautiful rifle. If I wasn't so old it would give me woody just looking at that gorgeous piece of wood. Modern platform rifles are certainly more ergonomically efficient, but I love me some curly walnut.

.
We are never to old to look at and dream of what we could have done with good equipage.
.

 

[Hanshi]

I'll never let my Kimber of Oregon M82 .22H go. I bought it new going on 40 years ago and love it. I've owned two Ruger #3 rifles, .22H and 30/40 Craig. Wish I'd kept both. The LGS owner was a friend and always gave me good deals. Still, the cost of these babies was far beyond my ability to afford. I even have a couple of custom flintlock rifles that cost less than either Kimber though built 20 years later! I can't recall precisely how I ended up with them, but I believe it was some convoluted affair.
M82 Hornet.

Custom Classic .22LR.

 

[Okie Hog]

Have owned numerous .22 Hornet rifles over the years. The first was a very nice Winchester model 43 i traded for while in high school. That rifle soon developed headspace problems. Took it our local gunsmith who machined a shim to get the headspace right. The gunsmith told me that model 43 rifles in .25-20 and .32-20 calibers never developed headspace problems. He also stated rifles in .218 Bee and .22 Hornet often had headspace problems. i soon traded the gun off.

Last year i sold a Sako L-46 rifle in .22 Hornet.

The neatest .22 Hornet i ever owned was a BSA Martini with a model 43 Winchester barrel. Loaned that rifle to the daughter of a friend. She fell in love with the gun and i gave it to her. Had a break action H&R rifle in .22 Hornet that was very accurate. Gave it to my grand-daughter.

Currently own a Savage model 24F .22 Hornet over 3" 20 gauge shotgun: Good gun for called in coyotes. Also have a scoped .22 Hornet barrel for my Encore.

Got to find another .22 Hornet rifle.

 

[Hanshi]

I can't imagine being without a Hornet. It can be a gentle powder-puff playmate or a strong lightweight that punches way beyond its weight class.