Pondering a 22 Hornet or K-Hornet for a pro hunter

[jds holler]

I also haves a love for the "tweener" cartridges. That power level between 22 long rifle and 222/223.
Mine is a Bee, and I can attest to the great case durability of that cartridge.
There are more good bullets available for these little shells than ever. Too bad that primers cost so much, or these little cartridges would be incredibly economical to shoot. I still think they come in cheaper than 22 Mag, and way better. jd

 

[Mulligan]

I see there is Hornady brand brass available for the Bee. Is it of decent quality?
CW

 

[Evan]

Have you considered a 22 TCM?

Edit: I have also toyed with the idea of necking a 38 special down to a 22.

 

[jds holler]

I see there is Hornady brand brass available for the Bee. Is it of decent quality?
CW

I haven't tried it. I've got a butt-load of both Rem, and Win.. I've had pretty good luck even lately getting used stuff at our local gun-show.
These rifles are owned primarily by "old farts", a group of whom I'm a member of. Us old farts tend to graduate out of this world and leave our brass behind.

I shoot my brass to complete failure, either cracked neck or case separation. I can't say for sure, but they've prolly had around 15 load cycles by the time that happens. jd

 

[17VLD]

Does the Bee brass last longer?
CW

It would if you could find it,of course you could try Hornady brass I guess. I prefer my old W-W stuff and usually beg Starline quite often to bring Bee brass out. I am happy they decided to offer .222 it's rather nice stuff. But we are getting off the fact that you Need a K Hornet...
 Matt

 

[Mulligan]

Have you considered a 22 TCM?

Edit: I have also toyed with the idea of necking a 38 special down to a 22.

TCM is just not my cup of tea.

I’m focused on a rimed case for use in a TC contender or prohunter single shot rifle.

Otherwise, my Waldog or a 223 case shortened to a Waldog length would be great fun in a bolt action.

CW

 

[17VLD]

Yes, if you can find it.

Sorry Snert,jumped right past your response. I guess these days no one really needs a Hornet or Bee you really can do it all with a 222 or 223 and reduced loads. I kinda think im stuck on the nostalgia of the old varmint hunters and the history of pursuing varmints. Something about an old Hornet or Bee stirs my soul.
Kinda hoping Mulligan finds a neat old Hornet. Of course Lipseys has a neat #1 in 22 Hornet this year $$$
Matt

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have a 17 Hornet and a 22 Hornet. Both would work for wabbits.

 

[jds holler]

I've had my Bee for 50 years, and love it like no other rifle I own. I've got enough brass to get me to the grave, so that's not a problem. With my casual loading technique, and old mixed brass situation, it shoots about 1.5 MOA. I'm fine with that and got nuthin to prove, except to the squirrels I shoot at around 150 or less yards.

IF I was to do it again, I'd find or create a cute little wild-cat formed from 223 brass that is cut down to about 2/3 capacity. Think about 12-14 gr. of your favorite ball (or similar) powder. Caliber would prolly be .20.

I'd want a rifle of small dimension, short action, and fairly light weight. And I might even make it a single shot, but that's just me. I find myself doing a lot more single shot loading than mag loading.
jd

 

[redrockranger]

Slingshot.

 

[snert]

If you go Hornet, go K. You can shoot both. I like 1680 in the K, but Lilgun works too. It just gets wacky in pressure easily. I have a 14 inch Contender with a 2 1/2 inch pinned bloop tube of about 30 caliber so I can use it with a rifle stock. It shoots very well. Not 222 well, but well enough to topple PD.

 

[jds holler]

Waaayyy back when, (like when snert was a kid) the only powders often listed for these little cartridges were 2400 and 4227 - and maybe a few other slow pistol powders for cast bullets.
Those two powders still work fine, but there are a lot more to choose from these days.

I've never used anything but IMR 4227 in my Bee except for occasionally loading 22 LR level, 45 gr. cast bullets with one or another of the pistol powders.

Also now that Hornady makes the little 35 gr. VMax, my Bee is an honest 3000 fps cartridge, although not quite as accurate as it use to be with the Sierra 45's that were standard fare for the Hornets and Bee. jd

 

[AlNyhus]

A 221 Fireball would be just the ticket. -Al

 

[moorepower1]

Big straight .22 Hornet fan. A full case of Lil Gun and a 40Vmax at 2900. Food for thought, Titegroup works fantastic, for reduced loads in every .222,.223 and .300BO I have tried. It has a very gradual/ linear velocity gain.