Calhoon?

[Twicepop]

I've seen a lot of post in this section for a lot of the smaller caliber cartridges, but none have been about Calhoon's 19 caliber. Anybody here have any experience with any of them, either pro or con?

 

[Dave Berg]

I've seen a lot of post in this section for a lot of the smaller caliber cartridges, but none have been about Calhoon's 19 caliber. Anybody here have any experience with any of them, either pro or con?

I have two of Jim's "Fine Shootin' Rifles"

One is a 19-223 built on a Remington action which I quite frankly haven't used much. The 20 caliber rage started just after I had it built. Calhoon definitely had the right idea but big companies with big bucks added 0.006", said the 20 caliber was the way, the truth and the light and the sheep followed.

The other is a 19 Calhoon Hornet built by Jim at least 15 years ago on what started as a Ruger 77/22 Stainless Target in 22 Hornet. I mailed it off to Havre, MT and the folks re-barreled it with a Pac-Nor Super Match, re-worked the trigger, modified the "slick-feeding" rotary magazine, cut cooling ports in the forearm and installed a James Calhoon Medallion in the stock.

With a little over 13 grains of AA 1680 it pushes the 32 grain slick-silver bullets at 3,300 fps. Extremely accurate, low noise, almost no fouling. It is definitely not pelt friendly leaving gaping exit wounds at 250+ yards. It has over 2,000 rounds through it and the barrel still looks like new - no wear, no throat erosion.

My absolute favorite groundhog gun at 275 yards or less. I'd definitely buy if I didn't already have one.

 

[17VLD]

I have a Cooper in 19-223 and I opted for the longer 26 barrel,love that rifle.I have shot it at pd’s In New Mexico,Colorado and Wyoming,made kills at a little past 500 yards with it.I also have a Ruger 19 Calhoon Hornet built by Jim and that rifle is just flat out fun to shoot.One of the things rarely mentioned about the 19 caliber is that the rifling grooves and lands are more robust and are cut like a 22 and 6mm centerfire.The 20 caliber rifle barrels are built like a 17,very thin rifling,that may not matter to some folks,but Jim really did his home work on the 19 and he is a super nice guy to deal with.Another plus is that Sierra has started making Blitz bullets for Jim in 19 caliber as well.
Matt

 

[Tim s]

I have participated in a lot of the "sub caliber" for many years with 17's first, now mostly 20's & even a 14 Walker hornet.
I don't know about the big company idea since IMHO the best single chambering out there is the TAC20 invented by Todd Kindler & the biggest supplier to the community was Cooper while Dan still ran it.
That said I think the biggest issues were a combination of not really any bullet makers, nor loading die makers or barrel makers, especially bullet makers really jumped on board to give the 19's critical mass in spite of the fact they are pretty well thought out designs.

 

[danny]

That said I think the biggest issues were a combination of not really any bullet makers, nor loading die makers or barrel makers, especially bullet makers really jumped on board to give the 19's critical mass in spite of the fact they are pretty well thought out designs.

Probably so....
It is a shame. It is pretty hard (understandably for many (most?) end users to jump into a world of cartridges based on caliber where there is not a lot of support. The big thing for me is the lack of bullet choices. People complain about the 17 calibers (which I love to shoot) and the lack of bullet choices. The little that the 17 caliber guys have is vastly more choice than what the 19 caliber guys have.

Danny

 

[Tim s]

Such is the world of sub caliber experimentation. You go over to the Saubier site and see some of the stuff.....some gains traction, some fades.
Not that long ago guys were really pushing the envelope, try and find .12 cal or .10 cal barrels or bullets these days. With all the various chamberings in .14, when Bill Eichelberger died, they're barely hanging on.
I have one of the 10 Coopers made in 14 Walker but who today is gonna drop $350 for a complete set of dies......to go with your $75 cleaning rod.

 

[danny]

Such is the world of sub caliber experimentation. You go over to the Saubier site and see some of the stuff.....some gains traction, some fades.
Not that long ago guys were really pushing the envelope, try and find .12 cal or .10 cal barrels or bullets these days. With all the various chamberings in .14, when Bill Eichelberger died, they're barely hanging on.
I have one of the 10 Coopers made in 14 Walker but who today is gonna drop $350 for a complete set of dies......to go with your $75 cleaning rod.

14 Walker would be nice, especially in a Cooper. For me, sub caliber starts at 19 and goes down. Nothing wrong with a 20. I want one. I just think that with the 204 Ruger being so popular and mainstream and very close to 22, that sub caliber is below that.

Danny

 

[Tim s]

14 Walker would be nice, especially in a Cooper. For me, sub caliber starts at 19 and goes down. Nothing wrong with a 20. I want one. I just think that with the 204 Ruger being so popular and mainstream and very close to 22, that sub caliber is below that.

Danny

Study up on the 20's. They finished off the 19's.
My TAC shoots a 40 grain slug with a BC 50% higher than most slugs out of a 22-250 @3920 fps with 40% less powder, and no appreciable recoil and shoots in the .2's. Works for me.

 

[Tommie]

Calhoon definitely had the right idea but big companies with big bucks added 0.006", said the 20 caliber was the way, the truth and the light and the sheep followed.

The .204 (AKA 5mm) was established way before the .19 caliber. Not throwing stones, just clarifying.