Opinions

MAN! I'm glad it is a free country. I will believe about anything. We got one guy shooting and killing coyotes(alot) at 300 yards with a 22 Hornet, and another guy killing deer with a whisky bottle(the caliber of that bottle is in question though).

I am from Missouri originally, you know the "Show Me State". I gotta see it. I am to old to drink that much whisky in order to find out, so I will just believe Mike to start with. I've done some pretty outrageous things in my time too. But most of them I refuse to talk about. If they wanna tell it, let em tell. I won't question them.

But you have to go back to PH-Pete Hauer's philosphy. "Careful how much truth you tell, or your credibility will be in question." Now I am not questioning anybody's credibility here. Just voicing another opinion.

 

Hey we got a "Show-me" & a THOMAS...so

All you Looooooooooooong distance Coyote Killers w/ a Hornet, lets see some Kills and MEASURED distances! Yepper, Lets see 'em! Looking back thru my Varmint Hunters Magazines I don't see any 500 Yarders w/ a Hornet , and in membersPix, why don't you go and show me some 200 yard Coyotes ! Please ! I BE A DOUBTING "Thomas" (Fuzz)

 

I guess I missed that.....did somebody say they shot and killed coyotes at 500 yards,with a .22 Hornet? Put me down as a doubting Thomas, too. I've never even shot at a coyote at that range, with anything.....I've got too much respect for them, and there's too much chance of hitting them in the leg, etc., and leaving a cripple.

 

Hornet-Hornet-Hornet-Hornet-Hornet-Damn it Man!

As luck(Fate) would have it, while perusing @ my local vendor I saw in the very first row a Savage Model 40 .22 Hornet Varmint Hunter Rifle, thumbhole laminated stock and accutriger, etc. and the shop owner was willing to accept my offerings in trade! Oh Boy!Oh Joy! I cannot wait to get to the range to sight this puppy in! I have some scope options and grouping will help decide the Max Magnigication for the optics... What is so neat is I have a Lyman 310 tool (Nut Cracker) and reloading anywhere is as easy as can be! w/ my preset powder dispenser.

 

Alrighty then!

Go have some fun now Fuzz. Wish I could join you. Envy!!!

 

Come on over to the SE VHA Shootoff Millen Ga!

Yes I wish you all would too! 1st Sat in May which is May 3rd @ Hanging Rock Plantation, see Up Coming events. BIG $ Prizes and Something Special from our Supporters, who are VHA & GGVG Sponsers and Members!

 

Let's see a pic of the new cannon, Fuzz.

 

Well you sure like to hear yourself talk. I've owned a hornet for about as lons as most. around 30 years. Can I speek for how it as work on coyotes for me...No. I can say I've shot enough groundhogs and fox with it to ba as good a judge as any on this board..well with the exception of you for sure. I think if you read my post it says the same as you ssaid about 3 mouth fulls later. THERE ARE BETTER CHOICES!. As for bullet placement I'm sure like your knowledge that you would be a hard man to beat...at least while your behind the keyboard and a couple thousand mile away. Find me a printed pro or video that recomends the hornet for cyotes and I'll drive to Idaho and buy you enough ammo to die without loading anther hornet shell. And if you can't?????? How about you just blow me a ass kiss and I'll forget what a fool you've been. I know, I should'nt wait for my Christmas card from you this year.

 

The guy didn't ask what the best coyote cartridge is. Why answer a question he didn't ask? He specifically asked if the .22 hornet is adequate for coyotes. Why don't you get that? The answer to the question mnhe asked is "YES", assuming you don't shoot them over 150 yards. Very simple...don't need to have abig discussion about it. So, several people with lots of experience shooting coyotes with the .22 Hornet answer that portion of his question with similar answers. But then you come along, with admittedly no experience shooting coyotes with the Hornet, and say "just because it will kill them doesn't make it a good choice"...thus in effect saying these guys that say it's a great little coyote round out to 150 yards don't now what they're talking about. Sheesh... I may like to hear myself talk, but when I talk, at least I have some experience with the subject at hand, unlike you who posts opinions with no experience to support it. So you shot fox and groundhogs with it....so have I. Here's what Ken Waters had to say at the end of his Pet Loads article on the Hornet, and I quote " For me, the Hornet has taken 'chucks out to 200 yards and fox to 165, and that's plenty good enough around settled communities and small farms. Thus, for the man who can recognize and accept it's limitations, the .22 Hornet with today's powders is more than "just as good"...it's better than ever!" You should have learned a long time ago that it's better to be quiet and have people suspect you're stupid then to open your mouth and prove it. Isn't it strange that you are the only person who says the Hornet can't cut it at 150 yards for coyotes? Think about it.

 

Can't you just let it go?

 

I believe he did Cobra, I believe he just did.

 

I had a Ruger 77/22 hornet. I traded it for a craftsman 12" lathe.

 

You Scalped Him!

Hhehehehehe!

 

22-hornet

This thread sure has sturid up one hornets nest? I guess the only way to settle this is" does someone have a family pet about 35Lbs to use as a prop.Just joking ok.

 

OKAY-OKAY! Honestly! I just want to know one thing. How much do you hold over, to kill a coyote at 300 yards with a 22 Hornet. A foot or a foot and half?

Keep in mind I am an "avid" Hornet fan, but once again I am from Missouri and My grandmothers's maiden name on "both sides" of my family was Thomas.

 

..The hornet is fun to play with shooting crows, starlings & groundhogs out to 150yds. But if I was to shoot a coyote I'ld limit it to 200yds. with the fireball...For a good clean kill...I know they will drop 1 farther out but that's just my rule...If I'm looking to shoot a yote at longer ranges I just get the .243 with 70gr noslers out...JMO...

 

Sonny, I don't know what loads you shoot, but in years back before Vmax's & such, I was always limited to the round nose bullets to fit in the danged clip on my rifle. (Now that I've got Single-Shots, I have more choices) Loads back in the 60's, 70's & 80's usually were either Rem. 45 gr HP's or Win. 46 gr Hp's over about 11.2 grs of IMR 4227. Back then, in order to put one in the boiler of a Coyote at around 300 yds, I had to hold about 15 inches or so above his hairline if he was sideways. Depends on where you got your scope sighted in to. Mine's zeroed @ 150 yds and the TC Contender with the 23" Barrel is zeroed @ 200 yds. Nowdays, using the vmax 40 gr with 11.3 grs of AA#9 @2900 fps the bullet flies a coupla inches flatter but don't have the thump a good 45 gr does. 300 yards is past normal ranges to shoot the Hornet at Coyotes unless that's all you got but most of the Coyotes we call in are anywhere from, biting your gun barrel to about 40 yds and the Hornet works real good there and the pelt damage is not bad at all, most of the time. It's all about prime pelts with a minimum "Hole" in it, for me. Some years we only get 50 or 60 good dogs and some years over a hundred. $60 Coyote pelts are a thing of the past nowdays. We are lucky to average $22. I am really likeing the 221 FB/40gr. vmx for Coyotes although I shoot a 222 Sako Vixen and a 788/223 also. Still, the Hornet is still getting it's share too.

 

Hornet

Godsdog

I have a Browning Micro Hunter in 22 Hornet and one in 17 AH. The 22 Hornet is zero'd at 3/4" high at 100 yds. A friend of mine and I have identical rifles like this. They consistently shoot five inches low at 200 yards sighted in, in this manner. We shot groundhogs with em just past two hundred yards with the hold over. Usually it means a knock down-a-roll around and then they are up and running for the den. Very little horsepower left at that range. This is using factory off the shelf Hornady 35 gr V-Max, the reason for that is the pinpoint accuracy, that is extremely consistent out to about 150 yds.

All this being said, I just could never have imagined anyone using this set up for coyotes at an unbelievable yardage such as 300 that you mentioned. I love my Hornets, but will continue to use them for foxes and such at the ranges that I am capable of shooting it accurately without guessing on the holdover. I have to many other better options available to me in the gun safe.

Just the thought of what you have stated, amazes me. Now inside 100-150 yds, yes I would cut down on a coyote with a Hornet.

 

Well, one thing: it sure makes a difference where you hunt as to what kind of gun you need. And, how you hunt. Out in the great open plains, or flat large farm country, if you are walking, you can't have too much gun. In these nice little valleys in KY and TN sitting or popping over a hill, it is another thing entirely.

 

Sonny, I didn't know that 300 yds was that far.
Guess I won't tell about shooting groundsquirrels at that distance with the Hornet then. As for the 17 Ack. Imp., I have mine sighted in dead on @ 200 yds shooting the 25 gr. vmx for squirrels and a 300 yd shot is "Nothing" for it to do. Just got to watch the wind.

We've been using the 17 AI Hornet for Coyotes shooting the 25 gr Hndy HP (It penetrates better than a vmx) We killed a coupla Coyotes last winter out close to the 300 yd. mark but you have to get it into the boiler. That little bullet is running out of steam fast at that distance. Those 35 gr. vmax's you shoot in your 22 Hornet run out of steam a lot faster than a heavier bullet too. Besides that they got the BC of a flat rock! In my new TC Contender (G1) 22 Hornet with the 23" Bull Barrel, I'm going to use 40 gr vmx's for squirrels and 45 gr Sierra spitzers or 45 gr Hornady pointed SP's in it for Coyotes. They'll fly a lot better than the round-nose HP's. Why ain't you reloading for yours? You've limited yourself.

 

The hornet is a great cartridge. I have killed groundhogs at 200yds with my Ruger #1. I currently have a Ruger 77/22 that I am having rebarreled to 19 Calhoon because I am tired of spending more time trying to find a load that I can depend on than hunting. I WOULD NOT BUY A RUGER. I have owned 3 rugers in the hornet. They were all erractic in performance. I shot some great groups - 3/8 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yds. But most were 1.5 to 2.5 inches at 100yds. I think you will regret buying a Ruger.

 

Browning Hornets

Godsdog

The reason I don't reload for the 22 Hornet is simple. The Hornady 35 gr V-Max's right off the shelf shoots 1/2" five-shot groups. Yes, that's the truth, zero exaggeration, many witnesses. I've tried various other loads and nothing comes close to that. I use it primarily for foxes at called ranges, so speed and distances has never been as important as pin point accuracy to me.

I am currently playing with the 17 AH that I had built from another Browning Micro Hunter, looking for loads that please me for foxes. I have a T/C Contender in 17 AH. I want to shoot the 25 gr Bergers at around 3000-3100fps, NOT 3700-3800fps. If I need speed and flatness way out there I go to the Cooper Locker, or I grab one of the 20 calibers I have setting in the gun room. I am mostly playing around with the three Hornets for foxes. I am gonna call them closer than 200-300 yds. I live in the East, a long shot is 100 yds.

 

Godsdog

The reason I don't reload for the 22 Hornet is simple. The Hornady 35 gr V-Max's right off the shelf shoots 1/2" five-shot groups. Yes, that's the truth, zero exaggeration, many witnesses. I've tried various other loads and nothing comes close to that. I use it primarily for foxes at called ranges, so speed and distances has never been as important as pin point accuracy to me.

I am currently playing with the 17 AH that I had built from another Browning Micro Hunter, looking for loads that please me for foxes. I have a T/C Contender in 17 AH. I want to shoot the 25 gr Bergers at around 3000-3100fps, NOT 3700-3800fps. If I need speed and flatness way out there I go to the Cooper Locker, or I grab one of the 20 calibers I have setting in the gun room. I am mostly playing around with the three Hornets for foxes. I am gonna call them closer than 200-300 yds. I live in the East, a long shot is 100 yds.

I have found the 35 vmax hornady to be very consistant also. Just that it consistantly shot 1.25 groups in the Ruger (gag) I shot some 2.5 inch groups at 200 yds, which would be plenty accurate for coyotes and probably ok for groundhogs.

 

I don't know who you know that's shooting a 17 AI Hornet at 3700-3800 fps but he'd better lighten up. You want that kind of 17 cal. speed you better go with a 17 FB or a 17 Rem. I didn't know you could get a 17 AI Hornet to go that fast.

 

Guess that must be me!



3700-3800 fps isn't much of a push, using either AA-1680 (12.6 gr.), 20 gr. VMaxes and WSR primers in a Winchester case, or just replacing the 1680 with N-120 (12.1 gr.). Primer pockets last forever (more than 7 reloadings), and accuracy is exceptional.

The 17M4 will will drive the 20 VMax to 4000 fps, as will the 17FB.

These aren't "extreme" loads, but are ones used by many of the Small Caliber guys. Check over on www.saubier.com. Good place to learn about small caliber stuff, what to use, and what's "over the top."

You might want to subscribe to Small Caliber News.

Alex

 

I'm not going to join in on the Hornet for coyote debate, but my Ruger No.3 with a Pac-Nor Super Match barrel in 17AH launches the 20gr Berger or V-Max right at 3810 fps using WW cases, 6-1/2 primers and 12.6grs of A1680, and shoots a ten shot group smaller than a dime every time, and the cases last a very long time.

Pure death on ground squirrels, one of my favorite fun rifles.

About the size of a 10-22, with 400 yard 'squirrel ability'. (Yep, the flyer is operator error.....)

I've never shot a coyote with this rifle/round, but would not hesitate to do so if the opportunity presented itself within reasonable range (you can define reasonable yourself). But 3800 fps+ from a 17 AH is not hard to get with the 20gr bullet.

Now with that bullet in my 17M4.....that's an entirely different story.....

 

Awesome shooting Rick

Thanks for chiming in there Rick. That is some nice shooting there. The 17 AH is a sweet heart that's for sure. Alex runs em up like that from his Coopers(plural). I have done it in my Contender, but I am from the other persuasion. I am slowing things down in my Browning 17 AH for Gray Fox pelt preservation with the 17 AH as a "call gun", sorta like a "call girl" only better, cheaper at least after the initial sticker price.

Godsdog, there are lots of folks that run em out there that fast. Trust Alex's opinion, he won't steer you wrong. I would say he could write books about this stuff, but he already has. He is usually so deep in the weeds technically that I can't follow him anyway.

 

I looked in my little "Blue Book" of reloading records and found one intrance where I got 3788 fps w/ 20 gr. vmx over 12.6 grs of T-680 powder and a note included stating No Pressure signs. I had the 25 gr. vmax in mind when I was questioning the 3700 to 2800 fps in the 17 AI Hornet and I'll still stick with that remark. At 3500 to 3600 fps, my Hornet brass was starting to take a beating and show pressure with the 25 gr bullets. I just finished forming up 500 rounds of 17 AI Hornet and I loaded them with 12.2 gr. of T-680 / 20 gr. Vmax and didn't even run them over the Chrono. It's sighted dead on at 200 yds and last Sunday I got about 200 rounds of them "Fireformed" on Squirrels and the accuracy was phenominal. I still like the 25 gr. bullets better, but I had the 20 grainers and they do blow up a squirrel. The 20 grain bullet doesn't have the range of the 25 or 28 gr 17 cal. bullets even when it is going at light speed. The 28 gr Calhoon HP is a good Coyote Pelt bullet in the Hornet or the 17 FB. I'm getting better brass life with 25 gr bullets if I keep them at 3400 fps +/-.

 

GD, we're of the same mind on...

... the 25 grer. I prefer 20's in the 17AH myself, 25's in the 17M4, and 25 and 30's in the 17 Rem.

However, you're right on about the 25er. If Sonny slows 'em down much more, he'll have to get a slingshot.

Great little cartridge. Probably one of the best kept secrets of the shooting world.

Alex