Swapped my HMR for a 0.22 hornet about 4 years ago, absolutely love it! My out and out favourite rifle, have just had to change as the barrel gave up on my CZ have a BRNO fox now which is lovely. It is not loopy for a small cartridge, it won't keep up with 0.223 or 0.204 but it burns around 10 grains less powder so why should it? Totally different cartridges. It feels like shooting a rimfire, very little recall, quiet with the right mod but nudging 0.222 energies, point and shoot with 35 gr v-max 0-130ish yards and about 1-1.5" drop to 160, it can be pushed a lot further as @TriggerPull posted above with the right bullet (guess who talked him into buying a hornet ) but you have the 0.243 which can be loaded with 55/55 gr bullets for a laser flat foxing round but the 0.22 hornet sits very well between rimmy and 'medium' powder capacity centre fires. I have had a long running debate with @Guesty about the pro'sd and cons of .17 or 0.22 him having the former and me having the latter, 0.22 produces and carries more energy further, .17 is flatter quicker and possibly slightly more accurate though guesty is a better shot than me!
Cost wise its cheap, 500+ rounds for a pound of powder, keep an eye out for bargains bullets, I am loading 35 gr varmageddon 16p per bullet, 8p of powder, 4p for primer and say 1p each firing of the case- 29 p per round so cheaper than HMR or WMR around here. .17 can be loaded even cheaper especially with the cheap 17 gr bullets available but these don't have the accuracy for longer ranges but for a 150 yard HMR replacement and at 5-6p a bullet who cares!!
Basically do it, very unlikely you'll regret it!!
Cost wise its cheap, 500+ rounds for a pound of powder, keep an eye out for bargains bullets, I am loading 35 gr varmageddon 16p per bullet, 8p of powder, 4p for primer and say 1p each firing of the case- 29 p per round so cheaper than HMR or WMR around here. .17 can be loaded even cheaper especially with the cheap 17 gr bullets available but these don't have the accuracy for longer ranges but for a 150 yard HMR replacement and at 5-6p a bullet who cares!!
Basically do it, very unlikely you'll regret it!!