It’s not, Elliot above pops them off at 300+ yards with his hornet!
I shoot the hornet to 150-160 and then then.223Ai takes over out to about 250 Which is pretty much point and shoot (I’m not as good as Elliot). Long ranger is 3-400 yards plus
We love our 22Lrs right? But what is the mext step up?
- Thread starter Sheprador1973
- Start date
It’s not, Elliot above pops them off at 300+ yards with his hornet!
I shoot the hornet to 150-160 and then then.223Ai takes over out to about 250 Which is pretty much point and shoot (I’m not as good as Elliot). Long ranger is 3-400 yards plus
gonzo
Well-Known Member
I load home cast, powder coated 55gn bullets in my 223 rem. With 4gn of Bullseye.
They come out about 1700fps.
Not sure what long range accuracy is like (I use them on an indoor range). But shouldn't do too much meat damage to a bunny?
And if anything bigger pops up, just pop a full fat round in.
They come out about 1700fps.
Not sure what long range accuracy is like (I use them on an indoor range). But shouldn't do too much meat damage to a bunny?
And if anything bigger pops up, just pop a full fat round in.
Fox Red
Well-Known Member
Ha ha! Just need some time to experiment. I have loads of rabbits that need knocking back, too.
I must admit that I can’t stand boasters but fair play if you think it’s ethical shooting.
First time I've come across "full patch" for FMJ. Googling suggests it went out of formal use in the 1950s, so my ignorance may be justified, but it's interesting to see it still circulating informally... Presumably also perfect for use in one's bundook or gat.
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
But what is the next step up?
.300 Win Mag...no contest.
.300 Win Mag...no contest.
From what you've said you don't need a great deal of power. If I were you I'd seriously look at a .22 Hornet. I had one back in the early days, it shot a bit like a HMR with a bit more clout behind it and was super cheap to reload. I shot mine out in the end, I reckon it took approximately 7000 rounds to do it and I didn't use it on targets....
.223 is a lot of gun for rabbits. The Hornet is very much like a slightly beefed up rimfire. If you really wanted you could load it with subsonic lead bullets and use it like a .22lr.
.223 is a lot of gun for rabbits. The Hornet is very much like a slightly beefed up rimfire. If you really wanted you could load it with subsonic lead bullets and use it like a .22lr.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
i’ve used the WMR to very good effect but the 22 hornet is a cracking round for an all round rifle i use mine out to a hundred for rabbits and foxes with ease, point and shoot. - perfectly accurate
However having just got a .17 hornet to date as well as the 22 version
i’ve grassed a few foxes under a 100 yds absolutely 100% but the rabbit side is phenomenal 218 yds i’m now out to, with the yukon 470 s on top it’s a delight to use, virtually point and shoot and it’s very very accurate at 200 ish that is far enough for me
both calibres are a joy to shoot
hornet K i’ve not seen or shot one but going on the 2 i have they are pretty good calibres all round and the ranges i shoot with them they suit my shooting 200% - for 100 - 250 yds i use the 222 on foxes. canada geese etc
However having just got a .17 hornet to date as well as the 22 version
i’ve grassed a few foxes under a 100 yds absolutely 100% but the rabbit side is phenomenal 218 yds i’m now out to, with the yukon 470 s on top it’s a delight to use, virtually point and shoot and it’s very very accurate at 200 ish that is far enough for meboth calibres are a joy to shoot
hornet K i’ve not seen or shot one but going on the 2 i have they are pretty good calibres all round and the ranges i shoot with them they suit my shooting 200% - for 100 - 250 yds i use the 222 on foxes. canada geese etc
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Hornet in 'K' format.
Hi shep,Hi guys.
Simple one I think. I love my 22lr (cz). Accurate, fun to shoot, cheap to feed and can knock bunnies over all day. It got me my first FAC and ammo is available everywhere right? I'm not even considering getting rid of it but had couple of thoughts...
I only shoot rabbits for food on my perm and have no need or interest in foxes. But, I do like to reload, would like to shoot out a bit further accurately, and would like to avoid damaging game to the point that it is inedible.
So I'm guessing my choices for 'stepping up' are 17hmr, 17 hornet, 22 hornet, 204 ruger and 222/223? I already have an empty slot for .223 on my fac but do you think I'd be better of with any of the others? For clarity I'm not concerned with noise or recoil particularly...more suitability tbh.
Thanks in advance
All of the cartridges you have listed are great to be honest, personally I wouldn't bother with the hmr, I found mine was fussy with ammo and when I did find what it liked I struggled to get it, that was l while ago now and things may well be different. 17 hornet is brilliant, I have used one a fair bit and it's very fats, accurate and is pretty quiet with a good mod, only downside is wind, it does drift a fair bit. 22 hornet is what I use for rabbits and again very accurate and easy to shoot, it doesn't hold massive velosity so knowing your ranges and drop is important but all in all great rabbit and foxing gun inside 200 yards (I know it can be used further but that's what I use it for). 204 is incredible, totally polaxes foxes and can cover long range varmint shooting with ease, rabbits must be headshot with this cartridge other you won't have much to eat but 200 yard headshot are not a problem. 222 and 223 are both nice rounds again, probably a bit much for rabbits unless headshooting, brilliant for foxes and the added bonus is you could take a munjac if one appears, as you reload you could always down load these to more suitable velosity for rabbiting and carry some full speed loads for munjac in your pocket but you would have to know the different points of impact for the two loads to make sure you are placing your shot properly. I would be hard pressed to choose but I have got the hornet and shot all but one of the rest you have listed and they are all great. One challenge you might have with some of them is finding a left hand action but if you are happy to use a right hand bolt then they will all do you. You are welcome to have a try with my 22 hornet at some point if you would like and see what you think.
Dave
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Never heard that in my life, had to look it up...
Full patch has long been used to refer to full-metal jacket bullets.
TH4
Well-Known Member
22 hornet just removes the head nicely.
Who's boasting? I freely admit in the post I am probably not a good enough shot to push out for long range.
As for ethical the 5.56x45 is what we shoot at people with non expanding bullets at 3-500 yards, the Ai is shooting an expanding bullet around the same weight at a rabbit, its very humane - the hornet shoots around 75% the muzzle energy 0f the .223 so is still very humane! Just because you may not be capable doesn't make it unethical!
sir-slots-alot
Well-Known Member
Just go for the 223 - its on your ticket already - great for fox - Munty and rabbits too.
YES , it is a lot of gun just for rabbits , but lets face it , if you hit a 2lb bunny with 500 FTE from a hornet its going to destroy the meat.
To be fair the HMR will also make a mess too if its for the pot.
From my experience , A well placed headshot from a 223 ( or any small CF for that matter) causes virtually no damage to the meat.
There is far more bruising if i body shoot bunnies using my FAC air rifle , than a head shot with a my 223 - despite the 1300FTE difference between them.
With out the risk of being branded a bragger - I head shot 5 rabbits on a sunny evening last week , the closest was 218 yrds to the furthest which was 347 yrds - using a 22 BR and 40 grn bullets at 4000 fps - all head shots and NO meat damage.
ATB
Alan
YES , it is a lot of gun just for rabbits , but lets face it , if you hit a 2lb bunny with 500 FTE from a hornet its going to destroy the meat.
To be fair the HMR will also make a mess too if its for the pot.
From my experience , A well placed headshot from a 223 ( or any small CF for that matter) causes virtually no damage to the meat.
There is far more bruising if i body shoot bunnies using my FAC air rifle , than a head shot with a my 223 - despite the 1300FTE difference between them.
With out the risk of being branded a bragger - I head shot 5 rabbits on a sunny evening last week , the closest was 218 yrds to the furthest which was 347 yrds - using a 22 BR and 40 grn bullets at 4000 fps - all head shots and NO meat damage.
ATB
Alan
Hey Al, When you going to stop just practicing?
The HMR is like my Ex wife: I was madly in love with it for a while but the relationship soured and I'm not about to go back there. If you reload, the Hornet. If you don't, the triple deuce... or get a 223 if you want a wider choice in platforms. If you do go with the Hornet, I would recommend the CZ. I've loaded for four of them in Hornet. All accurate.~Muir
.308 isnt overkill for munty TBH - it just pokes a hole in them. If you really want to reduce meat damage then step up to 180gn rather than 150's as that'll bring the speed down to 2500ft/s or so and reduce carcass damage. Its not the diameter of the bullet that does the damage, its the speed that its driven at and the speed of expansion.
I've shot munty with .300 Win Mag and it just pokes a hole in them if you sneak it in just behind the shoulder. If you hit the shoulder blade then anything is going to get a bit explode-y but just behind is perfect.
I would wager that a .223 with a 50gn ballistic tipped bullet would do more carcass damage than a standard 180gn lead cup and core out of a .308. I've yet to christen my .45-70 but I gather that it does next to no damage - big old 400gn lump of lead tootling along at 1500ft/s or so just knocks them flat.
Theres also not masses of energy difference between .22 hornet and .223 (maybe a few hundred foot pounds but its not chalk and cheese) so persoanlly I would just fill the .223 slot as you already have it. Loads of rifles about, loads of ammo available for it and easy to reload for.
Then you've got you're .22LR for bunnies, the .223 for munty and long range bunnies and the .308 for munty and fallow.
I've shot munty with .300 Win Mag and it just pokes a hole in them if you sneak it in just behind the shoulder. If you hit the shoulder blade then anything is going to get a bit explode-y but just behind is perfect.
I would wager that a .223 with a 50gn ballistic tipped bullet would do more carcass damage than a standard 180gn lead cup and core out of a .308. I've yet to christen my .45-70 but I gather that it does next to no damage - big old 400gn lump of lead tootling along at 1500ft/s or so just knocks them flat.
Theres also not masses of energy difference between .22 hornet and .223 (maybe a few hundred foot pounds but its not chalk and cheese) so persoanlly I would just fill the .223 slot as you already have it. Loads of rifles about, loads of ammo available for it and easy to reload for.
Then you've got you're .22LR for bunnies, the .223 for munty and long range bunnies and the .308 for munty and fallow.
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