What CF Calibre for fox & rabbit

[derek.snr]

very impressed with limulus"s 17 rem seems to tick those boxes

 

[charlieboy-shooter]

Hi Guys,

thanks for all the replies. I only ever head shoot rabbits or that's my aim anyway. As I'm looking at night shooting, 200 yds max is fine. Thinking of getting a Yukon Photon to go with it, but that's another story.
So based on a lot of the replies, that puts me back with the .22 Hornet, although I had considered others like .204 & .222 and still would not rule any out just yet. Can I ask that the Hornet is ok to re-load for a reloading newbie ? and would it require a different load for a fox and rabbit load or just make sure that it is a head shot rabbit?. Should have also mentioned on one of the permissions I have the quieter the better.

Thanks

 

[multiman]

Hi Mate

I find the hornet easy to reload for and I do reaload a lot of different calibres.
I use Lilgun powder as do most on here I belive. 13 grains which happens to be more or less a case full seat the bullet on top and then use a factory crimp die. Just take your time and its neither difficult to load or complicated.
If you are worried about noise then the hornet is the one for you very mild report and hardly any recoil. Get yourself a CZ or a Brno and you will be happy with it.
My Brno is 36 years old and I can get 10 shots in 3/4" @ 100yds cant ask for more in my view.
ATB

 

[Hornet 6]

Hornet, not the first calibre I loaded for, but the first using a press and proper dies, never given me a problem.
It is my go to gun and has been for about 3 years, never found it wanting for rabbits or fox, and cheap and easy to load for.

Neil.

 

[Sharpie]

that puts me back with the .22 Hornet, although I had considered others like .204 & .222 and still would not rule any out just yet.

The Hornet is a lovely round, but limited. Delicate to reload, the cases are thin, fragile and results can be variable.

222 or 223 are solid reliable calibres and perfect for reloading. 222 probably the best, with longer neck, but typical 222 barrel twists (14") will likely limit you to lighter weight bullets. 223 (12" or faster) gives more options.

For the future, Hornet is not deer-legal. 222 and 223 are, for small deer.

You can download a 222 or 223 to Hornet level with great results (use the same charge), but you can't do the reverse.

So I suggest 222 or 223.

 

[User00003]

The Hornet is a lovely round, but limited. Delicate to reload, the cases are thin, fragile and results can be variable.

222 or 223 are solid reliable calibres and perfect for reloading. 222 probably the best, with longer neck, but typical 222 barrel twists (14") will likely limit you to lighter weight bullets. 223 (12" or faster) gives more options.

For the future, Hornet is not deer-legal. 222 and 223 are, for small deer.

You can download a 222 or 223 to Hornet level with great results (use the same charge), but you can't do the reverse.

So I suggest 222 or 223.

this man knows what he's talking about

 

[Tartan_Terrier]

Interesting thread, I've been considering whether to buy either a .223 or a .17 HMR for the same purpose.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Is there actually a "UK Hornet Rifle Owners Club" as I've always thought would be a good wheeze?? This thread suggests so!

The Hornet is not difficult to load but it does require a certain care and consideration. Just one example being that to get the most from those "13 grains" it ideally will be no less or more in each and every round as the science will attest if you consider the percentage variance of a 13.5g charge compared to one of 39.5g. Also remember headspace is determined by the rim so you'd be better deployed spending time ensuring consistency here than c/o a number of the other 'tweaks'.

Now, if you'd mentioned neck turning I might concede this is a bit fiddly but I still do it after first firing and have not lost a single RWS case. I do not however remove a great deal of brass in the process and have a K&M turner that is set and used for no other purpose!

When is the inaugural AGM?

K

 

[Tom D]

.20 Vartarg, extremely efficient round (read cheap), only 18gn of powder will push a 32gn bullet over 3800Fps, the 40 grainers will be good for foxes and are still travelling at 3500fps. You could do a light load for the rabbits if you wanted. Doesn't heat or burn your barrel like a big .22 will and the ballistics are way better than the .22's unless you go right up to 70 grain bullets which will need a big case and lots of powder. The .20's are much better in the wind.
I have done a calculation that showed I was sub 40p a shot with mine...

 

[activeviii]

.222 for me. run it slow, 21.5gn of benchmark behind 52gn or a-max. It will cloverleaf every time if i do my part.

run it to fast and like anything with speed, it will be splashy. my .222 runs only at 2272 so not that fast.

i have see what other small calibers do and the 222 has been the 'go anywhere' tool for me. I zero at 156 yards which gives me 30mm over at 100 and 60mm under at 200.

failing the 222 i think the 22 WMR would me my next choice but keeping the shot sub 100.

all the best

Phil

 

[Mungo]

Another vote for the .222.

Lovely, lovely round. Quiet, accurate and effective on everything from rabbits to roe. Though it is quite an expensive way to shoot rabbits.

 

[Klenchblaize]

.20 Vartarg, extremely efficient round (read cheap), only 18gn of powder will push a 32gn bullet over 3800Fps, the 40 grainers will be good for foxes and are still travelling at 3500fps. You could do a light load for the rabbits if you wanted. Doesn't heat or burn your barrel like a big .22 will and the ballistics are way better than the .22's unless you go right up to 70 grain bullets which will need a big case and lots of powder. The .20's are much better in the wind.
I have done a calculation that showed I was sub 40p a shot with mine...

Agree, but "Vartarg" doesn't quite have the same ring as HORNET having more in common with a drain cleaner!
If such things matter to you of course.

Cheers

K

 

[finnbear270]

.17 Fireball, 16.9 grains powder, 20 Grain bt, point & shoot 0 out to 200 yds, if I'm going to the more open spaces I'll shoot 69 grain from my .223 .

 

[Spix]

Another vote for the triple : .222 a v. nice point and shoot calibre for rabbits, foxes, small deer, what more could you ask ?

 

[jordang]

IMO,

find a rifle that you like the feel of, cost, etc and then get it in any of the calibres from 17 - 223, they will all do what you want if you are head shooting rabbits. Personally I went 17 Rem and think its the perfect rifle for what you've described - its also going to have a photon on top !!

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

This is the target now full size.

Jimbo

 

[KMCK]

.222 you wont go wrong

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

Charlie girl shot with my .222 . The rabbits were shot with Anschutz XIV .22 rf. I thought that i was in for a good night but after 40 minutes it peed down and ended play .

Jimbo

 

[User00035]

.222 for me. Its very easy to live with. Not a finnicky or highly strung round, it wants to shoot well. You almost have to go out of your way to upset it. .17 Rem and .204 Ruger can be stroppy foot-stamping prima-donnas in comparison. Easy to load for and not overly wind sensitive. Head shoots rabbits past 200 yards all day long, flattens foxes at 300. Seem to be plenty of S/H rifles around at bargain prices too, with .223 and .204 currently in fashion.
.22-250 a lovely round but way too much gun for rabbits IMO.

 

[jimbo1984]

This thread has had me thinking as I'm after a smaller rifle as well as my deer gun it will be mainly rabbits with the occasional fox I was thinking .22 hornet , how cheaply can you reload it for ?