22hornet

i got a 22 hornet (H&R 243 ultra-accessory barrel) it shoots great with rem 45grain sp 1' at 100 3 shots. I convinced myself the sp wouldnt expand to much so i took it squirrel hunting-wrong. First squirrel popped out at 45 yards on the side of a big oak, i kneeled down and hit him on the neck (was aiming at the head). pretty much detached the head, but no damage to meat. missed another at 75 some yards, then as i was cleaning the first one, another came out of a tree 15 FEET from me. he didn't know i was there and just started walking around, i was seated and he was just behind dead right of me. i couldn't rest the gun and was in a twisted position but shot for the head. right before the shoot he turned and faced me. The sp ran the length of his body, leaving hardly anything.

i love the carrying and shooting qualities of this gun. Does anyone know a factory load that wouldn't be as destructive?, i dont handload

I've hunted tree rats with a Hornet lots of times. The only shot you can take on them is a head shot when they are sideways or setting up. If you hit any of the body it will destroy all that it touches. The only factory loads out there are going to be expanding bullets. The H&R/NEF single barrels are neat little guns. I have been shooting them for years. I'm glad you like yours.

You may want to consider handloading for it, it is really easy to do and inexpensive to get started, especially considering what a box of .22 Hornet factory loads cost nowadays. You can purchase one of the old Lee Loaders from Ebay, a pound of 680 powder, some 45 gr. Sierra Hornet bullets and a tray of Rem 9-1/2 primers for under $50.00. These are good little loaders, a little slow, but give excellent reloads.

If you need help, let me know and I'll run down all the stuff you need and coach you through the entire process. You'll like it so much you'll want one for the .243 next.

With best regards, Jeff in Texas

With all due respect to Jeff in Texas if he reloads .22 hornet cases with .22 hornet bullets and full powder charges he will get the same result as with factory loads. If he looks around he can get (from Midway or somewhere) bullets designed for the .223 or .22-250 that will be much stouter. The old Hi-precision company in Orange city Iowa made some .22 bullets that would shoot through a whitetail deer from chest to keister. Those would make a fair squirrel load if one knew that the bullet would land in a safe place after passing through the squirrel. A .22 bullet at 2400+fps is going to damage whatever meat it hits for several inches around no matter how stoutly it is constructed. A hornet bullet at around 1600 fps is much more lethal than a .22 rimfire but not as explosive as a .22 mag. I agree that handloading is the way to go. Good luck LRK

im looking at reloaders, how about a cast bullet or jacketed flat nose, like those for the bee.

Send away for a Midway catalogue. They will have some .22 bullets for sale that should meet your needs. The Bee bullet is a 46grn HP and at 1800 fps or so should be pretty a good squirrel load. Buy one of the bulk packs of 500 or so and by the time you shoot them up you should have a hell of a load and be all dialed in. LRK

any more info on the hi precision co. would be appreciated as i find myself with a large stock of 130 gr sp for the .270 made by them.

SPS