What rifle for the Hornet ?

[stuffisgood]

I've pretty well decided that a Hornet will be my next center fire purchase. It's not that I really need one, it just seems like a neat little cartridge that's typically in a handy little bolt action.

What would you suggest for the rifle? I don't expect this rifle to poke holes at 100 yards, but I expect MOA or better at that range consistently. If that will require a little extra money then so be it. I'd rather spend the money and get a gun I'll be happy with than try to sell one I'm not so found of.

I've got thousands of 40gr V-Max that I bought for a different rifle, and they turned out to be a little light for my taste in that particular setup, so that's what I plan to use for reloading the Hornet. From my reading I think that knocks the CZ out of the running because of magazine length. Are there any others that suffer the same fate?

 

[forindooruseonly]

I have a Browning Low Wall in .22 Hornet that I am very fond of. It'll shoot MOA all day and is very light and handy. I don't know if you want to stick with a bolt gun or a new gun, but the Browning is a beautiful and excellent shooting rifle if you find one.

 

[Bushpilot]

The CZ was going to be my first choice for a Hornet (I hadn't heard about any mag length issues). Then I found a new Ruger 77/22 on clearance from a shop that was going out of business that was such a great deal that I couldn't pass it up. Now when I was shopping for a Hornet I had read some mixed reviews about the 77/22 online that mainly centered around the two piece bolt Ruger uses. However, the 77/22 Hornet was such a neat little rifle, nice wood, flush rotary mag and at such a good price that I bought it anyway. That was several years ago and I'm very glad I didn't let the mixed reviews prevent me from snapping up a great deal because it has been a great little rifle. My 77/22 Hornet will group 5 shot Hornady factory loads as well as hand loads into .7 to .9 of an inch consistently and I haven't done a thing to it. I've had no issues whatsoever and am perfectly happy with it. Good Luck with your search for a Hornet. Since I got mine it has become one of my favorite cartridges/rifles.

 

[SwampWolf]

I've been very satisfied with my Browning Micro Medallion rifle in terms of the quality of fit, finish and material. Though not my most accurate rifle, the little A-Bolt flirts with moa groups with factory ammunition. I've got a Burris Compact 2x7 power scope mounted on it, befitting the rifle's diminutive size and the .22 Hornet's relatively limited range.

 

[Sniper66]

My next rifle is also going to be the Hornet. After much research and sizing up my budget, I plan to buy the Savage Model 25 Lightweight Varminter. Others with experience with this gun's predecessor, the Model 40, say it shoots very well indeed. If you have deeper pockets, there are a couple of Coopers listed on GunBrokers that look great. I have seen some Anschutz that look good too, but will have to settle for the Savage.

 

[stuffisgood]

Thanks for the input fellas.

A friend of mine had a Browning a few years back. He absolutely loved it until it blew up in his face one day. I don't remember what he was shooting, but I know if was factory of some kind.

The Savage seems to be the economical choice along with the CZ's fairly often (at least in the rimfire world where I tend to stay). This particular gun I think will spend a lot of time on an ATV around the farm, so something on the cheaper side sounds appealing. I typically go the more expensive route, but I see a rough life for this particular rifle for some reason.

 

[Float Pilot]

CZ
I have a Ruger M77/ 22 Hornet that now shoots half inch groups after I did a bunch of work.
But I would still rather have a CZ.

 

[StrawHat]

If looking for a rough and tumble, yet accurate 22 Hornet, consider a break open single shot. I do not own one but have a cousin who has carried a Handi-Rifle on his mountain bike for hunting groundhogs. It has taken a few spills but always held a zero. His is chambered for the Hornet.

 

[springer99]

Had a Ruger No.3 falling block rifle in .22Hornet and like a fool, left it go. They still show up from time to time and I think it's a perfect combination.

 

[GJgo]

A friend of mine just scored a Springfield M6 in the original case. Pretty cool, I do say..

 

[GunTech]

I have an low wall in K-hornet. Not having an ejector is handy when you don't want to chase your small and easily lost brass.

If you don't reload it may not be an issue in which case the CZ 527 is a dandy rifle once you shave the bolt handle so your scope doesn't require high mounts that look like a suitcase handle. Here's a before and after where you can see the difference:

Triggers on these guns are super and you can disable the set feature if it bothers you, or drop in one by RifleBasix

 

[GunTech]

the M6 is a neat toy, but not much of a shooter. That weird trigger is great if you have a broken finger, but it's not something you ant to shoot much if you want to hit anything.

 

[dagger dog]

Lyman markets a Pedersoli made mini 1874 Sharps, its about 3/4 the size of the original and is chambered for the Hornet.

The 40 VMax and Lil'Gun powder is THE LOAD for the Hornet.

I have a Model 40 Savage it's a single shot, the Model 25 walking varminter has the advantage of the follow up shot, but either of those two rifles are very capable of shooting bug holes at 100.

 

[SwampWolf]

A friend of mine had a Browning a few years back. He absolutely loved it until it blew up in his face one day. I don't remember what he was shooting, but I know if was factory of some kind.

I'm not sure what bearing this "incident" has on your query, stuffisgood. All Browning rifles chambered in .22 Hornet in good condition are perfectly safe to shoot any factory .22 Hornet ammunition.

 

[rule303]

Savage hands down IMO. I would agree with the poster above that the 40gr Vmax and Lil'gun are the ticket for the Hornet. I have a model 40 that will easily shoot .5 moa out to 200 yds, and better on occasion. The model 40 has been discontinued, but the model 25 is essentially the same gun in a repeater. Great accuracy, trigger, and stock out of the box, less money than most of your other options as well.

 

[Chief 101]

#1or#3 would be my choices, especially the #1, can't go wrong with the Brownings mentioned

 

[eastbank]

i had a ruger model 77 and it would not shoot as i expected and niether would a win model 43. i got a used brno 680 fox fire from the early 70,s and now i have a hornet that shoots into .75 groups at 100yds with rem 45gr and privi 45 gr. eastbank.

 

[NWCP]

Get yourself a CZ527 American chambered for the Hornet. A beautiful well balanced bolt action that will serve you well for years. I have one in .223 and it's been a great little field piece.

 

[Marvinash]

K- Hornet

Guntech, that K-Hornet is nice!
You call it a 'low wall' - what does that translate to in laymen's terms? Like 'brand and model'?
I'm going thru seller's remorse over the CZ ZBK 110 I just sold. I got a good price, but I'd refund it and pay return shipping to get it back.
I was considering going to K-Hornet, but that would've cost me to have the chamber re-bored. Plus, every round would have to be wildcatted, which requires a craft I'd have to learn. Starting with reloading.
But reading up on the K-Hornet, it's still so popular and common, I'm surprised nobody has standardized it in a firearm or a commercial cartridge.
Maybe I'll start by having the .22 Hornet chamber insert for my .22-250 bored out, pick up a hand-reloader and find some instructions hor re-casing to the "K" diameters.
Any links on instructions to that would be appreciated.
Going shooting today. My wife has a new piston-actuated upper for her AR-15 that she can't wait to shoot. Yes, she thinks I'm nuts - when I'd take out the CZ, she called me Davy Crockett. But I had to hump one of her guns over 40 years ago - its a whole different mind-set.

 

[whetrock]

I've always found the CZ 527s to be pretty nifty carbines, especially when they sport iron sights Wich IMO is pretty rare these days with modern day centerfire factory bolt guns.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I'd suggest the CZ 527, or a Cooper, depending on your budget for this project.

 

[45crittergitter]

Mine's gonna have to be a .17 Hornet, in a bolt rifle sized for the cartridge, not a .223-sized action.

 

[fishhawk]

hornet

i have a cz 527 lux the most accurate rifle i own,the european CIP chamber in this rifle is very tight . i just partial neck size 13.1 gr. lil'gun and a 35 gr v max,lee collet die (med.crmp) ,sub 1/2 min groups at 100 yrds. all day long.
this little gun is a killer .