.22 Hornet Vs Beavers

I love my Hornets! They do a good job on beavers... but so do my 17 HMR's with Hornady 20 grain XTP's.
 
What kind of ammo did you use, 22 hornet full metal jacket, hollow point or soft point? I am looking for some full metal jacket, but can,t find any...
 
Shot lots back in the 70's, when I was trapping. All I ever used was 22 long rifle. Head shots only. Can't recall that loosing them was ever a problem, but I was picky with my shots.
 
Only time we lost a beaver was when it was shot head on. The guess was that the nose got blown open and the lungs filled with water. Headshots from the side produced dead, floating beaver. With all the fat on them you'd think they would float no matter what.
 
Only time we lost a beaver was when it was shot head on. The guess was that the nose got blown open and the lungs filled with water. Headshots from the side produced dead, floating beaver. With all the fat on them you'd think they would float no matter what.
You are luckier than me. I have lost several beavers his solidly with head shots. they nearly always sink. I have picked up many beavers from the muddy bottom of ponds by feeling with a stick from a canoe or poking around with waders on. it is best if you can get to them while they are still kicking, I have located many beavers by the 'swirls" underwater as they do the death kick.
 
I also have had a LOT sink on me, always in very deep water for some bloody reason! The buggers only float about 60% of the time. I always wait til the are close to shore, but it can be very deep next to the dam.
 
Well I can't speak on how well it would work on beavers, it sure does work well on badgers. Which would lead me to think it would work just fine on a beaver.

badger.jpg
 
I have a hornet, shooting factory winchester superx ammo an its very expensive, around $60 for 50 shots, an rising.
Will proberly get a set of dies but wanna know if its finicy to reload for? brass stretch etc?
My rifle is a brno 465 double set open sight, may scope it to get potential but its a bit of fun for rabbit an foxes
 
I have a hornet, shooting factory winchester superx ammo an its very expensive, around $60 for 50 shots, an rising.
Will proberly get a set of dies but wanna know if its finicy to reload for? brass stretch etc?
My rifle is a brno 465 double set open sight, may scope it to get potential but its a bit of fun for rabbit an foxes

My reading indicates that the reloading prospects for the Hornet in factory form, (not Ackley blown out shoulders) really depends on a couple things, main among them seemingly, to avoid pounding the snot outta your brass by trying to wring out more performance than it needs to give you.

The differences in size between your chamber and the reloading die size, seem to be all over the place, too, with neck sizing suggested a lot.

I am slowly (way too slowly) working towards a small Martini action in 22 Hornet, in which I am planning to shoot mainly cast bullets at pretty good velocities. Been following as many different threads as I have been able to find, but the articles by "Beagle" on castboolits are really good. There, as well as some other places, make the suggestion that pistol primers are worth experimenting with. YMMV. The brass is thin, by comparison to, say, a .223 or similar modern case, but if you do not get heavy handed, should go OK. The articles (and a bunch of other good info related to cast bullets) can be found on castpics.net.

Then there are those gluttons for punishment that paper patch the .22 size bullets...

At $60/box, it does not take long to make back the cost of the reloading equipment. A bag of 100new brass runs around $35, a set of decent dies around that too.

Wassit they say? You don't save any money, you just get to shoot more with what you have!

Cheers
Trev
 
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.17 Rem didn't work out for you?
It worked, but I started wondering if something going slower would work better. You know me and wanting to save the fur - I'm always wondering if there's something better out there.
 
Ruger 10/22 behind Remington targets along with a 22 mag have have been my mainstay for many many year and beaver I just shoot within mine and the rifles limits I truely hate stitching hide

X2^^ One of my hunting partners used a hornet quite effectivly on beaver, as I did with a .22lr, Beavers just as dead,the only difference was the distances we would shoot. I would only head shoot at 20yds or less and he would body shoot at twice that.
When I was still school age I made virtually all my own spending money selling rats& beaver, rats with .22 shorts and beaver with .22lr.
 
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