Anyone use a 22 Hornet for deer?
- Thread starter tactical870
- Start date
And that puts you in the minority. What are success rates in BC? If I remember correctly it is something like 20 percent on deer, and it is largely the same people that are successful on a yearly basis. Anyways, I suppose my point is that many people are overgunned and cannot handle what they have, and that the majority would be better off with a smaller rifle (not hornet small though) than with a larger rifle. Having a sighted in rifle puts you ahead of many, perhaps even most, in the field.
Back to the hornet, it does put a smaller hole in a deer than larger cartridges. There is nothing wrong with its careful use on small deer at close range. There is far too much thinking that a larger rifle allows for less precise shot placement or iffy shots. For Pete's sake, people still believe in "brush bucking".
I probably shoot between 100 and 200 rounds per year with my 7mm RM alone just to stay confident and comfortable. Much of that is at various ranges in cut-blocks too - not just at the range. Practice sure makes a difference in the field.
That is a sweet rifle. Are you in my neck of the woods? I have a partial box of 8x57 that you are welcome to have.
Yep, and that has been conclusively proven to be a myth for years. There are no reliable "brush buster" cartridges. In fact, some tests indicate that faster bullets from faster twist barrels may actually deflect less.
Ted
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
I haven't carried the Hornet because the area I'm hunting is far too thick for a light bullet and the shots can be longer than the Hornet would be suitable for. My XCR in 6.8 SPC has been my go to gun all year.
I proved that today. Caught a small sapling on a shot with the 6.8 and deflected the bullet almost 3' in the remaining 4' to the target. Thankfully the bullet cut an artery and she bled out almost immediately
Tac870 deer season (rifle) is winding down, did you get one?
Yep. I shot a 10 point buck on opening day with the XCR, then took a 5 point and a doe with it today. All said, we took 5 deer during the 2 week rifle hunt, and passed on multiple does and fawns virtually every day. Not a bad hunt. It is looking like the Hornet may not make it into the field this season.
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
Not at all. Just not a suitable deer to shoot in the open areas where it's realistic to take a shot. I may consider taking it to Huntsville if I go again.
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
2 pages actually.
But the reason I didn't use the Hornet is I ended up shooting my last 3 deer in heavy brush just outside Huntsville. The terrain, heavy brush and longer ranges are not suitable for a 22 Hornet.
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Everyone has their own notion of what is ethical hunting. I'm not going to preach to anyone on this subject, or expect to influence anyone's opinion - but I will state mine.
I feel obliged to use a firearm/cartridge combination that give me the best chance of a clean and fast kill. I'll only take a shot that gives me a high probability of that quick and painless kill.
I don't buy theoretical formulas. A good bit of momentum, and a good bit of energy, are likely needed to reduce the chances of a fluke placement that happens to not hit the vitals you intended.
I won't increase the challenge of hunting by doing anything that increases the possibility of a less-than-optimal humane kill. That's just how I show respect for my prey.
I realize that the above rules out lots of rifles/calibers that can kill a deer. It rules out archery - for me.
It makes me ill when I hear of large game animals ventilated with large numbers of .22 rim fire rounds, or crippled by poor shot placement. I vividly recall seeing, when I was about 13, a gorgeous young buck bound past me with its lower leg shot away, hanging by skin, and being helpless as I was unarmed. The thought of wounding any animal to have it die an agonizing death is so repugnant that I will never break my personal rule.
Other folks may have the skills and the patience to perform a clean kill with marginal gear - can't endorse that, but neither can I condemn it. If other guys pull stunts like shooting at extreme range and wounding game unnecessarily - that is something that I most definitely will condemn.
I feel obliged to use a firearm/cartridge combination that give me the best chance of a clean and fast kill. I'll only take a shot that gives me a high probability of that quick and painless kill.
I don't buy theoretical formulas. A good bit of momentum, and a good bit of energy, are likely needed to reduce the chances of a fluke placement that happens to not hit the vitals you intended.
I won't increase the challenge of hunting by doing anything that increases the possibility of a less-than-optimal humane kill. That's just how I show respect for my prey.
I realize that the above rules out lots of rifles/calibers that can kill a deer. It rules out archery - for me.
It makes me ill when I hear of large game animals ventilated with large numbers of .22 rim fire rounds, or crippled by poor shot placement. I vividly recall seeing, when I was about 13, a gorgeous young buck bound past me with its lower leg shot away, hanging by skin, and being helpless as I was unarmed. The thought of wounding any animal to have it die an agonizing death is so repugnant that I will never break my personal rule.
Other folks may have the skills and the patience to perform a clean kill with marginal gear - can't endorse that, but neither can I condemn it. If other guys pull stunts like shooting at extreme range and wounding game unnecessarily - that is something that I most definitely will condemn.
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
Show us your results, please.
"...a 45 gr sp should be more than capable of taking a deer..." Not in a million years. That is a varmint bullet and is totally unsuitable for deer sized game.
"...I can't see how a SP or a TSX in the boiler room..." They're varmint bullets too and will not penetrate enough to get to a boiler room or even the captain's bath room.
"...I can't see how a SP or a TSX in the boiler room..." They're varmint bullets too and will not penetrate enough to get to a boiler room or even the captain's bath room.
That's hilarious, another spewing of the same old same old, that shows that you don't actually have any experience about which you speak so authoritatively.
FWIW, I recovered 37 grains of a 50 grain spire point from a Mule deer doe this last month, the bullet traveled in through the ribs, destroyed two lungs and the top off the heart, exited through the ribs on the far side, and the remains of the (well mangled by now) bullet, were found against the bone on the leg opposite where it was shot.
So much for that theory.
I also helped out a newb hunter, who had shoulder issues, and was somewhat recoil adverse as a result, to gut her very first deer, also a Mulie doe, shot with .223 factory ammo, couldn't tell ya if it was 50 or 55 grain spire points.
The heart on that one was destroyed, not just a little bit, but "leave it on the pile" destroyed, and the base of the bullet was found against the off side rib. Total dump of energy between the ribs. Perfect!
5 grains extra or less weight isn't going to make a whit of difference to the deer. Choosing the correct and appropriate shot, to suit the cartridge in use, will. In both cases, the entry was through the ribs, behind the point of the elbow, and 1/3 of the way up.
I worked with one dolt that shot a moose in the arse with a 7mm STW and stood slack-jawed and watched it walk off into the swamp. He thought that his super-magnum should have killed it outright. I am sure the moose died, eventually. The lot he hung with were the sort that thought getting liquored and shooting holes in the other guy's boots drying by the fire, was "good times" though.
Too many people have made up their minds based on what they think they know, rather than what they actually know. They will often share, when sometimes it would be best if, well, they just didn't.
Oh yeah. Look up a TSX bullet. not exactly meant for varminting. That is the bullet I WOULD choose, if I wished to use my .223 as a general purpose gun, as like as not, whatever angle I shot a deer at, that one would come out the far side, or darn close to that.
Cheers
Trev
