22 Hornet - What Mfg's Offer Today - Input Required

Ruger, CZ, Savage, H&R and others all offer Hornets... I don't know of a manufacturer doing K-Hornets out of the box... it will require a rechamber on your chosen gun... all of my Hornets have been rechambered to K, the last two are going in in the next week or two.
 
I have owned 2 hornets made by Anschutz and a TC Contender carbine. All have been excellent, and I still have an Anschutz 1433 fullstock carbine.
Current manufacturers include Browning, CZ, Ruger, Zastava ( Remington and Charles Daly were the same rifle made by Zastava ) , and a bunch of more obscure european manufacturers. The H&R single shot is built to appeal to a cheap utility market, and the lack of quality shows IMHO.
Accuracy has nothing whatever to do with barrel length. Most hornets will have a barrel length of 22" or so, longer or shorter gives a little more or less velocity and changes the handling characteristics, but accuracy has more to do with barrel profile, how tight / loose the chamber is, and condition of the bore and muzzle. Many hornets have quite "loose" chambers and benefit from neck sized reloads. I have not shot a K hornet but see no reason for them when I have three .222 Remingons in my rack.
Of current .22H offerings, I would personally choose the CZ rifle. Decent quality and a good adjustable trigger.
 
hoytcanon said:
Ruger, CZ, Savage, H&R and others all offer Hornets... I don't know of a manufacturer doing K-Hornets out of the box... it will require a rechamber on your chosen gun... all of my Hornets have been rechambered to K, the last two are going in in the next week or two.
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Question..... will the k-hornet cycle through the Ruger 77-22 hornet's rotary magazine?
 
One thing about older Ruger Hornets is they had headspace issues. Often needing the bolt shimmed because the bolt two piece with rear lockup. Other than swimming the bolt, it would mean setting back the barrel to minimum headspace, which is the proper way of doing it.

Don't ask me how I know...... :(

Other than 2-3" accuracy (before working on them) they are a beautiful rifle. I can't speak for the new ones, but would want to verify accuracy before purchasing.

Myself, of current choices I would look at CZ in the moderate price range, and they come with a Single Set Trigger. Higher price range would be a Cooper, and they will make a K-Hornet.
 
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SandRoad said:
One thing about older Ruger Hornets is they had headspace issues. Often needing the bolt shimmed because the bolt is rear lockup.

Don't ask me how I know...... :(
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None of my three had any problems... and I know of three others that are all fine.
 
hoytcanon said:
None of my three had any problems... and I know of three others that are all fine.
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That's good to hear.



One other thing to keep in mind with the Hornets, is manufacturers use different twist barrels. CZ uses a 1:16 twist which will typically only stabilize bullets less than 50gr (depending on length of the bullet, might stabilize a short, flat base 55gr). Savage uses 14:1 twist, Cooper uses 1:12.
 
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waynewjw said:
To late, unfortunately, I missed out on a BRNO in .22 Hornet on the EE last night. I believe it was made in the late 50's. Does anyone have any experience with the older BRNO models, I'm thinking they would be very good quality and quite accurate??
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Nothing that old, but I have shot both the BRNO and CZ's... very nice guns... FYI all my Hornets are 12 twists.
 
waynewjw said:
To late, unfortunately, I missed out on a BRNO in .22 Hornet on the EE last night. I believe it was made in the late 50's. Does anyone have any experience with the older BRNO models, I'm thinking they would be very good quality and quite accurate??
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the old Brnos were built to exacting high quality standards. That's why I collect the Brno model 21/22 rifles made from the 40's and 50's. I saw the hornet on the EE, it was quite a find in the condition it was in. The only quibble I'd have in shooting one of them is the double set triggers. They take some getting used to, and often have a heavy rough pull when unset. Very light when set. Other than that, they are far higher quatliy than most modern rifles. If you find one with the bore in good shape, it will shoot accurately.
 
The currency H&R Handi uses 1 in 9" twist,same barrel as their 223 to keep thing cheap.

I'm hoping to try medium speed heavy bullets to check stabilization.
 
Canuck Bob said:
The currency H&R Handi uses 1 in 9" twist,same barrel as their 223 to keep thing cheap.

I'm hoping to try medium speed heavy bullets to check stabilization.
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My H&R Hornets are the 12 twist barrels... they are best with 35 & 40 VM's... they are good with 45 Hornet SP's... but not as good with the 50 VM's and 52 BTHP's... not bad but not as good (so why shoot them right?)... the newer 9 twist barrels should (in theory) do better with the 50 VM's, 52BTHP's and 53 VM's... I wouldn't mind picking up a 9 twist Hornet at some point... I had a line on a new one (which is fairly rare), but passed it on to another Handi shooter, that I knew was looking for one... someday.... soon.
 
I loved my old BRNO .22 Hornet w/set triggers. Only problem with the old ones was
they were bored .223" which was a bit of a pain. Back in the 70's I could only
get 45 gr. Speer bullets in that diameter, unless I went to cast ones.
The newer CZ rifles, as well as the American made Hornets have a .224" bore.
Keep an eye on the EE or check as many dealers out there as you can to
find the Hornet you most desire.
I'm kinda leaning toward a Savage Walking Varminter. ;)
 
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