Anyone use a 22 Hornet for deer?

Longwalker said:
My experience with the .22 Hornet ends with critters the size/weight of coyotes and beaver. That's because it seems fully adequate for beaver, but coyotes, hit thru the ribs and both lungs, seem to run about twice as far as the same shot taken with the marginally more powerful .222 Rem. I have made shots with both cartridges on different coyotes on several occasions and at various moderate ranges and the results seem consistent to me. The Hornet is just about the bottom of the list for me as an "adequate coyote cartridge". I only use one for hunting coyote any more at bush ranges under 100 yards. I would not use a .22 Hornet for deer unless I really needed the meat, as in a survival situation.
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Realistically; you and I are used to the longer ranges ( assuming here ) on the Prairie's.
A 40 yd shot isn't inconceivable, just highly rare.
The Hornet is pretty much a brush pusher IMO. Too hard to utilize it on the flat areas.
Skews our POV somewhat
 
No offence intended Tok, but my view is not skewed at all.
We are certainly not getting younger folks. Patience and shooting skills will decline with aging eyes and poorer reflexes accompany aging muscles.
Why tempt fate? Especially with other better options most of us already have in the long gun selection.
I agree with others here that it "can do it" in a life or death situation (close enuf to unwary little-big beasts) or amongst the truly needy with not much cash for expenditures. Period.

After all, last time I checked this website still is entitled; CanadianGunNutz right??

Cheers...
 
Longwalker said:
coyotes, hit thru the ribs and both lungs, seem to run about twice as far as the same shot taken with the marginally more powerful .222 Rem.
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I have shot coyotes with a slug gun and a muzzleloader and had them run 200 yards. I don't think either one was insufficient. :p


tokguy said:
Realistically; you and I are used to the longer ranges ( assuming here ) on the Prairie's.
A 40 yd shot isn't inconceivable, just highly rare.
The Hornet is pretty much a brush pusher IMO. Too hard to utilize it on the flat areas.
Skews our POV somewhat
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My last 4 or 5 deer have been under 50 yards. Most under 30.

Brutus said:
Why tempt fate?
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Mostly because shooting a whitetail with my 338 LM, 45/70 double rifle or 444 marlin seems rather excessive. :p
 
Brutus said:
No offence intended Tok, but my view is not skewed at all.
We are certainly not getting younger folks. Patience and shooting skills will decline with aging eyes and poorer reflexes accompany aging muscles.
Why tempt fate? Especially with other better options most of us already have in the long gun selection.
I agree with others here that it "can do it" in a life or death situation (close enuf to unwary little-big beasts) or amongst the truly needy with not much cash for expenditures. Period.

After all, last time I checked this website still is entitled; CanadianGunNutz right??

Cheers...
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We definitely got our wires crossed, 'cause we are saying the same thing.
Just realizing that I am not familiar with hunting cross Canada is all. Still wouldn't take the Hornet. Pushing brush...I'd go with the 38-55 as a close range quiet carbine.
The Hornet hasn't seen much light since the '60's...just too small to be effective in SW Sask / SE AB.
But again, maybe it's the ticket for Ont or BC. Just not here ( AB).
For once a regulation that I agree with.
 
As much as I love the 22 hornet why not just go with a crossbow same tipe of range and quieter
I use to shot a recurve and longbow I want to pick up the longbow again this year well I carve a paddle bow next year
nothing beats the a traditional bow for simplicity and lightweight and portability
Simplicity is what drew me to hunting with a Speer and a need to go back to Basic hunting skills
 
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nowarningshot said:
I cant speak of the area of Ontario of the OP. Lots of pistol caliber lever carbines used for deer in some areas. I would imagine that rounds like the 44 mag or 357 would have a much larger projectile and much more energy.

Personally even if the typical shot is very short and it could be done, i would still want enough terminal performance for a humane one shot kill at double the typical range. To me the Hornet doesnt fit that.
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44 Mag 300 grain XTP from a 20 inch barrel. Other than the nasty drop after 150 yds,plenty of power.

Range Muzzle 25 yds. 50 yds. 75 yds. 100 yds. 150 yds. 200 yds.
Bullet Velocity: 1,350 fps. 1,297 fps. 1,248 fps. 1,203 fps. 1,162 fps. 1,093 fps. 1,038 fps.
Bullet Energy: 1,214 ft.lbs. 1,120 ft.lbs. 1,037 ft.lbs. 964 ft.lbs. 900 ft.lbs. 796 ft.lbs. 717 ft.lbs.
Bullet Drop: - 1.5" + 0.9" + 2.0" + 1.6" - 0.2" - 8.8" - 24.6"
 
Caliber is only one part of the equation. Distance of the shot, size of the deer, skill and experience of the shooter are just a few other things to consider.

Is a skilled hunter who has the patience to wait for the right shot using a 22 hornet worse than a novice taking a "shot in the dark" with a say, 300WM?
 
Shot a few small deer with 22-250 through the years. Not because I had to but I wanted to. Bang fops for the most part. Hornet a tad lame IMO. Sold mine years ago...was a pain to hand load for.
 
The only trouble is there are lots who think they are a little better than they actually are. Hence the sensibilities of minimum power requirements.
Paints with a broad brush, but...ensures there isn't any wannabe Nimrods.
 
tokguy said:
The only trouble is there are lots who think they are a little better than they actually are. Hence the sensibilities of minimum power requirements.
Paints with a broad brush, but...ensures there isn't any wannabe Nimrods.
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Myself I think a guy that puts in the time to be good with a traditional bow is way ahead of the guy using 22 hornet in terms of both skill and quiet hunting
 
A proponent of the shot placement argument. From Barnes Reloading Manual No.3..."and take larger plains game animals..." :eek:

I wonder if the PH is carrying a 22 Hornet? :p

Barnes%20Reloading%20Manual%20No.3%2022%20Hornet_zps5bgzzbgr.jpg
 
White-Spring said:
Caliber is only one part of the equation. Distance of the shot, size of the deer, skill and experience of the shooter are just a few other things to consider.

Is a skilled hunter who has the patience to wait for the right shot using a 22 hornet worse than a novice taking a "shot in the dark" with a say, 300WM?
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So from that we can deduce that the experienced hunter would also do well with the 300 WM and the novice would be as useless with the Hornet?
 
I weighed in back in the day when this thread first came up and I will weigh in again......

There is no machismo in using a smaller cal to kill a big game animal...... it won't grow you a third testicle, put hair on your chest or make you the most interesting man in the world.......

The OP sounds bored and wants a challenge..... so, the "shot placement is everything" crowd is making a moot point..... shooting a rifle at a target is the same mechanism whether 22 hornet or 375 h&h....... and if your argument is that the hornet will require a closer stalk and a more precise shot then my argument is simply that challenging yourself to the same precise shot and closer stalk can be done with the larger caliber without putting the animal at risk of suffering..... so where is the challenge?

If you want a challenge, then switch to bow...... not enough?..... use a spear........ practice for months, get honed in your new skill and then have at 'er.......

There is no "pride" in shooting a deer with a small cal....... after all, the deer has everything to lose in the form of pain and suffering, and the hunter will walk away unscathed either way......
 
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