What is the smallest in 22 to 25 caliber?

I already have a 243, lol

I also already own Brownings.... I think I am going to go with either the Hornet or the Bee, I don't mind it being a little more rare, makes it more fun! Now, just have to find a nice little rifle in 218 bee or 22 Hornet!

I think I will talk to gunrunner100 tomorrow before I start shopping, he usually has three of everything..lol
 
Well if you don't mind rare. go with the 218 bee. I just looked up the various calibers in Catridges of the World and the 218 loaded with 40 grain hp over 11.7 grains of IMR-4227 has the lowest energy and therefor the lowest recoil. I would pick-up a 17 HMR before I spent the money on a 218 bee, but to each his own.
 
What about .204 my little guy loved it. No recoil kills yotes and he still thinks its a big rifle. He was 9 when he started on it and now he is 14 and shoots the .270win with confidence. I reload and find it not pricey at all and I'm cheap. Lol that's my two cents worth anyways.
Cheers
Geoff
 
I was looking at the 256 WM, I also have about 5,000 357 brass that I would be able to form. So far I am tossing around any of them, the Hornet, the Bee or the 256, whichever one I choose I think I am going to have a custom built with a super nice piece of walnut. Something to pass down.
 
Drillbit said:
What about a 222. My gopher hunting sidekick runs one in a BDL and it's not too loud and no recoil. Easy to find components & cheap to reload. Used for coyotes too.

Small cases make it a bit of a pain to reload though.
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I reload the 222rem quite a bit and even with my large hands, don't have difficulty with it. The cases stand nicely on their base in a 50round 9mm flat.

Cleftwynd
Nice thing about the 218 Bee or 25-20 is that their parent case is 32-20. This provides options for brass, as you can reform any of them to be either. 218 Bee bullets being the same .224 caliber as the 223's makes reloading the Bee inexpensive. A CZ target rifle in 22LR is something I intend on buying in the near future: Sounds like a good beginning to making a sentimental family rifle.
 
I have loaded .223 ammo right down to .22 wmr ballistics with a few grains of red dot. If you need ammo for a .223 in a hurry, you can always pick it up at canadian tire. (in a pinch)
 
I have a .222 Remington and I find it accurate and easy to reload for and I also own a Browning Micro Hornet.
.22 Hornets on the other hand generally come in smaller/neater rifle packages. And for some odd reason there is presently 5 or 6 for sale on the EE tonight.
This must be some kind of record for CGN. A nicely proportioned, reliable Hornet rifle is perfection in a walking around varmint rifle or carbine.
My one and only complaint is the slope shouldered Hornet is a tad fussy for finding super accurate handloads, which the bigger brother .222 is the direct opposite IMO. More work on my part.......no biggy.
 
i reload for the 222.depending on bullet weight,i run 19.6-21.0 grains of powder.which works out to somewhere around 275-300 rounds/pound of powder.my 12 year old daughter shoots the 222 without any trouble.my son started shooting it at 13.now he is 15 and shooting the 12 gauge at clays.have you given the 17 rem any thought
 
I want something with more bullet than the 17, I also want something more... Historic? I can't think of the right word at the moment, too tired. I would like an old classic round in a small 22 to 25 caliber cartridge.


On a side note, a local gun shop has some 25-20 ammo, along with 25-35, 44-40, etc... I was shocked to see the 25-20 and 25-35 factory winchester ammo, the 25-35 was hard to get 30-40 years ago! I have an old winchester Octagon barreled classic in 25-35 so I might run back and grab the last 5 boxes he has.
 
Cleftwynd said:
I was looking at the 256 WM, I also have about 5,000 357 brass that I would be able to form. So far I am tossing around any of them, the Hornet, the Bee or the 256, whichever one I choose I think I am going to have a custom built with a super nice piece of walnut. Something to pass down.
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If you are going to get a .218 Bee custom built (which I think is a great idea) - go for the Improved version. You can get slightly better ballistics and longer case life.
 
I picked up a CZ 22 hornet this late summer for something that is quieter than my 17 rem or 20 cals. I didn't really have to high of expectations for it but thought it would be fun to load for and see what all the fuss was about. Well, am I ever impressed with this little devil. Very easy to load for with none of the issues that I have been reading about, accuracy is good and it put critters down hard! Shot a coyote with 40 gr. V-max at about 150yds. I wouldn't hesitate shooting one standing at 200yds. but that would be the max with what I have seen . The CZ-hornet combo is fun to shoot, easy to load for and is as quiet as a 17hmr.
 
I have a cz 527 american in .22 hornet. Mag fed, deadly little coyote/beaver gun. Reloads can make life cheaper and is good training for kids to learn.
I would recommend this combo to anyone.
 
I would also suggest the .22 Hornet, seems about perfect for your application. One friendly word of advice while teaching your kids to shoot - Please have them wear hearing protection!
A "quiet" rifle like a .22 Hornet is plenty loud enough to damage a shooters hearing. Hearing damage is cumulative, irreversible, and you don't know its happening until its too late. It is especially tragic when kids develop permanent tinnitis and hearing loss from shooting without hearing protection. A lifetime of disability. I know from personal experience and it sucks.
Good electronic muffs cost under $100 and should be part of the shooting budget. Shooters can hear with them on, and they protect hearing very well.
 
If money isn't much of an object go with something other than a .223, but like others have said it can be loaded down and Trail Boss is a good powder to use.
 
A buddy of mine brought over his 527 in 22 Hornet today, I love it! I think if it's too difficult to get a 218 Bee set up, then I am definitely going with the Hornet, but in a Cooper built with a chunk of old old fancy walnut I have had for 20 years.
 
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