.22 Hornet for Whitetails?

buckdodger

I recently read an article about using .22 calibers for whitetail hunting. Has anyone got any experience with or information on the performance of the .22 Hornet on whitetails? Thanks

bfair

I think you will find in most states any under .23 is illegal for "Big Game". Check the game laws.However it would be legal where I am, Fla.

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Guns Free...Shoot...Shoot...ShootSemper Paratus [This message has been edited by bfair (edited 09-17-2001).]

Rembrandt

Well I don't know what sub species and size of deer you have....but those will probably bounce off Midwest and Canadian whitetails...(slight exaggeration, hehe!). Use enough gun, most states won't allow those calibers...too many wounded critters that go off and die.

badboybob

Buck if you're going to hunt you owe the game a fast, clean death. A .22 just doesn't do the job.

Lightning

Shot placement is what really matters. A good solid neck shot with a 22 LR will drop a deer faster than a gut shot with a 300 Winchester Magnum. In lots of states any 22 is illegal though. WV says any centerfire rifle cartrige. So the 22 Hornet would be legal here. Never had understood why people think you need a cannon to kill a deer. Guess they just cant shoot well enough to hit a vital area.[This message has been edited by Lightning (edited 09-17-2001).]

bfair

BTW Your not going cut much brush with that hornet or get penetration. I wouldn't call it much of a bone breaker either.[This message has been edited by bfair (edited 09-17-2001).]

218Beekeep

I was workin` on a 340-Savage in 22-Hornet in my garage once,was tryin` to get a round to chamber.Closed the bolt on round ,it went off,penetrating my 1 day old Whirlpool Dryer.The bullet went through the dryer door,jacket seperated from core at that point,both parts went through the rear of the dryer,bullet core went through 3/4 inch of stucco and into another 1/2 inch of cinder block before stopping.It might not be much of a brush buster,but it sure busted through that dryer door without veering off course at all.Still got that load data if you`re intrested.Hey Rem,seems like you might be gettin ready ta make fun of these Flarda deer again!!??!!??

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sjc1

The question is: why would you want to use a .22 Hornet or other .223 caliber cartridge on deer?

in2b8u

Seems to be the outlaws caliber of choice for poaching round here.

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If guns cause crime, all mine are defective.

218Beekeep

I resemle that remark!!!!!!

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.250Savage

Look, guys, the .22 caliber simply won't cut it on deer-sized (human-sized) game. Only a fool would use a .223-calibre round on deer-sized (human-sized) game. To be humane, any sensible human being would use at least a .308 (7.62 x 59 NATO). No one but a moron would consider the M16 as a suitable combat rifle (duh!!!).

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I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.--Voltare

Guns & Glass

Contrary to "popular" belief many states(Pennsylvania being one) allow the usage of .22 cal. CENTERFIRE cartridges because they are effective. IF,..................theproper type bullet, ..................with a correctly placed shot at shorter distances. Too often, and I will say it's happening more, and more,...'hunters' have to carry mini cannons because they "feel" more adequate(phallic calibers?), and/or they want the 'maximum edge' of power for poor shot placement compensation. The 220 Swift, and 22-250 being the most powerful in the .22 cal class are used by many hunters who are confident in their shooting ability, hunting skills, don't want blood shot meat or skins, and a few have "targeted" "trophy sized" deer that they want head mounts for. A well90% of the shots are carefully placed neck/spine shots, and the remainder careful heart/lung. One neat little enterance hole.Shooting a mature whitetail with a neck/spine shot is like walking up to the deer, and hitting it with a sledgehammer. They drop like a rock, and stay down.

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Happy Bullet Holes!

super chicken

I have shot many South Dakota big whitetail with my .22-250. Kills em dead on the spot if you put the bullet in the kill zone, just like any gun you have to know its limitations. It is not good for 400 yard shots. It also does not waste near the meat as a -06 or 7 mag.

ghotie_thumper

I've used a 22-250 on deer a few times. Explosive results on neck shot deer. Keep the range inside 100 yds and don't shoot unless you have a stationary target, no wind, no brush, no bull. I've switched to the 25-06 and consider it to be a superior round for deer. You can neck shootem, lung shootem it don't matter, they drop, very humane and a real sledge hammer on the Blacktail we hunt around here. Average around 115 pounds, big ones up to 175. I'll see how the 257 roberts works this yr, I've got high hopes for it as a deer caliber. Getting back to the thread for the 22 hornet, if the hornet has less sizzle than the 22-250 I wouldn't recommend it. Anyone can say you can kill with shot placement, That is true. Unfortunately for many hunters, when faced with an extraordinary animal and a tough shot, some find it hard to pass on the shot attempt. A lung shot deer can travel a long ways and leave very little in the way of a blood trail, The smaller caliber leaves a small entrance wound and might not leak very well either. If you hit bone, chances are it will break the bone but not disable the animal. Under Ideal conditions the small caliber might work every time. Hunting conditions aren't always ideal and using a minimal caliber to profess your own extraordinary ability might make for great campfire conversation but it might also make for a wounded animal. I'm not saying you need to use a 375 h&h on squirrels, just give the animal its due. An elk could be brought down by a 22 long rifle, does that mean you should attempt it? If you don't want to go along with the crowd, find an odd ball caliber that packs enough spark for the intended game, but still draws a crowd around the fire during show and tell, handload for your pet and make it a one shot killer.

leeblackman

I in pursuit of true knoledge of the use of the .223rem on deer met a man who makes regular one shot kills with a, no kiddin, a .17remington......."Oh, no, a .17remington that wouldn't kill a deer.","It must suffer for hours wondering aimlessly thru the woods, what a jerk."Nope, he told me that all you need is good shot placement. He told me he generally never has a deer take more than two or three steps before it falls. His theory was that only poor marksman needs a big rifle to kill a small deer. And that if you don't know that your going to get a clean shot and kill, you shouldn't shoot.I talked to the guy for a while, and may possibly even go deer hunting this season with him to see first hand.It got me to thinking about my buddies dad who uses a 7mm rem. mag to hunt deer. And then I remembered how bad a shot he was when I invited him to the gun club to sight in his rifle. Shot placement is key, if you are a good enough marksmen, with lots of experience hunting go forth and have fun killing a white tail with a .22hornet. But its a feet for only a real pro.Oh, yea, and just cause some states don't let you use a .22cal to hunt deer doesn't mean its not adequite. The guy that made that law up probably doesn't even own a firearm.Sorry, but I just have to reply to some people on this string about their statements.Badboybob-How would you know if it would do the job or not?Sjc1-Why use it, because it has very little recoil, isn't as loud as bigger guns, and is found in some of the most popular rifles on hte market like ar-15, mini-14, sar-3, etc. .250savage-you didn't do your research did you, the .223rem is a very effective caliber against human size game, look at the evan marshall database of collected police related shootings the standard 55gr fmj .223rem has a 95% effective 1 shot kill. The 60gr JHP which would be used more by hunters had a 100% effective 1 shot kill. http://www.evanmarshall.com/towert/stoppingpowerfigures.htm .218beekeep-I really want the recipe[This message has been edited by leeblackman (edited 09-22-2001).]

He Dog

Hey Ghotie_Thumper you are gonna love .257 Roberts, it is my favorite deer medicine. Given that shot placement is important with any shot at game with any caliber and placement becomes more critical with smaller calibers, .223 would not be my first choice for a beginning hunters first rifle. Here in the west shots can be a little longer and I usually consider .243 the minimum (It is also the minimum legal caliber in NM).

buddyb

I was also leary of a .223 on whitetails until 2 years ago I bought a Handi-Rifle mostly because .223s are dirt cheap to reload and fun to shoot.The rifle is a tack driver and we have plenty of deer and a long season. I took the .223 hunting one afternoon after work. The first deer I took with it was a 130 pound doe.Neck shot killed on the spot.Since then I have taken 5 more with it none have gone over 2 steps.

218Beekeep

.25osavage,what do you have against 250Savage and everything between it and .308???????????????????????????leeblackman,just got back from the ST.Petersburg gun show,man I`m draggin`. Got that Hornet load.Bullet-45 gr. sp Rem.bulletpowder-12& 1/2 gr Hodgdon Lil` Gun(it did not kill the Whirlpool Dryer,but I missed the vitals.)

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