22 Hornet for Deer

[Tom-D]

The reason I will use a 22 Hornet with good bullets is because the 223 with good bullets does too much tissue damage for food deer and antelope. I do not want to neuter the 223 by using a less than optimum bullet so that it damages less meat. I would rather go to a smaller cartridge and use a bullet that is optimized at those speeds.

A 60gr TMK above 1,800fps is going to create very good wounds and kill fine.

Can i ask what cartridge you would pick for small deer only with a maximum shot distance of 150 yards would you go even smaller than the hornet? Iv been using a 22 mag on some small properties i hunt but restrict myself to shoot head shots only, wondering if i should try a vitals shot

 

[Formidilosus]

Can i ask what cartridge you would pick for small deer only with a maximum shot distance of 150 yards would you go even smaller than the hornet? Iv been using a 22 mag on some small properties i hunt but restrict myself to shoot head shots only, wondering if i should try a vitals shot

The 22 mag doesn’t get the velocity to create secondary wounding effects. Of what’s commonly available, 22 Hornet, 221 fireball, and 5.7x28 with certain bullets are about as low as one can go.

 

[Billy Goat]

@PistolPete when playing with that load of Lil gun, put some rounds in a freezer, then let a few sit in the sun.


My experience with Lil gun wasn't great. I'm assuming you have used it a fair amount with pistols, but it can be sensitive.

Nice thing is, right now is when you will go over pressure, but you might see more swing than you expect in a rifle with it.

 

[JBradley500]

If you could get enough tissue damage from the optimal bullets, 221 Fireball is quite a cool little cartridge. I'm just not sure if there's enough/anything gained vs 223. Maybe if there was an ultra micro action or something along those lines.

 

[kyguylal]

Plenty of people in NH use 223 for deer and bear. 22 hornet should be fine.

 

[HandgunHTR]

If you could get enough tissue damage from the optimal bullets, 221 Fireball is quite a cool little cartridge. I'm just not sure if there's enough/anything gained vs 223. Maybe if there was an ultra micro action or something along those lines.

I have taken a couple of GA whitetails with an XP-100 chambered in 221 Fireball. 55gr SPs did just fine.

 

[StupidLightweight]

I'm just not sure if there's enough/anything gained vs 223. Maybe if there was an ultra micro action or something along those lines.

Precisely. I don’t see an advantage in going below .223 when intentionally hunting deer.

Actions don’t get much smaller.

Recoil doesn’t drop off enough to matter.

Weight? You can’t beat a straight-pull AR build for the lightest of light. Even the Stowaway 5.7 is porky compared to these builds.

The last thing I never thought of before was meat damage. If a cup and core bullet ruins too much damage, shoot a mono. Problem solved.

 

[BigNate]

I know my friends uncle uses a TAC 20, (earlier wildcat became 204 Ruger basically) with great success.

I worked on a ranch in my teen years and met an old woman that was in her 90s which made the early 1900s her formidable years. She habitually shot everything with an old Winchester in 22 Hornet. I have no idea when she started using it, but she said she shot it off the horse because the horse didn't flinch. She'd ride within good shooting range, pick one out and shoot the lungs. She'd ride off a bit and watch. She said most of the time they'd either not run or not go far. She took elk the same way.

Does this make a Hornet a big game rifle? It seems to, for her, in those circumstances.
Her husband bought her a "big" rifle. He said she was a Crack shot with it as well, but she'd dismount to shoot it. It was a 257 Roberts.

 

[PistolPete]

Precisely. I don’t see an advantage in going below .223 when intentionally hunting deer.

Actions don’t get much smaller.

Recoil doesn’t drop off enough to matter.

Weight? You can’t beat a straight-pull AR build for the lightest of light. Even the Stowaway 5.7 is porky compared to these builds.

The last thing I never thought of before was meat damage. If a cup and core bullet ruins too much damage, shoot a mono. Problem solved.

You're correct, of course. And maybe it's nitpicking, but, many of the same things that make the RSS 223 so great for elk to ~400 yards, over larger calibers, could likely be said for the 22 Hornet on deer to 200 yards over a 223. The idea of using the smallest ethical cartridge, with a bullet maximizing its performance, still makes sense to me here.

My kids, even my 5-year-old, LOVE shooting the 5.7, but 223 recoil is definitely notable in a 3-lb rifle - I wouldn't let 3/4 of them shoot that just yet. And the Stowaway is much cheaper and more compact than the straight pull 223 (which are also great, and I have one).

I absolutely agree that this is a very niche use case, and that I'm on the fringes (in more ways than one; ask my wife)

 

[StupidLightweight]

I look forward to hearing how it works out. Good luck this fall Hornetizing a few deer!

 

[PistolPete]

60 gr TMK at 2200 impact ruined this large-bodied buck's day. Busted ribs going in (slight quarter toward), destroyed one lung, went through the back of the other, through the diaphragm, into guts, no exit. He went 10 yds, but was alive for a few minutes before his head went down - presumably since it only clipped his offside lung.

 

[ztc92]

60 gr TMK at 2200 impact ruined this large-bodied buck's day. Busted ribs going in (slight quarter toward), destroyed one lung, went through the back of the other, through the diaphragm, into guts, no exit. He went 10 yds, but was alive for a few minutes before his head went down - presumably since it only clipped his offside lung.

That’s a nice looking buck! Congrats on being one of the first with the hornet!

 

[CJ_BG]

60 gr TMK at 2200 impact ruined this large-bodied buck's day. Busted ribs going in (slight quarter toward), destroyed one lung, went through the back of the other, through the diaphragm, into guts, no exit. He went 10 yds, but was alive for a few minutes before his head went down - presumably since it only clipped his offside lung.

What was the total penetration?

 

[PistolPete]

What was the total penetration?

I'd say 10-12"

 

[Steve O]

I just scored one of the new Ruger #1 in 22 Hornet. I think I may punch it out to a K Hornet and then the fun will begin.

 

[PistolPete]

I just scored one of the new Ruger #1 in 22 Hornet. I think I may punch it out to a K Hornet and then the fun will begin.

That'll be a slick little rig!

 

[Unclecroc]

I made sure my hornet was ready to go for deer season. I’m going to try the 33gr stone hammer in mine. If I get one with it I’ll post it.

 

[Bubbadoyle]

I’ve either taken or witnessed at least 20 deer taken with a 22 hornet and 45 gr sp bullets. Some were DRT and the farthest any went was about 60 yards. These were all behind the shoulder lung shots. If I were hunting where I might expect multiple shot angles I’d take one of many other options I have but if I was specifically doe hunting over food sources where I could wait for a broadside shot I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit undergunned.


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[CJ_BG]

I’ve either taken or witnessed at least 20 deer taken with a 22 hornet and 45 gr sp bullets. Some were DRT and the farthest any went was about 60 yards. These were all behind the shoulder lung shots. If I were hunting where I might expect multiple shot angles I’d take one of many other options I have but if I was specifically doe hunting over food sources where I could wait for a broadside shot I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit undergunned.


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This is pretty much the same experience my cousins in Central PA had. I think they had over 70-80 deer between the three of them with their hornets. They would still hunt grape vine and laurel thickets where shots would be close. 45gr soft points of some kind and most track jobs were under 70yds. A couple of nice bucks (170+lb dressed) fell to that load if memory serves me right. It was always fun hunting with them since the hornets sound so different than most centerfires. Always knew when it was them and pretty much every time you knew there was a big doe to go drag out.

 

[Bubbadoyle]

This is pretty much the same experience my cousins in Central PA had. I think they had over 70-80 deer between the three of them with their hornets. They would still hunt grape vine and laurel thickets where shots would be close. 45gr soft points of some kind and most track jobs were under 70yds. A couple of nice bucks (170+lb dressed) fell to that load if memory serves me right. It was always fun hunting with them since the hornets sound so different than most centerfires. Always knew when it was them and pretty much every time you knew there was a big doe to go drag out.

Sounds just like my experience. A deer is not that hard to kill. Anything with the ability to penetrate to both lungs will work. If it maintains enough velocity to cause bullet disruption and more damage it’ll only be more efficient. A 22 hornet with the proper bullet definitely fits into that category. While a shoulder shot would still likely work I have other options for that. I currently have a 22 K hornet with a fast twist so after following the .223 thread I’m considering getting some 60 gr TMK and trying them out for some late season does. I have no doubts it’ll work as a few here have mentioned.


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