History
Its backstory stretches into the 1920s, spinning out from the early .22 WCF round under tutelage of Colonel Townsend Whelen and his counterparts, who then worked at Springfield Armory. But the .22 Hornet as we know it did not make its way into American firearms consciousness until the early 1930s.
That’s when Winchester saw the potential, producing its Model 54, while Savage’s Model 23 paved the way for the round’s success. The reason we’re taking a good look at the .22 Hornet now is Ruger’s recent launch of its Super Redhawk in the round. The revolver makes a fine companion to Ruger’s existing 77/22 family of bolt actions. There must be a good reason the minuscule centerfire still has the attention of gunmakers.
Metrics
The .22 Hornet is, at its heart, a rimmed centerfire round. Overall length measures a scant 1.403 inches, shorter than a matchstick, but undeniably livelier. The slow and minimal shoulder (just over 5 degrees) lends itself to the round’s reliable reputation.
We may not fully understand the numbers behind its accuracy, but the .22 Hornet found a warm welcome because it shot well in multiple platforms, stacked well in box magazines, performed admirably from both rifles and handguns, moved awfully quickly, and showed off some of the most impressive velocities at the time when it was debuted.
While its ideal range sits closer to the sub-150-yard mark, seasoned .22 Hornet fans – myself included – will tell you of clean shots in excess of two football fields long.
The Guns
Since the ’30s, there has been a solid option in a .22 Hornet firearm. While those early guns were rifles, the Hornet’s appeal spilled over into the handgun market with introductions by Thomson Center’s Encore, Taurus’ Raging Hunter, and now Ruger’s Super Redhawk.
Believe it or not, the rifles are too numerous to mention here, but we’ll hit a few personal faves. Ruger’s No. 1 or No. 3 falling block is a gem. Likewise, you’ll be impressed with the accuracy from guns like CZ’s 527 American, Ruger’s 77/22, Winchester Model 70, Savage’s 25 Varminter series, the lowly H&R Topper, and so many more.
A good handful of companies are still building .22 Hornets at the time of this writing, including Ruger, Savage, CZ-USA, Winchester, and even Chiappa with the Little Sharps.
Ammo
What good is a gun without ammunition? While there have been some lean years in terms of finding readily available .22 Hornet factory ammunition, accessibility appears to have stabilized a bit. At the time of this writing, I’m finding at least three brands readily available: Winchester, Browning, and Remington.
Several other companies still advertise their production of the round: Sellier & Bellot, Hornady, PPU, Nosler, and Federal. Examples in factory ammo performance are Winchester 45-grainers at 2,690 FPS and 739 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, and Browning 35-grain loads at 3,100 FPS at the muzzle with 747 foot-pounds of energy. Though capable enough to eradicate vermin at greater distances, the round’s performance drops off quickly after the first 150 yards.
Load Options
Bullet weights are most common in 35, 40, and either 45 or 46 grains, so there’s not a wild range of selections. However, shooters and hunters will find options in jacketed hollow points, ballistic tips, soft points, and full metal jackets.
Because the .22 Hornet hasn’t always been the easiest to find nor the cheapest, handloaders find the freedom to customize, often upgrading into the 50-plus grain class. Dies, brass, and components are pretty accessible. Even the hottest loads are fairly mild by today’s standards, which means barrel life is nary a concern.
Benefits
