.22 Hornet ammo

wolftrapper

wolftrapper

New member
I am asking for input from anyone who has tried 35 gr. bullets in the .22 Hornet. I have Hornady V-Max, and Browning BVX varmint expansion. I am looking for less pelt damage, and thought one of these might work. My concern is whether I will get adequate penetration. I tried 35 gr. in .222 Rem, and at those velocities, I didn't get enough penetration on coyotes, with a frontal shot.

I am talking coyotes.

Thanks!
 
Fur season is getting close! I've not gone calling with less than a .223 for quite some time, cause it's tougher to get them close enough to the truck. Hope you find the magic fur saver.
 
I can't see any bullet in a 22 Hornet doing excessive pelt damage on a coyote, I can see a lot of missed opportunities do to harvest a pelt do to lack of effective range. I've pelt hunted coyotes for many years and my goto's are a 222 Rem with 52gr Speer FB HP's and a 22-204 w/40gr NBT's. Back in the day I used a 22 Hornet w/factory 46gr HP's for red fox with little damage. I did use a 223 with Herters 50gr SP's, I will say I did have to sew some exits with the 223, but not massive. These were $100 fox so not blowing them up was real important.

Those little 35gr V-max are for blowing up little ground squirrels not killing coyotes, I can see not enough penetration. The 40gr NBT is alot stouter bullet, I run them at close to 4000fps out of my 22-204 and have yet to have one splash on a coyote or cause excessive damage to a pelt unless I get real close to the edges.
 
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I have killed one coyote with my 218 Bee and the 35 gr. V-Max. It was standing broadside at 176 yds. Dropped in it's tracks DRT, not even a quiver. Couldn't see the entrance and there was no exit. Must have got lucky and slipped between the ribs is all I can figure. But it did kill him quick.
 
I've shot one coyote with the 35 gr vmax in 22 Hornet. He was face on at 125 yards and I hit him right in the middle of the chest. He dropped and rolled around for a moment, then popped up and sped off into the brush. Found a ton of blood where he'd gone down but never could find him. That load wouldn't be my choice if I was specifically going out for coyotes with the 22H. Would probably try the 45gr soft point from Hornady or similar load for better penetration, while also keeping the range reasonably close.
 
Originally Posted By: WeaselCircusI've shot one coyote with the 35 gr vmax in 22 Hornet. He was face on at 125 yards and I hit him right in the middle of the chest. He dropped and rolled around for a moment, then popped up and sped off into the brush. Found a ton of blood where he'd gone down but never could find him. That load wouldn't be my choice if I was specifically going out for coyotes with the 22H. Would probably try the 45gr soft point from Hornady or similar load for better penetration, while also keeping the range reasonably close.

Exactly what I was afraid would happen. Thank you for letting me know, so that I don't do the same.
 
Originally Posted By: wolftrapperOriginally Posted By: WeaselCircusI've shot one coyote with the 35 gr vmax in 22 Hornet. He was face on at 125 yards and I hit him right in the middle of the chest. He dropped and rolled around for a moment, then popped up and sped off into the brush. Found a ton of blood where he'd gone down but never could find him. That load wouldn't be my choice if I was specifically going out for coyotes with the 22H. Would probably try the 45gr soft point from Hornady or similar load for better penetration, while also keeping the range reasonably close.

Exactly what I was afraid would happen. Thank you for letting me know, so that I don't do the same.


I don't own a hornet but will soon. I went down the same road with my 223. I went with a heavier, slower moving bullet. 60 gr vmax. Most shots entry and exit you can tell where it went in or out to up to a fifty cent sized hole in and out. MV is 2850.
 
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