Texas Hunting Forum

22 Hornet!!

Posted By: Javelin74

22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 08:37 PM

Well, 1st off I had a great weekend with the family at the lease. Took both my girls (8&10), out for 2 evening hunts and somehow we saw lots of deer. My oldest daughter kinda hinted around that said she was interested in trying to shoot a deer. I have a buddy that has a 22 hornet that I can use. So my question is a 22 hornet with a 45-50 grain bullet enough to humanely harvest a doe or should I bite the bullet and buy a 243 for her?
Posted By: skinnerback

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 08:39 PM

popcorn
Posted By: SingleShot85

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 08:42 PM

buy the 243 because, then it will be theirs
Posted By: redchevy

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 08:42 PM

Definitly not my first choice or second or third or... you get the picture.

A hornet to me is a neck/head shooting bullet. It almost 100% of the time will not give you a blood trail to follow and typically wont die in its tracks from shots in or behind the shoulder. I would suggest you find a better caliber.
Posted By: tth_40

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 08:47 PM

I took my first ever deer (smallish doe) one shot through the chest with an old Winchester .22 Hornet and a 45 grain soft point. 80 yards, she dropped in place like a rock.

I have a soft spot for the .22 Hornet.

That being said, go with at the VERY least a .223 Remington or larger. After all these years, I am still under the impression I lucked out with PERFECT shot placement on that one. It was the first and only deer I ever took with that round.

It's all about shot placement.
Posted By: dogcatcher

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 09:35 PM

Go with the 243, it will be hers, not something borrowed for a day or 2. Making memories with her own gun is the way to go.
Posted By: JDShellnut

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 09:39 PM

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.c...synthetic-stock also a $50 mail in rebate. 22 hornet is too small IMO.
Posted By: basspromaster

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 09:59 PM

Single shot 243 youth gun or 22-250. Both are great guns. I have a friend that still has his single shot 243 and it's rare he doesn't take it to the stand. I've shot 4 deer with that gun and 4 more with my uncles 22 250. I have my Grandfather's 308 and that is the gun I will use until I pass it to my son or grandson some day. Deffinately buy her something it will mean the world to her that her first gun deer and great experience will all come from you. My dad's not a hunter but he does fish. I still own the first reels he gave me and will never get rid of them.
Posted By: 4Weight

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 10:41 PM

243 for sure.
Posted By: Mickey Moose

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 10:49 PM

Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Making memories with her own gun is the way to go.

^ Priceless, must do!

<grin>Though consider moving to a 270/308/30-06 - we all know which is best!</grin>
Posted By: kyle1974

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/01/14 11:53 PM

223 would be a better starting gun. use a non varmit bullet, and keep the distance under 75 yards or so and it will do fine. I started my boys out with a .222 and they killed several deer and hogs with it.

it's a texas philosophy that we think we need a gun generating 48,000 ft lbs of energy to kill a 150 lb animal
Posted By: Mambajeep

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 01:29 AM

Originally Posted By: Mickey Moose
Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Making memories with her own gun is the way to go.

^ Priceless, must do!

<grin>Though consider moving to a 270/308/30-06 - we all know which is best!</grin>


For 8,10 yo girls? Go .223, .243
Posted By: txshntr

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 01:33 AM

Originally Posted By: kyle1974
223 would be a better starting gun. use a non varmit bullet, and keep the distance under 75 yards or so and it will do fine. I started my boys out with a .222 and they killed several deer and hogs with it.

it's a texas philosophy that we think we need a gun generating 48,000 ft lbs of energy to kill a 150 lb animal


Dead is dead...but certain calibers increase your margin of error. Many of the kids on the ranch have used the 300UM. Some call it overkill, but I have never had a deer be too dead
Posted By: Mickey Moose

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 01:53 AM

Originally Posted By: Mambajeep
Originally Posted By: Mickey Moose
Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Making memories with her own gun is the way to go.

^ Priceless, must do!

<grin>Though consider moving to a 270/308/30-06 - we all know which is best!</grin>

For 8,10 yo girls?

No, the serious part was...
Originally Posted By: Mickey Moose
Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Making memories with her own gun is the way to go.

^ Priceless, must do!

The remainder was in fun referring to the never-ending debate, on this forum and probably every other as well, of "which caliber is best".
Posted By: wetduck

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 01:54 AM

22-250 with barnes vortex ammo 50 grn TSX i have killed 7 deer with it this year (Does and spikes) the tsx gives a nice exit wound even qtring on thru the neck
Posted By: kyle1974

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 02:11 AM

Originally Posted By: txshntr
Originally Posted By: kyle1974
223 would be a better starting gun. use a non varmit bullet, and keep the distance under 75 yards or so and it will do fine. I started my boys out with a .222 and they killed several deer and hogs with it.

it's a texas philosophy that we think we need a gun generating 48,000 ft lbs of energy to kill a 150 lb animal


Dead is dead...but certain calibers increase your margin of error. Many of the kids on the ranch have used the 300UM. Some call it overkill, but I have never had a deer be too dead


I have. He still haunts me to this day. the blood...... can't get past all the blood cry

for a little kid, a .243 has a pretty good recoil to it. I had my kids practice quite a bit before they shot at an animal. I think it takes them a little time to acclimate to the recoil, and the last thing I wanted to happen was for them to become scared of the recoil. just worked them up with a 22 mag, to a .222 to a .243. they're pretty good shooters now at 8 and 10.

of course... they come from my loins, so it's pretty much a guaranteed deal they would turn out awesome. rifle
Posted By: huntandfish

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 03:04 AM

Grew up harvesting whittails with the little. Hornet using 45 grain sp remington, never lost a deer, never had a pass thru, but always left a blood trail! Longest shot was bumping 130 yards. All shots into lungs. Pieces of bullet wouod be smashed up against offside ribs, bloody mess inside. First deer at 7, still have the old savage, but the dam stick is warped. Its the one with the barrel band anchor. Used it in south texas also for deer and javelinas! If the kids can shoot it accurately, go for it!
Posted By: Pinky3169

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 03:45 PM

There are several caliber/rifle combinations that have little to no recoil... Enough for a young hunter to successfully harvest a deer... My choices are .243, 7mm-08 and .260... All will do the job and when the adrenalin is kicking in, they wont notice the recoil or the noise.. The lighter the gun, the more felt recoil.. I have seen several youths started with these calibers.. It is all in bullet selection and shot placement..
Posted By: Anytimeoutdoors1

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 08:38 PM

Shot placement is key in what ever caliber U choose. My girls at 8-9 used .22 hornet 50gr soft point and neck shot there first few deer at 50 yards or less. All dropped like rocks. I've upgraded them to a youth .223 this season and its a perfect round for up to 100 yards broadside lung shot behind the shoulder pocket. Passes they every time and they drop like a stone. My kids spent countless hours practicing with a scoped pellet rifle to learn shot placement and shooting form on a 3d deer target before they shot a deer. It payed off bigtime when the time came to squeeze the trigger just liked we had practiced. Enjoy those younger days of hunting with UR kids. If goes o so fast. My 14 year old started hunting alone this season and she loves it she gets all what hunting is about and enjoys the best show on earth in a deer blind. Good luck to you the first deer harvest U watch UR kids take is even better then your own first deer I garantee.
Posted By: catslayer

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 08:46 PM

personally I don't think recoil is nearly the factor that people make it for a kid. If you figure out how much the gun pushes and then hit them in the shoulder like that they won't bat an eye... HOWEVER the LOUD LOUD LOUD SUPRISING BANG, AND the push... that will make them skittish... I truly believe you need to try it with ear protection for about ten shots to see how they handle it.

Take the shock/surprise out of it and they do really really well. little buddy of mine was 8 and shot deer and hogs with .270 no problem. This kid is tiny too. he is little bitty for his age. but he always had on ears and we practiced some... was no problem at the time. Try it and see i'll put money on it being a huge help.


as for the hornet. I was taught to take neck shots on doe... sooo I think it is FINE. Will kill the heck out of a deer. Even if you deicide to do the smaller caliber I really suggest the ears. I didn't realize how big a change it makes until we started trying to get more people there first deer.
Posted By: TFF Caribou

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 08:47 PM

Originally Posted By: Anytimeoutdoors1
Shot placement is key in what ever caliber U choose.


This. I keeping hearing guys says, a (insert caliber here) is fine, it's all about shot placement.

It's always about shot placement!
Posted By: dee

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/02/14 09:11 PM

This whole thread and no mention of ++++p++++ 22 Hornet ammo?
Posted By: Mfloski

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/03/14 12:09 PM

Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Go with the 243, it will be hers, not something borrowed for a day or 2. Making memories with her own gun is the way to go.

95gr STX will sure to make em drop!
Posted By: Hookem79

Re: 22 Hornet!! - 12/03/14 07:34 PM

I would go with the .243. I have 3 daughters (8,10,13) and all of them can shoot it with no issues. Man thing is teach them to shoot correctly first with a pellet gun or the hornet. This way they don't get the scope kiss!!!
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