Taurus .22Hornet question

bfj2

New member
Taurus has made a 22 hornet. Does anyone know anything about that round and where it stands in power (compared to other handgun rounds)? I know the .22hornet is usually a rifle round (that is why I am also asking the question here) and as far as I know it has not been made into a handgun (Taurus’s is a revolver on the racing bull frame) in sometime. On a side note I just got there new 44mag and love it! Here is the web site if you don’t know what I am talking about: http://www.taurususa.com/hornet.html
 
With the hornet, you're talking about power midway between the .22 magnum and the .223 remington. As far as muzzle energy, it will probably be somewhere in the high .357 vicinity. Keep in mind that that doesn't make it a deer killer! However, trajectory will far exceed that of any conventional straight wall pistol caliber. Bullets for the Hornet are made for two things-killing varmints up to coyote size and punching paper. Keep it in that arena and the Raging Hornet should be an awesome handgun.
 
I hunt groudhogs with a Ruger 77/22 in 22 Hornet. If there's a hog within 200 yds of me it's dead. I use a 40gr Vmax bullet over 12 grains of Hogdon's Lil' Gun. I get about 3000fps, .5" groups at 100 yds and utter devestation on groundhogs. The Hornet is a great little round but I'd rather sped my money on a good rifle that a Raging Hornet. It's a neat concept but it's not for me. I'm a rifleman.
 
Thanks for all the great info. Here is something that someone else told me:

Go to Magnum Research's web site and to the news and articles page. They also make a 22 Hornet revolver.

http://www.magnumresearch.com

It also has the information on the Taurus Raging Hornet. It's an old Shooting Times article.


Robert (Robert the41MagFan)
 
Jaeger

Which model Ruger .22 Hornet do you have? The standard or target? I've been looking at the Ruger Target 77/22 in .22 Hornet as I need a chuck rifle to use in some fields on my friend's farm around which a housing development is blossoming. I've pretty much decided on the Hornet as the report is not much louder than a .22 LR. Last year my friend got a couple of complaints when I touched off the 25-06 trying to get those early risers. He didn't care but I figure its better to avoid conflicts as thet are his neighbors not mine. If you would please describe your set up, not a lot of people shoot the Hornet so it's hard to get opinions.
Thanks & Take Care
 
Sure! It's the arget model. Stainess steel, medium heavy sporter barrel and laminate stock. I had my gunsmith do a trigger job on it and it now has a very crisp 3 lb. trigger. Since it a 77/22 trigger he had to do some modificaton to it and it cost about $40 but it was worth it! haven't done anything else to the rifle yet. I'd like to glass bed it this summer when I get the time. It's currently wearing a POS BSA Platinum 6-24 in the stock rings. It's not my first choice of scopes (or my 2nd, or 3rd....) but it's what I had available at the time. It works fine for what I need it for. Sooner or later it will get a nice Leupold or Nikon.

I love the rifle. It's quiet, cheap to shoot, very accurate and it knocks the snot out of groundhogs! It's far more effective than it's ballistics would suggest.

If you get one you should really handload for it. I use only WW brass. (no reason other than local availability) So far I haven't used any powder other than Hogdon's Lil' Gun. It burns clean, shows no signs of excessive pressure, give great consistency and unusually high velocity. .5" groups at 100 with a 40gr, 3000fps load is great stuff from a Hornet. Lee Collet dies are a must.

Happy hunting! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
 
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