.22 Hornet

01 / At a glance

The basics

Origin

United States

Introduced

1930

Ignition

Centerfire

Case form

Rimmed, bottleneck

Diameter

5.7 mm

Case length

35.6 mm

Rounded values to help you identify the cartridge, not manufacturing drawings. See the cited standard for exact dimensions and tolerances.

A short history

The .22 Hornet was introduced commercially in 1930. Its roots go back to experiments in the 1920s with the old black powder .22 WCF cartridge at Springfield Armory. Townsend Whelen and G. L. Wotkyns are credited with the design, and Winchester made the ammunition.

Winchester adopted the cartridge in 1930 before any commercial rifles existed for it. Rifle makers began to sell guns in 1932, and the Hornet became the first widely available small centerfire for varmints. For many shooters it was the step up from the .22 LR to a cartridge that reached farther and hit harder.

During World War II the U.S. military developed and issued aircrew survival rifles in .22 Hornet, including the M4, a bolt-action with a collapsible stock, the M6, an over-under rifle and shotgun, and the AR-5, a takedown bolt-action. The ammunition used soft-point bullets, and the boxes were labeled for game hunting. After the war, the larger .222 Remington and .223 Remington took much of the market, but the Hornet kept a following for its low noise and low recoil.

Why people still shoot it

The first reason is the report and the recoil. The Hornet is quiet for a centerfire and kicks very little. A shooter can fire many rounds without fatigue, and a young or recoil-sensitive shooter can learn on it. Muzzle blast is modest enough that it is often used near homes and farms where a loud rifle is a problem.

The second reason is the rifle. Hornet rifles are small, light and handy. They suit walking a fence line or carrying in a vehicle, and a 6 pound rifle is common. Ruger, CZ and New England Firearms offer bolt-action and single-shot rifles, and Thompson Center made single-shot pistols for the cartridge.

The third reason is the economy. The cartridge uses little powder, and a handloader can get a lot of shooting from a pound of it, though this guide gives no loading data. Brass lasts well at the cartridge's mild pressure. Factory ammunition is more expensive than .22 LR, but the performance is much greater.

Specifications at a glance

Values are rounded for reference. Velocities and energies are lower from short-barreled firearms. Exact dimensions and tolerances are in the SAAMI and C.I.P. standards cited at the end of this page.

Strengths and limits

The .22 Hornet is a small-game and varmint cartridge for short and moderate range. It is not a deer cartridge.

Honest advice: if you shoot varmints past 200 yards in open country, a .223 Remington or .22-250 Remington has more reach and energy and more ammunition choice. The Hornet earns its place at short range, in populated areas, and where you want a light rifle that does not cost much to shoot.

Check the bore and the twist

Some older Hornet rifles have a .223 inch bore and a slow 1 in 16 inch twist, and newer rifles use a .224 inch bore with a 1 in 14 inch twist. Use bullets of the right diameter for your rifle, and test what shoots well. Heavier bullets may not stabilize in a slow twist.

Ballistics

The table and charts below show one factory load, a 35 grain V-MAX bullet at 3,100 ft/s, with the rifle zeroed at 100 yards. A 100 yard zero fits the cartridge, since it is used mostly at short and moderate range.

Reading the numbers

With a 100 yard zero the bullet falls about 1.6 inches at 150 yards, 5.5 at 200, 13 at 250 and 25 at 300. A 10 mph crosswind moves it about 3 inches at 100 yards, 14 at 200 and 36 at 300. Velocity drops from 3,100 ft/s at the muzzle to about 2,270 ft/s at 100 yards and 1,590 ft/s at 200, and energy from about 750 to 400 and 200 foot-pounds.

These numbers explain the cartridge. The bullet is light and has a low ballistic coefficient, so it sheds speed and gets pushed by wind. At 100 yards it is a flat, fast varmint round. At 200 yards the wind moves it more than a foot, and at 300 yards it carries under 100 foot-pounds.

Recoil and shooter comfort

Recoil is very light. A 35 grain bullet at 3,100 ft/s in a 6 pound rifle gives a small push, less than a .223 Remington and far less than a deer cartridge. The report is sharper than a .22 LR but milder than most centerfires. Use hearing protection anyway.

That makes it a good cartridge to learn on, and a good one for long days. A shooter who flinches with a bigger rifle can recover accuracy with a Hornet, and a lighter rifle is easier to hold steady off sticks.

How to choose ammunition

Hornady, Federal and Winchester load the .22 Hornet. The selection is smaller than for the .223, and many stores stock only a few boxes. Choose the bullet for the job.

A light 35 grain bullet gives the flattest path, but it breaks up on impact and is easily moved by wind. A 45 grain bullet holds up better on small game and keeps more energy. Test several loads in your rifle, since Hornet rifles are often particular about what they shoot well.

Use ammunition made for the cartridge

Do not use .22 WMR or .223 Remington ammunition in a .22 Hornet rifle, or the reverse. Read the barrel marking and the headstamp. Hornet cases are small and look alike when loose, so keep them in labeled boxes.

Cost

Factory ammunition costs more than .22 LR and often more than .223 Remington, since fewer rounds are made. Handloaders can lower the cost, and brass is long-lived at the cartridge's mild pressure. This page gives no loading data.

How to choose a rifle

The right rifle depends on how you shoot. These are the points that matter most.

• Action. Bolt-action rifles are the most common. Single-shots such as the New England Firearms and Thompson Center designs are light and accurate.
• Weight. A rifle of 5 to 7 pounds is common. A heavier barrel is steadier for varmint shooting.
• Barrel and twist. Check the bore diameter and the twist. A 1 in 14 inch twist handles a wider range of bullets than a 1 in 16 inch twist.
• Magazine. A good detachable magazine feeds the rimmed case smoothly. Rimmed cartridges can catch in a magazine, so test feeding.
• Optic. A low- to medium-power scope suits the range. A 4 to 12 power scope is a common choice for varmints.
• Trigger. A clean, light trigger helps with small targets.
• Used rifles. Older rifles can have worn bores or odd dimensions, so have them checked.

Ruger, CZ, New England Firearms and other makers offer Hornet rifles, and Thompson Center made single-shot pistols for it. Taurus and Magnum Research have made revolvers in the chambering. Availability changes, so check current catalogs.

Zeroing and range practice

A 100 yard zero suits the cartridge. With a 35 grain V-MAX the bullet is on the line of sight at 100 yards, about 1.6 inches low at 150 and about 5.5 inches low at 200. That makes it a good choice for shots out to 150 yards with no holdover and a small holdover at 200.

Zero at 100 yards from a rest, then check your drop at 150 and 200. Wind is the main problem, since a 10 mph crosswind moves the bullet more than a foot at 200 yards. Practice judging wind with flags or grass, and keep shots inside your wind and range limits.

Write down your own drops for your load. The figures in this guide are estimates from a model, and your rifle, barrel length and bullet will differ.

Practical uses

Varmints

This is the main use. Ground squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits and similar animals are the usual targets. The cartridge is effective to about 150 yards with good shot placement.

Small game

It is used on rabbits, squirrels and turkeys by some hunters, though it can damage the meat at close range. Check the rules in your area before using it on game.

Deer

It is considered underpowered for deer, and some places prohibit it for that use, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and some U.S. states. Use a larger cartridge for deer.

Survival rifles and silhouette

The Hornet has a history as a survival cartridge, and light survival rifles have been made for it. It is also used in IHMSA and NRA metallic silhouette shooting.

.22 Hornet vs similar cartridges

The table compares the .22 Hornet with the cartridges it is usually weighed against. Figures are rounded and use SAAMI pressures.

Against the .223 Remington, the Hornet has less recoil, less noise and less range. Against the .22-250 Remington, it is much milder and much slower. Against the .17 HMR and .22 WMR rimfires, it hits harder and reaches farther, with rifles that are about as light. Against the .22 LR, it is another class of cartridge for range and energy.

Care and storage

Clean the bore after a day of shooting, and wipe the action and chamber. Small necked cases leave carbon in the chamber, so inspect it from time to time. Check scope mounts and stock screws. Store the rifle unloaded and locked, with the ammunition separate and away from children.

Safety and common mistakes

• Do not confuse the .22 Hornet with the .22 WMR, .223 Remington or other .22 cartridges. Read the barrel marking and the headstamp.
• Treat every rifle as loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target.
• Know your target and what lies beyond it. A rifle bullet can travel more than a mile.
• Wear eye and ear protection.
• Do not shoot at hard surfaces such as rocks or water. Light, fast bullets break up and ricochet.
• Check the bore for obstructions before you load.
• If you reload, use only published data from a current manual and start low. This page does not contain loading data.
• Store firearms and ammunition locked and apart, away from children.

Sources

Sources reviewed · 29 October 2026

1. Wikipedia · .22 Hornet ↗
2. Hornady 22 Hornet 35 gr V-MAX, published ballistics (retailer page) ↗
3. SAAMI ↗