Thread: 22 hornet on goats?

any of you guys/gals
used 22 hornet on goats
if so what max distance,projectile weight etc

cheers Muz

I used 22lr exclusively on goats as a kid, always got in close. I’ve got a hornet that I’d shoot a goat out to 100yards with a 45gr SP. could probably go a little further with a higher mag scope. I’d be head and neck shooting only. id also happily take a shot at a deer under the right circumstances. It’s a great little round.

@R93

I haven't ever shot a goat with my hornet

Pinged half a dozen spring/summer deer tho. All within 100 yrds but I would happily shoot out to 200 if I have time, little wind and a good rest.

Shot a couple with the 55 gr hornady SP and the rest with the Sierra 45gr SP

I am using a K Hornet doing around 3000fps with the 45gr.
First deer I shot with the 55 hornady dropped dead on the spot. Hit base of the skull at 80ish yrds. The projectile did bugger all damage. Only chipped bone but I have had the same experience with that bullet and used it for years succesfully in the 223.
But it sort of put me off using it in the hornet as the second animal I took with it had bugger all trauma as well.

The 45 gr Sierra seems to work heaps better damage wise so I stuck with that.
Deer or goats shot head or neck at sensible distances, a Hornet will work as good as anything.
I will try and take a cham and thar for the table with it when I get the chance.


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

currently having a bit of a come back at my local NZDA range.
I was enamored with it when I saw the performance with the new powders (Lil'gun). Always wanted a soft quiet shooting accurate rabbit and goat rifle.
Mate's talked me out of it as I can't use it on DOC land. (Doubt many could tell the difference between 223 and 22 Hornet, As long as it's not a 22rf.)
May yet get myself one anyway.
When I was a kid and even my son's shot their first goats with a 22RF.
Have shot a number of goats with a down loaded 243, trailboss, 58gr Vmax at 2400 fps and I see a Hornet will drive a 55 gr bullet at 2650 fps.
As long as you can head/neck shoot then up to small small deer are not a problem at sensible ranges.

I have some ideas on bullets for goat in a Hornet but have not shot any myself. 40-45 is the obvious choice but don't expect them to bust though a shoulder and do much internal damage. Drop them in side on just behind the foreleg and they will be going down. The heavier 55 gr bullets will penetrate OK but you may not have enough velocity to get much. expansion.
In the 243 the 58gr Vmax bullets at 2400 fps hitting a goat at 50 mtr will pass though side on leaving a nice exit hole. recovered bullets showed a nice mushroom without fragmentation due to the low velocity. I would imagine the heavier (for 22 hornet) Vmax bullets would perform in a similar manor at the lower Hornet velocities.
Z

Mobs of goats are currently happy that the .22 Hornet is a centrefire cartridge.

Don't know about down south but up here DOC has a minimum of .222 for their hunting permits, used to be .22 Hornet.

Originally Posted by tetawa

Don't know about down south but up here DOC has a minimum of .222 for their hunting permits, used to be .22 Hornet.

Yes, standard across the country that .222 in minimum. Rimfires and .22 hornet specifically banned. So the confusion would come in on some of the more obscure .22 cals and large wildcat .20 cals.

Originally Posted by Dama dama

Yes, standard across the country that .222 in minimum. Rimfires and .22 hornet specifically banned. So the confusion would come in on some of the more obscure .22 cals and large wildcat .20 cals.

Unless you can load a .22 Hornet so hot it is on a par with .222

Originally Posted by Dama dama

Yes, standard across the country that .222 in minimum. Rimfires and .22 hornet specifically banned. So the confusion would come in on some of the more obscure .22 cals and large wildcat .20 cals.

The dumb thing is if you get a DOC small game or game bird permit a .22, 22 Hornet and shotgun is ok in the same area.

having shot literally hundreds of goats with an open sighted .22lr I can say that an accurate .22 hornet would be alot more efficent and effective. head neck or in the crease,keep ranges as short as possible,sub hundy ideal and all will be good. its a step up from the .22 magnum and goats go down rather nicely with that round too...shot placement is everything.

im a farm hunter not much doc land i can use with quad (disability reasons) plus i have 260 rem for times i do hunt doc stuff 22-Hornet is for turkeys,rabbits,hares mainly but will take goats if one popped up

Originally Posted by quadhunter260

im a farm hunter not much doc land i can use with quad (disability reasons) plus i have 260 rem for times i do hunt doc stuff 22-Hornet is for turkeys,rabbits,hares mainly but will take goats if one popped up

It will do all that just fine, Do you allready own one? if not just buy a 223 mini action or something and go slay. Bit more poke still cheap to shoot

@Nick-D yep a nice lefthand browning abolt in 22hornet😎🤙

Ive shot my fair share of game with a hornet up to & including deer. Don't attempt a chest or neck shot on goats or larger with any factory ammo offering. The very fast expanding projectiles will leave a very shallow crater & one screaming animal! Now if you load the hornet with heavier construction projectiles meant for the .223 you will have no issue at all. 200 yds is about where I feel goats & larger is the ethical limit.