Sidewinder

Caster, you and MacGuyver are 100% right on. I guess we could say the .223 is more plentiful these days than .22LR! Who'd ever thought we'd see that day, but it's a reality. As stated elsewhere in this thread, I have three choices of shooting platform for this round, and reload it as well. So, maybe I just need to get a little more creative at the loading bench with my .223. There's just something nostalgic about shooting that little bottleneck centerfire. Bet it was dirt cheap to shoot, back in it's hey-day.

MacGyver, I guess I have bounced all over the caliber spectrum, haven't I? I'm a gun lover... have been all of my life. I was raised on a farm and got my first gun at a very early age...traded my rod and reel for it,IIRC. So, I've been searching for the Holy Grail of caliber that would work well on fox, bobcat, and hopefully, on coyotes and not do too much damage to the hides. I appreciate the recommendation on the .223 Rem., as I have some rifles that shoot that round... and one that shoots the .222 also. I do reload most calibers, including the 22 Hornet. You, and a friend of mine, have both hit the nail on the head by pointing out the flexibility of up or down loading the .223 round. The .223 round is cheaper to buy off the shelf than the .22 Hornet, but I've been working on building up Hornet brass. That case is thin, and easily crunched, if finesse' isn't used with the press. Thanks for your input.

79 Troublehead, thanks for your 2 cents. Did the H&R Hornet take the coyotes "DRT",most of the time, or did you get spinners and runners? I realize shot placement has almost everything to do with that too. But, I was just wondering if they fell like a sack of potatoes? I don't want to wound them, and then spend all of my hunting time tracking them down, to finish the job. Good point on soft point instead of hollow point. I can see how it would probably have deeper penetration, before expanding. I'm not familiar with the RWS ammo, I don't believe. Have you seen it here in the states?

Hozzie, I'm a bit frugal (cheap) when it comes to buying firearms. I like to get the best bang for my buck... no pun intended... when buying firearms. I don't own any snob firearms, nor do I have any criticism of those that do. To each his own, as they say. I've been around anyone shooting the 204 Ruger, but have heard good things about the round. I'd definitly go for the 22-250 if I were hunting out west, with the wide open spaces. But, here in Middle Tennessee, with the wooded areas, most shots will probably be under 200 yards. Have you harvested ( pc speak for killed) coyotes with the 204 Ruger round? If so, hou was it on the hides? I realize good coyote hides in this area is not the norm, due to our hot weather.

Leroy, thanks for the input. I think you're spot on in your analysis of the 22 Hornet as a reloadable round for small varmint hunting. I have rifles in the .222 and .223 calibers and probably should just use them for coyote hunting. I'm just thinking that the .22 Hornet could be used on fox and bobcat, with less hide damage... and possibly on a yote too.

Thanks for the frank opinion on the two Caster. I've heard nothing but good things about the CZ...in all calibers and gauges. By the way, I really enjoy that Owl Hollow range. Been there a couple of times for the TGO shoot... met some nice people. I have an old Savage bolt in .223, a Bushmaster AR in .223, and a .223 rifle barrel for my Contender, so maybe I should use one of them on coyotes. I've just got this itch for a 22 Hornet, for coyotes and other small varmints.

Hipower, hate to hear that I may have to send the entire firearm to them. I was trying to do the online "chat" thing with them, and thought I understood that I could just send the buttstock. But... I may have been online with the guy on a bicycle in India! I'm hoping someone on here has had a good experience with a live person, there onsight at Taurus, and may be able to give me a name of someone that will work with me.

Danger Rane, mine is the wood buttstock. I have not heard of any problems with the synthetic stock set. I'm just partial to wood on guns, even though it is much more fragile. Just old fashioned I guess... but I like the composite stuff on my Bushmaster AR.

I have a very low round count, in the box, Taurus / Rossi Circuit Judge that has developed hairline cracks where the buttstock joins the receiver/frame. Has anyone been through getting a replacement stock from Taurus, that could give me some advice on the process...what to do...and what not to do...turn around times, and that sort of thing. Taurus has a "lifetime warranty", so I believe they will replace it at no cost to me... maybe shipping the damaged stock to them. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.

Nightrunner, do you have experience in taking coyotes with this round and model? If so, what would you say the limiting range should be shooting factory ammo? Was the gun and round up to the task of taking Mr. Coyote down at 150 yards?

Caster, sounds like the CZ527 performs quite well with this round. In your opinion, do you think it's worth the higher price, than say, a Savage in the 22 Hornet? Any experience with it on the coyotes? If so, what do you think of the round for this hunting application?

Leroy, have you taken any coyotes with the round, or known someone that has? Would be interested in it's performance on the yotes.

TNWNGR, from what I've found to read about the "K-Hornet",it seems to have only bumped the performance up about 100 FPS. But, I've seen folks giving them some pretty high marks on a hunting round, on various forums. My Contender pistol barrel is an octogan 10",with a cheap scope on it. I haven't shot the rifle barrel yet, so I'm curious to see what it can do. I've been told it should do a pretty good out to 150 - 175 yards. Blowing smoke or reality?

I'm intrigued with the 22 Hornet and it's many applications in hunting.I have a pistol & rifle barrel for my Contender, but am interested in a multi-shot application. Was there ever a Remington 760 or any pump version chambered in 22 Hornet? In your opinions, what do you guys think the best model 22 Hornet is? Tell us why you think so. I reload, so the round can be loaded up or down, to fit the hunting application.

Gliderman, sorry...somehow my reply to your last post got imbedded within your post! Don't know what happened.

Netminder, the more I look at "the big picture", the more I see wisdom in your words. Like you, I too am a reloader, and reload my own .223 for the three guns I have in .223. It does cost less for me to reload a .223 round than it does for me to buy a round of .17 HMR. My Savage A17 in .17 HMR fever has cooled considerably, since I started this thread. I was thinking of it primarily as a small varmint gun... and coyotes too. I'm thinking the 17 WSM may be a better coyote round...now... if Savage will include that caliber in the A17... and add a wood stock of some respectability, I'll buy one!

That's interesting MacGyver. What do most people use this round for in hunting?

Thanks shotgunshooter. I couldn't get the video to play on my cheap Android tablet, but the pics show the difference. It looks like this 17WSM is a completeiy new round, as opposed to one using the 22 Mag shell case. Looks like this round has some some moxy.

MacGyver, just stopped in at Academy Sports in Smyrna this afternoon. Plenty of .17HMR ammo, plenty of .17WSM ammo... and a Savage A17 rifle in stock! I was able to hold the rifle, look it over good ...as well as I could see, as I had just returned from Dr. Ming Wang's eye clinic and my eyes were dilated. The gun felt good and shouldered good. Being an old school guy, I'd prefer one with a wooden stock. I'm just not a big fan of plastic/composit, but I am a big "Savage" fan. The price on the gun was $399.99. They let me look at some 17WSM ammo... but with the dilated eyes, I couldn't tell the difference in it and the .17HMR. I wish my eyes had been in better shape... as I couldn't tell much about the metal finish. I could tell that the removable dust cover, behind the bolt is plastic. The gun didn't have any iron sights on it, but did have "Weaver type" scope mounts installed. There is a soft recoil pad area on the buttstock.

I appreciate the feed back. Any experience with the 17WSM? I hear ammo is hard to find. I might research it a little also. One video that I watched, had a pretty massive exit hole, compared to the .17HMR.

I like what I'm hearing about the performance with the round. For a tiny bullet, that's impressive.

Thanks Gomer. The fever's cooled down a little! I'm still interested in what it'll do, but the price would have to be right. I may take a second look at some of the other 17 super magnums, being that I already have a .17 HMR carbine barrel for my Contender, that I haven't even shot yet.

What kind of price were they asking for it? I usually like to deal with individuals in the general local area. As new as it is, I would imagine someone would have to be pretty dissatisfied with it, for it to be on the "used" market. I have bought firearms from Butch at Outpost before, and he matched prices for me.

A little off thread... but still on the .17 HMR. Does anyone have any hunting or shooting experience with this round through a TC Conter rifle (carbine) barrel? I have a new 23" bull barrel for one of my Contenders, but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. No iron sights, just a scope, which I need to sight in, before I point it at mr. coyote. I'm hoping it'll sling that little 17 or 20 grain bullet 150 yards with enough energy and accuracy to take down a coyote, or his smaller varmint friends.