Why is the .22 Hornet so underrated?
It achieves great results and is economical both with powder charges and noise. Some calibres come into vogue as the next big thing; others silently slip into obscurity, while there are some that simply refuse to retire, despite their age. Probably one of the most underrated cartridges of all time, and one I personally use, is the .22 Hornet. “Despite mild velocity figures and its long, tapered, outdated case design, the Hornet still bumbles along in sales terms.” First chambered by Winchester in 1930, its lineage can be traced back to 1885, when the same case dimensions were charged with 13 grains of blackpowder and a 45-grain lead bullet head and called the .22 WCF (Winchester centrefire). This gave some 1,600fps with a 45-grain bullet, while the inception of smokeless powder saw the Hornet rise to new ballistic heights, as the Germans wasted no time in converting to the new powder and named the round the 5.6x35R. This gave a raise from 1,600fps to 2,600fps with the same 45-grain bul
