A Turkey-gun for Thanksgiving...?

[AJMD429]

OK, so it's a Side-Lever - but it shoots...

I'd heard that Ruger .22 Hornets were not any good (but that was usually from people who shot .223's most of the time anyway), but Ruger is giving away a free Carhart Jacket* if you buy a bolt gun before December 31st this year, and I have sold and traded enough stuff I didn't need to get something else I don't need, so figured since I do like Rugers, I'd give one a try.

* Ruger Carhart offer - http://www.ruger.com/micros/carhartt/index.html

[..."Hon, my jacket was getting kind of worn, and I had a chance to pick up a FREE Carhart jacket (..."free" with purchase of $600 gun...), are you OK with that...?" ]

I just wanted sort of a ".22 caliber .32-20" - something center-fire in .22, but not with the blast of a short .223 nor the weight of a 'target' .223. Something else I don't need, but wanted to fiddle with.

Since factory ammo at Gander Mountain was $49.99 for a 50-round box, I decided to just order brass, bullets, and dies, but BudsGunShop.com is so darned fast at delivering that the gun was at my FFL's five days after the on-line order was placed, and MidwayUSA only had a three day head-start on sending me the brass and dies. So today I picked up the gun, and a bag of 50 mixed-brass (some of it pretty old looking) reloads at the local gun shop.

Here's the gun (with my BSA 32x "test-out-all-new-guns-to-see-their-potential" scope on it).



Here's the target - 1 shot (way high), sight adjust , 1 shot (a bit low), sight adjust, then two groups to semi-finalize sighting in. It's only 50 yards, but for my level of 'marksmanship' that's a pretty good start.



Pretty good for mixed-brass gunshop reloads, in a gun everyone seems to say is terrible. I think there's alot of 'Ruger-haters' in the bolt-gun crowd, but so far, I've not been disappointed in any Ruger bolt guns (or lever guns) I've ever shot.

[iceman]

Nothing wrong with that. You will enjoy the hornet. I have a BRNO with double set triggers, real ground hog medicine. Mine likes Hornady 35 gr Vmax. 10.5 gr IMR 4227.

[AJMD429]

The gunshop said the reloads (45 grain JHP's) were running around 2400 fps using AA 1680 - I don't know the charge.

Accurate Arms lists 11.1 to 12.3 grains of AA-1680 for 2,194 and 2,493 fps with a COAL of 1.720" on their site:
http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Acc% ... ersion.pdf

BUT AA shows AA-1680 generating 48,026 psi vs Hodgdon H-4198 on their site giving 2400 fps with a compressed charge of 11.5 grains at 32000 cup. Before anyone hollers, I know 'psi' and 'cup' aren't interchangeable, but it does seem like the Hodgdon powder would be gentler.

Anyway - the loads are quiet and accurate - just what I wanted. Coyotes LOOK OUT...!

I'll have to check COAL on the reloads I bought, for reference; I've heard that is fairly critical for Hornets too.

[airedaleman]

Try Li'l Gun, too. My 77/22H (with iron sughts) did very well with it.

[awp101]

The Prvi Partizan is pretty good stuff IMO. It won't win a benchrest competition but shoots well enough for me out of my CZ527. And it's a durn sight less than a buck a round!

[horsesoldier03]

Sadly here in KS you cant shoot turkey with a rifle, it has to be a shotgun!

NICE RIG THOUGH!

[Kansas Ed]

I love my Hornet! Uberti Lo Wall, Marbles Tang Sight. That little round is very addictive. I'm bettin a scope will really make it fun. I'm currently trying to come up with a load that shoots POA close to my high vel loads but with cast bullets and LR velocities. I would like to be able to swap cartridges and do squirrels and small game out to about 30 yards, but get over to the Hi Vel loads with minimal sight adjustment for longer ranges.

Ed

[AJMD429]

Sadly here in KS you cant shoot turkey with a rifle, it has to be a shotgun!

Actually, you can't here in Indiana, either. Not sure why.

[tman]

my next turkey will be with a repro blunderbuss. when i find one at a good price.

[LESAGEMIKE]

Heck here in Ohio we can't even hunt deer with a rifle. SHotgun only (or muzzle loader or cross bow also OK. We also can use certain caliber hand guns if large enough caliber.)

[Hobie]

Mixed brass can be a problem with the Hornet, moreso in some guns than in others. I load 35 or 40 gr. Hornady VMAX over 13 gr. Lil'Gun and standard PISTOL primers. In my Contender, this will cut cloverleafs at 100 yards. Kills groundhogs DRT. A heavier bullet might be better suited to turkeys. All feel good with a Carhart between the butt and your shoulder.