Could not get the new mod40 Savage or CZ varmint in 22 hornet. I want to stay in .224 caliber because of bullet availability but am not totally happy with the CZ 527 American.Who is doing what with the off the shelf varminters.Really don't want to go custom.Would prefere small capacity as this would be a 50 to 100 yard paper puncher. Hyper velocity and opinions not needed.Just give me the facts.Thanks roger

Why not Just re-barrel your 527 with a heavy barrel from Lothar Walther or other barrel maker, you will get a better barrel and you would lose that much in the horse trade at any rate, you could get it chambered just for the bullets you want to shoot targets with. ??

I don't guess I understand the question. Are you wanting suggestions for a different caliber, or just a different rifle in the 22 Hornet? For a 50-100 yd paper puncher, you can't beat the Hornet. You can load 11-13 gr of powder behind a 40 gr bullet, and shoot one hole groups all day long, if you get you a good one.
I'm not that consistent a shooter, but I can keep all mine under an inch without any difficulty. I shoot a TC Contender carbine in 22 K-hornet.

Sorry, I can't answer your question as the only .22s I have are a LR and a .22-250. I actually was curious why you couldn't find the Savage 40 in 22 Hornet. Or are you just unable to find the brand-new Accutrigger model? Either way, any decent gun shop should be able to order it by now, I would think, as it's been on the Savage website for several months now... Just curious.

I have the 527 American and really like it. It is vary accurate and has an ajustable trigger. My only complaint is that the magazine is too short to allow you to set the bullet out to optimum lenght, but I generaly use mine as a single shot anyway.
12.5 grains of Lil Gun and a 35 grain Hornaday or a 40 grain Sierra Blitz and you are set.

I liked the 527 so much that I am ordering one in .221 Fireball.

Call up Chris at the Autumn Gun Works in Goshen, CT. He has a pair of those nice old Sako 222's on the rack.

You can load them down but you can't load a small case up. I would take a 222 over any Hornet.

The 221 Fireball is indeed an excellent alternative to the Hornet, providing excellent performance from such a small case.
I still own a Hornet, but one of my Fireball's gets out of the safe much more often!
AA1680/LilGun/RL7 make the 221 fun....
Available in CZ527 and Rem 700.

quote:

Originally posted by tmoore4627:
I actually was curious why you couldn't find the Savage 40 in 22 Hornet. Or are you just unable to find the brand-new Accutrigger model? Either way, any decent gun shop should be able to order it by now, I would think, as it's been on the Savage website for several months now... Just curious.

Went down to the local gun shop and they for whatever reason could not get a delivery date on the Mod. 40 w/ accutrigger. Had the same problem when the accutrigger was originally introduced and wound up biying the Ruger mod.77 varmint in .243 instead of the Savage. I like the Ruger a lot but a small capacity 22 would punch those holes for far less money.

My CZ 527 in .222 is a great walk aroung rifle and I will keep it as is and not rebarrel. Does anyone have any experience with the NEF Varmint rifle? roger

Bartsche,

I took my CZ527 in .222 and set the barrel back and rechambered to .221 Fireball. It is my primary walk-around varmint gun and does well off the portable bench. Small powder appetite, fast moving bullets, and no stinking Hornet brass to worrry about.

quote:

Originally posted by Old Elk Hunter:
Bartsche,

quote:

I took my CZ527 in .222 and set the barrel back and rechambered to .221 Fireball. It is my primary walk-around varmint gun and does well off the portable bench. Small powder appetite, fast moving bullets, and no stinking Hornet brass to worrry about.

quote:

I like your style but I want to keep the .222 roger

I have had atleast 4 .22 Hornets since 1970. Most of them were single shots. Now I have the Ruger 77/22-Hornet.
Hornets are very finicy about their accuracy. I am not familiar with the CZ. Min Ruger shoots a dime size group [45gr. bullet] at 100 yards with 9.7 grains of 2400.