Can Brno/CZ 22 Hornet be converted to 223? The one I might have a chance to buy (VERY reasonable price) is bit older model with peep sight in receiver, and owner told me that rifle is bored for 0.224" bullets. I have no use for 22 Hornet but 223 is different story. Thanks.

yes - but let me buy it as a hornet so I can do a 7.62x25 on it .. if its cheap, as you'll pay abit to have it converted and done correctly

Do you reload?

quote:

... so I can do a 7.62x25 on it.

That sounds interesting! (What would you do with the old barrel?)

send it to NZ as "high helix pipe" ?/

Let me tell you about my CZ Hornet. Of course mine is newer and it's the model 527. I know long ago Hornets started out with tighter bores and they made .223 bullets for those and then they finally started making the Hornets with the .224 groove using the .224 bullets. I mention this because like I said my CZ is new but the bore is still tight, very tight...like .221. Of more concern to me for the poster wanting to chamber it to .223 I think the twist would be too slow for the very popular .223 bullet weight of 55 grs. Most Hornets have a 1 in 16 twist. Early .223's had a 1 in 14 twist and today most are 1 in 12 twist. Something to thing about, the possibility that it may have the tighter early Hornet bore and the twist is slow.

The twist factor is definitely going to be the deal breaker. 1:12 is plain jane on 223 these days. 1:7 or 1:8 make a 223 very flexible.

Hornets from the 1920's and early 30's are the ones that take .223" bullets. These were mostly conversions on beefy 22 rimfire guns, such as the M1922 Springfield. Winchester's model 43 is not much more than a beefed model 69, of course it is late enough to use .224 bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:
The twist factor is definitely going to be the deal breaker. 1:12 is plain jane on 223 these days. 1:7 or 1:8 make a 223 very flexible.

Hornets from the 1920's and early 30's are the ones that take .223" bullets. These were mostly conversions on beefy 22 rimfire guns, such as the M1922 Springfield. Winchester's model 43 is not much more than a beefed model 69, of course it is late enough to use .224 bullets.

Exactly....as you just said. Makes me wonder why my CZ 22 Hornet (bought in 1999) has such a tight groove diameter. I will say the dang thing shoots some mighty small groups thought.

Thanks for this important info. Seems to me that I should be looking for late 223 rifle with fast twist. Thanks again.

Ok, whatever, but if you can buy it cheap, buy it.

I have a 223 bbl from a 527 that I changed to 338 hb

Is this a bolt action rifle or a break open single shot?

If a bolt action it may not feed right with 223 and the wisest answer may be to "K-Hornet" chamber it.

If a break open I'd look at the classic Australian "222 Rimmed" cartridge.