AusVarmint

I have recently put a deposit on one of these lovely little rifles(yesterday).So now the fun begins as I know you blokes enjoy spending other peoples funds on rifle builds.
#1 would you leave it as a 22 Hornet and just enjoy it as is.
#2 would you rechamer to 22 `k`Hornet
#3 would you rebarrel to 17 Ackley Hornet
#4 would you rebarrel to 20 Ackley Hornet
#5 I really do not like the Twin set triggers so does anyone know of a Trigger that fits and is adjustable.
I appreciate any replies cheers

In your current line up - 20 Vartag, 204 Ruger, 220 Swift - I would leave it as a standard hornet and see if you can find a load and projectile it likes. If not the 20 Ackley would be cool.

Jason,my list is shrinking of the ones you listed-The 20VT is not here yet,The 204 has been sold to a converted none believer and the Swift is for sale I admit I know nothing off the 20 ackley as I have always lusted after a 17 Ackley (then I could replace the 17 HMR )

I have the Fox Mod 2 (1978) in 22 Hornet and re chambered to 221 Fireball. All was required was a 222mag, and the bolt face being opened up. The chamber reamed out as well.

Went from ordinary to shooting like stink. Awesome stuff. Although brass can be exy, I have successfully made brass from 223 once fired stuff, cheap as. I found reformed stuff better than factory as the neck is thicker and accuracy appears better.

Just my thoughts.

Chrispy

Switch barrel ?

Missed shot it for a little while as a standard hornet and the make a decision after that!
You will have the 20VT by then so you would not need a 20 AH!
Like you I love the idea of a 17 AH!
The people who have them rave about them!

Why are so many people buying hornets now?

Glenn

Dave the switch barrel idea appeals to me,Chrispy,forming 221 brass is a cinch as you say and while the cartridge has a lot going for it I also have a 222,Glen my reason for going back to a Hornet after 30 something years is fairly simple.I like so many others bought a 17 HMR while a great cartridge it has its limitations with not the least being cost.After initial set up and using something like win 22 mag projies the Hornet should have a lower or similar cost and performance higher.

MISSED wrote:The 204 has been sold to a converted none believer

I am not totally converted yet mate, I bought it because I hoped it would stop me from buying your swift

I have a 17AH and Shane has recently done a 20AH both on ZKWs.

A couple of things to consider. The mags are short and narrow. Feeding and overall case length needs to be thought about. Case length is also a issue in std hornet using plastic tipped high BC bullets. The Toranah hornet was designed to deal with this. It is a shortened K hornet using a fast twist barrel.

The 17 AH will do 3800fps+ in the 1.4" case and the 20 gn Vmax. This is very flat out past 200m. Knock down power becomes an issues at these ranges for foxes. The 20AH with a 32gn vmax will do 3200fps+. Not as flat as the 17 but more than twice the knock down power.

You will need a new firing pin spring from WC Wolf to use with the harder primers. These are less than $20 and they are fast at turning around orders. You can fit the spring yourself as the bolt can dismantled by hand.

For the 20 AH I went with a 1.36" case to try and get near the lands and feed through the mag without mods.

For the 17AH I built a feed ramp on the mag follower using silver solder.

I have seen the double trigger modified to a single and heard this used to be common. I have also seen posted that a Brno Mod 1 .22 or a M98 trigger will fit.

The double set trigger can be confusing and dangerous. Especially spotlighting. You can release the set trigger with the safety on and it sounds like a misfire. Always leave your bolt up untill you are ready to set the trigger.

Thank you for the very informative reply Mudgegonga.A lot of food for thought there.

They're not growing them anymore ... unaltered ones are getting much harder to find ... you get my drift?

Re-headspace it if required and enjoy it for what it was built to be.
Cheers...
Con

Con I did buy it to alter it but I do see you point.My thoughts were whatever was done was done in such a way that it could be returned to original.Here is a phone pic

Missed

I would have a play with it as a 22 hornet to begin with, if you can find a load with a cheap projectile that it likes you will have better than HMR performance at half the price.
If you can't get it to shoot, 17 hornet would be my choice. If you want to be different have a look at the 14 hornet kicking myself for not grabbing one that was available years ago.

220 wrote:Missed

I would have a play with it as a 22 hornet to begin with.

Me too ... could try as a K if you wanted a fresh chamber ... then 17Ackley if it refused to shoot.
Cheers...
Con

I agree about the joy of shooting a 22 Hornet, I have three others. The Brno Fox was the fourth, as I said, it was ordinary, now as a 221 FB it is awesome.

I have a love for the 22 Hornet that is hard to pass up. If yours shoots ok, I'd leave it a hornet.

Chrispy