.22 Hornet
| .22 Hornet (5.6x36mmR Hornet) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Left to right: a .22 Short, .22 LR, .22 Winchester Magnum, and a .22 Hornet with Hornady 35 gr (2.3 g) VMax bullet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In service | 1930–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Used by | USAAF | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wars | World War II | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Townsend Whelen / G. L. Wotkyns | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1920s | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Winchester | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1930–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variants | .22 Hornet Ackley .22 K-Hornet | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .224 (some older rifles use .223) ref Hornady | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | .217 in (5.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .243 in (6.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | .276 in (7.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .298 in (7.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .350 in (8.9 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .065 in (1.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 1.403 in (35.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.723 in (43.8 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rifling twist | 1-14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Small rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (CIP) | 43,000 psi (300 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: 24 inches Source(s): Hodgdon Powder Company | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The .22 Hornet or 5.6×36mmR Hornet is a varminting, small-game hunting, survival and competition centerfire rifle cartridge commercially introduced in 1930. It is considerably more powerful than either the .22 WMR and the .17 HMR rimfire cartridges, achieving a higher velocity with a bullet twice the weight of that used in the .17 HMR. The Hornet also differs significantly from these in that being a centerfire cartridge makes it reloadable, and thus more versatile. It was also the smallest commercially available .22 caliber centerfire cartridge until the introduction of the FN 5.7×28mm.
The .22 Hornet should not be confused with the 5.6x35mmR Vierling. As per C.I.P., the Hornet case has a longer shoulder length, case length and thicker rim than the Vierling. This makes it very difficult to chamber the higher pressure Hornet cartridge in a Vierling rifle.
The .22 Hornet fills the gap between such popular varmint/predator cartridges as the .22 WMR and the .223 Remington. In regard to muzzle velocity, muzzle energy and noise, it is well suited to vermin and predator control in relatively built-up areas.