I'm needing another rifle...using a .17 HMR now but I need/want a bit more power for when a coyote shoes up.

90% squirrel, 10% coyote. Ranges under 150 yards.

Sound is also an issue, I don't want something much louder then the .17 HMR.

I'm thinking .22 Hornet...

Thoughts?

While I agree with the 22 Hornet, what about the 22 Magnum?

.22mag will be quieter than the .22horn but the horn will definitely put the crackdown on a coyote. The only real problem I have found with the hornet is case life. 3 hot loads and they are done. The old man preferred the .220 swift and .22-250 but both of those are ear busters. Even his long barreled, 29 inch, .220 swift is freakishly loud. I just drilled a coyote out back last night with it. Damn ears are still ringing. Guess I should have got more of the barrel outside the door huh.

204 ruger?

aren't both of those on the light side for a coyote at 150yds?

17 rem/Fireball/Mach IV, 20Practical, or 22Hornet would be the players on my list. Maybe throw 221FB in there too. The 223rem case players on that list are getting a little more powerful than you likely want or need - and have more volume.

Maybe take a look at the 17wsm. I'm very happy with my Bmag, despite all of the bad press. Low report, but a lot more punch than 17HMR. Here's 8 shots at 200yrds with mine and the 25grn Winchester load - 1.1moa ain't bad for a $300 rifle and a $140 scope.



ETA: The 204 R is louder than 223rem, it's a tiny bullet, but it's high pressure and a lot of case capacity. I really like the 204R AR upper I put together a few years ago, but even at 22" and no brake, it's stinking loud.

The .17 Rem was my first choice until I remembered how loud they are.

I think I'm down to either the Hornet or Fireball...or maybe just download a .223??

It'll just be used in the work truck once a week while checking the reservoir. Only 2 houses out there and they don't care about noise but I don't want to wear ear protection every time I see a squirrel. I know I know, I should wear it ALL the time anyway

When I was deciding on either the 22 Hornet or 221 Fireball Encore barrel, I went with the Fireball. You can load it down to 22 Magnum or 22 LR levels with a <40 grain bullet and Unique, and those loads were surprisingly consistent and accurate. Don't remember how loud they were, but it would likely be quieter out of a 24" rifle barrel than my 12" handgun barrel.

A fast twist 223rem would give you more options - not-for-nothin'... I'm usually not a fan of living life watered down all of the time, so unless you poured on the coals with a different load sometimes, I'd just lean towards a smaller case.

Out of the Fireballs and the Hornets, I'm a Fireball fan. I bummed a 22 Hornet for several years as a kid from my uncle to kill coyotes, so I should be more of a fan, but if I'm honest, I'm just not, not when compared to the little Fireball case. Brass availability is better for the Hornet than it had been after the resurgence via Hornady. The Fireball came about because pistol barrels weren't burning everything available in 223rem - you're not running a short barrel, but you're wanting an 'in-bore' complete burn, and don't need full 223rem power. A downloaded 223rem will burn more powder to get the same results as the Hornet or Fireball, since it's a larger case, but not enough to make me cry about powder cost.

Both are going to be right answers. Hornet has more tradition, Fireball more sex appeal, 223rem is proably most practical.

You might try CVA or Dixie Gun Works, among others. I don't know who is still in business as I have not bought a new BP weapon in over 15 years.

I have a .32 caliber "squirrel" rifle that I bought over 20 years ago, (don't remember where,) with a 36" barrel. It uses a 30 gr, FFFG charge, (pistol powder,) .310 RB w/patch and has over 2,000 fps muzzle velocity, and has excellent accuracy; it came with a double "set" trigger. (I use it for rabbit, as there are NO squirrels where I live.)

I've killed 3 coyotes with my AK but obviously you can't use that for squirrels. In my opinion, I would use a 22mag for squirrels and a 223 or bigger for coyotes. You could kill I coyote with a 22 but I prefer something bigger