Might be a local thing up here in Maine. But all the dealers I know, are hot after these guns. They turn them very quickly. Lot of locals seem to be after them. The older guns seem to be in demand.

Is it the same, elsewhere in the Country?

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Non gratum anus rodentum

I dont know. I have a early first year model 70. It would be worth a fortune had it not been rechambered to K-hornet and drilled for a scope mount. I bought it cheap enough about 40 years ago. Was just advertised as a .22 hornet. I took it out and found it had been rechambered and kept it. Went and bought dies. It`s a heavy beast for the lil peanut caliber. I have ammo dies etc, but really I have shot it very little. If I recall, I took the stock off when I first bought it and it is date stamped 1936 under the barrel. I wrote winchester and they just said it was made in 1937. I belive they might have used a left over barrel from the model (forgot the model #) that the model 70 replaced.

giz, Can't comment with recent observation but it has always been a favorite around here for years. I have a 77/22 walnut Hornet with a Leupold VariX IIc 4-12.
Great shooter!

I have been a fan for years. Handload for them. But up here, they are getting hard to find in early guns. Not 218 Bee hard, ... But gettin there.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Why were they not popular anymore? I had one and if it wasn't because I had to pay bills I would have kept it. Little H & R single shot with a 3-9 scope, Caldwell bi-pod and a free floated barrel. I handloaded 40 grain Nosler ballistic tips and 7.4 grains of 2400. I shot a couple coyotes, a nice grey fox, red squirrels and a large crow with it.

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Vaya con Dios

I believe they hit their high point about 10 or so years ago around here when Georgia legalized ".22 caliber and larger centerfire" firearms for deer firearms. I bought a Ruger 77/22 in target grey with the laminated stock, but could never get it too shoot, so I traded it off. The store stated that it was resold and brought back several times after that.

I know they at least were popular, I don't know if continues today.

Since getting my Marlin 1894CL in .32 Winchester well scoped, I haven't looked back.

A Winchester 92, 65 or clone in .218 Bee or .32 WCF is always on my list.

Mausers in .25ACP are now the hot ticket since they have the longest barrel in that caliber, and handguns are now legal with .22 caliber and larger centerfire calibers for deer.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Hornets have always been popular here. Heck, even WalMart usually has some ammo in stock.

No it's not. Frankly I just think it's got something to do with those Maine winters. It's just a matter of you guys holding off just a little longer as spring is right around the corner

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Forum consigliere

You never see any "older" hornets for sale around my parts and not very many newer guns either. I think they are like a lot of the "cult calibers" in that they cycle hot and cold. Ten to twelve years ago they were all the rage at my gun club.

I have a model 43 Win. hornet that I bought out of a collection and I think it was priced wrong. I got it for a lot less than what it was booking for and I have kept it because of it's excellent accuracy. I really like the caliber and the fine accuracy keeps me interested. I think some of the newer rifles with 2 piece bolts have problems with accuracy and that is a turn off for most riflemen. The Hornet is a great caliber for handloaders.

Some of the lighter polymer tipped .224 bullets and Lil Gun powder really shoot good in my rifle.

Giz, interesting thread. I went to the range Tuesday and took a Savage 23D, 22 Hornet I had not shot in a while and had a great time. Very accurate and pleasant to shoot. I bought the gun a few years ago for $60, if I recall, the exterior of the barrel was very rough but the action and bore excellent and the stock not too bad. I bought a scope mount and put a cheap scope on it and it is a quite accurate. The 23D is a bit unusual as the barrel and receiver are one piece so if the the bore gets worn the gun is essentially junk unless relined. An interesting aside, I first tried shooting it with expensive Hornady ammo and had a major problem, as I ejected the first few rounds the primer fell out of the pocket, the pockets were obviously oversized. Tuesday I used Remington ammo with no problems. I work part-time at a large firearms retailer and seldom see a 22 Hornet used gun and we see several thousand guns every year.

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John. SWCA #1586

My very early model 70 uses the .223 NOT .224 bullets. I made a huge mistake years ago selling a nice winchester 43 in .218 Bee. I think my K-hornet is about the same ballistics though.