Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SMALL-BORE CENTERFIRE
.22 Hornet
A small, rimmed .22-caliber centerfire associated with varmint and small-game rifles. Its modest case belongs to a different design family from .223 Remington.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.630–1.723 in
41.402–43.764 mm - Case length · max
- 1.403 in
35.636 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2245 in
5.702 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.350 in
8.890 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Small-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2245 in / 5.702 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 2 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 35 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.22 Hornet is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 22 Hornet. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
The .22 K-Hornet is an altered chambering. A shared Hornet name does not establish that ammunition or chamber dimensions match.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .22 Hornet emerged from experiments at Springfield Armory during the 1920s, when Grove Wotkyns, Townsend Whelen, G. A. Woody and Al Woodworth explored a small centerfire cartridge descended from the older .22 Winchester Center Fire. Its attraction was a useful step beyond the rimfires of the period without the size of a full military rifle cartridge. Winchester began selling factory ammunition in 1930, before factory-chambered rifles became available.
That sequence makes the Hornet an early example of experimenters establishing a cartridge before the major rifle makers followed. It became associated with small-game and varmint rifles, and later inspired the sharper-shouldered K-Hornet wildcat. The Hornet’s history also spans an important change in bullet dimensions: older rifles and later commercial production did not always use the same nominal projectile diameter. Its age explains why the exact rifle and cartridge specification matter more than the familiar Hornet name alone.
Historical sources: Sierra: .22 Hornet cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited .22 Hornet examples, bullet weights are 35 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
35 grains
3,000 fps
TIPPED VARMINT
Compare all 2 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalAE22H35TVP | 35 gr 2.27 g | TIPPED VARMINT | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| Hornady8302 | 35 gr 2.27 g | V-MAX® | 3,070 fps 936 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.22 Hornet: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 35 gr Federal TIPPED VARMINT | Federal | 0: 3000; 100: 2188; 200: 1526; 300: 1094; 400: 908; 500: 795 |
| 35 gr Hornady V-MAX® | Hornady | 0: 3070; 100: 2247; 200: 1574; 300: 1117; 400: 918; 500: 802 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .22 Hornet?
A small, rimmed .22-caliber centerfire associated with varmint and small-game rifles. Its modest case belongs to a different design family from .223 Remington.
What diameter does .22 Hornet use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2245 inches (5.702 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
The .22 K-Hornet is an altered chambering. A shared Hornet name does not establish that ammunition or chamber dimensions match.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 77 ↗
- Sierra: .22 Hornet cartridge background ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.