22 Hornet Ballistics Charts From All Major Ammunition Manufacturers

We’ve gathered all the 22 Hornet ballistics charts you’ll need to make the best decision when purchasing the perfect 22 Hornet ammo for your rifle.

The 22 Hornet, a small but mighty cartridge, has captivated the attention of hunters and shooting enthusiasts for decades. The 22 Hornet is a versatile choice for various shooting applications.

In this guide, we will explore the key aspects of 22 Hornet ballistics, including its trajectory, velocity, energy, and effective range.

22 Hornet Trajectory Chart

A bullet’s flight path is also called its trajectory. Shooters often measure the bullet’s elevation in inches of bullet drop, but it’s also measured in minutes of angle (MOA).

Long-range shooters prefer a flat trajectory because it allows them to make fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. The 6.5 Creedmoor and 22 ARC are both excellent examples of flat-trajectory cartridges, which contributes to their popularity among varmint hunters and long-range shooting enthusiasts alike.

The 22 Hornet's trajectory is reasonably flat out to 400 yards. After that point, it quickly runs out of steam and falls back to earth. When sighted in at 200 yards, a 22 Hornet cartridge with a 35 grain V-MAX bullet will drop -62.7 inches at 400 yards. By the time it reaches 500 yards, it will have dropped -149.2 inches. When zeroed in at the same range, the Remington High Performance round’s 45 grain PSP bullet will drop -66.7 inches at 400 yards and 149.2 inches at 500 yards.

Below is a sample 22 Hornet bullet drop chart that provides a general idea of 22 Hornet trajectory with a sight height of 1.5”.

22 Hornet Velocity

The rate at which a bullet exits the barrel is its muzzle velocity. American shooters measure velocity in feet per second (fps).

Generally, a longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as it gives the exploding propellant additional time to exert energy against the bullet’s base. Its design and weight also determine how much velocity a projectile will exhibit downrange.

Projectiles with a high ballistic coefficient, such as polymer-tipped hollow point boat tail bullets, tend to conserve velocity more efficiently than traditional soft point bullets. Heavier bullets have higher inertia and tend to exhibit relatively lower muzzle velocities as a result.

Handloads also tend to have higher velocities than factory ammo, which is one reason why reloading is so popular among competitive shooters.

The muzzle velocities of typical 22 Hornet loads range between 2,300 fps and 3,100 fps. The muzzle velocity you receive depends on the exact round you’re firing from your bolt-action rifle.

22 Hornet Kinetic Energy

American shooters measure a bullet’s energy in foot-pounds (ft-lbs). Muzzle energy reflects the force with which a projectile leaves the barrel. Heavier bullets tend to have higher muzzle energy. Velocity is also significant, which is why lighter bullets can have greater muzzle energy than heavier ones.

A higher muzzle energy typically indicates that the round has more recoil. The 22 Hornet’s lightweight bullets generate relatively little recoil energy. Although it is a centerfire cartridge with a reasonably large case capacity, the 22 Hornet’s relatively small bullet (which is comparable to that of the 22 Long Rifle – another popular round for single-shot survival rifles) grants it impressively low-recoil performance.

The biggest problem with lightweight projectiles is that they conserve relatively less energy downrange. The Winchester Varmint X 35 grain Polymer Tip has a muzzle energy of 747 ft-lbs – but by the time it reaches 500 yards, it only conserves 50 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. The 45 grain JSP is similar in that it has a muzzle energy of 723 ft-lbs and 71 ft-lbs of kinetic energy at 500 yards.

This means your Savage or Ruger 22 Hornet rifle is best suited for small game hunting, target shooting, and introducing a novice to shooting.

22 Hornet Effective Range

The 22 Hornet's low kinetic energy means its effective range is very limited. Two hundred fifty yards is conventionally regarded as the round’s limit for small game hunting.

When target shooting, you can stretch the 22 Hornet’s range out to 400 yards. Beyond that range, the round’s steep bullet drop presents a nearly insurmountable obstacle.

How Do 22 Hornet Ballistics Compare to Other Rifle & Handgun Cartridges?

Despite being a centerfire cartridge, the 22 Hornet is comparable to many rimfire cartridges like the 17 HMR, 22 LR, and 22 Winchester Magnum (WMR). At the same time, it’s fair to compare it to other centerfire cartridges such as the 218 Bee, 22 WCF, 222 Remington, 223 Remington, and the 22-K Hornet wildcat cartridge.

For convenience, the team at Ammo.com has compared the ballistics of a few of the calibers mentioned above.

Read the full guide on 22 Hornet ballistics here.