The 22 Hornet was developed as a wildcat cartridge in 1930. Winchester released the first factory loads late that year, but the first factory rifle chambered to 22 Hornet was introduced by Savage in 1932. Using a .224-inch bullet, it was the first American cartridge developed for varminting, and although mild and soft-spoken it remains popular for short to medium-range shooting. The traditional load is a 45-grain bullet at 2690 feet per second, but modern loads with lighter bullets increase velocity and flatten trajectory. The 22 Hornet is suitable for all varmint hunting at moderate ranges, and is adequate for game up to coyotes at shorter ranges. Ammunition is manufactured by multiple firms, and there are numerous bolt-action and single-shot rifle platforms.
