jrod Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 I went hunting on boxing day and got my first rabbit while hunting for duck. The load I used in my 12 gauge was probably not the best choice for a rabbit 10 meters or so away and I'm thankful that I made a head shot. I was going to make rabbit pie but ended up with stew because I started eating it before my wife came home with the pastry dough. I was surprised how good rabbit tastes. Anyone use 22lr for rabbit or can recommend a better load than 3 inch high velocity #4 steel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smerchly Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 When I hunted rabbits many years ago we used lead shot #5 for bunnies & #2 or BB shot for jacks . Anything any smaller would make removing pellets from the meat harder to do . Since you are now using steel shot , is it magnetic , or is it stainless steel shot which is not magnetic ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotehunter Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 A 22lr is ok if you have sitting shots and you are sure of the background, i.e. no dogs, people or buildings in the line of sight. For a 12 ga. nothing more than 2 3/4" 1/8 ounce field loads in 4, 5, or 6 lead shot is necessary for cottontails. Choke is more important. Modified choke is ok for most situations. My medicine for cottontails in the thick stuff where I hunt them is my side by side 2 3/4" 12 gauge with the barrels cut back to 25". With this combo I can handle the close shots as this is open choke. Even with this I try for the head shot if the bunny is just loafing along. In the really thick stuff I sometimes use a load of #2 shot to punch through the brush better and if the shot is close..... less pellets in the meat. A 20 ga. is perfect for cottontails and for a real challenge i will use the 410 with a full choke. I have the advantage of loading my own shotshells so I can get the best load for each gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninepointer Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 A 22lr is ok if you have sitting shots and you are sure of the background, i.e. no dogs, people or buildings in the line of sight. For a 12 ga. nothing more than 2 3/4" 1/8 ounce field loads in 4, 5, or 6 lead shot is necessary for cottontails. Choke is more important. Modified choke is ok for most situations. My medicine for cottontails in the thick stuff where I hunt them is my side by side 2 3/4" 12 gauge with the barrels cut back to 25". With this combo I can handle the close shots as this is open choke. Even with this I try for the head shot if the bunny is just loafing along. In the really thick stuff I sometimes use a load of #2 shot to punch through the brush better and if the shot is close..... less pellets in the meat. A 20 ga. is perfect for cottontails and for a real challenge i will use the 410 with a full choke. I have the advantage of loading my own shotshells so I can get the best load for each gun. All good advice above! I like #6 shot. For years my standard bunny buster was a .410 cut back to a Modified choke (or thereabouts!). Nowadays I carry a sweet little 20 ga. SxS that weighs just a tad over 5 lbs. and is choked Cyl. & Cyl. We hunt thickets and I can't remember the last time I had to pass up a shot because it was too far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 I have a over under .22 mag, .410 can get them on the run or sitting. Pretty much any light load for the 12 guage will do. I wouldnt go over 2 3/4 inch though, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadadude Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 I used # 6 in my 16 ga sauer or # 8 light load in the 12ga bunnies are easy to kill no use in using expensive shells for cottons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadadude Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 All good advice above! I like #6 shot. For years my standard bunny buster was a .410 cut back to a Modified choke (or thereabouts!). Nowadays I carry a sweet little 20 ga. SxS that weighs just a tad over 5 lbs. and is choked Cyl. & Cyl. We hunt thickets and I can't remember the last time I had to pass up a shot because it was too far. thats the way to do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotehunter Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 That beagle looks experienced with a little gray on the muzzle.....kinda like me only better looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcatch Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 20 ga.is an all around good gun to use for bunnies...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrod Posted December 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 A lot of great advice. Thanks. I think I'll start by telling my wife I need a new gun. I looked through my ammo box and my target loads seem to fit the bill. Will bring some with the next outing. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninepointer Posted December 30, 2012 Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 That beagle looks experienced with a little gray on the muzzle.....kinda like me only better looking. Now that you mention it, I do believe that photo was taken on what would be her last hunt after 12 seasons as a rabbit's worst nightmare. This snow we have now signals the start of the 3rd season for the "new" beagle! In fact, we'll be going on a little warm-up run in the morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotehunter Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 I grew up on 30 years of beagles where rabbits were a matter of walking out of the back yard. Hunted a lot of rabbits with one of us acting as the dog. You learn a lot about the little buggers when you track them around a few times. Don't have any right now but a friend has a nicely developing little male who also likes pheasants - a dream dog. He got a few up for us this past season. You ain't hunted rabbits until you've hunted them with a yodeling beagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninepointer Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 You ain't hunted rabbits until you've hunted them with a yodeling beagle. I'll say! Its one of my all-time favourite passtimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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