Best gun for Wabbits?

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

So what is the BEST Wabbit gun anyway? Elmer liked the Blunderbus, what are the current favorites?

Hard to beat a good old .22 semi when chasing Jackrabbits but for cotton tails I tend to lean more in favor of a double barrel .410, it seems to do the job and not turn them into floating balls of hair.

22-250's at long range is also a blast but hard to find an area where you can really see much from a single location.

For my big deer hunt this fall, I'm taking my .22 and my .17HMR... I found a canyon that is absolutely infested with cottontails... I dont mean seeing 3 or 4 run out of a bush... but seriously like 15 or 20. I jumped around 23 from a *single* 10ft diameter bush when I was out there scouting. Alot of'em would sit up about 40-50 yards away making for an ideal plinking spot with the .17.

What do you guys prefer?

-DallanC

popgun · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

You know Elmer. He would use a big gun on the USS Alabama if he could get ammo for it. Laughing

I favor the .410 and 22 LR myself. In fact my ole Stephens 22/410 is my favorite rabbit and squirel gun.

My last trip to Texas I spied a few Jack Wabbits and it's true that Elmer would need a 14" gun to knock one of those down. They would laugh at my .410 Exclamation

longwalker · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

It's funny, I really never got the 22/rabbit thing figured out. When I went rabbit hunting I used my 12 ga. and loaded up with target loads. If I had had a 20 or 410 they would have been just as good or better, but then was then and now is now. Shotgun for the longwalker.

longwalker

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

22 /22mag or single shot 410 depends on what i am in the mood for.

squirrelbait · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:34 am Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

Always a good topic to spark a little debate.
In High School my best buddy and I went out a lot for rabbits and squirrels...well quail and pheasants too. But.............rabbit and squirrels.
Dan always brought is trusty model 1100 and I always brought my father's trusty Remington bolt action, tube magazine 22.
At the end of the day he may or may not have as many as me but at least we could eat all of mine. End of story. That's the way I see it.

sniper · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

DallanC wrote:

So what is the BEST Wabbit gun anyway? Elmer liked the Blunderbus, what are the current favorites?
-DallanC

Well, for the little bunnies like we have here In Utah, a .22 LR is fine, but where I grew up, we had SERIOUS rabbits. Like, when the creek rose, and the big bass came into the fields to hunt small rabbits, the big 'uns would hunt the bass. Boy, there were some battles! The splashing would draw the 'gators, too, so you had to watch it. Average size would be about that of a bobcat, and TOUGH! Stringy, too. You'd pick 'em out of your teeth for days! But that's what you eat when you're po' folks.

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I guess I'm not much of a sport about bunnies. I use my 12 guage and low brass 7 1/2s. I don't miss very many that way. They're funny to hunt up here because usually the snow comes before their coats have changed to white, and the little rascals realy stand out in all the whiteness. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal Very Happy

robfromaz1977 · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

I have allways liked the plain ole .22LR for bunnies. My Marlin bolt rifle is easy to load and shoots awesome little groups. I will only shoot for head shots so I save the meat from alot of damage. The only time I shoot one somewhere else is when I have my bow. I have also taken a few with my Smith & Wesson 22S pistol. Very accurate and has never jammed.

515034s10ring · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

I use a 22 pistol or a 28ga for da waskully wabbits.

wcandres · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

I think my Winchester 9410 is just the ticket for thinning out the recently large population of cottontails in my area (northern Minnesota). It does the job for the snowshoe hares too!

beezer · Member Joined: Aug 22, 2005 Posts: 75

Out to 40 y'ds I use a high powered pcp air rifle beyond that 22 lr Most people here in uk are opting for 17 mach 2 or hmr for realy long shots but I can't afford one yet

Flint54 · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

It depends on the big Question? Eating or Eradication?? For the tender lil ones for the pot I love to use my .36 cal muzzleloader or a .22 pistol when out tromping around. If we are using a dog ya can't beat a .410, 28ga. or a 20ga. Now for the Eradication, well anything goes in my book, but a fast stepping varmint round makes the pieces more bite sized for the rest of the wildlife. Also, a .50 BMG can really toss them up in the air when you hit under them. Insane

515034s10ring · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

Hey Flint54, are you the one holding a shotgun yelling PULL or are you Sniper

????

Flint54 · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

What do you mean? I do both at the same time! Laughing

Crackshot · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Best gun for Wabbits?

Ruger MK1 22 pistol with BSA red dot.