Bunny Bashing Calibre

[Gloop 5]

I am sure that this has probably been covered before but if so I cant find it. So, I am going for my FAC soon. I do a lot of bunny bashing and it all goes into the pot. Therefore I don't want 22 250 or any automatic skinning/mince making devices. So years (Twenty "cough" years)ago I had a .22 Ansultz long barrel semi, which did jam if I put to many bullets in the mag. Solution, put 2 less bullets in the mag.

 

Anyway fond memories. However I used to shoot out to 75 yards with it as the sight was zeroed at 25 and 75 yards. Bloody good gun. Now I have a HW 100 .17 Weirarch airgun (however it is spelt) Good for the bunnies to 35 yards. Beyond that I think you lose too much power. (my opinion).

 

I'm Rambling!!!!

 

So what should I go for?

 

.22? cheap to buy and cheap to run. Range 75 yards. more if your a better shot. Bunnys edible

.17 Cheap to buy. I have been advised that the CZ.17 is a cracking gun, cheap to buy as well. Bullets are a bit more but I know that I can group comfortably to 1" at 100 meters. A friend let me play with his so I was happy with the result as I was not familiar with the gun. With a bit of practice I can improve on that. But what state does it leave the bunnies in? Is it bunny soup?

 

Comments, thread links, cuddly toys!! :-)

[IanB 0]

Depends on how many rabbits your going to be shooting...

 

Pros of .22 - Cheap to feed, quiet, not messy...

Cons Of .22 - Pellet drops off 8" at 100yd with 50 yd zero.

 

Pros of .17HMR - Flatter shooting out to 120yd, extra range...

Cons of .17HMR - Expensive to feed, noisey, messy..

[Deker 3,478]

Depends on how many rabbits your going to be shooting...

 

Pros of .22 - Cheap to feed, quiet, not messy...

Cons Of .22 - Sub Sonic Bullets drops off 8" at 100yd with 50 yd zero.

 

Pros of .17HMR - Flatter shooting out to 120yd, extra range...

Cons of .17HMR - Expensive to feed, noisey, messy..

 

 

 

BUT... if you can group the 17 at 1" easily at 100 metres then just go for head shots and the meat will be fine!

 

It all depends what best suits your land and the neighbours, that's why many people have both!

[slingshot 0]

Forget the semi-auto rimmy and go for a bolt action rifle ,more reliable and accurate. I had a burno farma years ago, pay £125 brand new, it would group remington yellow jacket 1 inch at 100 yards. I could easierly shoot rabbits 125-130 yards with it. The only downside with a lr is ricochets. If you can't get within yards of a rabbit you are doing something very wrong!!!

I am sure that this has probably been covered before but if so I cant find it. So, I am going for my FAC soon. I do a lot of bunny bashing and it all goes into the pot. Therefore I don't want 22 250 or any automatic skinning/mince making devices. So years (Twenty "cough" years)ago I had a .22 Ansultz long barrel semi, which did jam if I put to many bullets in the mag. Solution, put 2 less bullets in the mag.

 

Anyway fond memories. However I used to shoot out to 75 yards with it as the sight was zeroed at 25 and 75 yards. Bloody good gun. Now I have a HW 100 .17 Weirarch airgun (however it is spelt) Good for the bunnies to 35 yards. Beyond that I think you lose too much power. (my opinion).

 

I'm Rambling!!!!

 

So what should I go for?

 

.22? cheap to buy and cheap to run. Range 75 yards. more if your a better shot. Bunnys edible

.17 Cheap to buy. I have been advised that the CZ.17 is a cracking gun, cheap to buy as well. Bullets are a bit more but I know that I can group comfortably to 1" at 100 meters. A friend let me play with his so I was happy with the result as I was not familiar with the gun. With a bit of practice I can improve on that. But what state does it leave the bunnies in? Is it bunny soup?

 

Comments, thread links, cuddly toys!! :-)

[Colster 1]

If you want the meat I'd go LR, its cheaper and quieter and from a 4x4 you should be able to easily get to within 60yards of even skittish bunnies.

 

The HMR may not do much meat damage if you head shoot them all but it does still make a real mess of their head so where ever you're keeping the nights bag will want some major cleaning come morning time.

[jamie g 17]

if you want to keep the rabbits then head shot only really anyway. so weather you shoot it with 22lr or hmr the meat will be fine.

 

had them both and well the hmr does give more range ost rabbits are under 100 yards at night imo anyway. i no it depends on the land you shooot over. but in general they are.

 

so 22lr is alot cheaper to feed and the silentness of it is a bonus. saying that the hmr is loud compared to 22lr. but have shot a number of rabbits with hmr also. and not spooked the one sat next to it.

 

i think from the 4x4 22lr is the best tho

[Jkm 1]

I'd go for a .22 for rabbits so cheap to run and cheap to buy great gun nice clean kill if you want to eat them,i've aways used a .22 for rabbits would never use a 17 on them just messy and no fun it's so easy with a 17 .22 much more fun and a better shot will use a .22 :laugh:

I'd go for a cz if you don't have that much to spend no matter how much they cost a great gun

Edited April 7, 2010 by Jkm

[nicholiath 1]

Iwould go for the . 22LR as they are much cheaper to run than HMR. you can pick up decent second hand rimmys for next to nothing.

[Groach 7]

Don't worry about these apparent down sides of the HMR too noisy not a problem i have shot 3 rabbits within 10 yards of each other before the others ran

It may be expensive but you rarely miss as mine is point and shoot on rabbits heads from 30-150 yards so no worry about hold over.

As for its not as good as the .22 in a 4x4 where is the logic there mine is a 16inch barrel with a sak on the end and is fine within the the cab of the pick up.

And its biggest plus side is (for me anyway) you dont have to worry about the ricochet as much.

It is a highly subjective thing and both have there place.

 

George

Edited April 7, 2010 by Groach

[pigeon640 0]

this is the distance you can shoot on a very cam day with you .17hmr just over 150 yards of the bipod with great success, the burrows are the dark bits in the distance and i just sit and wait for mr rabbit to come out i just love it, but .22 is in the cabinet but still has its place

 

and some bunnies shot with my 10/22 .22 lr

 

 

i think the meat damage thing is just when you shoot them badly but you have to decide for your self whats best for you and your land

 

colin

[clint 45]

why not mention 22 hornet calibre, is very good to 150yds+ . reload easy, reasonable quiet with mod (better than 17hmr) also use for fox & other animal too.

[pigeon640 0]

i hear that .17hmr can also take down a fox with ease at 100yards so a guy i spoke with told me

 

[Groach 7]

i hear that .17hmr can also take down a fox with ease at 100yards so a guy i spoke with told me

 

 

My FEO said he had personally take them out to 100 yards with head shots and i would be fine to do the same

 

George

[waidmann 105]

i would suggest that the 17hmr is a good rabbit caliber and a fox can be taken up to 100m IF the shot placement is ok(i would not reccomend head shots on fox,the danger of "creasing" or hitting the muzzle are not worth it unless you are very stable and a confident shot).

a cracking caliber when used correctly.

 

waidmann

[IanB 0]

Theres been isolated cases were polar bears have been killed with a .22 LR, doesn't make it the right tool for the job.... Same as a .17hmr, stick 20gr in and you could drop roe deer out to 100yd head shots, apart from being illegal and showing disrespect for your quarry... To be honest if I was out with a HMR taking a long shot at a fox and clipped it outside the head/chest region and it ran on wounded... I'd be gutted, to me thats my fault, firstly because the calibre I was using DID NOT allow enough room for human error and secondly for making a foul shot, that I shoudn't have done, nothings guaranteed.... Anyway, people will do as people do...

 

As for the HMR and .22LR yes they both have there place....If I was going to shoot 100 rabbits with a HMR, HEAD shooting them, there would be some blood soaked, snotted up rabbits in the back come the end of the night, plus I'd be minimum £25 down compare to £8 with the .22LR