Firearm for hunting Snowshoe Hare - Newbie

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sif

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Hi!

My PAL and hunting license should be arriving any day now and I would like a recommendation on firearm for hunting Snowshoe Hare.

I have heard of people using both .22s and shotguns for hunting Hares.

Since this will be my first firearm I was leaning towards a .22 for cheap ammo so I can learn the sport. For Hare specifically - I was wondering if I should get a bolt or semi-auto rifle.

The biggest worry I have with getting a semi-auto is how well it can function at cold temperatures. It gets cold in the Yukon and I want something that is reliable.

The specific rifles I was looking at are a Savage Mark II or a 10/22.

Thanks!
 
I always preferred a .22, but I hunted with a wide variety of guns when I was in my teens; double .410, single 12 ga., bolt action 20 g., whatever I had ammo for. My favourite was a Gevarm which I still have. Any reliability issues were gun related, not cold related, but then I never had to deal with Yukon cold. I hunted a lot with a beagle, so the bunnies were usually on the move, so the preference was for a semi-auto.
 
Hunting snowshoe hare is a passion of mine and I use mainly 22s but also use my Winchester 9410 , a sprigfield m6 scout in 22/410 and a muzzleloading shotgun.All of them have their charm, the semi autos are fastest , bolt actions normally more accurate and the levers just plan fun.As I hunt without a dog my hunting involves a lot of slogging around and one of the benefits of having a 22 is if you get bored you also do some cheap plinking to have some fun.My advice is what ever you decide by the best that you can afford don t cheap out.I kind of like the browning semiauto ,it s a takedown and it ejects out of the bottom so it s easier to keep dirt etc out of the action but a new one can be pricey
 
Of the 2 22's i would go with the mkII. 10/22's are fun, but for hunting the savage is what i would prefer. It's more accurate, weight's about the same and like you said, you won't have to worry about jams or misfeeds.

When i am going for hares i usually have a shorter 20ga just in case i see a partridge while i'm out. I usually go with 4, 5 or 6 shot (depends what i have and what's cheap) any smaller and the pellets tend to stay in the meat. If i do take a 22 i've converted to a henry lever action, i like the tube mag while walking through the thick stuff.
 
I took my first (and only so far) with a mossberg 12g pump. More gun than I need? Absolutely. But it worked, abs i was out bird hunting when i got it.
 
I've shot hares with everything from blow guns to 12 gauge shotguns... a .22 rimfire is good, as are 20/28/410 shotguns. Two firearms that everyone should own are a .22 rimfire and a 12 or 20 gauge shotguns... if you would like to get into waterfowling also, then start with the shotgun, otherwise start with the .22.
 
IMHO, a 22LR is the way to go, a lot of shots will be at very close range if youre hunting in rabbit brush. A shotgun at close range may cause more damage than you will want...what ever you choose have fun, bunnies are great eating. :)
 
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I've shot them with just about everything but would highly recommend a .22 and try for head shots. Aim for that black eye. They stink when you hit them with a shotty.
 
.22 rifle - I prefer a Remington pump - stoked with CCI Stingers. Shoot them between the eyes and they will be stone dead before the first back flip.
 
To the op ...ask yourself this, do you want to hunt and eat lotsa rabbits or do you want to hunt and eat a few rabbits???
If you want lotsa rabbits get a shotgun. If you want a few rabbits lotsa fun shooting at rabbits and practice your shooting get the rimfire... Get the 10/22 semi and ping away (safely) at them!! So much fun with an open sighted or red dot on a semi auto .22 rimfire.
 
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