So, it looks like I'll finally have a chance to go do some small game hunting up in northern Ontario, and I've been wanting a bolt action for it for some time now. I was planning on getting a 22lr bolt action, but someone at the gun shop mentioned a 22 mag might be better for some snowshoe hares. I'll pretty much be using this for only hares and rabbits, so I was wondering what other people use. Also, I was going to go with the Ruger American Rimfire in 22lr seeing as I would be able to use my Ruger 10/22 mags with it, but they also recommended the Savage rifles. Would a Mark II be better than the Ruger? Or would it be better to go with a 93 and get a 22 mag? I don't really want to break the bank with this rifle either, so I'd like to keep it in the range of these rifles. Thanks
Hare and Rabbit Caliber
- Thread starter DES0LAT0R
- Start date
No, he didn't show me any 22 mags, just mentioned it and said it might be worthwhile. I wasn't considering it before since 22lr would be much cheaper and I don't see me needing the extra range. He just said when he's used a 22lr on snowshoe hares that they didn't work so well on a body shot and that he basically just took headshots.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I had no worries using the .22lr on big jack rabbits whilst on gopher missions in southern Alberta, but I've also used a variety of centerfire rifles and shotguns on bunnies as well. A well sorted .22 rimfire will do the job nicely on a wide range of critters. Set-up & shot placement be the key. Rem Yellow Jacket ammo is beauty so long as it shoots tight from yer rifle.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
22lr will do you just fine. Get a bolt rifle if you want a bolt rifle. The Ruger American rimfires are good for what you pay for them. But in all honesty, your 10/22 is just fine for the job. Just clean it up and don't oil the #### out of it if you're hunting in the winter. Get most of the oil and carbon out of it, run it relatively dry and use cci mini-mags, whichever flavour your prefer. Go for head shots no matter what you do. This advice is brought to you by a CGN'er from Cochrane, Ontario.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Myself I don't see any sense to shooting a snowshoehares in the body as it will only make quite a mess and just ruin edible meat. And there's really not a whole lot of meat to spare on these hares.
Be it rimfire or shotgun, I aim for the head as much as humanly possible. If not possible then the neck or chest.
For myself it's 22 LR or 7 1/2 birdshot only.
.17hmr , .22 rimfire would be two good choices.
The .17hmr would be overkill for shots under 75 yrds though...
.22 Rimfires have been killing rabbits and other small game for long before this very interesting website was even thought of.
Buy a .22 .
Rob
The .17hmr would be overkill for shots under 75 yrds though...
.22 Rimfires have been killing rabbits and other small game for long before this very interesting website was even thought of.
Buy a .22 .
Rob
And they still will this upcoming hunting season.
Good Hunting All in 2019/20.
FLHTCUI
Whatever rifle you have in hand. I've taken rabbits with everything from .22lr to 7.62x54R.
Generally, you're taking them at close enough ranges to manage a headshot, so wasted meat is a non-issue.
If I was going to buy something dedicated for rabbits... The lightest weight .22lr single shot I could find. I know a few guys who get those kid-trainer single shot bolts for rabbits, because they're so small and lightweight to pack around in the bush. Length of pull sucks, but you can manage, and you probably will only be firing a couple of shots or so a day, so not like it needs to be comfortable at the shoulder, it just needs to work. They also tend to be cheap, so you're not worried about messing it up, wandering through the scrub.
Cabelas has the Little Badger on sale at the moment for $169.00, which is an "Ok" choice. I got one 5 or 6 years ago. Enjoyed it at first, but then kind of moved on.
Little .410 shotguns make a nice choice for rabbits too, just a bit hard on the ears.
TradeEx has a pile of Husqvarna single shot .22s in stock at the moment, in the $150-$180 range. It would be hard to go wrong with a $180 Husqvarna.
Generally, you're taking them at close enough ranges to manage a headshot, so wasted meat is a non-issue.
If I was going to buy something dedicated for rabbits... The lightest weight .22lr single shot I could find. I know a few guys who get those kid-trainer single shot bolts for rabbits, because they're so small and lightweight to pack around in the bush. Length of pull sucks, but you can manage, and you probably will only be firing a couple of shots or so a day, so not like it needs to be comfortable at the shoulder, it just needs to work. They also tend to be cheap, so you're not worried about messing it up, wandering through the scrub.
Cabelas has the Little Badger on sale at the moment for $169.00, which is an "Ok" choice. I got one 5 or 6 years ago. Enjoyed it at first, but then kind of moved on.
Little .410 shotguns make a nice choice for rabbits too, just a bit hard on the ears.
TradeEx has a pile of Husqvarna single shot .22s in stock at the moment, in the $150-$180 range. It would be hard to go wrong with a $180 Husqvarna.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
158 gr cast sized to 356" worked well from my Spanish Destroyer carbine. My 458 & 45-70 loads were a tad overkill on the rodents, but fun none the less.
Thats southern ontario. Theres much of ontario not affected
CZ455 22 Long Rifle ! jmo RJ
I stand corrected, I just looked it up. Thanks for the info! I don't remember them mentioning that when I took the hunting course a while ago. That why I check the regs before I head out fishing and will also do so I once I start hunting.
That being said, I do live in southern Ontario so I would like something thing that I could use here if I get the opportunity to hunt in the south.
