10/22 for rabbit hunting?

All we have are snowshoe hare around here and they are usually rather dumb. Even so, shot placement is key. Try to nail them in the head/upper body and you'll do fine. I just recently bought a 10/22 for my father but i've taken it out for rabbit a few times. He put a cheap tasco scope on it and it works great but i can't stress shot placement enough.

I shot a rabbit at around 80 yards and i shot low by accident. I hit the rabbit in the right hind leg, breaking it. He tried to crawl away so i shot again and missed. The third shot got him right in the bread basket and he died quickly after that but he definatly suffered for the first 5 seconds after the first shot until the killing shot arrived. When i kill anything, i try to do it as quickly as possible so this wasn't a good kill for me. Anyway, just make sure you're a good shot before trying to get one from distance. Otherwise you could end up doing like i did. I've been bringing out my full choked shotguns ever since that incident happened and i can still nail em at 50 yards or so. Good Luck in whatever you choose.

Dorian
 
I've taken a few rabbits with my 10/22, worked really well. But now I find I'm reaching for my Rem Wingmaster in 20ga. In doing that I havent had to pass on as many bunnys. Enjoy your 10/22 and best of all, enjoy your sport :D
 
Want a fun challenge use the .22 rimfire.
Want to fill the freezer faster in forested country, get a good shotgun.

An Ithaca O/U Model 500, 26 inch barrels, Mod/IC, with #4 shot Federal Game Loads, is a nice upland gun. With a scattergun one can shoot through the thickets or take those running shots along or across gametrails.
 
I took the biggest hare I have ever seen last Tuesday with a .30-06 180gr Federal round (there was absolutely no head left whatsoever). It was of course a happenstance encounter as I wasn't hunting rabbits. But I have a small game licence, and its the first one I have ever seen up here, so I siezed the opportunity, and it sure tasted OK. But I suggest to the OP something a little less flashy. I have always favored a savage .22/20 guage over/under for rabbit hunting. I always shoot the .22 round first, and the shotgun shell a close second if needed be.
 
sgt.rock said:
I took the biggest hare I have ever seen last Tuesday with a .30-06 180gr Federal round (there was absolutely no head left whatsoever). It was of course a happenstance encounter as I wasn't hunting rabbits. But I have a small game licence, and its the first one I have ever seen up here, so I siezed the opportunity, and it sure tasted OK. But I suggest to the OP something a little less flashy. I have always favored a savage .22/20 guage over/under for rabbit hunting. I always shoot the .22 round first, and the shotgun shell a close second if needed be.
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Thats my MOOSE load man! Big rabbit!!! ;)

M
 
I used to use a 10/22 exclusively for wabbits. It was fantastic. If you aren't using dogs that get the rabbits running full tilt, then a .22 will work fine.
 
By all means use your 10/22 for rabbits. I have used mine for 35 yrs and when looking for a challenge I only shoot on the run. Not recommended when hunting with others.
After a few tries you start getting them with one or two shots and in the head to boot.
 
Something like this varmint rifle....

sgt.rock said:
I took the biggest hare I have ever seen last Tuesday with a .30-06 180gr Federal round (there was absolutely no head left whatsoever). It was of course a happenstance encounter as I wasn't hunting rabbits. But I have a small game licence, and its the first one I have ever seen up here, so I siezed the opportunity, and it sure tasted OK. But I suggest to the OP something a little less flashy. I have always favored a savage .22/20 guage over/under for rabbit hunting. I always shoot the .22 round first, and the shotgun shell a close second if needed be.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a similar episode while a friend and i were calling coyotes one February in South Saskatchewan. Heading back after a successful calling day, we came upon a few rabbits near the frozen creek. I had my 222 and he had his 17 Remington. He said "Watch this" and shot the bunny offhand from about 60 yards. He hit it in the head, and it was vapourized.
 
I have taken a total of one (1) rabbit with a shotgun and that was more than enough. It damaged the meat so much I couldn't believe it. I still cooked the poor thing, but the damaged meat tasted so bad I couldn't eat it and threw it away. What a waste!

Now, all the rabbits and grouse I have taken with my 10/22 and my Winchester M77 had 0 damage to edible parts, something which cannot be said of the heads and necks, and they tasted delicious. So, I have developed a big aversion to hunting with a shotgun. I'll use it for migratory birds and pheasants, and hopefully for turkey soon, but that's it!

Oh, something else... almost every grouse and rabbit I have spooked while hunting never flew/ran out of reach. A few extra minutes of walking was all it took to go around them and get a second shot. You just have to be careful with the grouse, because they often perch once spooked. But if they stay on the ground, they're easily taken with a .22 after. And yes, rabbits usually play the "I won't move, he won't see me" game, at least the ones I hunt. ;)
 
Brutus said:
Want a fun challenge use the .22 rimfire.
Want to fill the freezer faster in forested country, get a good shotgun.

An Ithaca O/U Model 500, 26 inch barrels, Mod/IC, with #4 shot Federal Game Loads, is a nice upland gun. With a scattergun one can shoot through the thickets or take those running shots along or across gametrails.
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Im in for the fun challenge :)


I already have an 870 Wingmaster, but thanks for the ideas
 
ndb86 said:
Ok i've been out shooting rabbits, gophers, coyotes many a time with no licence. since when do you need one? i'm in alberta by the way.
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im 99% positive you need a small game license to hunt rabbits and coyotes in Ontario. Im not sure about the gophers though.
 
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