Reduced centerfire rifle load for rabbits?

[diegocn]

This will probably get me a lot of flames but here it goes:

Has anyone hunted rabbits with a 30 cal reduced load? Something like a 85-130 grain fmj projectile moving at around 1000-1500fps? How bad was the meat damage assuming shots were restricted to the head only?

Story behind is we are heading for black bear hunt next month. I've already used my tag in the spring, so I'm mostly there as the backup shooter. Hence I'm thinking to take my sks on the hunt (Hornady SST for bear and shot is usually less than 50 yards). There is a lot of rabbits in the area and I don't want to bring another .22 with me.

I have some 123gr copper plated bullets and 85gr pistol bullet in .310 caliber. They would both make good light load. They won't cycle the action of course. The question is is this too much for the rabbit to handle?

 

[FLHTCUI]

Hammond Game Getter.....
No flame, just three words.
Rob

 

[bWONGER]

I have a Hammond game getter. It works great for small game. I would recommend getting one.

 

[Workin Man]

If shots are going to be to the head only, there should be no meat damage regardless of what you use. Do you have an accurate enough load already developed with one of those bullets? Or enough time to develop one? I have a 20ga coach gun and that is what I would be carrying in your situation. Slug in the left barrel, #6 or 7.5 in the right.

Jim

 

[Butcherbill]

If I was the backup man and under 50y and wanted to shoot rabbits I’d probably just bring my 870 with 20” rifle sighted barrel, it easily head shoots bunnies up close with a mod choke and is accurate with slugs out past 50y. Best of both worlds really.

 

[diegocn]

I've used someone else's game getter before. Brillant idea but I didn't like having to assemble every round in the field. Also where do you buy game getter? Their website seems to be very dated?

I do have a good gallary load in 308 with 85gr tokarev bullet. Working out a 25 yard load in 762x39 in a month should be pretty easy. I'll go with that. And I love the idea of 20ga coach gun (or 20ga/22 O/U), but it never quite made to the top of the priority list.

 

[Suther]

Your tag is punched so that means you can't shoot another bear? Is any other big game open at the time? If not, it Sounds like the perfect time to carry either a shotgun or a 22lr.

 

[diegocn]

Your tag is punched so that means you can't shoot another bear? Is any other big game open at the time? If not, it Sounds like the perfect time to carry either a shotgun or a 22lr.

Here in Ontario if I have no tag but have a valid bear license (such as in my case), I can shoot another bear as long as I'm "party hunting" with buddies that has a valid tag.

 

[Driller640]

Trail Boss is your friend in this case, assuming you reload. I get 1300 FPS with 110 grain round nose out of my 308. Data is at Hodgdon website. It’s the cat’s meow for small game while big game hunting. The Hammon game getter works as well, I use it for rifles I don’t reload for. I have some reduce load data for the 7.62 x 39 if you want it, just PM me.

 

[Gatehouse]

Trail boss powder is the answer. I would just use the 123 gr bullets and load them to dribble out the barrel at 1000FPS or less. I've loaded 30-30 with 165gr cast to about 850 FPS. Really quiet but penetrate well at close range. Load up your magazine and you will have 5+1 rounds of straight pull bolt action fun.

The Hammonds are for people that don't hand load in my opinion.

 

[A-zone]

Game Getter, .32ACP insert or Trailboss.

 

[trevj]

I'll plug for the Hammond Game Getter too.

I used to see Brian Hammond at least once a month, often more than that, when I was living around Edmonton.
To buy one, you pretty much either do it by mail, or run into Brian at a Gun Show. He's pretty much a one man band.

Hand loading is also an option, but the Game Getter is pretty effective for a seldom used or needed back up to have just in case.
Mine lives all ready to go on the near end of the ammo rack in my pouch, so if I do cross a grouse, I can drop it into the chamber and have a go at it without a lot of noise. Easy enough to reload and replace it in the rack as its used.

 

[maxman1]

Game Getter, .32ACP insert or Trailboss.

I'll second the .32 adaptor.

 

[rifleman762]

I use Trailboss and a 230 gr cast bullet from a Lee mold. I can shoot grouse in the body without much damage or noise.

 

[Kenny_G2]

I wouldn't make a special load for rabbits, just shoot them in head or chest. In my experience with shotgun hunting for rabbits you don't lose much meat if you chest shoot them. I have shot grouse and rabbits while moose hunting with my 338wm, it effectively removes their head at 30 yards.

 

[Suther]

Here in Ontario if I have no tag but have a valid bear license (such as in my case), I can shoot another bear as long as I'm "party hunting" with buddies that has a valid tag.

Gotcha! Thanks for the explanation.

 

[diegocn]

Sounds like the overwhelming response is I should do OK with a reduced load or with a game getter. Funny some mentioned 32ACP in game getter because the 85 grain bullet is pretty much just a 32ACP projectile.

Just have to tune down the velocity a bit more. I found sometimes even trail boss can be too fast in big cases, that's when I fall back to unique or titegroup.

 

[Suther]

Sounds like the overwhelming response is I should do OK with a reduced load or with a game getter. Funny some mentioned 32ACP in game getter because the 85 grain bullet is pretty much just a 32ACP projectile.

Just have to tune down the velocity a bit more. I found sometimes even trail boss can be too fast in big cases, that's when I fall back to unique or titegroup.

Rather than another powder maybe a heavier cast bullet would do the trick?

Either way it seems like you're on the right path!

 

[trevj]

Sounds like the overwhelming response is I should do OK with a reduced load or with a game getter. Funny some mentioned 32ACP in game getter because the 85 grain bullet is pretty much just a 32ACP projectile.

Just have to tune down the velocity a bit more. I found sometimes even trail boss can be too fast in big cases, that's when I fall back to unique or titegroup.

The .32 ACP adapter is a different rig than the Game Getter.

The .32ACP rig is a hollowed out steel adapter chamber liner that you place a .32ACP pistol cartridge in.

The Game Getter uses Remington power loads for driving nails in concrete with a power nailer, and a lead ball that has been driven through a sizing die which is provided in the Game Getter kit.

The real trick of it, is that the Game Getter system can be adapted to nearly pretty much any hunting cartridge, while the pistol caliber chamber converters are limited to finding a near enough match to the bore of your rifle.

The reality is, you have all sorts of options out there, depending on how much work you are willing to put in or how much money you are willing to pay out.