What to look for in a bunny gun?

MikeyT

MikeyT

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I'd like to start hunting rabbits around my place and feel it's the perfect reason to buy a new scattergun. I've always been a fan of side by side doubles but don't have any real experience with them.

For rabbit hunting, what length of barrel is most appropriate? I love the shorter coach-guns, but I'm not sure if longer barrels are better suited to bunnies. Also, what sort of chokes are you guys using (assume #4 shot).

Any suggestions and personal experiences would be appreciated.

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I did well on cottontails for years with a "sawed off" ( 20" bbl ) Stevens 311.

Not a "fine double" by any means, but as a dedicated bunny gun it worked great. Used nothing but 7/8 oz. # 71/2 target loads ...

If you can find a good solid old Stevens or Fox(Stevens, not A.H.)
great, if not, then maybe a serviceable Begian, Spanish or Italian in good shape for under $ 500.
 
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Short bbl yes but not too short!!!
20" is nice for getting through the bush for for swinging the gun (for runnin bunnies) a 24"-26" is ideal and if you are a big guy then even a 28" whatever fits you.

I have been exclusively using 20 Gauge 1 oz #5s but my last few hunts resulted in alot of damaged meat, so I am going to load up some 7/8-3/4 oz 4s or 5s to see if it improves the edibility.

Now when I hunt bunnies without a dog, I like .22 or .410.

As far as type of action, completely up to you. I like a O/U or a semi (in a semi, I like a very short bbl, like 21" as the receiver is 3-4 inches longer)

I have hunted grouse/bunnies with a coach gun and I just found it too akward for swinging and I missed alot more than I do with the 36" bbl.
 
I would think any good 20ga grouse gun would be ideal for buns too - just change the load (or what we used to do - pull some the pellets) Huns and Buns - fine day of shooting...:)

If you're shopping, I'd be looking for a grouse gun, doubling for bunnies. I did just that, and since I'm cheap, I bought a Condor Supreme 20ga O/U with 26" barrels. The 20ga comes up a LOT nicer then the 12 (better balanced) and it cost bags less then most other 20ga field guns.

If its SxS you want - get to your gunshows - there are tons of SxS on the tables right now (at least in rotten evil S. Ont - more guns than bunnies, I suspect, in an area where the number 1 bunny gun is a Nissan Murano, it seems, based on the roadkill census) - you should be able find what you want at a price you can haggle to.
 
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Grouse Man said:
Make sure that the barrels of a rabbit gun CAN'T be pulled apart and tied into a knot. I've seen that happen HUNDREDS of times.
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:D (be veewy vewy quiet...)

I use Wally world #5 12 guage in my Tonolini SxS for bunnies here in NS. I would also use a 20 if one made itself available, but only because 16 and 28 are much more expensive for shells (no cheap Walmart welfare packs :D )

The range to your target can vary from 6 feet to 30 yards, so I like the open/full choice on my double-triggered SxS for the long shots, while careful shot placement for the really close shots will leave bugs with very few pellets in the head and an untouched animal for the pot.

I've only been hunting rabbit now for a few years and I can't help but mourn the wasted years behind me before I discovered this. My group shot over 200 last year, and we're racking up some good hunts this year so far.

Took my son out for his first hunt yesterday. Life is good.;)
 
I'll go for a .22 long rifle!!!!
Not versatile (for other small game) but you can not imagine the feeling of shooting a rabbit with a .22. you feel like a sniper:D (if you catch it!!!)
It happen to me just one time (this season and it was my only second season as a hunter) and people here was really impressed...good feeling and add confidence as a new hunter.
 
My personal pick is a Remington 870 in 20 ga for most general bunny hunting duties. I used to use an 870 in 12 ga, but it really is too much gun for rabbits/hares. If you miss the head, you quite often will ruin a lot of meat, even shooting #6 or #7 23/4" shells. The double SXS works fine too, however, the extra weight of that second bbl can get tiring for some after a full day afield. My old Stevens 311 12 ga was a real ##### to carry comfortably all day long.

Depending on the terrain I'm hunting, I generally prefer a 24"-28" bbl for open hunting (Mod choke), and a shorter 20" (Cyl. Bore or IMP Cyl choke)for hunting dense alder beds and rose thickets.

That said, for the past couple of years, I've been bunny hunting almost exclusively with a dandy little Fox SXS .410ga choked Full & Mod to add a greater level of difficulty. Unlike hunting with the 12ga or even the 20ga. the .410ga is far less forgiving and you simply don't have the pellet count nor oompf to shot through intervening brush to get your bunny. Using the .410ga, you have to be more discerning when choosing to shoot and there is less room for error. The end result though, is a far less mangled carcass, even if you muff the shot and hit the bunny elsewhere than the head. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners though.
 
I like my Ithaca 900xl deluxe 20ga. for both bunnies and grouse. Has a 30" barrel and will reach a long ways. It is very light to carry and swing and have used it on occasion for ducks using 3" magums.
 
Big Guy said:
. I have an 1100 special field 20 ga 23" barrel and a citori 20 ga. I much prefer the Remington.
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I have had both, except my Remmy was a 21". I prefer the Citori... why?

Maintenance... period.

I loved having the three shots in a nice light gun but I really do not think I have missed much if any game by shooting the O/U.
 
Big Guy said:
I didn't measure the barrel it probably is 21" SHORT AND HANDY, tHE cITORI IS JUST TOO HEAVY
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Really???? what model?
I have a Citori lightning 20 Gauge, 26" bbls. Not much around lighter than that... at least in the (repeating) shotgun world.
 
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