looking for a good rabbit gun
 

thinking of taking up rabbit hunting..

from what my friends have told/tell me they are great to eat.my father has a win 9422 XTR chambered in 22WMR.
what do youa ll think of maybe a little .410 in that winchester lever action? or a 22mag?
i think the 12ga. would be a bit too much.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

Quilly...I am a rabbit hunting nut. My buddy and I have killed about 50 already this year, and we have till the end of Feb still to hunt. It's a ball, and you won't be sorry!

I started with a 20ga, and now have bought several .410's for rabbits. They're fun as heck to shoot...but also challenging. The rabbits here are weary, and we do not shoot them sitting. We do use a dog sometimes, but jump shooting is also a blast.

I'd opt for a .410 with a full choke. I've had the best luck with #6's. BE SURE TO GET THE 3" SHELLS! The 2 1/2" are pretty weak. Shells aren't cheap, about $8/box, but the fun is well worth it. I like the Federals.

And you're right, they're delicious! Just par-boil them until tender and fry...YUM I have no trouble getting rid of any extra bunnies that I have.

If you are looking for a cheaper quality gun, look at the Mossberg 500 in .410. They're in the neighborhood of $200 and I love mine. I generally use it over a couple guns that are worth much much more!

GOOD LUCK!

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

A 10/22 Ruger in 22lr makes a good rabbit gun,don't really need the mag for rabbits.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I use a .410 and .22 on rabbits.

Loads of fun with a .410.

12ga isn't too much if you get the right shells.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

Stoeger Uplander 20 guage SXS is hard to beat for rabbits.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I am a rabbit hunting nut, once deer season is over. I use beagles and my favorite gun is a Rem 1100 20 Ga. special field. It has screw in chokes 21" barrel, straight English stock. It's just a treat to carry and shoot this gun. A close second is a Savage o/u 20 ga/.22 although it is heavier than the 1100 . For years I used a bolt action .410 but it is a wounder many running rabbits required a follow up shot. The 20 ga. solved this problem.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

The reason i'd pick the 20ga over the 410 is, ammo is cheaper, and the 20ga is more usefull for other game!!! Cheap 20ga ammo is just just fine for rabbits.

Drilling Man

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I hunt them exclusively with a Marlin .22 LR auto. I have given up on shotguns because with shotguns one hits them with quite a few BBs and they drive hair into the meat.

Unless removed, this hair gives a poor taste to the meat and with shotguns it seems that I can never get all the hairs out....I always miss some.

With a rifle I only have one hole to clean.

I have a friend that hunts them with a beagle and a .22 handgun.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

my favorite rabbit gun is the first gun i owned a H&R single shot .410 with full choke, it is so much fun I cant wait for my nephew to get to the right age so I can teach him to shot with it.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

If you are considering a lever action .410, I go with a Marlin Model 410 over the Winchester. It has a solid top receiver and side ejection. Just seems better built to me.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

410's are a lot of fun for rabbit, but my main "tiny" game gun is a Winchester 94 in 22 mag. Handles anything from gophers to coyote, and a blast to shoot. Also good practice for big game, it's to easy to "cheat " with a scattergun, instead of being precise:D

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

would the .410 lead slugs be too much for rabbit?
what is the farthest shot for a .410 that would drop a rabit in it's tracks? i am used to a 12ga.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

slugs would be to much and way to expensive; .410 3" 6 shot will cost you about $8-$10 box of 25; with a full choke it will drop rabbits just as good as any 20 or 28 gge

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

My idea of a perfect rabbit gun would be a savage combination gun 12gax222 I had one years ago in alaska and loaded he 222 down to about 22mag velocitys and was ready for about any snowshoe hare that came along. I miss that gun! ;)

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I use a 20 ga. for rabbits I have a Rem model 58 Auto pre runner of the 1100 and I have an 870 20 Ga pump , great little rabbit guns, can carry them all day dont get too heavy, lots of fun. I use 7 1/2 shot high brass.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

Find you a nice Browning A-5 Light 20 or if you would lke a nice pump look for one of Browning's Model 12s, you can find them near new for around $500.00 or so.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I use a 16 gauge baker side by side

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I'm going to have to vote for the Savage model 24 22lr over 20ga. Mine is not pretty with the birch stock and plastic trigger guard but it handles great. I use CCI SGB 22 and the #6 shot discount loads

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

20ga with an IC choke shooting #6's would be my first pick. I never was very good a hunting rabbits with a 22lr.

RE: looking for a good rabbit gun
 

I use a bolt action .410 with a full choke, and I love it. A little more aiming is invovled than with, say a 12 guage, but it kills them good and dead! If I could afford it, I'de look for .22 / .410 over and under. That would be a sweet small game gun!