What range for rabbits with a .22?

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Fieldcraft, not the rifle you use, is the most important thing when it comes to rabbit control.

By Edward Cook

Tuesday, 20 November 2007

How close do I need to be to kill a rabbit with a .22 air rifle?

Rabbits
EDWARD COOK says:
If you are an accurate shot and able to consistently hit a rabbit in the head, then a standard air rifle delivering up to 12ft/lbs is more than capable of killing cleanly at 40-50 yards.

You can stretch this distance if the rifle is rated above the 12ft/lb limit, but it will then have to be held on a firearm certificate.

My old Weihrauch Mk77 has killed thousands of rabbits over the years, and it still kills well enough now. One of the beauties of hunting rabbits with a little air rifle is that it teaches you an amazing amount of fieldcraft, including the absolute need to get in close to your quarry before attempting a shot.

Regardless of which air rifle you use my advice would be to spend as much money as you can on buying a decent telescopic sight because then you will end up with a top notch set up for killing rabbits.

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Comments

John

May 16 15:15

Forgot to add that i generally hit them at 20-40 yards depending on how close i can get to them,i prefer to hide rather then stalk them, its a lot easier physically. I awlays aim for a head shot nothing else (if u hit it its dead outright), id rather miss a rabbit altogether then get a chest shot and watch it scream about until i got a hold of it and finished it. If i cant get a head shot i wont shoot. I have killed them outright at 45-50 yds, a lot depends on your gun and scope (and a bit of luck) ultimatley.

John

May 16 15:11

There is no substitue for good fieldcraft tho as Mark mentions. Gettign the right spot to sit in or stalking rabbits is half the battle, the more you go the better youll get. Its not unusual for me to get half a dozen tho per trip

John

May 16 15:08

I own a Theoben Fenman 22 air rifle, its a gas ram 12 pounder. Its fitted with a 3-10x44 nite scope. I did have an old scope on it and have found my kill rate has increased dramatically sicne buying the new scope. Therefore i would say that its a must to get a decent scope. Tho i do agree, tht fittign a good scope to a "gat" gun isnt goin to do the trick. I can def recommend my Theoben tho

Mark White

February 10 16:19

I can not believe that you can say any rifle with a good scope on will let you shot rabbits at 50 yards, yes there are rifles that you can do this with but most just about hold a group at 35 yards of 2 inches but the cheaper ones on the market don't group well enough at 12ft/lb and would not shot anything at 20 yards. As most cheap rifles are either 10ft/lb but over 8ft/lb which is ok up 30 yards if it a good make. The caliber is also important to as a 177 would not have enough energy left to cause enough trauma at 50 yards unless shoot in the head, were as if it was a pigeon a 22 would be no good unless shoot in the head as there feather would more then likely deflect the shot at 35 yards. As for the scope I have neither paid more then 50 pounds. I can not see the point of going out shooting things when you have a 50% chances of missing or wounding with out the human and weather factor on top. and the gun in the pic looks like a gammo which you should never shoot at quarry over 40yards as it is not a full power rifle 12ft/lb yes field craft is important to but so is the gun and a semi good scope will do.

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