Hunting Rabbits advice on gun to use?

nuph

Where I live we have an abundance of rabbits and they are a real pest this year. They are destroying our barley, recently I started shooting them with the shotgun we have but have very limited success as it is very difficult to get within 25-30 yds of them.

I want to get either a Rifle or Air Rifle.
I am considering an air rifle as the ammunition for them is so much cheaper and hence running costs will be low but are they effective enough at long range 60+ yards?

Also how much does Rifle ammunition cost these days. From what I can gather its about 20 euro for 20 .22s.

declan1980

nuph wrote: »

Where I live we have an abundance of rabbits and they are a real pest this year. They are destroying our barley, recently I started shooting them with the shotgun we have but have very limited success as it is very difficult to get within 25-30 yds of them.

I want to get either a Rifle or Air Rifle.
I am considering an air rifle as the ammunition for them is so much cheaper and hence running costs will be low but are they effective enough at long range 60+ yards?

Also how much does Rifle ammunition cost these days. From what I can gather its about 20 euro for 20 .22s.

You'd be better off getting a .22lr. There's loads of second hand ones to be got for small money, and the rounds are cheap as chips, around €12 for 100 cci subs.

It wasn't me!

A .22LR is the best tool for the job you're looking at, definitely.

extremetaz

I use an air rifle for rabbits myself but I'd only be taking a few at a time. If you need to get rid of a lot of them, then a moderated .22LR is definitely the way to go.

If you're anywhere reasonably close to the Kinnegad/Enfield area, I do a good bit in various places around there, I'd be happy to pop out and give you a hand. Drop me a PM.

edit: to answer the question regarding air rifles and 60m - you'd need to be a hell of a shot and you'd need a perfectly still day to be confident at that range with an air rifle. The rimfire on the other hand has no difficulty with that sort of range and you'll pick one up for far less than you'd pay for the type and standard of air rifle you'd need to have any hope at 60m.

Tawny Owl

nuph wrote: »

Where I live we have an abundance of rabbits and they are a real pest this year. They are destroying our barley, recently I started shooting them with the shotgun we have but have very limited success as it is very difficult to get within 25-30 yds of them.

I want to get either a Rifle or Air Rifle.
I am considering an air rifle as the ammunition for them is so much cheaper and hence running costs will be low but are they effective enough at long range 60+ yards?

Also how much does Rifle ammunition cost these days. From what I can gather its about 20 euro for 20 .22s.

Hello I use a Remmington moderated .22LR the cost of feeding it is € 13.50 per 100 so not a sound from the Gun I am willing to help out if needed PM sent best of luck in controlling the Rabbits dont killl them all.

Tawny Owl.:D

garv123

Sounds like a .22lr is what you need.

you could get a heavier load shotgun cartridge like a 34g 4 or 5 that will do at 40 yards or more.

An air rifle will take a lot of practice to shoot at 60m . you must be able to judge wind and bullet drop and if you miss judge any slightly it will result in a miss.

Ammo for the .22 is much cheaper than 20 for 20 too as the lads said.