Ben W.

Tell me how you came to the conclusion it's a hare and not a rabbit? I've given multiple reasons why it's a rabbit and not a hare and yet people haven't given one iota of evidence to suggest it's a hare. Seems strange that all these experts have announced it a hare but can't provide a distinguishable feature from the picture that suggests it as being one.

Again I witnessed its behaviour, where it appeared from what it's eye colour was, it's limb proportions, ear size and the only thing making this unusual compared to a regular rabbit is it's tan colour. Seen a few black rabbits on the farm over the years as well as a number of tan so perhaps I don't see it as that uncommon. Anyway back to eating my rabbit with rocket salad sandwich.

Hares living in warrens and having kits then...it will be snowing tomorrow I reckon.

Sorry guys but having seen it appear from a warren with a couple of kits and having no resemblance to a hare other than darker inner ears I can't see how you can justify it being a hare. If I shot a hare I would state it, I've shot them in the past to reduce the population and will do in the future. I don't like doing it but when asked by the landowner...

While you don't name names I know you are (partly) referring to a picture I posted recently as you replied "one of them isn't a rabbit, you better jug that one" or something along those lines. I didn't post a reply at the time but because of you making a thread on people's inability to identify certain species I felt compelled to answer. If you were referring to the larger tan coloured rabbit and suggesting it was a hare then I'm afraid you are very wrong. We are surrounded by hares on the farm and thankfully a good number of leverets are about this year too. The rabbit shown in the photo I posted has considerably smaller hind legs and ear than any hare I have seen, it's facial structure particularity it's snout was less pronounced than any hare, it's ears had black markings inside but only a slim black ring at the very tip outside unlike any hare I have seen which have 2/3rds black on the outside, it's eyes were dark unlike hares which are golden, it appeared from a hole with two kits and had a milking underbelly which is completely un hare-like. However it does have four legs like a Scandinavian mountain goat so it could be one of those. If you weren't referring to that specific picture then take no offence from this post, however your comment suggested otherwise.

"There will be fractionally more accurate Match Bullets for target shooting but I do not think they are as appropriate for shooting rabbits because of the lack of expansion as the energy decreases at distance." I disagree that they are inappropriate for hunting due to the fact that a headshot using expanding ammo or solid ammo will kill. IF solid ammunition is inherently more accurate (barrel depending) due to a higher BC than hollow point then I just don't see the need for hollow point ammunition and I am surprised it seems to be the preferred choice for hunting. The transfer of energy to the target surely only becomes a factor when a body shot is taken, where maximum internal damage is required in case a direct hit isn't achieved. For example a through and through with a solid to shoulder could lead to a slow death whereas a hollow point which expanded might impart enough energy to provide a clean kill. But for a headshot whether it's HP or solid round that rabbit is dead. The fact the HP expands is inconsequential. There for, if you only take headshots the most accurate round should surely be the preferred choice? It's like predator polymag pellets being labelled the best hunting pellet due to the energy transfer to the target. Which is complete garbage because beyond 20 yards you may as well throw stones at the rabbit because you'd be more accurate. The best hunting round should always surely be the most accurate when only headshots are taken?

My employer said pigeon shooting is an art which I don't doubt at all, reading these posts about flight lines and pigeons feeding behaviour makes me wish... a) I could hit a barn door with a shotgun (good with a rifle, terrible with a shottie) And b) I had someone to guide me. You lads do a great job and I'm very envious. Take it easy Ben.

Good eating?

I won't write an essay and bore you to death like my last two uploads, just the results from the previous two nights. So on Wednesday after work I headed down the current problem area on the farm, I've had 27 rabbits there in three visits and was hoping for a few more. Took the first within five minutes but just after he dropped I saw Charlie walking around the hedge about 200m further down. We tolerate foxes on the farm as they help keep the rabbit population down, I know that will not go down well with some of you guys but the neighbouring farms keep their numbers in check. As his stench was fresh I knew it would be a tough evening. Since my last visit nine days ago the wheat has really started to shoot up, even on the patch hit hard by the rabbits which is good to see. It was a beautiful evening and one good thing about Suffolk are the sunsets, they say it's an artists county because of the huge sky. Not sure it's any bigger than anywhere else but that's Suffolk logic for you. It was a quiet night as I expected from the presence of the fox but managed to finish was a healthy six. P.S. lovely Moonrise's in Suffolk too, must be that big sky again... Last night I headed to an area below some wild flower meadows, when in full bloom they look amazing and I will upload some photos in the next few weeks to show you. The rabbits also like the meadows for a different reason so we keep on top of them to minimise the damage. Having noticed a family grazing the last week or two it was time to nip them in the bud. While waiting for more rabbits to emerge from the warren this bird made one hell of a commotion next to me, interesting to watch but after ten minutes he would not shut up. He eventually attracted the attention of the horse to my shooting area so I moved on further down the hedge and had a bit more luck. Not a bad evening for that particular area but the problem family is there for another day. Seeing loads of crows on the horse meadow at the moment so might have a go at those too next week. Anyway, take it easy and enjoy your weekend. Ben.

Thanks again for the replies. It's just interesting to hear the different preferences between air rifle ammo and rimfire ammo. For air rifle use anything but a headshot on rabbits is frowned upon so the ammo providing the best accuracy (dome) is generally used. I personally never take anything other than a headshot (perhaps I'm being too cautious of rimfire capability) with the .22lr but what I'm gathering is that people use HP ammo in case they need to take a chest shot to impart maximum internal damage. Correct me if I am wrong. However there seems to be very little information regarding the differences in accuracy between a solid and hollow point round. Either this is because there is negligible difference or because there is less emphasis on accuracy with a rimfire? Either way it would be nice to know for definite. A hollow point pellet is useless beyond 25yds where a dome is good for 35/40yds. If a hollow point bullet is good for 50-60yds could a solid dome be as good but at 70yds+ is what I'm getting at.

Sorry Mighty Prawn only just read your reply. Energy dump is all very well but surely if you're taking head shots only then placement is the main factor to be considered? Unfortunately my rfd only has subsonic hollows and super solids, I'll have a ring around and compare prices. Do you find them to be more accurate than hollows Prawn?

Thanks guys, I don't have a problem with the lethality of HP's I just wondered if solids were more accurate and if so why aren't they as popular. However if they are 80% more expensive then it's no wonder they aren't popular for hunting.

When looking for subsonic ammo all I seem to be able to source are hollow points. Coming from air rifle hunting where the dome head is always the recommended pellet due to the superior accuracy I would like to try some solid dome subsonic .22lr ammo. Is it available? Are there benefits regards to a solid dome when it comes to accuracy in a .22lr round? I don't have an issue with the HP's at all but I'm interested in finding the most accurate combination possible. I'm a bit sceptical about the HP being a better hunting round as a solid round to the noggin will do the job just as well. In my opinion the best hunting round is the most accurate when head shots only are concerned. Any help/recommendations would be much appreciated. Ben.

Spent many a drunk night on top of the tower of the Kymin, used to be a ladder up the side but they have now removed it. I lived over the valley up Callow near Buckholt. All the woods you see over that side were my playground/shooting ground as a kid.

Four more this evening 520

Well I took a detour via Liverpool and Lancaster before settling in Suffolk. University at those two cities and then parents and eventually work meant moving to Suffolk. I call Monmouth my home even now, often go there to meet some friends I've known since I was 6 and will eventually move back to the area hopefully. Spent many an afternoon down the lion. Tend to go to the Saracens down Symonds Yat when I'm back now.

Tidy day by the looks, lovely part of the country too. Brought up in Monmouth so know the area well. You should have swung by the white lion for a refreshing cider by the river to finish the day.

Six this evening 513

Ms231 with a 16" bar, cracking saw, light, bit more grunt and robust than a 181. Have an ms441 at work but always turn to the 231 since we bought it unless it's the big stuff.

Eleys are also slightly tight in my 452, enough to leave slight striations on the lead. I do find it slightly inconvenient when it comes to chambering the next round as the additional effort pushes the rifle off shot. They do still group well though. I use SK's though as they group better at range and cycle very smoothly so I can stay down for a second shot easier. Try SK's, may be slightly more expensive but another quality ammo.

I put a post up on sporting pictures on Tuesday with a photo showing three live rabbits happily going about their business alongside three dead. Obviously thought they were just topping up the tan.

Don't get me wrong the Air Arms was superb, the daystate just felt more refined. To be honest I think the only difference you'll find between your Air Arms, Weihrauchs, Daystates etc is opinions. And these are very individual. They are all more accurate than the person behind them, they are all engineered beautifully, aesthetically pleasing and ruddy expensive.

Had a daystate huntsman classic in .22 flavour, absolutely beautiful rifle and besides being pellet fussy once I found the right ammo it was superbly accurate. I had an AA s410f before, another quality rifle but the Daystates action felt smoother and the rifle itself felt more robust. In my opinion one of, if not the best looking pcp available. I'm left handed so paid for the privilege on top of an already hefty price tag, is it worth it? Well I wish I never sold it so I'd say yes.

Looks like a great spot, I miss my AA s410f .177 and Daystate HC .22. I will purchase another air rifle at some point but will go back to spring power I think to minimise cost. I've started shooting from a vehicle, might be worth a go as well?

After the successful Sunday evening I decided to head back out to try and make some more progress on the Monday too. Weather was good so I decided to head out at the slightly earlier time of 16:00 hoping for a couple of early birds. Drove to a different area than on the Sunday but again there always used to be a rabbit problem but it was the first time I have been down there this year. Just as I swung the car around to a comfortable shooting angle I was shocked to see a keen, half size rabbit pop out of the wood. I think he was as shocked as I was, he just froze which gave me time enough to load, point and dispatch him. Good start... When the wood was planted around twenty years ago a chicken wire fence was laid around the perimeter, since then the rabbits use two very specific points where the fence has sagged to the ground. The first (just above the moderator - ~30yds from me) was where I shot the first. The second area is shown below and is a further ~30yds away (just above the moderator). If you look to the left you can see the crop damage caused by the rabbits, not as extensive as the previous location but still a problem. After waiting for forty five minutes this good looking chap popped out for bite to eat ~55yds away. The picture is deceptive and makes the house in the background seem a lot closer than it actually is, in fact it's off a lane just over a mile down the road and is the closest building in that direction. Ashamed to admit it but I missed him first time, I didn't realise but the fore-stock was resting on my wing mirror and as the trigger clicked the rifle slipped ever so slightly causing me to pull to the left by an inch or so. Luckily he stopped short of the wood allowing me to re-adjust and take him with a second shot. I stayed for another two hours before the gamekeeper next door started working on his pen inside the wood so I decided to head back to the same location as Sunday evening. No pictures of the two rabbits I'm afraid, the camera decided not to work. (I forgot I put the lens back on after the above picture) As I start to drive down the field there were a number of rabbits grazing leisurely half way down so I decided to pull up early and try my luck. They haven't been shot at so far this year and so they aren't shy when it comes to re-appearing. Within an hour I had had five and they weren't too concerned about the fallen and so kept appearing every fifteen minutes or so. It was getting on a bit and just after the photo I shot the rabbit in the foreground, as I chambered another bullet I looked up and was shocked to see the top right rabbit dragging it's hind legs towards the hedge. The shot must have ricocheted and caught the poor ******, not very nice at all. I darted out of my car hoping to get to him before he made it back to his hole. Luckily I did and dispatched him immediately. I decided to call it a night after that, not the best end to an otherwise lovely evening with the rifle but these things happen I suppose. Nine in total, seven photographed. Take it easy. Ben.