30-6 Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 I was out recently and seen a rabbit about 50 to 60 yds away sitting in amongst a field of buttercups which were a lot higher than him / her, so to hit it i would have had to shoot through the buttercups, how far the bullet would have had to travel through the buttercups i guess would have been feet rather than inches.It was in the field "next door" not on my permission so i did not attempt to have a go at it, i had with me the .22 lr. My question is (as i am still relatively new to rimfires and always willing to learn by asking questions), although i could see the rabbit quite clearly, would the stems of the buttercups have deflected a .22 lr or a .17 hmr, or would the shot have been feasible ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) I think that with a .22lr if you can see it then grass/buttercups won't be enough to cause any problems, the bullet may be slow but 40 grains of lead isn't going to be affected by a few stalks, within reason. I think a .17HMR might be a bit different, due to the speed and light, frangible bullets heavy grass or similar might be an issue. Edited June 12, 2012 by bedwards1966 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 I think that with a .22lr if you can see it then grass/buttercups won't be enough to cause any problems, the bullet may be slow but 40 grains of lead isn't going to be affected by a few stalks, within reason. I think a .17HMR might be a bit different, due to the speed and light, frangible bullets heavy grass or similar might be an issue. Good call sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted June 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 Yeah, that's what i was thinking. But i've heard that the hmr can be a very unpredictable round, i've shot a squirrel at 61 yds with no visible damage at all and a rabbit at 68 yds with no visible in but an inch exit wound. I only use 17g v-max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 I think that with a .22lr if you can see it then grass/buttercups won't be enough to cause any problems, the bullet may be slow but 40 grains of lead isn't going to be affected by a few stalks, within reason. I think a .17HMR might be a bit different, due to the speed and light, frangible bullets heavy grass or similar might be an issue. I don't think either the .22 or .17hmr would be a problem. Buttercup stalk is not going to be enough resistance to make it expand. If you go for the engine room it'll be dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 If its inches I'd take the shot with either. If its feet I'd get a better position especially with the HMR. I was sniping a group of rabbits once which were about 100 yds off. I caught a movement in foreground of the scope and saw a small yearling which had hopped out of the hedge about 30 yds away and was staring straight at me. Only the head was visible and about 6 ft in front of it was a grass stem right in my line of sight. I didn't dare move and miss the chance and I thought at that range a grass stem wouldn't matter so I took the shot. The bullet smoked the stem in a cloud of juice directly in front of the rabbit's eye, precisely on target, but the rabbit didn't move a muscle for a few seconds then turned and hopped into the hedge completely unharmed. That's ballisic tips for you. Even my .222 is very unpredictable on rabbits with BTs. Its considerably too much gun for rabbits really and you'd think the terminal effects would be pretty academic in every case, but it varies a lot. It kills them sure enough, but I've had 250 yd rabbits that are cut in half and 100 yarders that don't have a mark on them and no exit wound though they're soup inside. Ballistic tipped V-max rounds are great in the HMR because they're far less likely to ricochet and they make the most of the tiny .17 footprint. But they're a bit unforgiving in the rough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted June 14, 2012 Report Share Posted June 14, 2012 i had a .22 deflection just last night. I did hit the rabbit but on inspection afterwards I had scalped him down to the skull, bowled him over but he got back up, clearly dazed and confused. had moved enough to pop another one where the first should have gone only takes a slight touch to move it off course an inch. especially if the obstruction is much closer to you than the target Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted June 14, 2012 Report Share Posted June 14, 2012 I think that with a .22lr if you can see it then grass/buttercups won't be enough to cause any problems, the bullet may be slow but 40 grains of lead isn't going to be affected by a few stalks, within reason. I think a .17HMR might be a bit different, due to the speed and light, frangible bullets heavy grass or similar might be an issue. Good call sir! Is this a case of the blind leading the blind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted June 14, 2012 Report Share Posted June 14, 2012 i've never had a successful kill while aiming through foliage, be it grass, leaves, or buttercups! a few feet will knock both the hmr or 22lr off target, how much is anyones guess but it's not a good idea imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 Do what you like, MY view! If you don't have a clear bullet track to the target don't take the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPARKIE Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 ive had a problem with the .22-250 in the past with vmax bullets. been out in the day and checked zero on some reloads and gone lamping at night shot a fox and the shot was bang on then drove to my next permission and seen another about the same distance but its started raining heavy......took the shot but the fox never flinched just walked off i wonder/suspect the bullet broke up in the rain as the following day rechecked the zero and found to be bang on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 I was out recently and seen a rabbit about 50 to 60 yds away sitting in amongst a field of buttercups which were a lot higher than him / her, so to hit it i would have had to shoot through the buttercups, how far the bullet would have had to travel through the buttercups i guess would have been feet rather than inches.It was in the field "next door" not on my permission so i did not attempt to have a go at it, i had with me the .22 lr. My question is (as i am still relatively new to rimfires and always willing to learn by asking questions), although i could see the rabbit quite clearly, would the stems of the buttercups have deflected a .22 lr or a .17 hmr, or would the shot have been feasible ? It is possible i believe its happened to myself a time or two with other light cover, i now don't shoot if i cannot get a total clear shot. Try clicking your tounge etc they often stand on thier hind legs to inverstigate this giving a clean chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 ive had a problem with the .22-250 in the past with vmax bullets. been out in the day and checked zero on some reloads and gone lamping at night shot a fox and the shot was bang on then drove to my next permission and seen another about the same distance but its started raining heavy......took the shot but the fox never flinched just walked off i wonder/suspect the bullet broke up in the rain as the following day rechecked the zero and found to be bang on. Sparkie what ya onabout dude you missed it plain and simple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Keep still, get ready, squeak to make him sit up, take a clear shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted June 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 These were BIG buttercups mind, he'd have to stand on tip-toes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 Where I shoot some of the paddocks are a bit rough in patches and the amount of easy shots I've missed because of what appears to be light grass/foliage is unreal, shots where I could see the outline of the rabbit clearly but had the odd strand in the way and it's made the world of difference. I try not o shoot in them situations now but still get caught out when lamping, not too bad off sticks but off the bipod can be a nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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