Rabbit Killing 12G Ammo

[ShaggyRS6]

so I have my first permissions where I can shoot my Shotguns. My question is, having never hunted with a shotgun is what Cartridge.

 

I have a load of cartridges I used for Clays, can i go through them first? Also I have a couple of hundred of Steel Game cartridges which I can obviously use. My question is aimed more toward the carts I had for clays. I think they are size 8 28G

[mr smith]

Think you'd be looking at size 5 or 6 for rabbits.

[Graham M]

I like 5s for rabbit.

G.M.

[Markio]

Save the #8s for clays. And as above, i've used 32g #6s in the past.

[Baldrick]

I use Eley HB Pigeon, 32g 6s, fibre wads, when dealing with rabbits. They're cheap and cheerful, and they do a pretty final job on the rabbits. While you're buying rabbit cartridges, you may want to buy a box of fox cartridges, just in case you cross paths with any. I keep a handful of Express 42g 1s around, and they pack a serious punch.

[ShaggyRS6]

So my Clay Carts will not do the jobby?

[henry d]

So my Clay Carts will not do the jobby?

 

 

NOPE

[JohnGalway]

I used to use 6's when I went wabbiting with the 12ga, knocked'em dead. Get close as you can. Clay carts aren't up to the job, better keep them for what they're meant for.

[ShaggyRS6]

I hear ya. Gonna get some Lead size 6 tomorrow. I'll keep the Steel for the permission I have that requires them.

[Ferret Master]

I have heard steel isn't great for rabbits and the like due to lack of penetration so only use them where you have to. I use 28g of 6's fibre wad through my 20 bore.

 

FM

[Night shooter]

So my Clay Carts will not do the jobby?

 

I use Express special pigeon 30gram shot 6, cheap to buy and they knock dead em if you put it in the right place.

Shot size 7 or 8 has quite got the knock down power.

[Soulboy]

Cupraman - Try Countryways in west malling,big warehouse with all the brands and prices are good too,I use Lyvale express 32g in 5s or 6s for rabbit about £32 for 250 i think.

[lurcherboy]

£132 for 1000 6.5 30grms rotties at Greenfields.

 

 

 

LB

[beatingisbest]

I use Clear Pigeons, they do the job.

[arjimlad]

I got some Eley VIP game no 5 30g for £32/250 which do a nice job.

 

I do prefer the size 5 when dealing with mr bunny rabbit, and they'll do on pigeon or pheasant as well should the opportunity arise (rarely on my shoot at the moment).

[stevethevanman]

Through my shotgun for rabbits I use Eley HB pigeon 32g 6 1/2 through 1/4 and 1/2 choke, I use the same cartridge for pigeons and all my vermin shooting bar geese and duck, you cant use clay carts for game, they dont pack enough punch.

 

Steve

[malkiserow]

HI Steve,

 

I've messed around with different cartridges but come back to what works well for me and my Miroku.... I use Express Pigeon Specials 30 gramms No 6 for all normal game shooting.

 

Duck I use heavier

Fox I use heavier

clays .... lighter

 

I would NEVER use No 8 on rabbit...... you need about 3 weighty bits of leadshot into somewhere serious for the bunny and No.6 will do the job well. 5 does it but more holes in the pattern.

 

Hope this helps

Malk

[john faul]

i use all sorts but i mostly use kent velocity 30g no.6 or bornaghi 36g no.5 both have brilliant results as well as on crows and any other vermin my gun has 1/2 choke ang 3/4 choke

[luckytrigger]

I use eley hb pidgeon 32g 6 1/2 for pidgeon/crow and rabbit they knock em dead and are fairly cheap..

[casts_by_fly]

Hi guys,

 

I'm a bit new to things here so I can only speak to how we used to hunt rabbits in the states. For us, most of the rabbit hunting was jump shooting, i.e. 1-5 guys walk in a line through some rabbit containing brush/brambles/etc. When the rabbits flush you snap shoot. For the most part, shots were 30 yd or less, sometimes as short as 15' (if you were quick). Sometimes we would have beages with us that would trail the rabbits that we didn't get shooting at. Normally the rabbits would run a wide circle to come back where they were jumped from. Once the dog was on a bunny, the shooters just stayed put and waited until the rabbit came back around.

 

For that type of hunting, we normally used 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 oz 3 3/4 dram loads (high brass) in either 6's or 7.5 shot. I understand that shot sizes run a little smaller here for the same numerical designation (i.e. UK #5 is closer to US #6). So by my estimations #6 UK would be about #7 US. For what we hunted that would be about perfect size shot for pattern and penetration. Rabbits aren't tough to kill by any stretch. Their skin is rather thin and their muscle fairly soft. I've used US #8 shot on them, but that was for closer range open shooting (ragweed and open woods) with open chokes (cylinder) to keep the pattern density up at range. It works just fine close, but I wouldn't use that size shot past 25 yd or so.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[stevethevanman]

an interesting link on shotgun shooting rabbits

 

Steve

[luckytrigger]

an interesting link on shotgun shooting rabbits

 

Steve

 

Thanks Steve interesting link

[malkiserow]

Thanks... a very interesting link. much of what he says rings true with me. I use express pigeon special on rabbits as my success rate it high with them... cannot explain why but some cartridges seem to put out a horrible pattern for me but seem to work for others..... I'll leave that argument alone.

[leeboy]

#6 will do it well enough and are my choice for alround use. But I prefer #5 32g if specifically targeting rabbits, I find fives do it more consistently.

 

Leeboy

[ShaggyRS6]

I ended up getting one box of #5 32g to try. But I bought a case of Game Bore #6 32g