rabbit hunting

[Dave]

Guys I just started rabbit hunting a few years ago. I hunted this year and got 3 rabbits. My question is how far can a 12 ga. shotgun shoot and be effective . Most of the rabbits I shot are at close range within 20 yards. I have seen rabbits further out but don't shoot, so how far a distance can one shoot and still kill a rabbit.

Dave

[Pygmy]

What choke is your barrel and  what loads you are using...??...

Rabbits are easy to kill.. It only takes a few #6 pellets to kill one...

A 12 gauge gun with a modified choke and a field load  of # 6 shot ( 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 oz.) most guns will kill a rabbit cleanly out to 40 yards or so... A full choke gun will do the same out to around 50 yards, and an improved cylinder choke will kill them from 30-35 yards..

[Dave]

Pygmy. I use a modified chock  and use 12 ga 7 1/2 "s

Dave

[Pygmy]

With that combo you should be good to about 35-40 yards....That's further than the average shot at a rabbit, considering the heavy cover they prefer... One way to be sure is to pattern your gun...If you can put 6-8 pellets in a six inch circle at a given range, say 40 yards, that's plenty good enough coverage to kill a bunny rabbit..

I have shot plenty of bunnies with 7 1/2, but it leaves a few too many pellets in the eating meat for me , so I prefer #6 shot..  I have tried heavier shot, such as #4  to reduce meat damage..It kills them well, but the bigger pellets seem to drag a lot of hair into the shot wounds... Sixes seem to be the best compromise for me..

[Dave]

Pygmy, thanks for the info.

Dave

[sweet old bill]

number 6 for browns and number 4 for hares....

[NYBowhunter]

I use # 6 express for both cottontails and snowshoe's, have in the past killed hare out to 50 yards.