A Look into Shotguns, Chokes, and Shot Size for Snowshoe Hare Hunting

[Grouse]

Helping make the choices in proper shotgun setups for snowshoe hare hunting including shot size and choke selection.

https://projectupland.com/small-game-hunting/rabbit-hunting/a-look-into-shotguns-chokes-and-shot-size-for-snowshoe-hare-hunting-2/?fbclid=IwAR2RewWw-svA1NnDeYdvNz1a-H-JHNQ1dqWYiXTSuuopZwKhq_35gXDHPck

[Culvercreek hunt club]

We always ran 12's or 20's with Mod chokes and #4's

[Splitear]

When I was hunting cottontails over dogs, I would usually use a 20 or 12 shooting 6's with a Modified. One of the 20's I used had a fixed Improved Cylinder and it did fine. The only misses I ever had were my own fault, and I can't remember ever really tearing up the rabbit too much. 

 

[airedale]

Most on my small game hunting including Rabbits and Hare when using a shotgun has been with 20 ga and #6 shot which for me has been best for all around. I have to disagree with the fellow's opinion about using Rimfires for hunting when using dogs. When hunting Hare many times I carried just my Colt Woodsman 22 and I killed a lot of Hare with that gun limiting out on numerus occasions. Safety is all about the individual practicing safe gun handling and taking safe shots, I have never even been close to having an incident endangering my Dogs from errant shooting.

Al

Edited January 21, 2021 by airedale

[Splitear]

4 minutes ago, airedale said:

Most on my small game hunting including Rabbits and Hare when using a shotgun has been with 20 ga and #6 shot which for me has been best for all around. I have to disagree with the fellow's opinion about using Rimfires for hunting when using dogs. When hunting Hare many times I carried just my Colt Woodsman 22 and I killed a lot of Hare with that gun limiting out on numerus occasions. Safety is all about the individual practicing safe gun handling and taking safe shots, I have never even been close to having an incident endangering my Dogs from errant shooting.

Al

I remember my dad telling a guy to leave and never ask to go hunting again when he took a "brush" shot amongst the dogs. It was a guy he worked with who wanted to go with us. He really set things off by shooting a squirrel that day while we were rabbit hunting, but when he shot around the dogs...I don't know that I had ever seen my dad so mad. Fortunately none of the dogs were hit, but you are correct, safety is all about the individual.

[Pygmy]

For hares I have always used my 20 side/side  with 25"  bbls choked IC and mod  with an ounce of #6's....

If I were using a single barrel gun, it would be choked IC.....Most shots are close and hares are not hard to kill....

[Culvercreek hunt club]

1 hour ago, airedale said:

Most on my small game hunting including Rabbits and Hare when using a shotgun has been with 20 ga and #6 shot which for me has been best for all around. I have to disagree with the fellow's opinion about using Rimfires for hunting when using dogs. When hunting Hare many times I carried just my Colt Woodsman 22 and I killed a lot of Hare with that gun limiting out on numerus occasions. Safety is all about the individual practicing safe gun handling and taking safe shots, I have never even been close to having an incident endangering my Dogs from errant shooting.

Al

 

I think a lot about the firearm and shot size selection has to be determined by how the dogs work as well. I loved hunting over my Uncle's dogs when he ran short hounds that worked nice and slow. Often the hares would hop and stop and stand up to listen for the dogs. A rim fire would work great there. He also had a par years before that you were shooting at a white laser line becasue the dogs were pushing so fast...lol. 

[eaglemountainman]

Slightly off topic and I apologize. I've recently decided to get back into small game hunting, particularly bunnies, partridge and pheasants. I also decided that I want my 20ga to be my everything gun. The problem is that it's an old Beretta AL-2 with a fixed  I/C tube. So, I decided to send my barrel off to be threaded for interchangeable chokes. After some searching on the interwebs and some very favorable reviews, I landed on Steve Rose at Rose Action Sports in Ky. For $170, including return shipping, he's going to cut the threads and supply Tru-Chokes in I/C, Mod and Full. The chokes alone go for $20 apiece on the internet. I'm thinking that's a very reasonable price. I might also look around at some extra tight turkey tubes. Any suggestions for those would be more than welcome. 

I'll be sure to follow up once I receive the barrel back and get a chance to pattern each choke. Again, I didn't mean to hijack. I would not be offended if the post was deleted. I just thought there might be others interested in doing the same.

Edited January 21, 2021 by eaglemountainman

[Shoots100]

1oz 7-1/2, mod choke in my 20 ga for decades, until I started using a 28ga, using the same load and choke.

I was told to use 6 or 4 shot, but ended up blowing the crap out of them, or wounding them with one errant pellet.

Upland or fur,  1oz of 7-12 does the trick.

Try it, you'll like it.

LEAD ­ Weight of Shot in Ounces ( Grams ) ( 3% ANTIMONY )
Shot Size	1/2 (14.17)	11/16 (19.49)	3/4 (21.25)	7/8 (24.80)	1 (28.35)	1­1/8 (31.89)	1­1/4 (35.44)	1­3/8 (38.98)	1­1/2 (42.52)	1­5/8 (46.06)	1­7/8 (53.15)	2 (56.70)	2­1/4 (63.78)
9	292	402	439	512	585	658	731	804	877	951	1097	1170	1316
8½	249	342	373	435	497	559	621	683	745	808	932	994	1118
8	205	282	307	359	410	461	512	564	615	666	769	820	922
7½	175	241	262	306	350	394	437	481	525	569	656	700	787
6	112	155	169	197	225	253	281	309	337	366	422	450	506
5	85	117	127	149	170	191	212	234	255	276	319	340	382
4	67	93	101	118	135	152	169	186	202	219	253	270	304
2	43	60	65	76	87	98	109	120	130	141	163	174	196
BB	25	34	37	44	50	56	62	69	75	81	94	100	112