This page preserves a discussion thread from the original AirgunOne.com community forum, active from 2008 until the site went offline. It's republished here for reference, in full, including the community banter. If you're a contributor to this thread and would like something removed or credited differently, contact info@airgunguide.com.
The Question
HunterT wrote: "Recently I've been having rabbit problems, and besides me finding them quite tasty, rabbits also find my trees extremely tasty and they are tearing them apart. I live in west Alaska so not a lot of trees. Because of this I've decided to start hunting rabbits more often. I've been reading articles and looking around for a good rabbit airgun since I only have a Pumpmaster 760 and a 1377 (Could I just use the 1377?). I can't make up my mind on what airgun to get. I need one that's reasonably quiet and preferably a break barrel. What rifles work good for you when you hunt rabbits? I've read that you need roughly 10-15 ft/lbs of kinetic energy to bring down a rabbit and other similarly sized game."
Community Discussion
Pete wrote: "Hi... there are just so many choices... but any .22 that shoots 800fps or more will be ok out to 30m plus... pete"
Shuvel wrote: "I like to hunt them right before dark. They are more active around then (usually). I haven't hunted them with my pellet gun yet but,....I have brought a few in for lunch with my 10/22 Ruger."
"The next couple of weeks I'm going to try my hand with my new disco on the rabbits, They are delicious, especially cooked with turnips. Ive been killing squirrels in my yard with the disco and I usually get between 10 and 30 yards (eye measurements). A rabbit, I believe would be a lot easier to do in. Good luck and happy hunting. Roy"
Chortdraw wrote: "I have stopped them with a Daisy 880 and any other pellet gun. They are easy to kill. Your 1377 should do the trick if you can shoot it accurately enough. The power will depend on how far you want to shoot them. The 177 will do the job but the 22 will add to the shock so you can get about any of these at WalMart, if you have one there? Save a tree...eat a rabbit!! Of course that saying can be used several ways....grin."
headhunter wrote: "If you're going to be shooting at them from 30 yards or more you might want to look into something rated at 1000 fps in .177, or about 800 in .22. I really only plug the guns I have so the opinion is based on hands on experience, but a Remington Genesis or a Crosman Quest in either caliber it comes in would easily fit the bill. The Genny comes with a better scope too I'm pretty sure."
BirdofPrey wrote: "Any of the ones listed below in my signature will do the trick!"
headhunter wrote: "Haha, yeah same here, anything listed in the signature has taken a rabbit except for the B3."
Freysman wrote: "This one here seems to do the trick."
Donny wrote: "buy my 1377 carbine, rabbits in my neighborhood hate it, shes got a lot of experience dancing with wabbits. Willing to negotiate the price also."
Pete wrote (quoting headhunter's post above): "Hey if yer have a Remington Genesis...Yer need look no ferther in .177. They are deadly little buggers...Can't understand why more people don't have one..."
"and that other gun with the bunny's that was posted..Is also mine.. ywr won't buy one of them...Its a SPA B11..ALL the insides have been replaced..it has a full length guide system...thats why it has the exstention for the giude to slide in when cocked..."
"Or just buy a Career Infinity .22 & whack every bunny in the district..."
diarmadhim wrote: "any idea where to get an infinity in .22, Pete? I had looked for them but couldn't find anyone.... Very nice guns, seems like they should/could have been more popular over here..."
Pete wrote (quoting diarmadhim's post above): "I don't think they are made any more... have never seen or heard of another in NZ...think I may have the only one here..."
ranedouglas wrote: "i can ship you a .22 caliber webley jaguar for $90-95. they shoot .22 rws superpoints around 770 fps. i would not recommend any .177 unless it is shooting 850 fps or better....and then, you have to be a damn good shot because you'll need head shots to extract these garden bandits humanely (a clean, one-shot kill). you will have a deadly 40 yard range w/ an airgun that shoots .22 cal over 750 fps. i specialize in airguns used for hunting and pest control. i will help you if you'd like. i would stay away from .177 unless you're aiming to kill something w/ feathers. - paul."
ranedouglas wrote (quoting Pete's earlier post): "we should have an 800+ club, or a 20ftlb+ club. 800 in .22 (20 ftlbs) seems to be very effective. - paul d self of rane air."
headhunter wrote (quoting Pete's post above): "The same thought occurs every time I pick mine up. Even before tuning it was a dream to shoot, and damn close to 50 yards away I was consistantly (5 shots 3 birds standing semi rested) knocking birds out of a tree that were a little smaller than a sparrow."
"If you have the money a Genesis is a great choice, especially cause they tune up so well. Mine is about 6 years old now and still kicks ass."
HunterT wrote: "Sorry for taking awhile to respond, but work kept me away. Chortdraw mentioned that I could shoot rabbits with a 1377. Since I could use a 1337 I was thinking of making a shoulder stock (copying lampy's design) and getting scope mounts for my 1377, then putting on a longer barrel (can you get longer barrels for a 1377?)."
DRIFTER wrote: "I can say the Benji XL's will fill your bill for rabbit's at 30+ yard's an they just started letting go the .25 cal version's (They can stay cock while hunting also)."
headhunter wrote: "Hell the Benji XL will punch through just about any animal at even 50 yards! I body shot a squirrel from about 40 and it went right through with a loud thud, little guy never even took a step. If you can handle the raw power of the gun though it does make it easy to reach out and take a poke at farther targets."
Tags
rabbit hunting · pest control · remington genesis · crosman quest · webley jaguar · benjamin xl