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Hunting and Fishing Rifle, Shotgun, Handgun, Archery, Blackpowder Saltwater and Fresh Water

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  #1  
Old 09-26-2020, 5:14 PM
clembo clembo is offline
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Default Harvesting Rabbits with a 6.5cm Possible?

Because no one makes a non-lead .22 round accurate past 50yrds, I was wondering if it's possible to work up a 6.5cm load capable of taking out rabbits without completely obliterating them (as my primary concern is harvesting the meat). Generally where I'm hunting most shots are 75-100yards minimum. Anyone have any experience herein?

Thanks in advance.
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  #2  
Old 09-26-2020, 5:47 PM
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I’ve used a 243. Works fine. Kills them dead.

But I also have a low cost Savage in 17hmr that shoots lead free CCI very very well.
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Old 09-26-2020, 5:53 PM
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.17 HMR the idea is to "harvest" them not blow them up.
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Old 09-26-2020, 7:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by not-fishing View Post
.17 HMR the idea is to "harvest" them not blow them up.
That's what I figured. Would that I had a .17hmr. I'll stick to shorter shots with the copper cci .22 I suppose.
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Old 09-26-2020, 8:03 PM
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Get a .223 and load solid copper 55 gr. bullets are cheap.
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Old 09-26-2020, 8:08 PM
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You can take them with 6.5, 308, 30-06, 338. and even 50 BMG but why when you have better options.
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Old 09-26-2020, 8:13 PM
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Seems to me nearly any of the non-lead bullets you could use would likely fail to expand on a rabbit anyway, so, basically ideal?

Or just shoot them in the head.
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Old 09-26-2020, 8:34 PM
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Why not 300 Win Mag while you’re at it?
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  #9  
Old 09-26-2020, 8:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by taperxz View Post
Why not 300 Win Mag while you’re at it?
Because 338 Lapua or 50 BMG are much better options.

On another note, years ago I used to shoot jacks with 223 Brown bear and DRT ammo, headshots only.
Ones I saw a cottontail at about 70 yards and made a "lungs shot", just to see what happens. Later my daughter, who was present, called it "The fasted skinning in the world", because nothing was left beside the skin and ears attached.

..
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Old 09-26-2020, 8:50 PM
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.17 hmr is worth it. You will quickly pay for the 300$ savage you could use in the savings from shooting other, more expensive rounds. It’s a 100x better than a .22lr. Super accurate for bunnies but can still drop a yote.
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  #11  
Old 09-26-2020, 8:59 PM
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edit

Last edited by Mesa Defense; 11-24-2020 at 2:56 PM..
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Old 09-26-2020, 9:12 PM
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55 grain ttsx in an AR will do just fine. I wait for them to stop and aim for the eye.
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Old 09-27-2020, 5:06 AM
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Headshots
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  #14  
Old 09-27-2020, 7:13 AM
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Another vote for the .17hmr.
Good out past 100yd and super accurate.
Low price to pay for a dependable small game round that is Coyote capable
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Old 09-27-2020, 7:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fjold View Post
Headshots
Yup, shoot them in the head. Body hits with a 6.5 will turn them inside out.
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Old 09-27-2020, 8:03 AM
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+1 on the 17hmr, mine loves rabbits and squirrels
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Old 09-27-2020, 1:13 PM
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At least he didn't ask about shooting elk with an AR in .223
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Old 09-27-2020, 3:04 PM
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Shotgun, A2
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Old 09-27-2020, 3:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clembo View Post
....Generally where I'm hunting most shots are 75-100yards minimum..
Quote:
Originally Posted by USMCM16A2 View Post
Shotgun, A2
Probably not going to work well.
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Old 09-27-2020, 9:11 PM
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.177 quality air rifle will do the trick beautifully up to 100yrds, also many alloy pellet choices out there
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  #21  
Old 09-27-2020, 9:17 PM
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I noticed no one recommends 22 WMR. Is there anything wrong with it?
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Old 09-27-2020, 10:19 PM
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Quote:
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I noticed no one recommends 22 WMR. Is there anything wrong with it?
Lack of good non-lead ammo.
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Old 09-28-2020, 12:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clembo View Post
Because no one makes a non-lead .22 round accurate past 50yrds, I was wondering if it's possible to work up a 6.5cm load capable of taking out rabbits without completely obliterating them (as my primary concern is harvesting the meat). Generally where I'm hunting most shots are 75-100yards minimum. Anyone have any experience herein?

Thanks in advance.
I think you nailed it. You have identified the proper use of a 6.5. Rabbit to coyote sized game. OK small deer if you really want, but 6.5 for larger game is sick and wrong.
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Old 09-28-2020, 2:32 AM
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I have a bolt 17HMR op, Marlin I think... super accurate, pretty quiet (by comparison) perfect for rabbits and squirrels.
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Old 09-28-2020, 2:47 AM
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I have a .17mach II but non lead ammo is hard to come by. Very accurate out to 100 yards.
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Old 09-28-2020, 12:39 PM
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past 50 yards... Get closer.

Or have some fun with airguns. I've popped a few ground squirrels with my .22 PCP at 60-70 yards. I'm within MPBR out to about 50 yards &, after that, it's a matter of lobbing them in with the rangefinder's help. Quiet & very deadly on small game -- especially the 25 gr wadcutters.
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Old 09-28-2020, 1:08 PM
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Thank you! Lots of opinions -- many of them differing. But I believe most of you confirmed what I was already thinking: there's no 6.5cm load that won't destroy the meat. So until getting a .17hmr is in the cards for me, I'll stick to the few shots I can take within 50yrds with my .22.
Best!
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Old 09-28-2020, 6:24 PM
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Should be able to make a nice subsonic load with Trailboss. I would guess 8-10 grains but find some reliable data, the guys running cans have made alot of subsonic 6.5 creed loads.

Last edited by G-forceJunkie; 09-28-2020 at 6:27 PM..
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Old 09-28-2020, 7:25 PM
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Why can't you get under 50-yds for rabbits?
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Old 09-28-2020, 7:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boarhuntor View Post
Because 338 Lapua or 50 BMG are much better options.

On another note, years ago I used to shoot jacks with 223 Brown bear and DRT ammo, headshots only.
Ones I saw a cottontail at about 70 yards and made a "lungs shot", just to see what happens. Later my daughter, who was present, called it "The fasted skinning in the world", because nothing was left beside the skin and ears attached.

..
pfff

1 ounce slugs or go home.
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Old 09-29-2020, 12:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G-forceJunkie View Post
Should be able to make a nice subsonic load with Trailboss. I would guess 8-10 grains but find some reliable data, the guys running cans have made alot of subsonic 6.5 creed loads.
As an aside, I once shot a rabbit with a .45acp, loaded with 200gr lead SWC. Killed it dead, and did not damage much meat. Only about 850fps at the muzzle, so cruising at a very stately rate by the time it hit the bunny at 42 yards (was deer hunting, had a range finder on me ).

Of course this info is of no use to the OP as you can't use lead in CA anymore.... but to address the quote above, I can't see making a reduced load with Trailboss and a non-lead bullet. Lead - yes. But that is verboten ion CA.
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Old 09-30-2020, 12:10 PM
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The 17hmr lead free Hornady shoots extremely well about of my CZ. Sub MOA at 100 yards all day
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Old 09-30-2020, 12:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CWL View Post
Why can't you get under 50-yds for rabbits?
I was thinking the same thing. The few times a year I go out to specifically target rabbits, a gauge gun is in my hand. I lean towards the smaller gauges for cottontail (.410 and 28), but 20 is great too. Just depends on what I feel like carrying on a given day. 12 is generally overkill, but useable if you lead properly on running shots, and don’t hit them center mass.

12 auto loader (actually my duck gun) is my go-to for jacks.
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