[Guest]

I love hunting small game with my revolvers. My favorite combo is a Model 19 loaded with Ultramax .38 158gr.SWC standard velocity(800fps). Cottontails to armadillos have fallen to this combo. Puches a good hole through and through and makes it easy to clean the game since they are not torn up. You?

 

[Guest]

I have fun going after the small stuff with a Cimmaron/Uberti replica of the Remington New Model Army. It's packed with 35 grains of Goex 3f and a Hornady round ball with a Wonder Wad in between. My last cottontail, though, fell to a full 44 mag handload. Headshot, of course, at 22 yards. I wasn't "hunting" rabbits, it's just the handgun I had on me at the time.

 

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I usually carry my Taurus 92 in 9mm loaded with WWB solids for headshots on small game.

I got rid of the Ruger Super Single Six in a very stupid move and plan to get another once my centerfire collection is rounded out. This is my true small game preference.

Josh <><

 

[jimhigginbotham]

I guess I am a bit mundane here but mine is a .22. Usually shooting the RWS subsonic HP.

Of course over here on the eastern side of the Mississippi all we have is Squirrels, cottontails and birds in the small game category. There are various small pests but the .22 works for the smallest and the coyotes have taken care of the woodchuck investation.

I have had a recent war with racoons raiding the chickens and found that a .22 LRHP (Stinger) in the right place was superior to a 9mm 100 gr Power Ball about 2" too far back (big surprise). It was also superior to a .223 Federal Frangible in the right place which was actually a shock.

I had high hopes for a Colt Cobra in .32 New Colt Police but unfortunately so far my handloads are no competiton for my pre-war 4" woodsman in .22...not even close.

I have shot small game with centerfires over the years. 38 in a 6" K-38 and a Giles 1911 match gun, 9mm in a match tuned Browning, .45 in a number of 1911s (the 200 H&G is good on small game but so is the .38 WC), the .41 Mag with a 210 swc does not tear up much meat either.

So any of them will do with accurate loads but if I am just after small game it is my old standby .22 pistol. I have seen a few jackrabbits out west but never shot one. I figure they would be a good reason to explore a decent center fire.

Happy Trails!
Jim

 

[16gauge]

I'm mundane also......I use a Ruger MkII standard auto with adjustable Millet sights and CCI minimag HPs.

 

[adobewalls]

I've probably used more el cheapo Federal lightnings for small game from a handgun than any other. I prefer CCI Mini Mag HP's though. I've also taken small game with cast semi wadcutters of 150-158 grains in .38 Special handloads too. Even one deer fell to a 150 SWC over about 4.5 grains of 231 out of a 4" Ruger. I don't consider the .38 caliber stuff to be "excessive" on small game if a non expanding cast bullet is used. Works well but not really any more destructive than a .22.AW

 

[zeke]

Hopeful (as the one i plan to try out in this role and concentrate with) favorite is a Ruger 6 1/2 in 32 mag with adj sites. Very light weight and accurate for that long sight radius.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there all,

I guess I have to be mundane as well.

CCI High Velocity Hollow Point .22 Long Rifle in my open sighted Ruger Single Six with the 6 1/2 tube. They have worked so well that I haven't even thought of using the .22 Winchester Magnum cylinder that came with the gun new.

The .22 magnum will be left for the fall when I go fox hunting in Virginia.

Chris

 

[Guest]

Gents,

Lots of good posts on this thread.

I have to weigh in with Jim and carolinaman. I'm pretty mundane, too. I use a Ruger MK II Stainless that has been tuned, integral suppressor fitted, and finished in Norrel's grey/black moly coat finish. Darn thing sounds like a pellet rifle and shoots nice tight groups at 25 yards.
As a young boy my packing pistol was a Ruger Bearcat .22. At a total of 17 ounces it was my "big" medicine. Can't begin to remember all the game that fell to it. It was exellent companion for the kid that spent most of his free time in the woods. Still have it...after all, I have a grandson...;-)

Wes