Small Game Hunting With Centerfire Cartridges

[DMW1116]

The only real hunting I’ve done has been small game: rabbits and squirrels. 22 LR is generally considered adequate and 17 and 22 magnum is certainly going to do the job.

However I’ve heard of people hunting rabbits with 38 Special or even 9mm loads below 1100 fps. One thread here even had the author loading 30-30 with a buckshot ball and taking squirrel. While I’m sure it’s effective, does it cause excessive damage? Is this a common thing to do? Is the Ruger PCC capable of doubling as a small game rifle for things in the bigger side of small game?

As an extension to the point of absurd, would something like subsonic 300 BO or a cast load from a 30-30 be feasible?

 

[HB]

Ive shot squirrels with a 38 Special. They do a lot more damage than a .22 pistol. I think rimfire is all you want or need. The .38 made a mess but still edible. I loaded up some wadcutters in .357 cases today. I’ll try them on rabbits next fall. Rabbits head is a bigger target and they sit still longer.

 

[brewer12345]

I've shot rabbits with 38 special out of a rifle. It was a modestly powered (maybe 800fps) flat nosed round with a plated bullet (no hollow point) and it just made a 36 cal hole through the rabbit. More than enough to do the job, no excess damage. If you are using something more powerful it had better be a headshot.

 

[Bazoo]

Unfortunately, I can't hunt small game with centerfire in the state of Kentucky. I would love to though, because it's somewhat traditional to hunt everything with 1 rifle.

 

[Show Me]

The only real hunting I’ve done has been small game: rabbits and squirrels. 22 LR is generally considered adequate and 17 and 22 magnum is certainly going to do the job.

However I’ve heard of people hunting rabbits with 38 Special or even 9mm loads below 1100 fps. One thread here even had the author loading 30-30 with a buckshot ball and taking squirrel. While I’m sure it’s effective, does it cause excessive damage? Is this a common thing to do? Is the Ruger PCC capable of doubling as a small game rifle for things in the bigger side of small game?

As an extension to the point of absurd, would something like subsonic 300 BO or a cast load from a 30-30 be feasible?

Try it you'll like it. A cast .38 105 swc works for small animals.
Bring what you can accurately shoot

 

[plumberroy]

Lee soup can bullet 113 grains at 1000-1050 FPS out of a 30-30 punches a clean hole through a squirrel and is quieter than HV 22 lr

 

[Frulk]

I hunted squirrels early in the season with a Ruger MK 2 .22 with a 6.5 inch barrel and adjustable target sights. It was ideal for those EARLY season distances.

With a 9mm in a carbine you should do at least as well as I did with the Ruger. You will however have to focus more on head shots to preclude excessive waste/damage of meat. Same goes with a .38 even at reduced FPS.

Squirrel hunting with a handgun is some of the most fun you can have this side of legal.

 

[DMW1116]

I load 148 gr HBWC into 357 cases for target loads but they’re definitely accurate enough for squirrel and rabbit.

How about pest control? I have an opossum that hangs out and steals food from my dog. Surely a mild 38 or 9mm would be adequate. I load 9mm with 135 grain cast LRN bullets to about 900 fps for target loads in my M&P9. They are a little bigger than rabbits.

 

[jmr40]

Most people don't set out to go small game hunting with centerfire cartridges. Sometimes they take small game when the opportunity presents itself and a centerfire cartridge is all they have. Some people will down load a few cartridges to keep with them just in case the chance comes up.

There are shotshell's available for most of the common handgun cartridges. I've heard of guys loading 30-30, 308, or even 30-06 with lightweight bullets and loading them to 30 carbine levels. The 35 Rem and 35 Whelen can be loaded to 38 Special levels with lighter bullets.

 

[jmorris]

I think squirrel would be a better with a sub 300 than deer...

 

[Armored farmer]

Ruger PCC capable of doubling as a small game rifle for things in the bigger side of small game?

Just a thought from outside of the box.

A .22lr conversion kit can turn your 5.56mm AR into a .22 quickly. I have enjoyed mine.

 

[Anchorite]

I don't pursue small game exclusive to other game, but I did once try varmint hunting with one of my 1911s.

Using a rabbit distress mouth call I had a coyote respond. Popped him dead center chest with a 185gr JHP and he dropped in his tracks. That was with open sights and some 30 years ago in my younger days.

With todays available optics it might be far easier to indulge.

 

[usaral63]

Killed a ton of snowshoes with my old flat top .44..............head shots with rn specials & even body shots w/ little damage. Good for ptarmagin too.

 

[M65Man]

Speaking for the 30-30 because I have plenty experience with it, yes you can! And even more so by using Cast Bullets, which I don't, but know full well how versatile they make the 30-30. But I'm in KY, and not too many years ago, they outlawed any centerfire cartridge for small game, BS!
But there's a number of jacketed Bullets very suitable for "mouse fart" loads.
Just for instance I have one with a 110gr bullet that I've gotten as low as (?memory not checked my notes?) I'm sure 1400fps, probably less. Accuracy was very good, but POI was off. I need to work on that and raise it until accuracy & POI come together for my sights! But you can do even better with cast, plus plenty shooting with little wear on the barrel!
But I loved the feel of the days of packing one rifle for all game, being able to reload one rifle for such!

 

[DMW1116]

My current 30-30 loads are nearly exclusively cast 135 and 165 grain RNFP over light charges of H335 or W231. They shoot accurately and are doing 22 Interceptor level velocity, but with a bullet 3-4 times heavier. I have some jacketed full power loads but they aren’t fun to shoot unless I need that power level.

 

[bearcreek]

Just a word of caution on this. Heavier, center fire bullets are potentially going to be more dangerous when shot up in the air like you might be doing for squirrels. How much of an issue that might be is going to depend on where you're hunting. Something to keep in mind.

 

[dagger dog]

22 Hornet loaded with 13 grs. Lil' Gun topped off with a 30 gr. Barnes varmint grenade doesn't leave a head on a squirrel and not much on rabbits or ground hogs, you can load it down 3 1/2 grs Unique and a 55 gr. 225415 Lyman without the gas check and replicate a 22 mag. Can't use a centerfire on small game here in Hoosier land either.

 

[CraigC]

If it's a .38 or bigger, folks tend to use round nose bullets and light loads. IMHO, there are no finer small game cartridges than the small centerfires like the .22Hornet, .2118 Bee, .25-20 and .32-20. It's rather idiotic that some states don't allow them.

 

[DMW1116]

Is that you mention those I remember I do have a load for 223 that mimics a hot 22 Hornet and also cycles my 20” AR. I need to work up another with a soft point bullet, as the one I have is an FMJ load.

 

[horsey300]

Is that you mention those I remember I do have a load for 223 that mimics a hot 22 Hornet and also cycles my 20” AR. I need to work up another with a soft point bullet, as the one I have is an FMJ load.

Sub 300s should be a great place to start, slow is going to be key here, in .223 I've done some small game and tons of varmint, and my rule of thumb is, if it's edible and impact velocity will be above 1900 fps, aim for the head/neck. I ran a 9mm white box hp out of a carbine YEARS ago... and I should have taken better aim at the head, wasn't much left of peter rabbit that day.... remember pistol bullets at pistol speeds will do pistol bullet things....at higher speeds, they do artillery things.... One of my favorites has been a .327 fed mag running the 85 gr hps at around 1400ish out the muzzle (lipseys single7) at 40ish yds, it's quite a bunny gitter, but would REALLY like to start loading 120s for such forays to reduce damage somewhat when the rabbits happen to be too close for these mini 'nades. .38 xtp hollowpoints on a rather large raccoon from a 3" barrel, on the other hand, proved disappointing, the Matt's bullets 147gr (iirc?) Hp is MUCH better suited to the task. I'd have said the xtp is a good eating load because it just pencils through, but the Matt's is what I'd use on the possum.

 

[Patocazador]

I've shot blue grouse with a .38 Colt Detective Special and killed a cottontail with a Ruger Old Army .....



But this is all you really need for small game:



Ruger Standard .22

 

[buck460XVR]

Make sure you check your local games laws. Around here, you cannot shoot game birds or small game such as rabbits/squirrels with centerfire calibers.

 

[Laphroaig]

Hammond Game Getters can make any centerfire rifle small game capable.

https://gamegetter.ca/operation/instruction.html

Just to prove that it could be done, I shot a squirrel with my 30-06. I load .311 cast wheel weight balls with green .22 nail gun cartridges. Similar energy to .22 LR and minute of squirrel head out to 30 yds.

 

[Patocazador]

Do nail gun cartridges use black powder? Are they corrosive like .22 blank acorn caps?

 

[Laphroaig]

Do nail gun cartridges use black powder? Are they corrosive like .22 blank acorn caps?

{ don't think so. Definitely not black powder.