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What bullet choice do you guys use on hares?
I've always used cci subs, but I think i need a bit more stopping power. Volume isn't an issue as im shooting out of the ute.
I had a hare last week, which had a few bullet holes and still wasn't dead. I try to do good clean ethical shots but have had a few get hit at least once and run off.
I might go to a cci velocitor as the bullet is heavier and is moving faster.
Thoughts?
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I would choose accurate ammunition over other considerations. I've never seen any small game walk away from a headshot with CCI Subsonic.
I stopped using rimfire ammo and went up to centrefire. Don't think any have escaped since.
223 with 40g V Max never had a follow up to do on hares
Years ago when I was getting rabbits & hares I found that the 22LR lacked stopping power with the hares and I lost the od one or they would take off for a bit. I switched to 22 magnum for them which worked better for me.
I have a video somewhere of a hare I shot with my 9.3x62 and 300 grain Swift A frames
Seemed sufficient for the job at 50m
Hares can be pretty tough. Might be worth trying the segmented 22 rounds, if they’re still available.
Waaay back in the 80s before Winchester put out the PowerPoint loading.we used to open out nose cavity with a twirl of a 3_4" nail poked in there. Works as well today as it did back then. The crappy harder projectiles we getting now aren't helping your cause. Keep shots forward will help a LOT.
Yeah the old powerpoints worked well.
Seem to remember the kilwell cobra did too. That was repackaged winchester but don't know what sort
I would pick "Power Point" if you're going to stick to 22LR. But if you want to try something different, go 22 Hornet with 40gr V-Max, brilliant!! I was down in the Haka for 10 or so years and found that the ranges had expanded for small game from 50 metres to 150, so the 22LR didn't quite reach out far enough. So, because I like reloading, I went for the Hornet, normal 45gr soft nose would pass though without expansion, but with the 40gr V-Max and a bit of speed, perfect. I used it on rabbits though to wallabies.
Ahhh, the old adage comes to mind "There's no limit on how gently you can swing a bigger hammer, but sooner or later you can never hit hard enough with a small one!"Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
Was going to suggest 22 hornetQuote:
Originally Posted by Lambie
jingos Guys knocking them over with 18g pellets at 920 fps at 60M. Thats 1 third of the grunt of a 22lr.
It's about accuracy, head shots, all day.
If I want more 17hmr to double that & 223 double it again.
Attachment 266887
You gotta shoot them in the eye
Attachment 266893
Yeah with the one i recovered he had a shot to the back of the head, but that may have been the final shot.
Which power point? Is the old stuff the good stuff?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...caa7ff8b42.jpg
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I know my accuracy was a bit off as im trying something different with my scope setup. However, i would have though 3 rounds in a hare would stop it, even if they were poor shots.
Adding a bit of speed and weight will help, as would the accuracy.
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I always used the old orange packet 30 years ago and they worked pretty good on hares and possums within 50m.
Older orange packet is much better than the newer harder stuff
I got one of the 22lr Resizing/Hollow Pointing Tools from SixtyTen, and applied to the new 42gn Winchester powerpoint projectiles. Accuracy improved, as did the stopping power. Projectiles now mushroom out significantly.
You can even hear the difference when they hit an animal.
If you don't reload, then it's not an avenue to explore. It also takes a while to process a brick of ammo.
Attachment 266901
Pulled from a rabbit shot at 70m
270 loaded with 110 grain - knocks them dead every time - and phenomenally accurate out at 3-400 yards - you can never have to much gun.
I've always found hares to be fairly fragile - subsonic .22lr works just fine.
As ever, accuracy is the most important thing.
Leave the hares alone ya vandals. :)
They are the most fascinating creatures. If they aren't causing any trouble I leave them in peace.
When I was young and reckless that orange pkt Winchester worked a treat. If I was to shoot them now I would use my 17HMR.
I like the idea of opening up the front of the projectile, but doesnt that reduct the weight of it?
With the moving to centrefire, nothing can be too dead, but it does up the cost of some fun spotlighting.
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Go the orange box PowerPoint.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rn-85
Yeah, I'm always amazed at hares. Stunning creatures. Coolest animals. Cunning & smart. Probably one of my favorite animals. Hard to think they are related to rabbits apart from the obvious.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
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I use orange box PowerPoint and rarely (can’t remember last time) ever needed a second shot into a hare, I keep my hare shooting range to under 75 yards.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rn-85
But they taste so good!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
Nope,weight not being changed,the hollow cavity is just being expanded by pushing walls outwards. Grab a nail,do ten and try it for yourself...you have nothing to loose,and keep aim forwards on hare. If you do the maths of hare Vs deer Vs projectile weight you would need a cannon on deer to be in same ballpark.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rn-85
Okay, that makes sense. But does the nail meathod affect consistency/accuracy?Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
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Using a nail without the ability to guarantee concentricity and depth of said nail into the projectile, will no doubt cause a change to the consistency.
The pointing tool takes care of all of that, and pushes the projectile width out to a more consistent diameter than you get with the factory ammo.
But if you are not shooting 100+ meters with your 22lr, giving it a try might be worth it.
I've been shooting them with subs as well, shot placement definitely important. But also checking the numbers, the powerpoint has the same energy at 100m as the subsonic does at the muzzle. I've picked up some Aguila Intercepter 22lr to try for shots over 100m, 40gr bullet at 1400+ fps, zero for the subsonic is 60m and using the Interceptor, zero is 100m without touching the scope. My first holdover mark takes that to 120m, so will be trying it for the longer shots... that's if I don't take my 222 instead next time..
p.s. if you want a few packets of the old Aussie made Rabbit ammo to try (similar to PowerPoint?) I've got a few packets I could sell you - seems to shoot to same POI as the Powerpoint (Aussie one). $16 per packet...
Have you ever looked at box of .22lr and compared the hollow points??? Some full of wax,some half full some empty... All the nail does is clean it out and open it a bit more( or a lot of your so inclined) I don't use .22lr at hundy yards,infact I usually stick to under fifty,always have done so....the .12ga removes all doubt about hare dieing quickly under fourty yards and .223 or 22-250 over fifty out to maybe 300. My .22s get neglected as centre fire is just more fun but anytime I do use 22 stuff dies just fine. Try ten and make up your own mind,costs you nothing.
Can't say I've ever had an issue with hares or rabbit, other than bullets that didn't expand.
If you were gut shooting them, then you can expect issues.
I've had issues with different hollow points not expanding, basically a solid which unless you head shot them won't kill instantly.
The 38gr Eley Subs have been the best killing 22 bullet I've found recently, the 42gr Winchester was terrible for a while.
Or of course a bigger round, 17hmr, 22wmr, 223 etc, but unless you are shooting them 150yards away I don't think it's necessary.
There is a machinist in Auckland that has made a die that expands the hollow point on.22s. It doesn't remove material so weight is the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rn-85
I have one, works good.
Farken 'el...Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
I hear and have it on good authority that .338LM works suitably well on hares too, suitably effective.
Solids are far superior to hollow point .22 ammo for hares. Hares are tough wee animals, and the expansion of HP's does severe wound damage without penetrating to the vitals resulting in slow painful deaths. Subsonic solids are the easiest to find (.22 target ammo) and work well giving quick humane kills. High speed solids give better range but are harder to find. Give them a try and see for yourselves.
I'm looking for a chance to try these on them next time. 55g RN .224 bullet, nose flattened with a small hollow point (using a small centre drill in the lathe), travelling at 1020 fps. Quieter than my 900 fps springer air rifle in a side by side comparison (son was shooting the air rifle), with the DPT suppressor on the rifle. Though now tempted to make some faster ones too, but pretty sure wouldn't want to exceed maybe 1800 fps.
Bullets are H&N 55gr RN, copper then polymer coated. The primer is the most expensive part of the cartridge, works out about 40c per shot.
Attachment 266944
I've got some of these to try for the longer range shots next time I'm out with the 22lr. Sounds like they might be the go following your advice, if they are accurate enough. (I'll be trying them at the 100m range first) https://broncos.co.nz/ammunition/rim...rounds-1470fpsQuote:
Originally Posted by gundoc
Cci Stingers were always my go to, as long as they grouped ok.
Nice choice of whisky there!: @bjp :D
