.22 hunting rifles?

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    Active Member
    Nov 30, 2012
    624
    Don't forget about CZ. Excellent out of box accuracy.
     

    F-Stop

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 16, 2009
    2,484
    Cecil County
    There is some good info from U.K. based YouTube channels on rabbit hunting. I've seen many use bolt or single shot 22lr rifles with subsonic ammunition as to not disrupt the meat as much when food is important.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    Some use up to .32 cal Rook Rifles for the same reason

    If I can get my hands on a chrono I'd be curious trying something like 180gr .40 XTP in my .50 cal muzzleloader sitting on something like 5-10gr of FFFg 777. A magnum 209 primer is enough to push a 300gr bullet out of the muzzle at about 280FPS. I'd think with 5-10gr if powder you'd probably get around 800-1000FPS.

    Could be an interesting way to hunt rabbits.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I had a .40 caliber muzzle loader with a Green Mountain barrel that I built many years ago to hunt small game. The .40 cal round ball is extremely accurate and doesn't destroy meat like a modern bullet.

    I had better eyes in those days and made many head shots. :thumbsup:
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    If I can get my hands on a chrono I'd be curious trying something like 180gr .40 XTP in my .50 cal muzzleloader sitting on something like 5-10gr of FFFg 777. A magnum 209 primer is enough to push a 300gr bullet out of the muzzle at about 280FPS. I'd think with 5-10gr if powder you'd probably get around 800-1000FPS.

    Could be an interesting way to hunt rabbits.

    Just load down until you don't hear a sharp crack for a report, might get you where you want to be. Itl take me a couple of no11 caps to do the same thing with a tight fitting patch and ball when I :innocent0forget to add powder.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    Just load down until you don't hear a sharp crack for a report, might get you where you want to be. Itl take me a couple of no11 caps to do the same thing with a tight fitting patch and ball when I :innocent0forget to add powder.

    Huh, good point. Reminds me of watching a video of some "subsonic" IMI .308. First round was obviously loud, but subsonic. Next two broke the sound barrier and had an obvious sharp crack.

    Actually I hadn't considered .40 ball. I wonder if it would stablize properly in a sabot. Only way it would work out of my .50 ML. I know they make .40 sabots for .50 MLs
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    My current muzzle loaders are 1 in 48 twist and they will stabilize a ball if you don't shoot it too fast. With 60 gns of powder, you can get competition size groups from patched ball.

    I know that sabot twists are usually up around 1 in 20 or so. Try lighter charges and see how it does.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,673
    My current muzzle loaders are 1 in 48 twist and they will stabilize a ball if you don't shoot it too fast. With 60 gns of powder, you can get competition size groups from patched ball.

    I know that sabot twists are usually up around 1 in 20 or so. Try lighter charges and see how it does.

    Now I have a project for the spring :)
     

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