Rabbit hunting: I'm doing this wrong

I recommend using .50 cal incendiary rounds, a dinner is ready in a manner of seconds.

But personally I would never hunt a bunny with .177 going 600fps.

I think .22 is more viable for hunting once the power level is decent, as it does not need as much speed to compare to .177.
Also, the heavier .22 packs a punch at a longer distance than .177.

Use this! I have many head shots on rabbits with my pellet pistol, instant kills.

I do think you may be a bit under gunned for what you're trying to do, but all the power in the world is worthless if you can't hit your target.

When you say accurate are we talking tin cans or acorn sized targets? The 'marble' of a rabbit brain cavity is about the size of a quarter.

If you have to use what you've got you'll need to get closer-I'd try to stay within 15 yards with a low powered gun like that, and 10 yards would be even better. Out here in California our Cottontails are tiny compared to the big Eastern ones. A lot of my shots are in heavy brush within 10-15 yards. If you're using a scope you must often hold high on the very close shots, so make sure you practice a lot at different distances before you hit the woods..

You should place your shot between the eye and the ear for instant kills. This is simpler when the rabbit is in profile to you. Resist the temptation to take a difficult shot and wait for a better angle.

If you try different pellets make sure they're accurate in your gun and make sure you're zeroed in. Different brands and weights of pellets will have different points of impact, so check your zero when trying different pellets.

I think 177 is too small for A consistent clean harvest on a animal the size of a rabbit. However having said that i used a 177 for many a rabbit in my younger years So it is doable. However I agree with JohnL57 if you are indeed going to hunt with it make certain that you know precisely where the gun is hitting and have practiced before you ever pointed at any living thing. I think it is our responsibility as intelligent humans to try and humanely dispatch any creature we are pursuing. So yeah try to get as close as you can, know where you're gone is hitting, aim small miss small. And good luck! 

I have a HW80 in .22 and with Baracuda Greens (I prefer non-lead) for rabbits and it is an effective combinations. Shot placement is paramount. Kudos for asking for help rather than letting our furry friends suffer.

Why non lead Allan-wind?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead#Toxicity

Lots of people handle lead pellets without adverse effect (ignoring airgun addiction for the moment). I just prefer to minimize my exposure, and the Baracuda Greens hit hard and sufficiently accurate with my gun so there is little down side other than the higher cost of the pellets.

I grew up using a Crosman 760 pump, pellet gun, 70's-80's. This gun literally killed hundreds of Prairie dogs, jack rabbits and pest bird over a 10 year span. If your are TRULY capable of nickel sized head shots, a .177 is as lethal as it needs to be. As kid this is what I was relegated to using. As an adult with my own source of income, though reconizing that the new piston pumps are rather amazing and powerful. You simply can't beat a PCP airgun.

I would not throw it away but dose sound like you need a different gun for hunting . If you like multi pump pneumatics the .22 Benjamin 392 is a good choice for small game if you don't need a scope . The .177 397 would work as well if you are limited to that caliber .

That gun is really better suited for birds, geckos, frogs that sort of stuff. I have killed rabbits and prerie dogs with that gun and the 760. I would say my 1377 did/does a better job. 1377 is way more accurate than either of those but I'd say no more than 10-15yrds for a rabbit. Your better off with a break barrel. I like the Nitro piston guns. My 177 is more accurate and fly's flatter further and I have taken lots of rockchucks with it out to 45-50yrds my 22 would probably hit the dirt but at 30yrds will knock'em down with a sturnum shot. I wouldn't throw the gun away. Use it for indoor stuff like wacking mice/rats in the basement or some where you don't need alot of power. We use that same gun in the cherries orchard on sparrows. Upgrade to a break barrel and spend a little on a scope. Or if you can PCPs are nice, but a break barrel you don't need a tank or pump or have to go back to your car to refill then go back out to hunt

I used a daisy 880 to kill dozens and dozens (possibly over 100) of bunnies 6-7 years ago when I first got into air-gunning. The only thing I would say is, Know your limits well! Take the gun and shoot groups until you know what it's limits are. After a couple thousand pellets, I discovered that I could accuralely, consitently shoot a rabbit in the head at 25 yards, no further. the groups opened up after that where only a heart-lung shot was acceptable, and even that limited out at 35 yards.

I actually enjoyed hunting with the daisy 880, I had to crawl and stalk waaay more then I do now with my .22 cricket with 32 fpe.


Do not hesitate to hunt with it, it has plenty of power to do the job, and to do it well, just do your homework with it at the range before you shoot critters. 

Great discussion! I really enjoy my 880 I bought about 8 years ago from a box store. Since then I restored my brother's from the late '80s (or early '90s) with the metal receiver, and picked up one from the early 2000s (I think). Have taken many chipmunks out to 25 yards and small lizards at close range.

600FPS is just a touch under gunned, 650-700 would do nicely. Hades at 600-650 is pretty lethal.