Best Small Game Gun

[RavensdaleYoungBuck]

Hey fellas, just wondering what the best gun is for small game hunting. I've heard possibly the 22, but not sure. List your preferences.

[Hotolds442]

It's tough to beat the 10/22

[BiggLuke]

As a man who personally loves the 10/22, but has shot grouse and seen them fly away into the dense brush with a bullet in them....

I only use my 20 gauge coach gun.

So basically what I'm saying is.... small game that you can take with a .22lr, you can take more reliably with a shotgun.  You know the saying "A bird in the hand, is worth 2 in the bush."
And don't be affraid of blowing them in half with it.
I've taught lot's of new guys how to shoot grouse and rabbits with a 12 gauge, and they literally all took my advice and shot their heads off, and didn't waste an ounce of meat.
Basically... with a shotgun, you have a much wider range of targets. i.e flying, running, standing...
With a .22lr.....  you have to get super lucky to find one standing perfectly still.

    


Or... best small game gun ever??  Stevens Model 24.
It's an over/under rifle-shotgun. You can still get them today in a .22lr/20 ga.
Check 'em out.      http://www.gunblast.com/Savage-42.htm

[pilebuck]

MY 10 22 is a deadly weapon I have never missed a grouse with it of course it wasn't flying but it sure beats buckshot and breaking a tooth ouch

[carpsniperg2]

Good old 22 lr 10/22 is a great choice. I still favor a 22 magnum for small game hunting.

[rasbo]

love the 22mag,head shooting grouse and wascully wabbits,and great on yotes and Roberts

[RavensdaleYoungBuck]

Can a .22 take down a coyote?

[WSU]

Yes but not all that good of a choice if that is your intended use.

[fastdam]

A 22 hornet is a perfect small game gun. Especially if you handload.

[AWS]

If you can get along without a scope a Savage 24 22mag over 20ga makes a pretty good combo.  22 mag solids for grouse and hollow points for coyotes.  20ga buckshot for coyotes and a variety of birdshot for everything from rabbits and grouse to turkeys.

[scout/sniper]

I still favor my .223 bolt action Ruger M77.
I little much on very small game, but rabbits, grouse and yotes are dead meat.

[dmv9]

30.06 with lighter load ammo

[buckfvr]

Ive got a ss marlin with a 20" bull barrel in .22 mag topped with a 3-9X40.......all in a composite stock.  Cant even begin to immagine not having that gun.  Ground squirrels and such fear that gun.   

[RavensdaleYoungBuck]

Alright thanks for everyone's input!!! I think I'll look at a .223.

[KFhunter]

no one said .17HMR?

I've blasted the heck out of small game with it, dang thing shoots like a laser beam 

Shoot a coyotes eyeball at 300 yards 


but seriously I can't imagine a better small game rim fire unless the newer .17WSM lives up to the hype.

[scout/sniper]

no one said .17HMR?

I've blasted the heck out of small game with it, dang thing shoots like a laser beam 

Shoot a coyotes eyeball at 300 yards 


but seriously I can't imagine a better small game rim fire unless the newer .17WSM lives up to the hype.

I didn't even think about that, great gun as well!

[scout/sniper]

Alright thanks for everyone's input!!! I think I'll look at a .223.

I also like the .223 because I have thousands of rounds for it that go for my AR.

[Special T]

If you can get along without a scope a Savage 24 22mag over 20ga makes a pretty good combo.  22 mag solids for grouse and hollow points for coyotes.  20ga buckshot for coyotes and a variety of birdshot for everything from rabbits and grouse to turkeys.

I have and LOVE my 22LR/20g savage. great gun for rabbits and grouse.

[BiggLuke]

.223 is a sweet cartridge.... for coyotes.
But seriously?
Come on, if you want to hunt "small game" a shotgun covers everything.
You can't shoot any bird but grouse with a .223.... just saying.

[jrebel]

45/70 

[KFhunter]

Personally, I don't equate birds to small game.

Obviously birds get the shotgun.

[buckfvr]

If you can get along without a scope a Savage 24 22mag over 20ga makes a pretty good combo.  22 mag solids for grouse and hollow points for coyotes.  20ga buckshot for coyotes and a variety of birdshot for everything from rabbits and grouse to turkeys.

That right there is the ticket, multi-purpose small game gun for a youngbuck.............

[ghosthunter]

I carry a Circuit Judge, loader with mix .410/45 LC.

Awesome

 

[KFhunter]

man I really hate those things 

[CAMPMEAT]

Alright thanks for everyone's input!!! I think I'll look at a .223.

223 ammo is still hard to find and it's expensive if you don't reload.
22 mag is what I use mostly. You can buy a scoped 22 mag for around $3-400 ready to go.
17 HMR is pretty light for coyotes
17 WSM will do the trick too
10-22 is ok for close up work, but it's more of a plinker than a work gun.

I have all of the above calibers and the 22 mag would be my choice to start with, then work up to the 223.

[ghosthunter]

man I really hate those things 

I know, it's ok. 

[BiggLuke]

.22mag is a sweet choice.

Model 24 in .22mag/20ga.....?

[scout/sniper]

Alright thanks for everyone's input!!! I think I'll look at a .223.

223 ammo is still hard to find and it's expensive if you don't reload.
22 mag is what I use mostly. You can buy a scoped 22 mag for around $3-400 ready to go.
17 HMR is pretty light for coyotes
17 WSM will do the trick too
10-22 is ok for close up work, but it's more of a plinker than a work gun.

I have all of the above calibers and the 22 mag would be my choice to start with, then work up to the 223.

I don't have a 22 mag but I think I will get one and give it a try.

[Heredoggydoggy]

22 Hornet, or K-Hornet.  Can be reloaded and reshot almost as cheaply as a rimfire.  That new 17 Hornet looks good, too! 

[AWS]

http://images.gunsinternational.com/listings/100405484-1-L.jpg

Savage Model 24 22 Mag over 20ga.

[bowhunterwa87]

Stevens 22-410 is my favorite so far

[RavensdaleYoungBuck]

I have a 12 gauge for waterfowl and a 30-06 for big game. I just want a smaller gun to shoot coyotes, raccoons, etc. 

[VarmintVentilator]

Decisions- decisions.  So many really nice guns out there to choose from.  Ain't life grand?   

[carpsniperg2]

If you are going mainly after "bigger small game" Like yotes. You may want to up it a little more to a 223 or 22-250. We have killed plenty of yotes with a 22 mag but I do favor a little more knockdown if yotes are my main target.

[BiggLuke]

 
...and If your aim is mostly smaller small game like racoons, a .223 is overkill, and super loud compared to a .22lr.
I say just start with a 10/22.
It's a great gun, plus super fun and cheap to shoot for plinking.

[ckr]

Savage 24 22 mag /410.   You can't beat it

[Ziptie]

The Savage 22LR or 22 mag/ 410 is  a very versatile combo for small game/ birds.  I think it depends on what you are planning on hunting.  Also, a 410 with a full choke and the ability to shoot 3" mags is a great small game getter.  I have killed many grouse with a ruger 10/22 (using standard vel round nose) and also with a 410.  If you are looking at small game for food with the coyote option I would look at a 22Mag, I think a grouse can only be taken with a rim fire or shotgun in WA.  I have also used the FMJ 22 Mag on grouse and other small game with great success.  The 22 mag is a small game show stopper.  Good luck! 

[Special T]

For a VERY short period of time Savage made a .223 12 ga model 24. They are fairly rare and i have not seen very many of them. I have contacted savage several times about taking thier new modle 42 and adding that combo in some kind of predator setup... could you imagine that for calling in dogs?   

[headshot5]

For a VERY short period of time Savage made a .223 12 ga model 24. They are fairly rare and i have not seen very many of them. I have contacted savage several times about taking thier new modle 42 and adding that combo in some kind of predator setup... could you imagine that for calling in dogs?

I've got one.  It is pretty fun and versatile gun, that said I use a .22 mag or a bolt .223 if I'm hunting coyotes just a preference for me. 

[Oldguy]

The Savage 22LR or 22 mag/ 410 is  a very versatile combo for small game/ birds.  I think it depends on what you are planning on hunting.  Also, a 410 with a full choke and the ability to shoot 3" mags is a great small game getter.  I have killed many grouse with a ruger 10/22 (using standard vel round nose) and also with a 410.  If you are looking at small game for food with the coyote option I would look at a 22Mag, I think a grouse can only be taken with a rim fire or shotgun in WA.  I have also used the FMJ 22 Mag on grouse and other small game with great success.  The 22 mag is a small game show stopper.  Good luck! 

Check page 29 of the Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons regulations regarding legal firearms for hunting Forest Grouse. You are a bit off in the rules.

[Ziptie]

thanks for the "check" I was taught that they could only be taken with rim fire or big game caliber during big game season if you had the appropriate tags.  (not including shotgun)