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.