I grew up kicking bushes with a 12ga and whatever choke was in the gun and low brass shells. I now have a 20ga O/U and I am thinking #6 shot high brass with an IMP Cyl in the bottom and Mod choke in the top is the way to go? I will be going on my very first rabbit hunt with dogs tomorrow and have absolutely no clue what I am doing. Any suggestions?
Rabbit loads/chokes?
- Thread starter Axis II
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Ole Joe Clark
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Don't over think it, take your favorite shotgun and enjoy yourself. Be safe and don't go with other hunters that are not safe.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Shanghai McCoy
Member
That sounds like a good set up. 
Have fun.
Have fun.
Highland Lofts
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When I had beagles I used a old 20 gauge Stevens side x side double barrel or a old Ithaca model 66 single shot in 20 gauge. I liked to use high base # 6 shot. My friend use to to take his 12 gauge pump, can't remember what ammo he used.
Hunting with a couple of good beagles sure is fun.
GOOD LUCK!
Hunting with a couple of good beagles sure is fun.
GOOD LUCK!
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
Good choice of gun and ammo.
Always be conscious of where the dogs are.
Always be conscious of where the dogs are.
entropy
Member
Pointers or not? If they're not a pointer, you might end up with a dog running the rabbit, and that happens, you either need a full choke and the ability to put it where you want, or you're could have wounded dogs or be passing up a lot of shots. I shot a rabbit that a friend's dog was a foot behind, he cussed me out left and right for shooting, but I used a 30" full 870 at @15 yards-that rabbit lost it's head, and the dog didn't get hit with one pellet. With a mod or IC, the dog might have taken a few pellets.
My buddy has raised beagles since the early 90's and recently acquired a pup. The pup has what he calls races and last week when I went out with them just to run the dog it jumped the rabbit and ran it about 100yards and then circled it back to us. The rabbit jumped out into the clearing and the dog was maybe 50yards behind him. I say a full minute to two minutes went by from the time I saw the rabbit till I saw the dog.
entropy
Member
Then I guess Mod and IC will be just fine....
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
That's what good beagles do. They are more interested in rabbit scent than rabbits.
He is doing pretty well IMO for being under 1yo. At first he would hit the track and bark and then come back to us. My buddy got him with two dogs around 7-9yo and it was like something tripped in his mind and now he goes out about 100yards and finds the track and doesn't stop until he's pulled off of it. I guess he ran a bunny around a bean field for about 20min the other day and ran a track for 25min Tuesday and circled it back to my buddy twice. I am excited to go tomorrow.
Like others said, watch for the dog.
After that, it's up to you. I like 6 shot for about everything. It's just big enough to kill well, but small enough to leave a good pattern.
I like 3" 6's in a 410 with a full choke. 20 ga is a great choice also.
After that, it's up to you. I like 6 shot for about everything. It's just big enough to kill well, but small enough to leave a good pattern.
I like 3" 6's in a 410 with a full choke. 20 ga is a great choice also.
Highland Lofts
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Most of the time the beagles are tracking the rabbit by the scent the rabbit left behind. Sometimes the dog might be a minute or two brhind the rabbit.
When you hear the dogs working the track try to figure out where they are going and watch in that direction the rabbit. When they get close to the rabbit and see it the chace get going at a faster pace and their barking will change they generally brawl at a faster pace. I took one of my brothers rabbit hunting one time. I seen the rabbit run right by him. He was focused on the dog.
When the dog past him I walked over and asked him why he didn't shhot the rabbit.
He said there was no rabbit, the dog was just running and barking.
There was snow on yje groundxand Ibyook him about fifteen yards from ehere he was standing and showed him the rabbit track. He wasn't watching ahead of the dog.
We had a spot that we hunted that was full of rabbits. When the dogs started a rabbit we would get to shoot other rabbits that were just moveing away from the noise of the dogs.
It's a fun sport and fine dineing afterwards.
When you hear the dogs working the track try to figure out where they are going and watch in that direction the rabbit. When they get close to the rabbit and see it the chace get going at a faster pace and their barking will change they generally brawl at a faster pace. I took one of my brothers rabbit hunting one time. I seen the rabbit run right by him. He was focused on the dog.
When the dog past him I walked over and asked him why he didn't shhot the rabbit.
He said there was no rabbit, the dog was just running and barking.
There was snow on yje groundxand Ibyook him about fifteen yards from ehere he was standing and showed him the rabbit track. He wasn't watching ahead of the dog.
We had a spot that we hunted that was full of rabbits. When the dogs started a rabbit we would get to shoot other rabbits that were just moveing away from the noise of the dogs.
It's a fun sport and fine dineing afterwards.
earlthegoat2
Member
If I shoot a single barrel my favorite choke is improved. If double then imp/mod. I have also shot a mess of rabbits with a 12 ga smooth bore slug gun cyl choke. It’s almost cheating.
red rick
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Thats the big advantage of having 2 barrels. If I were walking in thick cover I would have a ic and mod choke in. If I were walking or standing in a field I would have a modified and full choke in . I use a modified choke the most in my semi auto 20ga and 2 3/4” #6 shot. I pattern my gun because all ammo is not the same.
Last year was my 3rd year with my dogs. We shot 65 rabbits in front of them last year. They are a young pack. The first year we shot about 28 with them. They keep getting better every year as we do also. A lot depends on where you hunt too . If there are not many rabbits there you are not going to shoot many.
Last year was my 3rd year with my dogs. We shot 65 rabbits in front of them last year. They are a young pack. The first year we shot about 28 with them. They keep getting better every year as we do also. A lot depends on where you hunt too . If there are not many rabbits there you are not going to shoot many.
huntsman
Member
I killed my share of bunnies with mod choke 20 gauge, 1oz #6 and if a pheasant got up I got that covered also.
100 percent agree with the don't over think it comment. Your OU 20 will be a sweet choice with whatever chokes you pick. I used to load special loads, very low recoil 4s, otherwise I would be using 6s. Anyone who shot a rabbit a foot in front of my dogs would have been instantly out of the hunt, regardless of what they were using, I would have loaded my dogs and left. Watch well ahead of the dogs, and stand still, movement spooks the bunnies into changing their route more than anything else, you wear an orange jumpsuit as long as you are quiet and stand still. Enjoy the music! I miss it.
George P
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Don't worry about "high brass'. that term was from a long time ago and has no meaning. Look at the shot size, payload and velocity. Whether it comes in high brass or not won't matter.
As others have mentioned, what type of dogs? If close with pointers, and IC is fine. If far with flushing dogs who don't mind well, IM of F can work. 7/8, maybe 1 oz will be all you need. Rabbits aren't bulletproof as I can kill them at 15 yards with RWS .177 air rifle.
As others have mentioned, what type of dogs? If close with pointers, and IC is fine. If far with flushing dogs who don't mind well, IM of F can work. 7/8, maybe 1 oz will be all you need. Rabbits aren't bulletproof as I can kill them at 15 yards with RWS .177 air rifle.
whughett
Member
Are the Pheasants stocked.
There is a game farm here who raises pheasants for clubs to buy and stock and they run hunts on their property.
Yep. Running them with a dog and houses around.
Beagle not pictured. We rabbit hunted and wasn’t aware the hunt club stocked pheasants until walking back to the truck and jumped one. It then turned into a pheasant hunt until we limited with two.
Yes. The hunt club purchases them and lets them go. We weren’t aware they did that this year.
whughett
Member
Chinese Pheasant, Semi domestic. My club did it for years until we lost the lease on the land. Nice shooting. Don’t think I ever ate one. Apologies to the OP. Off thread.
I’ve killed a bunch but not a fan of them. Tough, dry and stringy and PITA to clean. I usually give them to buddies at the end of the hunt.
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