small game centerfire rifle/carbine

[WestKentucky]

I'm once again contemplating my next purchase. Several times I have considered a few calibers to use as a meat gun for rabbit and squirrel, as a fur gun for fox and coyote, and as a general plinker. My platform will be a TC contender. Paperwork is ready and waiting for funds to go SBR. I prefer to stick with something that isn't overkill like 223 or 222 for this one but I don't want to go rimfire. I'm actually considering 32 and 38 caliber handgun rounds more than others, but will consider others as well.

Does anybody have any experience small game hunting with...
9mm luger
38spl
380acp
32swl
327 fed
32 H&R mag
32acp
22 tcm
30 carbine
25acp

Or does anyone have suggestion for other rounds to consider. I want simple, reloadable, effective, but not overkill. I already have components dies etc for everything on the list above 22tcm so I would prefer to stay there.

 

[witchhunter]

West, I know you already have a 256 Winchester, what more could you want? However, I have lived off a Winchester 9422M in .22 Magnum and a S&W 651 in .22 Magnum for many years. I like the fact that it is a great killer and a box of ammo takes up very little space. I think out your listed choices, I would go with the .327. It is close to .22 Mag power. If you must go centerfire, how about a .22 Hornet or a .218 Bee. Both are proven small game getters. All of these centerfires can be loaded up with jacketed or down with lead to almost rimfire power levels.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Have you thought about chamber adapters so that you can shoot say a .22 hornet or a .22 LR/.22 Mag in a .223 barrel?

MC Sports

Lothar Walther

LD

 

[MCgunner]

I load a 105 grain SWC from a Lee mold in .38 (makes a great bullet for 9mm and .380, also) over 2.3 grains of Bullseye. It shoots 1.5" groups at 50 yards. I've nailed squirrel and rabbit with it, does a great job. But, the rifle is a Rossi 92 with iron sights, a peep, but iron sights, and I sorta prefer optics now days. I have .22s. I sorta like hunting squirrel with my Ruger Mk 2 with 2x LER. When in doubt, the shotgun works, too. I feel a little better shooting up in trees with the shotgun or even the .22, but I've done it with the Rossi. It's a really versatile rifle. I've killed deer and hog with it, too, using magnum loads.

 

[dogrunner]

First centerfire rifle I ever had was a converted Stevens Favorite.....from .32RF to .32LC......said conversion accomplished by using another breech block bushed to centerfire.

I could not begin estimate the amount of small game.....coons/groundhogs, and later on even a fairly large gator as well as a treed bob that I took with that piece.

In all instances I found that the slow moving .32, in either rf or cf, was a far more effective killer than any .22 I had access to.

Always did want to pick up one of the convertible Marlin lever guns, but prices have risen to such a level that I've kinda given that idea up!

 

[wankerjake]

I think 327 Fed or 357 Mag would be good options, enough punch for coyotes and you can download them too. 22 Hornet might me an option, or you can download a 223 to hornet speeds or 221 Fireball speeds as well.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have killed a lot of squirrels with a Colt M357 (same as the Python, without the cosmetics) using a 148 grain wadcutter loaded over 2.7 grains of Bullseye.

I also have a Hammond Game Getter -- this is a standard rifle cartridge with the "primer pocket" bored off-center. The "primer pocket" is really a chamber for a .22 blank and the case is loaded with a sized buckshot (the sizing die comes with the kit.) Because the chamber is off-center, the primer hits the rim of the blank. I use Remington Brown nail-setting blanks. This gives me around 700 fps from a .30-06 and the bullet hits at the top of the thick crosshair at 25 yards. I mostly use this while sitting in a deer stand, when the squirrels try to carry me off.

In addition, I have a Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet. I load this with a Lyman 225438 bullet cast from wheel weights, loaded over 6 grains of Hodgdon's Li'l Gun. This gives me around 1500 fps, and groups into about an inch at 50 yards. It's a great squirrel load.

 

[SlayerOfBunnies]

I've killed squirrels with both .38spcl and 9mm. They get the job done and are both easier on the meat than shotguns.

 

[WestKentucky]

.256 is just too fast for small game. It blows them apart, and bullets are not easy to find either. Yes I can shoot lead but in my levergun I prefer not to, and all the other .257 bullets I have tried are too long for the magazine. I could buy a TC barrel but it's not too high on my list. I feel like the tcm would have a similar speed problem. I'm leaning hard towards 357 max or 327 fed now. Both can be hot or weak depending on what critter I'm chasin.

 

[ARW]

I have found my 221 Fireball, shooting full not reduced loads, with 52 to 55 grain match or target type bullets works very well for grey squirrels.

They are extremely accurate at about 2600-2700 fps. and even at that velocity they usually just simply punch a clean hole straight thru, without any real damage to the meat.

Obviously extra caution must be taken due to the distance they can travel and I never shoot up.

Alan

 

[Gunnerboy]

25-20 winchester in a savage model 23 What more could you want!! Im deeply in love with this little cartridge and carbine!

 

[Malamute]

I like light loads in the 30-30 for grouse and small game. 3 grs Unique with a .310 or .315 Hornady round ball is about as loud as a 22 standard vel and doesnt tear stuff up at all. A 115 gr cast bullet with 6 1/2 grs Unique gives about 1200 fps, or near the old factory 32-20 loads.

If you are allergic to lead bullets for some reason, you can try the 77 gr jacketed bullets for 32 auto.

 

[Jim Watson]

Look around on Ed Harris' page
http://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/backcreekdiary.htm

He likes revolver cartridges as small game rifle rounds; .327 H&R and .38/.357.

He has mentioned the advantage of getting a rifle type throat instead of cutting a chamber to mimic a revolver cylinder. Dennis Bellm goes on and on about the virtues of the .357 Maximum in rifle or single shot pistol.

 

[cpt-t]

WEST: I small game hunt, varmint hunt, and plink and target shoot, with a 22 Hornet & a 218 Bee quite often. Both are very Fur Friendly on most anything I have shot with them. Especially Coyotes & Foxes. Both my 22 Hornet & 218 Bee are extremely accurate, very quite, and have no recoil at all. And a 100yd to 150yd head shot is no real problem. And both calibers are very easy and inexpensive to reload for and case life for me is very good. As I get older I find my self using both the 22 Hornet & 218 Bee alot more each year. IMHO a 22 Hornet & a 218 Bee are just top line and very hard, to beat. If You don`t want to use a rimfire.
Good Luck
ken

 

[TimSr]

Considering a Contender has no semi-auto action to function, and you are reloading, I think a .223 would be a great base to work with, with tons of components readily available. Downloaded with FMJ would be great for small game without total meat destruction, or you could chnage bullets and load on up to 200 yard coyote loads.

 

[Hookeye]

5.7x28?

 

[WestKentucky]

Looked at 5.7 but ammo/brass is too high and it's essentially a .223 to me. I'm leaning really heavy towards another combo barrel...30-30 with a .327 or 30 carbine insert maybe.

 

[Hookeye]

Due to some rigs being blowback, 5.7 brass lays on the range.
Dunno how many will split in resize, but there should be no further excessive brass work/stress when fired in a Contender.
TC barrels are getting harder to find, prices up.
A new 5.7 bbl will probably be around $400 and a few months to get.
Cool factor would be worth it.

 

[Malamute]

I've messed with a 32 auto/30-30 adapter. It works fairly well, but doesnt really offer any real advatange over simply loading light loads in the regular cases. It also adds an extra step in the shooting/ejecting operation, and is subject to loss. I dont worry if I lose a case or two out hunting, losing the $25 adapter would be unpleasant, and not allow me to shoot the light loads until I replaced it. I finally concluded it was more of a novelty than really practical, compared to loading light loads.

YMMV of course, thats just my thoughts after having had one a while.

I believe 223 can be loaded down around 22 LR levels without much drama. Cast opens up new avenues also.

 

[WestKentucky]

That's kinda where I am with a 30 cal barrel of some sort...this barrel is for this, this part let's me shoot this, this other part let's me shoot this. And so on. I absolutely want a 20 tactical or 204 barrel for cool factor though. Maybe 17 fireball. I also want a 22tcm barrel.