I hunt jackrabbits for food and where I hunt you are not allowed to use FMJ for hunting. What bullet can be used to minimize meat damage?

I would probably use a reduced load. If the impact speed is below 2200 fps., most big game bullets will expand very little.
To make a reduced load in a center fire, big game rifle you need to use powder that is no faster than IMR 4064. And a magnum, not standard primer.
If the standard load clocks 3000 fps, cut the load to 2/3's the charge and load it. That should give you roughly 2000 fps. Load it, and others, adding one grain per batch. Test shoot and use the most accurate load. My .280 Rem has such a load. It's 37 grs of IMR 3031 over a 120 gr. Sierra ProHunter. It puts three in .47 @ 100 yds, and shoots .4 of an inch high @ 100 yds. Perfect. E

Barnes makes a solid 6mm bullet, turned from some bronze alloy. It might be a little expensive for jackrabbits though.

The bullet must be "expanding" type for hunting to be legal.

If you're hunting rabbits for food, you've pretty well got the wrong rifle all around to start with. Just use a .22LR. Solves the meat damage, expanding bullet problem and it's surely cost effective....and as much fun as hunting them with anything.

Ahem....hous bout at 300yards?

How bout the 100 grain Nosler Partition?

I would suggest there are 2 possibilities. Use a lighter calibre such as a 222 or 223 with a Hornady SX (super explosive) bullet. They are made with a very light jacket that will go in blow up and not exit.This will minimize pelt damage and if you shoot them in the front end you shouldn't spoil the hind quarters which has most of the meat. The other option is use a 100 gr bullet. The rem psp would work ok and is reasonably priced. Again aim for the front end.

I would suggest the most accurate bullet that should allow you to pick your shot placement. Something like a 95gr lapua scenar?

Last year my wife used a 6MM Remington with a handloaded 95 grain Nosler partition. Not 5 cents worth of Damaged meat, cuz I asked the butcher thats how I know . Also due to where she shot it, went in behind left hind leg and exited infront of right front shoulder. Very accurate load also, as I recall I used H-4831.

Good Hunting, "Z"

Jackrabbits in Toronto?
Surely these are snowshoe hares!
Aren't they???
LouisB

You got to change your diet.

Jackrabbits @ 300 yds. The sagebrush must be really small there.

Unless you want to shell out the jack for a so called premium then theres two choices really, a sp or a varmint bullet. You decide which will make the biggest mess.

I dont use them myself so I cant say for sure but I think that a lot of people THINK that a Matchking is an expanding bullet..

[ 10-05-2002, 05:46: Message edited by: Wstrnhuntr ]

I would say go with most any target bullets because they dont expand for crap but are still a hollow point so they should be plenty legal. So look at the match kings or a-max bullets.

[ 10-07-2002, 06:49: Message edited by: Wstrnhuntr ]

Small or rough game like rabits CAN be hunted with anything. It is the larger game like deer that you must use a .243 or larger expanding type bullet. I would sugest the Hornady 80gr FMJBT. And YES rabbit can be very good when cooked right. I like mine browned in a pan with breading then oven baked in a rost pot to stay moist. As far as i know Hornady makes the lightest weight FMJ in 6MM. Most others are 90gr or higher. And the hornadys are not cannelured.