Best 22 Pellets for Hunting Rabbits

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When hunting rabbits with a .22 air rifle, choosing the right pellet is crucial for achieving a clean, ethical kill. The best .22 pellets for hunting rabbits provide a balance of accuracy, penetration, and stopping power, ensuring a humane shot that delivers enough energy to dispatch the rabbit quickly.

What to Look for in .22 Pellets for Hunting Rabbits

When selecting pellets for hunting, consider the following factors:

  • Weight: Heavier pellets (14 to 21 grains) are generally better for hunting because they retain energy, provide deeper penetration, and are less affected by wind. This is essential for ensuring the pellet reaches vital organs.
  • Shape: Hollow point and domed pellets are ideal for hunting. Hollow point pellets provide expansion upon impact, which helps transfer energy more effectively. Domed pellets offer a good balance between accuracy and penetration and are effective at longer ranges.
  • Material and Build Quality: High-quality lead pellets offer more consistent weight and shape, leading to better accuracy and performance.
  • Accuracy: The most effective pellet is the one that is most accurate in your specific rifle, so it’s important to test a few different types to see which works best with your air rifle.

Best .22 Pellets for Hunting Rabbits in the UK

Here are some of the best .22 pellets for hunting rabbits, known for their performance, accuracy, and stopping power.

1. JSB Hades .22 Pellets

The JSB Hades pellets are specifically designed for hunting, combining the excellent accuracy of the JSB Exact series with a hollow-point design for maximum expansion upon impact. These pellets deliver excellent knockdown power and are known for their consistency.

  • Weight: 15.89 grains
  • Shape: Hollow Point
  • Best For: Medium-range hunting; effective for delivering quick, humane kills on rabbits.
  • Key Features: Exceptional expansion and energy transfer, consistent weight and size, high accuracy.
  • Price: Around £13-£18 for 500 pellets.
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2. H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme .22 Pellets

The H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme pellets are a top choice for hunters due to their unique cross-hollowpoint design. This design enhances energy transfer and expansion, making it highly effective for hunting rabbits.

  • Weight: 18.52 grains
  • Shape: Hollow Point with a cross-shaped head
  • Best For: Medium to long-range hunting; provides significant stopping power and penetration.
  • Key Features: Superior expansion and penetration, reliable build quality, highly accurate.
  • Price: Around £12-£15 for 200 pellets.

3. RWS Super-H-Point .22 Pellets

RWS Super-H-Point pellets are known for their hollow-point design, which ensures rapid expansion on impact. These pellets are lightweight and provide reliable accuracy, making them a great choice for short to medium-range hunting.

  • Weight: 14.2 grains
  • Shape: Hollow Point
  • Best For: Close-range hunting and pest control.
  • Key Features: Lightweight for flat trajectory, good expansion, consistent accuracy.
  • Price: Around £7-£10 for 500 pellets.

4. Air Arms Diabolo Field .22 Pellets

The Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets are known for their high quality and consistency. Manufactured by JSB for Air Arms, these domed pellets offer a great balance of accuracy, penetration, and energy transfer, making them an excellent choice for hunting.

  • Weight: 16 grains
  • Shape: Domed
  • Best For: All-round hunting use, effective for rabbits at varying distances.
  • Key Features: High-quality production, consistent weight, good aerodynamics.
  • Price: Around £12-£16 for 500 pellets.

5. H&N Field Target Trophy .22 Pellets

While the H&N Field Target Trophy pellets are popular for field target shooting, they are also highly effective for hunting due to their high accuracy and consistent performance. Their domed shape makes them ideal for precise shots.

  • Weight: 14.66 grains
  • Shape: Domed
  • Best For: Hunting small game at longer distances where accuracy is crucial.
  • Key Features: High-quality control, available in different head sizes (5.50mm, 5.51mm, 5.52mm) for fine-tuning, reliable penetration.
  • Price: Around £11-£15 for 500 pellets.
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6. H&N Silver Point .22 Pellets

For hunters looking for maximum penetration, the H&N Silver Point pellets are a great choice. These pointed pellets are designed to provide deep penetration, making them suitable for hunting larger small game or rabbits at longer distances.

  • Weight: 17.13 grains
  • Shape: Pointed
  • Best For: Long-range shooting and hunting larger small game where deep penetration is needed.
  • Key Features: High penetration, consistent weight, good accuracy.
  • Price: Around £12-£15 for 500 pellets.

Tips for Choosing the Right .22 Pellet for Hunting Rabbits

  1. Test Multiple Pellets: Every air rifle performs differently with various pellets. Test a selection to see which ones provide the tightest groupings and most consistent performance.
  2. Consider Your Shooting Distance: If you’re shooting at longer distances, opt for heavier pellets like the H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme or H&N Silver Point for better energy retention and accuracy.
  3. Prioritize Accuracy: Accuracy is the most critical factor in a humane hunt. Even the most powerful pellet is useless if it doesn’t hit the target accurately.
  4. Balance Between Expansion and Penetration: Hollow-point pellets like the JSB Hades offer expansion and energy transfer for quicker kills on small game, while domed pellets like Air Arms Diabolo Field provide deeper penetration for larger game or longer distances.
  5. Practice Consistently: Familiarize yourself with your chosen pellets and practice regularly to improve accuracy and confidence in taking ethical shots.

Conclusion

Choosing the best .22 pellet for hunting rabbits involves finding a balance between accuracy, penetration, and stopping power. JSB Hades and H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme are top choices for their excellent expansion and terminal performance. For those targeting rabbits at longer ranges, H&N Silver Point and Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets provide reliable accuracy and penetration.

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Test different options to find the pellet that suits your rifle and hunting style best, ensuring clean, ethical kills every time. Happy hunting!

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