My first .22 was a Winchester 1890 in .22 Short. Use high velocity hollow points and take head shots, no squirrel or cotton tail will survive it. With body shots on rabbits you have to break a shoulder, and even then you may not completely anchor them. I remain convinced that pound for pound, the American jackrabbit is the hardest animal on earth to put down with a body shot. I busted one squarely through the shoulder with a Keith 173 grain SWC out of a .38 special. It used it's hind legs to scamper another 7-8 yards and down the hole; couldn't believe my eyes.
Head shots with a .22 Short and there's no question. I've killed on up to and including Coyote's with Remingtion Hi Velocity .22 Shorts. But always the head shot.
