Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game .38 Special for Grouse & Rabbits?

Hello,

I have a question for small game hunters. I am a backpacker and I do a lot of off-trail hiking after Sept. 1st, which is open season for grouse in my state. I see a lot of grouse on my hikes and plan to carry a revolver this coming season. I do have a .22 revolver which will fill the bill, but I am thinking more along the lines of a vintage S&W .38 Special that I learned to shoot with when I was a kid. My worry is destroying too much meat with the larger caliber. I was thinking low powered 110gr wadcutters might work well, but again, I'm unfamiliar with shooting grouse. I'm also thinking of this caliber for rabbits. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Cliff

Factory 148 grain wadcutters punch a clean hole through rabbits. Less damage than from a .22 LR high velocity hollow point. Never shot a grouse with a .38, but I don't see why it would be any different.

I'll assume it is legal to do this where you are. No need to take that any further.

You'll get the least amount of meat damage with the classic 158 roundnose lead bullet. The very reason it makes a terrible self-defense bullet is what makes it a great small game bullet: it passes straight through with little tissue disruption. Neither grouse nor rabbits are very tenacious of life, and the ones I've shot with this load just fall over in place.

Any semi-wadcutter or full wadcutter will make a mess. BTDT.

Guys, thank you very much. Yes, it is legal to hunt grouse here with a centerfire handgun. I appreciate the advice and I will look in buying a box of 158gr lead RN. This is rather hilarious - the last time I shot one of these loads was in the late 60's with some spare service ammo my dad had. I can't believe I'm actually going to do it again. Anyway, thanks.

Cliff