I know, it's probably over kill, but...

[armoredman]

I wanna get jack rabbit with the .223 vz-58. The vz-58 rifles are now legal hunting rifles in Arizona, and I think it's more than accurate enough to pop a bunny noggin at 50-75 yards, (scrub desert terrain), with my hand load of a 60 grain Hornady Soft Point over 24.5 grains of H-335. I know it would definitely be overkill with the 7.62x39mm version, (visions of exploding rabbits, yuck), but this should do the trick, and with the Barska Electro Scope mounted I have a lighted reticle - kind of a benefit there.
OK, lay it on...

[2fewdaysafield]

Not overkill at all!  I've seen jackrabbits get rolled by a load of 12 gauge #6, get up, shake themselves off and keep running.  They are whole lot tougher to kill than Mr. Cottontail!

[jwc007]

I've used a .223 52 grn CCI Speer FB-JHP (3300 fps) on ground hogs and it really tears them up.  Your heavier, but slower, 60 grn Soft Point may not tear them up as badly.  Only one way to find out.  Go Hunting!

Not overkill at all!  I've seen jackrabbits get rolled by a load of 12 gauge #6, get up, shake themselves off and keep running.  They are whole lot tougher to kill than Mr. Cottontail!

[armoredman]

I have another choice, if I want to load some up,    as I still have a little less than half a box of Sierra 65 grain Spitzer boat tail bullets, listed for 7-10inch twists only, (I have a 1-7), and soft point as well. Might as well load them up and use them up - they didn't impress me enough with long range accuracy to buy any more.
Every person responding here and elsewhere has said the same thing - .223 is good for jack, which is nice, as I half expected to be yelled at for thinking of using a "high power", (according to the NRA!), rifle on small game. This is good, because the last time, "I didn't hit Jack"...

[2fewdaysafield]

Nobody has a problem with blowing up prairie dogs with a .223 so why would they object to doing the same to a Jack?  Of course, if you are planning to eat them, something a little smaller might be more appropriate.  That or maybe an FMJ.

[armoredman]

Can't use FMJ ammo for hunting here. 

[2fewdaysafield]

Oh......Are you hunting them to eat or simply to eliminate varmints?

[armoredman]

Either or, but even if just varminting, still can't use FMJ. Dem's da rules!
Now the weather is refusing to co-operate...

[2fewdaysafield]

Just get after 'em!  If you get a young one that you don't blow up then it's for eating.  If you blow it up, well...then it wasn't for eating, just varminting!!! 

[armoredman]

Hunting partners have overruled me, hunting will be in a spot not conducive to rifle use, so it's back to the shotgun.
Dang.

[johnnyrees]

Not even a humble .22

[truckjohn]

You mentioned blowing them to smithereens....

Now... If you were running a 7.62x39... 150g "Hunting" bullets running velocity on the slow end or standard cast bullet loads (~1600 fps or so) won't expand and will pencil right through... without quite as much meat damage...

If you are talking under 100 yards - you can try out some of the reduced loads with a 155g cast over a small charge of bullseye....  Perfect for bunny busting...

Thanks

[armoredman]

That's not a bad idea...I do have two molds for 7.52x39mm, 129 gr NOE and 160 gr Lee, and both work in the vz-58...hmmm.
No Bullseye - I use H-335, H-4895 or AA-1680 for rifles. HazMat fees mean I use what I have - nobody close who carries powders.
I'll have to get with my hunting buddies on the idea. I'll get grief from all OVER the place, though. Could use the CZ 527M, too...

[1SOW]

Not even a humble .22

I've used a .22 in Texas johnny.  Less mess.
A Jackrabbit has about 9" ears---the drop +/- at 100 yds with a .22 rifle.

[armoredman]

The 22 rifle I have is going in for trigger work.