Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game Need recommendations on new squirrel rifle

I currently have a 22 LR and would like to get something for the ranges of 50 to 100 yards
The trees are all very old and tall so even 50 yard shots are seldom encountered.
What caliber and make would you consider?
Yes, money is an issue so would like to keep the cost of the rifle less than $500.
Thanks
Phil

I don't think you can do any better than a CZ 452 American with a leupold 3-9 scope with AO. Rifle is around $450-475 and scope is $325-350 used.

Hard to beat a 17 Mach II, HMR with FMJ's or an ordinarily accurate 22 mag for the purposes mentioned....


X-VERMINATOR

Yep. .17M2

One caution on the .17 M2, make sure you can find ammo for it, before you lay money down for the rifle.


maddog

My rifle for that purpose is a CZ 452 full stock with a Leopold scope, in .17 HMR. However, I have more than $500 in the rig. At the price point, it is hard to beat a Savage rifle. Marlin rifles, and the Ruger American, would work as well.

I have to work for a living and don't have time to hunt for ammo for an HM2, but I'd like to try it someday.

My 17M2 is my primary squirrel rifle. It's very accurate, kills them quickly, and is fairly quiet. Does not destroy much or any(head shot) meat.

Steve

The M2 is nifty, but ammo can be tough to find. I'd get a Hummer and stick with head shots. Be careful shooting up! Even tiny bullets go pretty far. I gave the aerial stuff up for fear of plunking sumptin' down range.

Can't do better than the CZ for the money you're talking. Again, if money's tight, look at a Bushnell 4-12AO airgun scope. I put one on an RWS 54 and it's held up to the considerable vibration that gun generates for nearly 1000 shots so far, and the adjustment seem to track pretty well. Today, I ran the elevation around two full turns and back, and it ended up where it started. About $130 from Amazon. If you've got the bucks, the Leupy rimfire is very nice and would be my first choice.

I have squirrel hunted all my life and nothing I have used beats the 17 HMR. I have both the Cooper and Anschutz and it is a toss up of which rifle I like best. You best buy for the least amount of cash is the CZ in 17 HMR.

Curious as to what type of trees/terrain you're hunting in?

There are a lot of tall old oaks where I live but nothing tall enough that a .22 LR won't do handily.

I'd love to try a .17 HM2 on it's merits.

Yep a 22lr and a shotgun will continue to put squirrels in the pot, no doubt about it but the 17 Mach II does it with panache. Hence the attraction...........


X-VERMINATOR

The trees are old growth oaks and hickory with no new growth or ground cover. I will go with the CZ and I have a couple of Leupolds from my cf rifles that I might be able to use.

ditto! I use a leupold 2-7x on mine.

dave