I like bolt or single shot. I tend.to take more time to make that 1st shot count. I would use a marlin 39 if I could find one i could afford. Never had the opportunity to use a pump. With shotguns same principle. I prefer single shots or doubles.
Molɔ̀ːn Labé Grandpa:the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Dad:son you have 2 choices for supper eat or don't eat.
My absolute favorite is my old Marlin M39A. It has a Williams aperture sight and small flat faced gold bead front. It's slim, light, accurate and handles perfectly.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
My absolute favorite is my old Marlin M39A. It has a Williams aperture sight and small flat faced gold bead front. It's slim, light, accurate and handles perfectly.
How old are you since you’re using open sights?
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee
My absolute favorite is my old Marlin M39A. It has a Williams aperture sight and small flat faced gold bead front. It's slim, light, accurate and handles perfectly.
How old are you since you’re using open sights?
59... I don't need glasses yet. Feel fortunate for that. I'm still able to kill them with my S&W K22 or Ruger MK III Hunter open sights handguns.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
I grew up shooting rabbits and squirrels with my great grandfathers octagon barreled Rem mod 12. It had cool sights, probably something from Marbles, a rear tang mounted aperture sight and the front could flip from a bead to a bead in a ring. Loved hunting with that rifle. Now days I mostly hunt small game with a .32 muzzleloader.
I use a single shotThompson Center Encore handgun with a 10" .410 barrel. I hunt cottontail with beagles and squirrels with my Black Mouth Cur with it.
Life is but the memories we've created.....Sully Erna
I switch between several bolt, semi auto and lever action .22's and .22 mags. depending on what, where and how I'll be hunting. I like them all and can't really say I have a favorite.
My favorite small game rifle is my Marlin 1894 CL in 25-20 WCF. The bullet is bigger and heavier than a 22 so it really knocks those squirrels over well. Velocity is moderate so you don't get any meat damage. It has a fixed power Weaver K2.5. My heavy barreled CZ 452 in 22 LR is my other favorite. It's incredibly accurate.
My bolt action is a Ruger 77/22 LR. The barrel is smooth, no open sights. It loves Remington Vipers &/or Yellow Jackets. With those rounds it will shoot very flat out to 85 yards.
The single shot is a Stevens Favorite, circa 1917. This gun literally looks fresh out of the box. It is a joy to behold for its age.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee
My absolute favorite is my old Marlin M39A. It has a Williams aperture sight and small flat faced gold bead front. It's slim, light, accurate and handles perfectly.
I use a single shotThompson Center Encore handgun with a 10" .410 barrel. I hunt cottontail with beagles and squirrels with my Black Mouth Cur with it.
Hunted swamp rabbits with beagles as a kid. This was my rabbit rig. My grip was more comfortable than the TC grip.
When the shooting is hot and heavy (well populated gopher patch) I will go to my 10/22 with open sights. Extended range I like my savages, 17 HMR AND 22 mag.
My absolute favorite is my old Marlin M39A. It has a Williams aperture sight and small flat faced gold bead front. It's slim, light, accurate and handles perfectly.
Agree completely. Perfection.
Originally Posted by Archerhunter
Quit giving in inch by inch then looking back to lament the mile behind ya and wonder how to preserve those few feet left in front of ya. They'll never stop until they're stopped. That's a fact.
My absolute favorite is my old Marlin M39A. It has a Williams aperture sight and small flat faced gold bead front. It's slim, light, accurate and handles perfectly.
Agree completely. Perfection.
My favorite lever gun. This one with a VX-2 3-9x40 with CDS set up for 38 gr. Federal Game Shok, 50 yd zero. This gun has a trigger stop and near match grade trigger. Fajan stock and my attempt at checkering as a youngster. Rosewood grip cap.
22LR in a Mossberg 151M - B 1953 birthday gift from Mom and Dad. The small game has been about everything from barn flies on the barn door to whitetail buck. Along with other game has been grasshoppers in the field, frogs, starlings, pigeons, partridges, squirrels, chipmunks, snowshoe rabbits, fox, tame rabbits, raccoons, fisher, cats, cows (beefers), bats, woodchucks, bees (in the nest), chickens, snakes, weasel, crows, chicken hawke, owl, barn swallows, trout, muskrats, beaver, a goat. Probably other species that I don't remember. My parents were not aware of everything this farm boy shot. For about two years I was shooting about a brick per month. Most of the above were before I turned 16.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
Usually a .22 bolt gun but next squirrel season I'd like to get my Henry H001 .22 lever gun out. Been having a lot of fun with it and it hasn't been hunting yet.
i have a Ruger 77-22 S.S. with that weird black plastic stock,that makes it look like a toy rifle. but i like to use this rifle it doesn`t rust easy and i have 3 rotary 10-shot clips for it so it loads and unloads very easy.the other reason is i don`t want to wreck my Marlin 39A`s those are just used with tender lovin care.
I just am finishing up my small game 10/22 project. It’s a 10/22 sporter deluxe with the 22” stainless barrel, BX trigger group, and a Leupold 4X rimfire scope. I’ll post some pics when I get it finished up.
Rifles are usually a 10/22 or 77/22 both with Leupold scopes. Shotguns are whatever i drag out that day Winchester model 12s in 12 or 16 or older Wingmaster 870s in 20, 16 or 12
I've shown this one before, but my favorite woods walking, small game gun is a family heirloom. Marlin '94 25-20 shooting cast 89 gr plain based NOE 260283 at just under 1300 fps using 9.2 gr 4198. Williams 5D rear, fiber optic front sights aid these old eyes in hitting what I'm aiming at. squirrels are a bit harder to hit so I usually end up with the Rem 582 I bought as a teenager 42 years ago. It still carries a Herters 4x rimfire scope, 1" dia. and still outshoots me.
I've shown this one before, but my favorite woods walking, small game gun is a family heirloom. Marlin '94 25-20 shooting cast 89 gr plain based NOE 260283 at just under 1300 fps using 9.2 gr 4198. Williams 5D rear, fiber optic front sights aid these old eyes in hitting what I'm aiming at. squirrels are a bit harder to hit so I usually end up with the Rem 582 I bought as a teenager 42 years ago. It still carries a Herters 4x rimfire scope, 1" dia. and still outshoots me.
Great rifle! Super cool picture!!
X-VERMINATOR
Last edited by xverminator; 07/15/19.
Sooner or later our heritage of hunting is going to be a rich mans sport and the words "Outfitter" and "Hunt Industry" will be synonymous with cancer and A.I.D.S. among blue collar hunters like me and my family!(A.L. Williams - 2010)
cz 452 22lr for squirrels or a 10/22. 20ga wingmaster for rabbits. our squirrel season has been open for a month. i think i'd rather hunt squirrels with a 22 more than anything except elk. been retired for a long time, so i squirrel hunt most mornings for 2-3 hours, until it starts to heat up.
Same here. It is the gun I learned to hunt with as a child. My father gave it to my brother, and the Browning A5 came to me. The savage 24 or my Glenfield model 60 .22lr would be my small game choice.
the only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker, is observation. all the same data is present for both. The rest, is understanding what you're seeing.
.........or my Glenfield model 60 .22lr would be my small game choice.
Had two or three of those myself. It was kind of like a rite of passage in my neck of the woods. The only gun stores were Sears & Western Auto.
Very popular guns, they made more than 12 million of them. Mine is the higher capacity version. I still have the original Glenfield scope, but replaced it due to no longer being able to see much through it, except in bright light.
An unemployed Jester, is nobody's Fool.
the only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker, is observation. all the same data is present for both. The rest, is understanding what you're seeing.
Part of the beauty of small game hunting is the ability to do it with pretty much whatever you have handy. Rimfire, shottie, air rifle, CF, rock lock, whatever. The seasons are so long, you can use them all in turn. :-)
I really like my 22s. I have several. Some with scopes and some without. I like the iron sights under clear skies but when it's cloudy I use one with a scope.
A Westley-Richards Martini in originally .310. Now my own "wildkitten cartridge" best described as an 8mm/.32-20. 125 gr wheelweight semi flatpoint mold with 3.5 gr of Red Dot or Bullseye for 970 fps. Home built California sights with a 150 yd folding leaf. This Cadet, I have reason to believe, by external pitting was stored on the floor of the English Channel for many years before it found it's way to me. But, the bore is more than acceptable, possibly because of the beeswax lube used back in the day. Pressed back into service during the great rimfire panic a few years ago, I found it far exceeding the .22 in performance past 100 yard mark, generally stopping any jackrabbit charge, and once or twice saving my life when charged by a tender young grouse.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
For squirrels with a 22 its my winchester 52 sporter with leupold 3x9 efr, it will now be my tikka 16" t1x with a can and leupold 6.5x20 efr, with a shotgun winchester 42 pigeon grade or parker vh grade double in 410, in bad weather remington 870 in 410
Marlin .22 mag bolt action with Leupold 3x9. Everything I point this $129 dollar (many years ago) death ray at ends up getting killed. Browning Sweet 16 for the other days.
very early Model 24 that my grandfather owned and he died in 1968....
it was his favorite squirrel and rabbit gun.. as his favorite two game animals, were squirrel and rabbits..
410 on the bottom and 22 LR on top....when he passed an I inherited it, the 22 barrel was shot out...
when I squirrel hunted with it back in MN, .410 shells were like $4.00 for a box of 25...
use to cook up squirrel in a casserole of it and wild rice...spice it up with Worcestershire Sauce... that sure was some good eatin...
that old 410 was quite the small game getter... in 25 yds putting out a pattern about the size of a garbage can lid...
the 22 on top... you couldn't hit a barn at 25 yds with it...love the gun, and more so since it had belonged to my grandfather.
Addendum... after looking it on on Wiki, I guess what I have from my grandfather is one made by Stevens..which would have been made between 1938 and 1950.. supposedly he bought the gun before WW2, according to family members.. I also inherited an earlier Model 36 in 30/30 from him that was supposed to be pre WW 2 also...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
been really enjoying my win 320. 2-7 leupold rimfire on it. More accurate than my cz 455. Get compliments on it every time I take it out.
I have the single shot version of it-the Win model 310. It is certainly an accurate rifle (CCI standard velocity 22 LR). Nice size, and great build quality. I have a Bushnell Banner straight 1" tube 4 x scope on it.
A Marlin Model 39D Dad bought me (Santa) when I was 13, and a close second is an heirloom Springfield 16 gauge single shot shotgun that used to belong to my Great Uncle Roscoe McDuffy. It was made in 1912 and he helped feed his family with it during the Great Depression. Dad used it in the 1940s when he was in college near their farm.
The input here has been great. Not hard to get a man talking about their favorite small game guns.
Out of curiosity, before I have even studied on it, can a Ruger 77/22 be switched to a 17 caliber something with just a simple change of barrel?
Green Mountain used to sell drop-in barrels for the 77/22 and 96/22 in 17HMR and 17HM2. Shortly after the 17HMR and 17HM2 were introduced people started to rework 96/17 barrels from GM for their 10/22 Magnums and 10/22s. I bought four or five of them and reworked a couple for 10/22s and a couple for Savage 93s and Mark IIs. I think that GM may have stopped making these barrels because so many people were modifying them for 10/22s and they didn't want to deal with the potential for product liability suits.
The only small game I hunt is ruffed grouse and that is a browning citori 725 12 gauge.
Now my 22's get used for model 39 or cz 452, but it tends to be the rem 512 single shot or the westernfield ss shot. These tend to be in the pickup when I go to the farm so thats whey they get more vermin.My nice 22's tend to be plinkers or range guns.
I may have a new "favorite" soon. It's one I have been working on for 8 years now, and I finally have it built but have not started the finish work on wood or metal work yet. It's a 28 caliber flintlock. I really hope it shoots well. I will use about 10 grains of 3F Black powder and a .272" ball. Zeroed at 25 yards I expect it will not have a lot of range past maybe 50 at the most, but it should be a LOT of fun to shoot cottontails with in December and January.
My favorite small game gun is a compact, multi-purpose gun that is always with me for thousands of miles of canoeing and dog mushing:
Sp 101 "Parka Pistol".
1. 180 grain A-frame/1200 fps load for bear protection when camp is full of moose and/or caribou. Moose protection when on trails with dog team. Moose are super grumpy in winter when startled by dogs.
2. Ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare and beaver. 158 grain speer tmj/1000 fps.
Savage Model 24, 22lr on top 20ga on the bottom. Such a great bunny gun. Running shots with the 20 and head shots with the 22 if the hold. Big fan of the single shots for small game.
“I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.” ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
CZ 452 American (22 LR) marlin 880 SQ. (22 LR) Winchester 310 (22 LR) Rem 540XR (22 LR) S&W m-14 full lug. (38 special wadcutters) Beeman HW77. (.177 pellet under lever air rifle,)
Current favorite is Marlin 782 22 Magnum topped with a 4x Leupold. For years I would have nothing to do with a 22 magnum but now that I can hunt feral hogs and small game at the same time I find it a perfect dual use rifle. It shoots the CCI and Fiocci 40 gr. FMJ's right at an inch most of the time at 100 yards and will with head shots take hogs out easily. The other option, a shotgun is limited by regulations to #2 shot max and I like 6's for squirrels so the rifle is already loaded for the possible hog appearance and the shotgun with #2 shot is not a top hog load and I would have to switch from a load of 6's in the chamber to the #2's before I could shoot. On the other hand the place has to be the Water Moccasin capitol of the world so sometimes I take the shotgun anyway.
lots of great pictures and stories here. As I was reading the replies, I noticed I have some of the same favorites. I have a plain jane CZ452 that's accurate as heck, a 10/22 with all the kidd accessories, leupold 2-7, silencerco sparrow, etc, but my all-time favorite is still the gun I grew up carrying in the woods alongside my dad, the remington nylon 66... lightweight, accurate enough, and beat up to the point that I don't worry about being a little rougher with it than I would the others.
Tough question... if you forced me to pick only one, probably my Anschutz 64 topped with a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14X40mm EFR. But I use many different rifles and shotguns. My favorite shotgun is a Browning BSS Sporter 20 gauge that I had threaded for thin wall chokes... when we do our annual NorOnt upland/walleye trip, I bring the Anschutz or a Ruger 77/22 (stainless/walnut) and the BSS 20 gauge... it is a mixed bag of ruffed, spruce and sharptail grouse... limits every day, of both grouse and walleye... we eat good!
I have an XS Ghost Ring on a Marlin 1895 .45-70, a Skinner on a 336 .30-30 and a Williams Fool Proof on a M39A. For some reason that looked like my Skinner. Either way, they are all good! Love an aperture sighted lever gun.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
What kind of accuracy are you seeing with that combination Tin? Certainly looks svelte.
Hands down my favorite chicken gun is Mathews Switchback XT. Stuffing a 100 grain Judo through a ruffie or snowshoe hare is definitely satisfying.
Originally Posted by Someone
Why pack all that messy meat out of the bush when we can just go to the grocery store where meat is made? Hell,if they sold antlers I would save so much money I could afford to go Dolphin fishing. Maybe even a baby seal safari.
My favorite small game gun is the Stevens 22/410 my dad bought around 1950. I can't imagine the number of critters this gun has put on the table for my family over the years. Off hand between dad and I , I can remember it taking rabbits, squirrles, a few skunks foxes,grouse,doves,quail,pheasants,ducks a couple of geese ( Prior to non toxic shot rules of course) and 1 turkey. And lots of wood chucks. Dad has been gone for 30 years now but I still feel his presence every timetable the old gun out, and it still kills everything I want it to just fine. These days my kids all enjoy it too, they love the stories of their grandpa they never met.
What kind of accuracy are you seeing with that combination Tin? Certainly looks svelte.
Hands down my favorite chicken gun is Mathews Switchback XT. Stuffing a 100 grain Judo through a ruffie or snowshoe hare is definitely satisfying.
Good question. I honestly don't know. I've never actually shot that rifle at a target, besides a random beer can to make sure it was on, then started killing stuff. I bought it used with that peep and front sight.
What kind of accuracy are you seeing with that combination Tin? Certainly looks svelte.
Hands down my favorite chicken gun is Mathews Switchback XT. Stuffing a 100 grain Judo through a ruffie or snowshoe hare is definitely satisfying.
Good question. I honestly don't know. I've never actually shot that rifle at a target, besides a random beer can to make sure it was on, then started killing stuff. I bought it used with that peep and front sight.
Glad I came back to have another read on this thread. Still getting used to the campfire forum and don't see "alerts" for responses to threads. Anyway... I would have never figured it for an XS Sight, being so low profile and rounded like that. If I hadn't of just paid too much for a Lyman 56MC, I think this would have been the one. Guess I gotta' get me another 39. That's a sweet looking setup.
the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded. Robert E Lee ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
My two small game guns are a First year prod. Bearcat( gun I learned to shoot ) and a Marlin 25 Santa brought to me at age 12. Both have served me well for 40 + years and I am only 50.
Me old Belgium made Browning T-Bolt with and old Leupold 2-7 rim fire scope and standard velocity CCI Mini Mags. Scope pretty much stays on 6 power and has a thin Duplex reticle. Trigger breaks like a tiny ice cycle and it shoots very well.
Just took possession of an older 39A on Monday. Mounted the only short-range parallax scope I had, a 2-7 Leupy ML. The reticle is a bit coarse, but it’s still minute of squirrel to 50 yards at least. I’m thinking the rifle itself is just about perfect for small game. The scope may get swapped out for an RF 4x.
Had a Mountie long ago and far away, but this one is a bit nicer, and the front sight is straight.
For tree rats- scoped marlin bolt action .22 For bunnies- 10/22 or MKII pistol Turkeys- 12 ga 3" Pred calling-scoped AR or 12 ga Land birds-20 or 12 ga wingmaster Waterbirds- 12 ga express
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same... President Ronald Reagan
My primary squirrel rifle the last couple seasons has been a Henry Big Boy Steel carbine hooting 32 S&W Long 115gr cast loads. DRT performance with body shots, and very easy on the ears since they're subsonic.
My rabbit rifle is still my trusty old Winchester 9422, since rabbits bang/flop a lot easier than squirrels.
Lately a Winchester 1873 (made in 1889) shooting 95 grain cast bullets around 900 fps. I find myself smiling more when I’m hunting with and shooting this rifle than with any other.
The Stevens 44 1/2 in .22LR that I inherited from my great-grandfather who bought it new. With CCI Subsonic HPs it drives tacks at 50 yards. I've scoped it with a modern Leupold, but I have the original JC Stevens 6x external adjustment scope he purchased with it that I use for "retro" hunts once in a while.
Selmer
"Daddy, can you sometime maybe please go shoot a water buffalo so we can have that for supper? Please? And can I come along? Does it taste like deer?" - my 3-year old daughter
Have used everything from .22 short to .44 mag; but my most used since it came out has been a Ruger Mark 2. I have 2 virtually identical mk 2 targets with the 5.5" bull barrels and volquartsen competition internals, triggers, and some other parts. One currently wears a 2.5x8 leupold and the other a holosun green dot. For most of the years I've had them, they wore iron sights only; but... my eyes ain't what they used to be.
I grew up shooting rabbits and squirrels with my great grandfathers octagon barreled Rem mod 12. It had cool sights, probably something from Marbles, a rear tang mounted aperture sight and the front could flip from a bead to a bead in a ring. Loved hunting with that rifle. Now days I mostly hunt small game with a .32 muzzleloader.
Flint or percussion? Years back I bought a Dixie 32 Tenn. squirrel rifle flinter. Fancied it up a bit patch box entry pipe. Bobby Hoyt freshed the barrel. I take it to the woods for just about anything small game wise. usually come home with something for the pot.
Last edited by Pashooter; 05/22/22.
There are no problems that cannot be resolved by the suitable application of high explosive.
I was looking back over this thread and happened to notice this question; one thing that can make them taste bad is the glands in the armpits. They look like pinkish fatty tissue and they need cut out before cooking as they will make for a "gamey" flavor. How to cook can depend on how old they are. Younger tender squirrels can be fried, Ive had no luck trying to fry older ones and boil those until the meat is falling off the bones, then drain well, brown and add to gravy. Middle of August now so squirrel season is a month out.
The gun which has probably accounted for the most small game for me is a Ruger Mark 2 target pistol. Next is probably a Weatherby .22 semi auto. Next would probably be an old single shot which a brother bought for me at estate se for $10 when I was about 5
For squirrels and rabbits, a Remington 541-S with a Leupold 3-9 EFR and Remington Subsonic HP’s.
I don't hunt smallgame a lot but when I do it's either/or my S&W mod 19 32 long with cast bullets or my Mossberg 783 22 mag, Mosberg is very accurate but I don't like the tube feed. Now and then just going walk about I'll take along my S&W 38/44 with cast bullet's, just for a change I guess. If I was serious though it would be the Mossberg and the Mod 19 Smith!
The gun which has probably accounted for the most small game for me is a Ruger Mark 2 target pistol. Next is probably a Weatherby .22 semi auto. Next would probably be an old single shot which a brother bought for me at estate se for $10 when I was about 5
Now that makes me think. Bet my High Standard HD Military would spoil me. Boy is that thing accurate. Only problem is finding a holster that fit's it!
For squirrels and rabbits, a Remington 541-S with a Leupold 3-9 EFR and Remington Subsonic HP’s.
I don't hunt smallgame a lot but when I do it's either/or my S&W mod 19 32 long with cast bullets or my Mossberg 783 22 mag, Mosberg is very accurate but I don't like the tube feed. Now and then just going walk about I'll take along my S&W 38/44 with cast bullet's, just for a change I guess. If I was serious though it would be the Mossberg and the Mod 19 Smith!
A S&W M19 in .32 Long?
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
“Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person” -Fred Bear
For squirrels and rabbits, a Remington 541-S with a Leupold 3-9 EFR and Remington Subsonic HP’s.
I don't hunt smallgame a lot but when I do it's either/or my S&W mod 19 32 long with cast bullets or my Mossberg 783 22 mag, Mosberg is very accurate but I don't like the tube feed. Now and then just going walk about I'll take along my S&W 38/44 with cast bullet's, just for a change I guess. If I was serious though it would be the Mossberg and the Mod 19 Smith!
Don I think you need the ‘9’ in Model 19 turned upside down to read Model 16.
For squirrels and rabbits, a Remington 541-S with a Leupold 3-9 EFR and Remington Subsonic HP’s.
I don't hunt smallgame a lot but when I do it's either/or my S&W mod 19 32 long with cast bullets or my Mossberg 783 22 mag, Mosberg is very accurate but I don't like the tube feed. Now and then just going walk about I'll take along my S&W 38/44 with cast bullet's, just for a change I guess. If I was serious though it would be the Mossberg and the Mod 19 Smith!
Don I think you need the ‘9’ in Model 19 turned upside down to read Model 16.
Rick
Not only that but I think his Mossberg 783 is actually a Marlin.
I prefer a .22 rimfire, Marlin Model 39A or Rossi 62SA are my typical choices but I’ve a Remington Model 33 single-shot that I also frequently use. Great guns all, but the Marlin is my favorite.
Just thought I would share a photo of my favorite small game gun as well since we both like bottom eject pump guns. Full up it goes about 10 1/2 pounds (not including wheels and undercarriage) and once you get it moving rarely have a problem stopping your swing. A full combat load is 50 shells in 2 bandoliers slung in Pancho Villa fashion and 25 more in a trap bag around the waist. My ammo carrier rarely complains, if she did I would shut off her cell phone service. Throwing 2 1/4 oz lead loads I get good results on quail, dove, snakes, chipmunks and those pesky pigeons in the barn rafters that poop all over the place. I even got a goose one year with this gun and didn't even fire a shot (Yes I have witnesses and no don't ask how). Truth be known the only reason I use it is because I can't get my hands on an 8 bore at a reasonable price.
Henry levergun in .22 chambering. I mounted a Bushnell 1.5-4.5X scope and it's a deadly outfit for rabbits and squirrels. This rifle was designed by ERMA of Germany many years ago, but Henry bought the patent. - Sherwood
I've gotten to favoring this Weihrauch HW100S. 22 PCP rifle. Very accurate with JSB 18 grainers and quiet death to squirrels.
Can you tell me a little about your air rifle? I am interested in them, but find them expensive and intimidating. I have had an rws 22 that was too loud and a air arms s410 that had to go back to manufacturer too many times.
Is yours quiet? Does it actually kill the squirrel cleanly? What does it weigh?
It's a Weihrauch HW100S, .22 caliber. This one is rated at 50 Joules or 38 ft lbs of muzzle energy. It is superbly accurate with the 18 grain JSB and 21 grain H&N Baracuda Match pellets. It's a heavy rifle, scoped it weighs a bit over nine pounds. It doesn't feel that heavy shooting it as the stocks design is a great fit for me. A reservoir fill will yield 28 shots. The magazines are a metal rotary disc which hold 14 rounds so a fill does two mags. The reservoir is 175 cc and the fill pressure is 200 Bar or 2900 psi. I have overfilled it 10% without any negative affects which yielded seven more shots. It is a long gun, with a 24" or 610mm barrel plus the moderator. The firing report is exceptionally quiet, just a low "spikt". The hammer spring tension could be lowered some for less power and more shots per fill but I've left it as it came as I'm happy with the performance as is. Head shots are easy with the accuracy and flat trajectory.
Air supply for PCP rifles is part of the game. I have another rifle, an Evanix AR6, Korean made revolver rifle that I bought back in 2009. When I got it I got an 80 cubic foot aluminum 200 Bar scuba tank, then in 2010 added an 80 cubic foot 232 Bar steel tank. A few years ago I got a 4 stage hand operated pump. I have a JTS Comp 1 portable compressor ordered. Quality pellets cost less than quality rimfire ammunition but then you have the cost of supplying the air pressure to operate the guns so I doubt that you save much money in an airgun versus rimfire comparison, maybe some in the long run. You do get quiet, safer in built up areas due to lighter projectiles with much shorter travel ranges and less energy than .22 LR bullets and you get away from firearms. No fooling with FFL transfers. Plus no carbon rings, no gunpowder fouling, no first shot cold barrel flyers, etc.
Airguns of Arizona is the primary retailer of Weihrauch pcps in the USA, I think that they carry the whole line. FX has a Dreamline Classic Walnut that is a nice too.
I prefer a .22 rimfire, Marlin Model 39A or Rossi 62SA are my typical choices but I’ve a Remington Model 33 single-shot that I also frequently use. Great guns all, but the Marlin is my favorite.
It's a Weihrauch HW100S, .22 caliber. This one is rated at 50 Joules or 38 ft lbs of muzzle energy. It is superbly accurate with the 18 grain JSB and 21 grain H&N Baracuda Match pellets. It's a heavy rifle, scoped it weighs a bit over nine pounds. It doesn't feel that heavy shooting it as the stocks design is a great fit for me. A reservoir fill will yield 28 shots. The magazines are a metal rotary disc which hold 14 rounds so a fill does two mags. The reservoir is 175 cc and the fill pressure is 200 Bar or 2900 psi. I have overfilled it 10% without any negative affects which yielded seven more shots. It is a long gun, with a 24" or 610mm barrel plus the moderator. The firing report is exceptionally quiet, just a low "spikt". The hammer spring tension could be lowered some for less power and more shots per fill but I've left it as it came as I'm happy with the performance as is. Head shots are easy with the accuracy and flat trajectory.
Air supply for PCP rifles is part of the game. I have another rifle, an Evanix AR6, Korean made revolver rifle that I bought back in 2009. When I got it I got an 80 cubic foot aluminum 200 Bar scuba tank, then in 2010 added an 80 cubic foot 232 Bar steel tank. A few years ago I got a 4 stage hand operated pump. I have a JTS Comp 1 portable compressor ordered. Quality pellets cost less than quality rimfire ammunition but then you have the cost of supplying the air pressure to operate the guns so I doubt that you save much money in an airgun versus rimfire comparison, maybe some in the long run. You do get quiet, safer in built up areas due to lighter projectiles with much shorter travel ranges and less energy than .22 LR bullets and you get away from firearms. No fooling with FFL transfers. Plus no carbon rings, no gunpowder fouling, no first shot cold barrel flyers, etc.
Airguns of Arizona is the primary retailer of Weihrauch pcps in the USA, I think that they carry the whole line. FX has a Dreamline Classic Walnut that is a nice too.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. That is a nice air rifle you have.
I got the s410 based on the recommendations of my gun club, they have a monthly air rifle silhouette match and there are a bunch of folks there who know air rifles well. Unfortunately, my particular rifle had major problems from the beginning one of which it just would not hold air. I am not up to date on all the nomenclature of air rifles so I did not follow everything that was done to fix it, but one thing that was done was the replacement of the entire "action". I think airgunners call it the block. The could not get it to work by just replacing seals, so eventually just replaced the entire thing. Pyramid air held up to their warranty and eventually got it to work, so I have no fault with them, but sending it back so many times was a pain. I finally gave up and sold it to another club member.
I would like to replace it, as there is nothing like being able to shoot at home, but am reluctant. I do think they air rifles are the future though, given how crowded the woods are becoming.
my very 1st gun as young kid was a Savage 24 22LR/410 ,then when i was 30 years old i Purchased another Savage 24 22mag /20 gauge i may own some expensive rifles and Perazzi shotguns but to be honest that cheap old Savage 24 is still my favorite rifle/shotgun i now own 4 of them the last two are a 22mag./410 , 223 /20ga.
One of my favorites is a Browning a bolt in .22 Hornet. I bought it almost 30 years ago. At the time I was doing a lot of chuck shooting. It made a perfect gun for shooting around houses and barns. I had it a few years and retired. Since I have shot some forest grouse, tree squirrels, cottontails by the truck load, and 5 wild turkeys. Don't hunt those areas in more but it still gets used shooting gophers and prairie dogs. If we have cottontails and someone wants a mess, it is great for head shooting bunnies. Not many folks these days enjoy fried cottontail..
I was scrolling through and saw the beautiful wood and a classy old lever gun and knew it was shrapnel before I read the post!
If I’m “hunting” and just out unwinding in the woods I’m most apt to take a CZ bolt action 22 suppressed. If I want to fry me up a mess of squirrels and I’m serious… my old wal mart 870 express I brought home the day I graduated HS and some 6shot and a tight choke.
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