Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game .22 or shotgun for squirrels?

this should start a grand debate. what do you guys prefer?
.22 rifle or a shotgun for tree rats. For fox squirrels I use a .22 rifle for cat(gray) squirrels I use a shotgun. tom

I personally only use a 22LR for squirrels.

I've always been partial to a 20ga with #6. Always seem to do the trick.

I like 22lr, or my 22 hornet downloaded, or my 223 downloaded.

22lr and sometimes my old 410.

.22LR OR 28ga suits me. Just depends......

Yeah. .22 w/o a scope too. Some times I use a Ruger MKII.

I like the .22 myself. Save all the meat with head shots, I do use a scoped one these days though, just can't see the squirrel, front sight and rear sight at the same time anymore! Like to sit still in the area and let em come to me.

T do you have cat squirrels down there or just fox squirrels? tom

A scoped rifle in .22 LR.

I'll throw another iron in the fire and say I prefer to use my .20 cal Beeman airgun. Headshots out to 50 yards are possible with this and I absolutely love the quietness of the shot. Thhwwppppt <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I haven't hunted squirrels for many years now but when I did, my dad and I always sued a 22 rifle. I did have fun for a few years using a 357 Mag. in a Colt Python with a scope. With that, I could shoot right through small limbs and kill the squirrel. It was fun and a challenge.

We have the regular Grey's and the Florida Fox, which is nothing like the red Fox Squirriels you have up nawth!

shooting through limbs to get squirrel is a challenge?

OOOOOOOooookkkkkkk....

I'd liken it to using a cannon and cannon ball for golfing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Booom!.....Four!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I like using my Marlin 880SQ .22lr, I can really reach out there and touch something if i need to! Its just so exciting to put one of those tree rats in the crosshairs of my scope <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I did a lot of squirel hunting in east texas before I moved to colorado. There is nothing funnier than listening to someone trying to take a cat squirrel with a 22. They do not sit still at all. Fox squirrels are easy with a 22 they normally present sitting targets. tom

blammer, what loads are you using in your 223? I've seen a couple of handload recipes for 223 loaded down to Hornet level for turkey and such, but I don't think I have any squirrel-sized downloads jotted down. This would be just the thing I need to justify buying a Savage model 24.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I use a Speer 46 gr Flat Point, and 5 gr of Unique powder, with a standard primer, and no filler, and use a Overall length of 2.08.



I tried the sierra 40 gr soft point bullets but they blew up even at that slow of speed.



I have not chronographed them but assume they are around 22 lr speed, I could be off a bit! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



forgot to say... I was /do use my ruger MKII 26 inch brl varminter for those loads. I guess I am putting them out quite fast due to the longer barrel. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Interesting. Just a pinch of Unique. Obviously you aren't spending yourself into the poorhouse with that load. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I wonder if you used a 55 grain FMJ spitzer and juiced the velocity up a bit, if you'd get reliable game kills without excessive meat damage. Plus you can buy .224 FMJs in those humongous bulk packs.

I would like to interject my experiences.



I use SR 4759 (about 8 grains) in the .222 Rem. The Sierra 40 grain HP is pretty tough at .22 Mag/.22 LR velocities.



One thing I did learn pretty quickly, the 55's don't stabilize well at low velocities in a 1 in 14" twist. Speer had a 55 FMJ with a flat base that would stabilize pretty well (#1045) but they don't make it anymore. There's a 50 grain FMJ available (RWS, I think) but at a buck a pop, I'll pass.



The faster twist .223's shouldn't have any problems with the stability of the 55 FMJ's.



You guys tried any of the cartridge adapters by MCA (Ace Dube)? He makes some that can utilize either the .22 LR or .22 Mag in a .222 or .223. I'm contemplating trying one in .22 Mag, using the CCI 50 grain Gold Dot. It trots along at about 1500 fps, maybe not quite as violent as the lighter weight bullets.

Like most people I started hunting squirrels at the age of 6 with a 410 H&R topper jr. but later started hunting them with a 22 lr as I have now for many years. But if you really want to have some fun hunt them with a 22lr handgun, it's a real hoot. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

JB, Lock, Stock and Barrel is having a blem sale. I picked up 1,000 fmj flat base for $29.95 Bob

I tried that load and went all the way up to 60 gr HP's by hornady before they started Keyholing. The 60's keyholed.

I tried mostly the sierra bullets from 40 gr up to 55 gr.

I have some 55 FMJ, that I'd like to try but I really wanted a flat point, so when the Speers arrived I tried them, I liked them, and I kinda stopped looking. If I could have found a wadcutter style I would have used that!

With all other variables not changing and only changing the bullet wt. I found that for each 5 gr of increased wt the point of impact was exactly 1 inch lower.

Bob,

Thanks for the heads up. Been trying to find some for a while.

Regards,
JB

I prefer a .22LR or occasionally .22WMR. I only take headshots. I don't care for digging in a mess of shot-up squirrel guts or spitting out buckshot. It's much easier preparing them for the table with a headshot.

I usually look for sign and sit and wait for the squirrels to come back out when things get quiet. This seems to work best in the early season.

I have taken more than a few squirrel with shotgun while rabbit hunting when they are running through the bare trees in late season.

I've hunted with many a gent that prefers a shotgun. Usually the more experienced types (ie. aging eyes).

I'll have to admit I seem to grab a scoped rifle more often than I used to, and I wonder how much longer it will be before "experience" requires me to reach for the shotgun...

Either way it's a lot of fun.

I like a 20 gauge with # 4 or 6 shot before the leaves fall and a .22 lr with 4X scope after fall. But one has to be very careful shooting a .22 up into a tree.

Hello Pumpgun,

In West Virginia we usually have to use a shotgun when the leaves are still on because you just can't get many good shots with a rifle. After the leaves fall the .22 rimfire is just about perfection. Thanks...

Why limit your self? For rabbit and squirrels I like the .22/.410 O/U. The best of both worlds!

I like to use a .22 when the days are quiet and you can wait them out 'til curiosity gets the best of them and they poke their little heads out from behind the trunk. A 20 ga. shotgun is good for those times--like on windy days--when the squirls are racing around the treetops like demons.

Unfortunately, whatever I bring along, the squirls are doing the other thing.

yeah, what strider said!!!

Pumpgun,
I started hunting squirrels with my father about 45 years ago. Dad was a notorious squirrel hunter and used a .22 single shot exclusively. Naturally I followed suit. In, for some unknown reason, my late teens the number of squirrels I bagged each day became important and I switched from .22 to pump 12 gauge. No real challenge, just walk up to a Hickory tree, kick it, and shoot the squirrels as they run out.

Then I discovered an old man who only hunted squirrels with his handmade .36 Kentucky long rifle. From that point on 99% of my squirrel hunting was with a muzzleloader. Ten years ago I moved to northern Minnesota from Kentucky and the only thing I really miss from the south is hunting squirrels in the mountains with my long rifles.

J�aime beaucoup v�tre fran�ais.

Haggis

If you ever need a kind of gun you don�t have you can always substitute it with your savings account passbook.

I started hunting years ago with primarily shotguns. Liked the versatility of being able to handle anything that came along, from birds to squirrels to rabbits. But as I got older, the shotguns and ammo got heavier and heavier and the challenge just wasn't there anymore; see squirrel, point, boom , throw in game bag. These days I enjoy squirrel hunting a lot more with my scoped .22. Every now and then I'll miss a running rabbit that I happen upon, but sometimes manage to get them, that is really challenging. I just like to be out in the woods by myself where itis peaceful and quiet, spot squirrels and sneak up on them, or pick them off from a good ways. A box of .22 ammo, a bottle of water or soft drink, and a pair of lightweight binoculars isn't too much weight to lug around, making for a more enjoyable day out.

i use a .32 cal muzzleloader

.22 or fast pellet rifle (1000fps) even on those that don't sit still like the cats. I practice on starlings--great fun. Steve

Pumpgun: I am really happy that I saw your question because I have spent more time squirrel hunting than I have ever spent doing anything else in the woods. I hunt everything but I love squirrel hunting. When I was a kid I used a full choke 20 gauge and later a 16 gauge; but like many of the others here, I got to the point where I was always getting my 8 squirrels with 8 shots. I tried a couple of different shotguns with the 8 shot 8 squirrels result and decided back then that it would be more fun to use squirrels to practice my rifle shooting for deer season. So I started using (my grandmother's) Ruger 10/.22 with a (now ancient) Weaver rimfire scope.

Then I went to iron sighted Marlin 39A Golden and then to a Marlin Model 7000 Bull-barreled Target .22 (Fantastic shooting gun--one hole groups at 50 yards with Winchester PowerPoints!)

All that aside, I have kinda developed a philosophy of squirrel hunting that most wouldn't even understand. I realize most folks just stroll through the woods and shotgun blast the squirrels when they run. Yea, I did that too when I was a kid. But according to my current philosophy---that would be a dishonorable kill (to me). In this stage of the game (for me) I no longer take shots at squirrels that know I am there. Any squirrel I spook is off limits for shooting because he detected me and is therefore the winner of our encounter. I shoot only squirrels that do not know I am present and I do not sit and wait for the squirrels to show themselves. I stalk them. I wear full camo and face-net, just like Turkey hunting. My goal is to kill 8 stalked squirrels with 8 shots. Especially satisfying is stalking and killing every squirrel you stalk, but that is a real challenge. I also get a big kick out of finding a tree with more than one squirrel in it and killing every squirrel in the tree without letting any get away or nail my position. To me this is like almost better than .... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> you know what I mean.

Oh, I forgot to mention that one of my favorite ammos for sneaking up on squirrels in the early (leaf) season is Remington Subsonic hollow points. They make less noise. They kill very well within 30 yards. But when the leaves come off, I use Winchester 40 grain PowerPoint Hollowpoints. For shots at 50 yards or more, I get a slightly better trajectory with Remington Golden 36 grain hollowpoints. Killed many squirrels with Federal, but they are not as good as the Winchesters in my current guns.
Folks who shoot only heads mostly use target (match ammo) solids and they are fine for that.

I've used both shotgun and .22 rifle. However I've always gotten more satisfaction out of the ones I took with a .22 handgun. Took a few with a slick little Ruger Bearcat revolver a couple of seasons ago. That's a bit more challenging than my scoped 10/22!
As for ammuniton, I've made a few observations on that topic too. In a shotgun, for best penetration, never use shot smaller than #6; #4 penetrates and works very well on even the toughest old reds. Don't underestimate the ability of a .22 short; especially the HVHP's by CCI. Also, don't be suprised at the tenacity of a red squirrel poorly hit with even a .22 HVLRHP either. And as another poster mentioned; the subsonic Remington LRHP is a very nice load for squirrels at reasnonable ranges. I really do prefer the low intensity report that they make. They group decently out of the guns I've used them in too. I need to get my 10/22 ready for the season, and I'm going to zero it with the subsonics just for squirrels and rabbits this fall.AW

I am going to have to dig my 22 out and go play. I have been out for quite a while. also I am kind of between 22's right now. son-in-law has my browning bl-22 and I have not sighted my 10/22 in yet. tom

Pumpgun: I finally got my new contact lenses so now I can see again. The very next cool day we have---I'm going squirrel hunting. I will let you know how I do. It has been so long I know I will not be up to speed--but I need the practice before deer season starts. This will be a .22 only affair. If I do well, I might even try the iron sights on the next hunt. But first I will have to remember how to walk quietly or I won't even do well with a scope!

I'd go with a .22 instead of a shotgun mainly due to not getting the meat all full of shot!! Nothing worse than biting down and hitting a shotgun pellet in the meat!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

TLee:

I've seen some of those Florida Foxes running around the beach, would love to be young enough to hunt some again, but the pelts are so expensive. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

.22 Mag

Pumpgun: Finally went Squirrel hunting this morning. Got 4 out of 5 that I shot at. The one that got away was the 2nd one out of the two that I shot at in one place. Got the first one...but that 2nd one I missed fair and square. He ran like his tail was on fire! I was using the Remington SubSonic hollow-points for those first ones---but after the sun was up I switched to Winchester Power-Point hollow-points. The next two (a red and a grey) I killed in the same tree. They both fell into a shallow creek and took a bath, but I didn't mind. The last one fell into the fork of the tree and I was lucky to be able to knock him out with one shot under the head. I could never have climbed that tree!

Have you been squirrel hunting?

hey model70
I was born and raised in that third world country and excaped but I ALWAYS used a 22 for treerats and used 22shorts that way I can hunt them in the graveyards. I also used ( please dont think I am totally nuts ) my wrist rocket and glass marbles that really kills good. and silent.

If you are wondering where in wva they layed off about 900 where I lived about 27years ago
good hunting