Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game .22 CB Shorts

Just thought I'd see what y'all thought about using the little .22 CB Shorts on squirrels. I've been using them for years in a sweet little Winchester Model 60A singleshot that shoots way better than I can and these little poppers sound like a Daisy Red Rider when I use 'em.

Plenty accurate for inside 35 yards or so, quiet enough so when I occassionally miss (yeah, it happens) the squirrel normally doesn't even react, or when I hit the report doesn't spook all of his/her buddies. The power's good for head shots within the self-imposed 35 yards range, but leaves a lot to be desired outside of that.

Just thought I'd see what some of y'all thought about this set-up and see if any body else out there uses 'em.

Yep! Been using 'em for several years. We have a couple of acres with Pecan trees, but are inside the city limits, therefore no discharging of firearms.

Place gets overrun with gray squirrels and they do love the pecans. I don't mind sharing but man! those suckers want 'em all, and the sound of those pecan shells raining down on the tin roof shed my 5th wheel RV is parked under just ruins my lazy morning sleep <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> .

I've been using an old Wards Western Field (M'berg 26b) single shot with an ancient 3/4" weaver B4 scope but that scope is so dim it didn't do the job for my 64 year old eyes. I recently mounted a 4X42 Tasco World Class Plus on my early model Rem 582. Now I fill up that long tubular mag with 25 or so CB Shorts, and any pecan robbing bushytail within 25 or so yards is in mortal danger. I can use up that entire tube of ammo and make no more noise than a loud finger snap. Doesn't even disturb my son's yard dogs at the house about 75 yards away. They do perk up tho when a head shot gray hits the ground <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> .

'Course, this being a somewhat populated area, I try to be very careful of where a stray bullet might end up. The trees are usually so thick that a miss (rare even if I do say so) seldom gets out of the tree, but even so, I generally try to aim so a stray goes toward the big woods to the south.

Tried the regular short HP's but they make lots more noise and didn't appear to be much more effective <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> .

Vanimrod,

I have not used the CB's but have used shorts by the bricks on cottontails and squirrels for years. I have used the cb's as a kid shooting gophers in my grandmothers garden inside the city limits. I have also used the cb longs and have had greatluck with them in my ruger single six.
I picked up a couple of boxes of SGB shorts last week but have not had time to shooting any of them yet. I have heard good things about them and hope that they will shoot well in my rifle. The rifle that I have been shooting the short in is a rem speedmaster that I have had since 80 or 81. At 30 yards it will keep the rem shorts into 3/4" and work great.
Sako

I suggest that you check into CB Longs. These have about the same energy as a CB Short but should be a bit more accurate.

Conrad

Oh, it's not the accuracy that limits me to 35 yards or so, my 1928 vintage Winchester Model 60A, factory Redfield peep and all, puts 10 shots under a nickel at 50 yards all day with the CBs, under a dime if I really do my part. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The range limit is based on the in-field/on-target results of the load. Inside 35 yards, the CB Shorts are instant, silent death to all tree-rats. Past about 40 yards, the little CB pill just doesn't seem to be nearly as effective. So, I limit myself to 35 for those reasons.

It also doesn't hurt that 35 yards is about my max range with my recurve (instinctive shooter) for deer season, so squirrels with the CBs are sort of an "armed recon" during the early season.

Still, I might try the CB Longs, just because the cartridge might be a little easier to handle (esp. w/ cold fingers) and maybe the rifle will be even more accurate with these loads. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Been using CB's for hunting and pests for...ever? Since they were introduced anyway. Prefer the long variations in guns chambered in LR just to avoid fouling the chamber, otherwise I use shorts as my rifle is chambered for them. CCI's average less that 3/4" at 50 yards, ususally under 1/2" from a rest. TC contender carbine, Weaver RF 4X. I don't feel any more constrained with them than I do the HV shorts, velocities being similar at 50 yards anyway. POI about 1" lower at 50 Yds with the CB's, and they're just as accurate as the HV's. Always shoot for the brain...period.

Point of fact: I probably could, and would, use the CBs past 35 yards if the rifle I use with 'em had a scope. But, since that certain rifle is iron sighted, 35s about my max range in squirrel woods because sometimes even I miss the target by just a little, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> even if damned accurate on well-lit paper targets with the same gun. Must be the light, or maybe the wind...