I'm tempted to try my 17 HMR and go for head shots.

Thoughts ?

did your 22 fail you? Mine never did and I love the HMR for stuff your not going to eat

I've had a squirrel or two fall and crawl into a stump or someplace I can't find him, so I'm tempted to eliminate it.

I hope to find out, next yr. Don't own a HMR, yet, but intend to rectify that, in the next 2 mos. Read somewhere that the 20 gr. Game point doesn't tear the squirrels up, as bad as the 17 gr. V-max.


maddog

If your rifle likes them the 20gr FMJ's eliminate decapitation yet still kill cleanly with headshots. That being said, I still prefer something quieter than the HMR in the squirrel woods. The .17HM2 is the "grail" of squirrel cartridges if you ask me....



X=VERMINATOR

it is the bomb-diggity.

i think back to the times as a kid when i hunted a big, open pecan orchard behind my grandparents house where i could see squirrels at a hundred yards...and they could see me.
not that it wasnt fun banging away at them with an old iron sighted 22, but i was more of a nuisance than a threat.

if i'd had a scoped mach2 back then, squirrels might be extinct in that area.

I hear ya.....A good set of binoculars, a quality 4x12 with a fine duplex or target dot, and an accurate rifle chambered in 17HM2 is as deadly a tree rat trio as you can get. I hope it survives!


X-VERMINATOR

My mom demanded cleaned, head-shot squirrels if she was going to cook them up for us. We used a Mossberg that is still in my gun safe, a 4x Lyman Alaskan in Weaver mounts sat on top and we used shorts only. We learned a couple of important life lessons, patience, trigger squeeze, and that Mom really was the best teacher that we had.

Terry

I used my HMR on limb chickens a few times and didn't like it. Way more than neccesary at woods ranges {that's where squacks live here} in power, destruction and trajectory with expanding bullets and FMJ's don't kill as well as .22 LR HP's. The [bleep]' thing is neither hay nor grass for squirrels as far as I can tell.

I'm forbidden from my Brother-in-Law to shoot them in the body with my .17 HMR. He says they area mess to clean. But I still prefer it over the .22. They don't get away LOL. I vote for whatever your heart desires. Variety is the spice of life!

An accurate .22LR and head shots has worked well for me for many years.

17 hm2 would be the way to go but the hmr will kill them for sure. will be somewhat messy tho.

Most of my shots at squirrels are close. (under 20 yrds). I wanted just a little more power than a .22LR. I found the answer along time ago in the 25-20 WCF. This number was popular around the early 1900's. I drive an 86gr JSP at around 1350fps. The load will drop a squirrel with a body shot and no excessive meat distruction. I once drove one length wise through a squirrel. I also use an 80gr plane base cast bullet load with equal effect. Both loads hit at the same point of impact. 5 gr of Unique for the JSP and 4.5gr of the same powder for the cast bullet. Both loads use a small pistol primer. My rifle ia a Marlin 1894CL. It is hard to find a rifle in this caliber today but if you can you should give it a try.

Squirrels a good quality pellet gun is all you need.

HM2 is much flatter than a 22.

Anyone used a HM2 on Squirrels ?

i usually start off with a .22, but after leaves drop, its usually mach2's from there on.

I actually get more excited about squirrel hunting than I do
deer hunting.

Agreed. Pellet rifles are illegal in Texas for game animals, which squirrels are.

Any more, me too. I have an H&R Sportster .22 that I have had an absolute ball, hunting squirrels with, this fall. Just for the hellofit, I'm going to buy the same gun in HMR to do some late season hunting with, next fall.


maddog

It can be a lot of fun! Deer hunting can get to be work. I also get to play with my rimfires....Just conked one in the head at 35yds with an "old school" Westernfield 855 semi auto (Mossberg 351). What a blast!!! That old rifle works a LOT better than the 100.00 price tag would suggest. Also have Mossy 340BA, a Stevens Crackshot, and a Marlin .17 that need to go out and play.

I have an NEF in 22 Mag and 17 HMR... bought each new for $100 a piece...

make a fantastic truck gun...and those little suckers will shoot ANYTHING accurately...

synthetic stocks and cheap Tasco World Class Scopes on top of them...not much can hurt them or go wrong...

Those are some nice looking rifles - what make are thy ?

the blonde gun is a maple stocked CZ452 American, the other a Kimber Classic Varmint.

Now the important question - which one do you like better ?

I use 22lr with 40 grain solids if I have them

arent we supposed to love all our children equally?

kinda depends on what i'm doing & how i'm hunting...the 452 is more trim & light & stock dimensions fit me better. trigger is good after some mods, and accuracy is excellent. if i'm walking much i like it.

The kimber is heavier & holds steadier, also has a great trigger, and is obscenely accurate, as in 100 yard head shots if i'm not wobbling around, if i plan on taking a stand in open areas & doing the sitting game i pack it.

Cool, good insight - thanks