Only two rifles squirrel to bear - Page 2

Jack O'Conner · September 12, 2006, 08:57 PM

I traded off my 22 rifles and bought a Ruger 96 lever action carbine in 17 HMR for $270. A new carbine discounted from a shop in Michigan that I found thru GunsAmerica.com. This 17 will shoot into a dime sized group at 75 yards. No kidding!

This 17 has knocked off several dozen prairie dogs. None got away. We don't have the big grey tree squirrels of Illinois or Iowa here in the Black Hills. But I'm certain this 17 would knock 'em out of a tree at longer distances better than the average 22 LR.

Years ago, I was stationed at Chanute AFB, ILL. Abundant tree squirrels along the banks of the Sangamon River and they fell to low base 16 gauge shells with ease. Seems like shotgun is the way to go when leaves are still sticken' to the trees.
Jack

dfaugh · September 13, 2006, 02:41 PM

Most accurate .22LR w/ scope (mine is a Marlin 60)

.270 which will take anything you like, with good shot placement)---30-06 a VERY close second. With lighter bullets the .270 can be pressed into service as a "varmint" gun.

If I only had these (plus the 12 gauge) I could do everything I'd ever need to do.

youp · September 13, 2006, 08:13 PM

Springfield 06 and Ruger 77-22. Happy trials....I mean trails.

seeker_two · September 18, 2006, 06:17 PM

If you reload, .22Hornet and .30-06.....

azzhandler · September 29, 2006, 06:15 PM

keep the guns and get the wife a 2nd job, then buy what ya really want

azredhawk44 · October 4, 2006, 06:43 PM

My vote goes with the .22mag and either a .30-06 or .300Weatherby mag.

You're not gonna want to do a bunch of load changes and/or re-sighting if your goal is hunting, fishing and travel. If you vary your .444 loads as much as folks suggest, you will be spending a lot of time at ranges.

Find a good, multipurpose bullet in .30 caliber (165 or 180gr Remington CoreLokts come to mind... cheap, reliable, available and good) and use only that load. If you want everything from elk to deer to black bear, I'd say .30-06 with 180's. I'm going elk hunting at the end of the month with a .308 with 180gr loads. My brother's going on his first hunting trip with me, and he's carrying my old 30-30 with 170gr loads.

Sounds like a good retirement plan though. Good luck with that!

September 12, 2006, 08:57 PM	#26
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	I traded off my 22 rifles and bought a Ruger 96 lever action carbine in 17 HMR for $270. A new carbine discounted from a shop in Michigan that I found thru GunsAmerica.com. This 17 will shoot into a dime sized group at 75 yards. No kidding! This 17 has knocked off several dozen prairie dogs. None got away. We don't have the big grey tree squirrels of Illinois or Iowa here in the Black Hills. But I'm certain this 17 would knock 'em out of a tree at longer distances better than the average 22 LR. Years ago, I was stationed at Chanute AFB, ILL. Abundant tree squirrels along the banks of the Sangamon River and they fell to low base 16 gauge shells with ease. Seems like shotgun is the way to go when leaves are still sticken' to the trees. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

September 13, 2006, 02:41 PM	#27
dfaugh Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,715	Most accurate .22LR w/ scope (mine is a Marlin 60) .270 which will take anything you like, with good shot placement)---30-06 a VERY close second. With lighter bullets the .270 can be pressed into service as a "varmint" gun. If I only had these (plus the 12 gauge) I could do everything I'd ever need to do. __________________ "If you Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules" "No one has the answer, but one thing is true. You'e got to turn on evil, when its coming after you. You've gotta face it down,and when it tries to hide, you've got to go in after it, and never be denied. Time is running out...Let's roll. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for love. We're going after satan, on the wings of a dove. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth."

September 13, 2006, 08:13 PM	#28
youp Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: south of Canada, eh? Posts: 438	Springfield 06 and Ruger 77-22. Happy trials....I mean trails. __________________ Use enough gun.

September 18, 2006, 06:17 PM	#29
seeker_two Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2002 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Lone Star State (TX) Posts: 2,169	If you reload, .22Hornet and .30-06..... __________________ Proud member of Gun Culture 2.0......

September 29, 2006, 06:15 PM	#30
azzhandler Member Join Date: September 14, 2005 Posts: 27	keep the guns and get the wife a 2nd job, then buy what ya really want

October 4, 2006, 06:43 PM	#31
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	My vote goes with the .22mag and either a .30-06 or .300Weatherby mag. You're not gonna want to do a bunch of load changes and/or re-sighting if your goal is hunting, fishing and travel. If you vary your .444 loads as much as folks suggest, you will be spending a lot of time at ranges. Find a good, multipurpose bullet in .30 caliber (165 or 180gr Remington CoreLokts come to mind... cheap, reliable, available and good) and use only that load. If you want everything from elk to deer to black bear, I'd say .30-06 with 180's. I'm going elk hunting at the end of the month with a .308 with 180gr loads. My brother's going on his first hunting trip with me, and he's carrying my old 30-30 with 170gr loads. Sounds like a good retirement plan though. Good luck with that!