Squirrel Hunting

[Gamehunter59]

Do you like to hunt squirrels with a 20 ga or a .22? what kind of ammo do you use?

[MrNiceGuy]

.17HMR

Hornady

[hogdogs]

12 or 20 for shot guns .22lr in rifle or pistol...
brent

[dipper]

.22 long rifle--Ruger 77/22.
CCI 40 grain SGBs.

Browning Buckmark pistol---same load.

Dipper

[Gamehunter59]

which one do you prefer

[AZGunLover]

I prefer a Ruger 10/22

[AZGunLover]

Oh and for ammo I use CCI mini mag hollow points

[hogdogs]

For me it depends on reason to hunt and use of squirrels. If they are just for the dogs or snake I don't mind the challenge of the pistol and body shots are okay as I don't clean them or mind heavy damage. The rifle allows head shots for cleanest meat and shotguns are good if I don't mind pickin' shot out of the meat. My 20 is short barrel which allows hunting in heavier cover and the 12 has the long barrel and accu-choke option for long range shooting...
Brent

[dipper]

which one do you prefer

Me? I prefer my Ruger (rifle), it is very accurate with several loads and head shots are no problem out to 50 yards and beyond--it is a nice little rifle.
I've got a Simmons Atec 3 X 12 on it right now, but am thinking of changing it out.
Nothing wrong with it but the Parallax adjustment is a pain because you can see the difference between settings very easily ---I swear I could almost use it as a range finder.LOL
It's just a pain when your in the woods with shadows and funny lighting.

Dipper

[Doyle]

In the woods, any of the .22 subsonic ammo. It kills squirrels just as dead as any of the high-power stuff and is much quieter. In the back yard, I use CB caps. That is pretty weak, but the range is short enough that it doesn't matter.

[crowbeaner]

We hunt them with both. One of us has the .22 and one has the shotty. If a treerat presents a clean shot I take him with the 22 and if they are kinda hidden then the kid uses the 12. I'm still working on cast boolit loads for the .222 to shoot them at long range.

[garryc]

That all depends on where I'm hunting. 90% of the time I use a 22. Often with 22 short hollow points, at least when I use my dads old single shot 22 winchester. We don't have grey squirrels in my immediate area, just fox squirrels. They tend to expose themselves more and are slower.

When I use a shot gun ( which is seldom) it's usually when I'm after greys in SE ohio in the thick when you only see them close in like early season, it's an old single shot full choked 410 loaded with 3" 5 shot. I've never needed more than that.

Usually I carry a 22 Ruger auto or my Browning, I've killed alot of squirrel with those guns. When I'm hunting greys I often use a squirrel whistle. At those times I carry a 4" ruger GP 100 357 mag loaded with 140gr HP's. Before I use the distress whistle I'll lay that across my lap. I've gotten 5 coyotes like that over the years. I've shot them with the 22 and the 410 at other times with lack luster results. The 357 140's put them down fast.

[hogdogs]

Garryc, Glad you mentioned Greys and fox... I forget about the fox squirrels. They are very rare in Florida and very much off limits to hunting.
we have 3 types of hunt cover where I live. we have the full size oaks but that is less prolific than either the longleaf pines which are very tall and quite sparse. The Squirrels get in them and pluck green cones and shred them for the pine nuts. for this I prefer the scoped rifle as they sit still not aware they have been spotted. To locate them you see the chunks of cone raining down or hear them gnawing them. HEAD SHOT!!! The other main type of cover is smaller oaks mixed with palms and scrub. For this they tend to be more alert and runners are the norm so I like the shotguns for fast target aquisition.
Brent

[Tuckahoe]

Henry .22 lever action loaded with .22 shorts. Or 12ga using #4 shot for fox squirrels.

[oneounceload]

with neighbors, it's the RWS air rifle - nice and quiet

[New_Pollution1086]

bolt .22 with shorts.

I live in an apt so it doesn't alert anyone, same volume as the bb gun..

T