What Distance to Hunt Squirrels?

Hallucinator · June 13, 2007, 08:14 PM

I haven't hunted since I was 18. I remember picking the birdshot out of the squirrels my uncle shot. I'm thinking of using a scoped 22 magnum. I'm thinking about 50 yards would be right for me (I'm not a great marksman).

I'm interested in what distances some of you hunt at.

skeeter1 · June 13, 2007, 09:57 PM

Most of my bushy-tailed rats have probably been taken at 20-40yds, certainly nothing over 50yds. At that range, the .22lr is just about perfect. With a .22Mag, you might be looking at quite a bit more tissue destruction than you want if you're planning to eat them. If you do go with the .22Mag, you'd probably be better off with FMJs instead of JHPs.

SavageSniper · June 13, 2007, 10:13 PM

Most all of your shots will be under 50 yrds, esp. if you are not a great shot. Trying to hit a limb rat in the head at 50 yrds will make you a great marksman once you get it down pat. I would stay with a .22 lr though. I have had a 22 mag, but have never been able to justify the extra money required to feed it for squirrel. Inside 50yrds, if you hit him anywhere in the head or body will put him down.

Gbro · June 13, 2007, 10:14 PM

When i think back to the days of shooting gray squirrels, i am reminded of the unsafe acts we committed. Were our shots backed up by a tree trunk to prevent the bullet from traveling 1 1/4 miles? No, we just never thought about that.
We don't hunt the stately squirrel anymore.

But if you just sit tight on a ridge and give the Grays a little time to get used to your presence you will have a ball.

Good hunting and be safe.

rantingredneck · June 13, 2007, 10:21 PM

Indeed I can speak from experience on the .22Mag. It messes squirrels up bad. I traded mine for a 10/22 if that tells you anything. .22LR is perfect. I like to squirrel hunt from my deer stands. That way I'm shooting down instead of up into a tree. Shotgunning squirrels is no problem either. You may have to pick shot out. It may pass right through and lay up under the hide and fall out on it's own. Either .22LR or shotgun. I took many a squirrel with a .410 back in the day.

Sgt.Fathead · June 13, 2007, 11:36 PM

Here in NJ we have a season on tree rats but in my town, farms and semi-rural, no one cares much if you take a few varmints out. I use...an air rifle. I use a Winchester 1000, scoped, and also a Crosman RepeatAir 1077, scoped. They are quiet and cheap, don't have the overtravel of a .22 rimfire and I can get a gray no problem.

Squirrel stew, yum!

keita · June 14, 2007, 04:16 AM

When I went squirrel hunt last year, I was shooting from 20-30 yards mostly. You need to be one darn good shot to get those little fellas from 50 yards. I used 22LR and 17 HMR with good results. I had a scoped rifle, so I only went for a head shot and 17HMR had quite a destruction but since it was head/spine it didn't matter....they dropped like a brick and didn't even twich. Even with 22LR, some of my buddies that shot them centermass made a mess.

SavageSniper · June 14, 2007, 06:41 PM

Sgt.Fathead, I have took may a squirrel with a pellet gun. I used to have a secret load that i would use on both limb rats and rabbit. I used to take a BB and lightly press it into the open end of the pellet. Kinda worked like a sable round. Looking back it doesn't sound too safe knowing what I know now. But we all know the things we come up with as kids. I do know that it would put down a rabbit.

lil_bro · June 14, 2007, 10:42 PM

I try to keep all of my shots within 50-60yds, but where I squirrel hunt I only have about a 300yd back-stop so I have to use CCI CB Long's.

Sgt.Fathead · June 15, 2007, 12:28 AM

Savage Sniper that sounds great...too bad I've grown up a wee bit and have a little more sense! I use either a pointed hunting pellet or a hollow point, both lead. GAMO makes a pellet like the ones you made, called the Rocket. Check it out:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...lets&noImage=0

Fat White Boy · June 16, 2007, 08:41 PM

In California, .22's are legal for squirrels. You can even use .22 cal pistols to hunt grouse.

jrothWA · June 17, 2007, 12:26 AM

with its small report, you can get right under squirrels with no problem.
My partner & I, used to carry .22 revovlers and shotguns, preferred to use the revolver.

Favorite trick was, when squirrel laid out on branch to hide, one would cover while the other would kick the tree. Squirrels can move when they want to!!!

intruder · July 1, 2007, 01:06 AM

Try a 17hmr doesn't mess up to much meat. Try to but your shot in his ear. Good round out to 100 yds

June 13, 2007, 08:14 PM	#1
Hallucinator Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Posts: 396	What Distance to Hunt Squirrels? I haven't hunted since I was 18. I remember picking the birdshot out of the squirrels my uncle shot. I'm thinking of using a scoped 22 magnum. I'm thinking about 50 yards would be right for me (I'm not a great marksman). I'm interested in what distances some of you hunt at. __________________ Sig 226, 228, 229, 232. XD45 Tactical. Smith Model 60 Chief's Special. Smith 1911. Mossberg 930 SPX. How we behave as gun owners is important. Posturing and threatening does not serve us well in the public eye.

June 13, 2007, 10:13 PM	#3
SavageSniper Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Location: Crawfordville, FL Posts: 494	Most all of your shots will be under 50 yrds, esp. if you are not a great shot. Trying to hit a limb rat in the head at 50 yrds will make you a great marksman once you get it down pat. I would stay with a .22 lr though. I have had a 22 mag, but have never been able to justify the extra money required to feed it for squirrel. Inside 50yrds, if you hit him anywhere in the head or body will put him down. __________________ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights!

June 13, 2007, 10:14 PM	#4
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	When i think back to the days of shooting gray squirrels, i am reminded of the unsafe acts we committed. Were our shots backed up by a tree trunk to prevent the bullet from traveling 1 1/4 miles? No, we just never thought about that. We don't hunt the stately squirrel anymore. But if you just sit tight on a ridge and give the Grays a little time to get used to your presence you will have a ball. Good hunting and be safe. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

June 13, 2007, 11:36 PM	#6
Sgt.Fathead Junior member Join Date: March 3, 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,637	Air Power Here in NJ we have a season on tree rats but in my town, farms and semi-rural, no one cares much if you take a few varmints out. I use...an air rifle. I use a Winchester 1000, scoped, and also a Crosman RepeatAir 1077, scoped. They are quiet and cheap, don't have the overtravel of a .22 rimfire and I can get a gray no problem. Squirrel stew, yum!

June 14, 2007, 06:41 PM	#8
SavageSniper Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Location: Crawfordville, FL Posts: 494	Sgt.Fathead, I have took may a squirrel with a pellet gun. I used to have a secret load that i would use on both limb rats and rabbit. I used to take a BB and lightly press it into the open end of the pellet. Kinda worked like a sable round. Looking back it doesn't sound too safe knowing what I know now. But we all know the things we come up with as kids. I do know that it would put down a rabbit. __________________ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights!

June 13, 2007, 09:57 PM	#2
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	Most of my bushy-tailed rats have probably been taken at 20-40yds, certainly nothing over 50yds. At that range, the .22lr is just about perfect. With a .22Mag, you might be looking at quite a bit more tissue destruction than you want if you're planning to eat them. If you do go with the .22Mag, you'd probably be better off with FMJs instead of JHPs.

June 13, 2007, 10:21 PM	#5
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	Indeed I can speak from experience on the .22Mag. It messes squirrels up bad. I traded mine for a 10/22 if that tells you anything. .22LR is perfect. I like to squirrel hunt from my deer stands. That way I'm shooting down instead of up into a tree. Shotgunning squirrels is no problem either. You may have to pick shot out. It may pass right through and lay up under the hide and fall out on it's own. Either .22LR or shotgun. I took many a squirrel with a .410 back in the day.

June 14, 2007, 04:16 AM	#7
keita Member Join Date: December 15, 2006 Posts: 32	When I went squirrel hunt last year, I was shooting from 20-30 yards mostly. You need to be one darn good shot to get those little fellas from 50 yards. I used 22LR and 17 HMR with good results. I had a scoped rifle, so I only went for a head shot and 17HMR had quite a destruction but since it was head/spine it didn't matter....they dropped like a brick and didn't even twich. Even with 22LR, some of my buddies that shot them centermass made a mess.

June 14, 2007, 10:42 PM	#9
lil_bro Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2004 Location: Oklahoma. Posts: 396	I try to keep all of my shots within 50-60yds, but where I squirrel hunt I only have about a 300yd back-stop so I have to use CCI CB Long's. __________________ "I reject your reality and substitute my own." -Adam Savage- "Mythbusters." Last edited by lil_bro; June 15, 2007 at 01:21 AM.

June 15, 2007, 12:28 AM	#10
Sgt.Fathead Junior member Join Date: March 3, 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,637	Wow! Savage Sniper that sounds great...too bad I've grown up a wee bit and have a little more sense! I use either a pointed hunting pellet or a hollow point, both lead. GAMO makes a pellet like the ones you made, called the Rocket. Check it out: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...lets&noImage=0

June 16, 2007, 08:41 PM	#11
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	In California, .22's are legal for squirrels. You can even use .22 cal pistols to hunt grouse.

June 17, 2007, 12:26 AM	#12
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	With a .22, the closer the better... with its small report, you can get right under squirrels with no problem. My partner & I, used to carry .22 revovlers and shotguns, preferred to use the revolver. Favorite trick was, when squirrel laid out on branch to hide, one would cover while the other would kick the tree. Squirrels can move when they want to!!!

July 1, 2007, 01:06 AM	#13
intruder Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2006 Location: pa Posts: 128	Try a 17hmr doesn't mess up to much meat. Try to but your shot in his ear. Good round out to 100 yds