Squirrel hunting

MountainMan22 · 09-20-2011, 01:36 PM

What is the best rifle or gun to hunt squirrel with? I remember my step-father use to have a shot gun he would use. Is that a common gun to use for them or was he crazy? I think he used a .22 rifle as well, but I'm not certain. Seems like a shot gun would be overkill?

rockin · 09-20-2011, 04:18 PM

I have never hunted squirrel but my brother did we I was younger. I think he used a shot gun as it was all he had. He might have even used a sling shot.

oldsarge · 09-20-2011, 04:19 PM

Not much of a humter myself, but I think something small like a .410 would be a good shotgun for squirrel as well as a .22 rifle. Might want to stay away from the 10 guage magnum though!

Newanderthal · 09-20-2011, 08:03 PM

.22 or .22 magnum. Slap a Bushnell scope on there and aim for the snout. So much better than spitting out shotgun pellets while eating your gumbo.

we used to put a bowl in the middle of the kitchen table for the pellets we found in our food. this was before the days of steel shot, so the lead probably explains a bit about my behavior

badkarma · 09-29-2011, 07:14 AM

42 years a squirrel hunter. I've used 410 to 16 ga and 22LR and 22Mag.

My choice is a 22LR. Like Newanderthal said, good scope and head shots and some prime eatin'. Chewin lead shot is most likely not the healthiest thing in the world and not very pleasant.

I have a Ruger 10/22 decked out just for treerats.

wvbreamfisherman · 09-29-2011, 12:43 PM

I usually use a 16 ga shotgun early in the season when the leaves are on the trees and the shots are short and need to be taken more quickly. I have a scoped .22 for later season.

My all-around small game gun is a 16 ga Mossberg bolt action shotgun with a poly choke. Follow up shots are slow, but it's dead reliable and light. You could even hunt deer with it using slugs.

badkarma · 09-29-2011, 02:04 PM

My Pa swore by the 16ga.

I carried a T/C Contender pistol w/22 LR Match barrel and a 2x scope for years. Deadly out to 40yds. But my eyes have aged and I find a good scope on the Ruger is more reliable.

carmen · 09-30-2011, 01:40 PM

Are you looking at straight rifles or shotguns? If you can mosey over to my back yard and take out the ones that keep trying to chew my house I would highly appreciate it.

**CozInCowtown** · 09-30-2011, 06:28 PM

The biggest problem with a 22 is the bullet travels a Loooooooong way. Other than that it is fine for squirrels.
A 12, 16 or even a 20 gague will do just fine, there are loadings designed just for tree rats.
DC

3ofusnow · 09-30-2011, 07:08 PM

My hubby always uses a .22 for squirrel hunting. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to get out there and get any yet this year!