The gauge or a .22 for squirrel | Page 2

If I get time, I need to post the section of the book I'm writing that deals with this. Short answer is that #5 high brass out of a full choke 20 gauge is the ultimate squirrel slayer. Long answer is going to take a chapter or maybe two.

I've shot squirrels with every gauge but a 10, every conventional rimfire round, a .32 caliber musket, air rifles, and various flavors of archery tackle. And a few with a blowgun and slingshot. At some point I want to get a hand loader and work up the perfect shotgun shell, but for now it's mighty hard to change from #5s when I want stew meat.

If I get time, I need to post the section of the book I'm writing that deals with this. Short answer is that #5 high brass out of a full choke 20 gauge is the ultimate squirrel slayer. Long answer is going to take a chapter or maybe two.

I've shot squirrels with every gauge but a 10, every conventional rimfire round, a .32 caliber musket, air rifles, and various flavors of archery tackle. And a few with a blowgun and slingshot. At some point I want to get a hand loader and work up the perfect shotgun shell, but for now it's mighty hard to change from #5s when I want stew meat.

#5&#;s my favorite Turkey load too! Nobody else is using a 17? Hhhmmm I grew up hunting squirrels with a 20 gauge shotgun. When I got older I graduated to the 12 gauge. Eventually I became a 22 snob but shortly there after I discovered bow hunting. Then came trophy hunting ie deer management. I all but forgot the excitement of squirrel hunting. A few years ago I stumbled onto a Remington 410 with a full choke barrel. Since then ,partly to justify the shotgun, I make a late season squirrel hunt and reminisce of long ago fall seasons spent staring up into tall oaks looking for a wily bushy tail. In 2 weeks I will be taking my twin godsons on there first squirrel hunting weekend. The little 410 will go back to work but that&#;s only a small benefit of this hunt. The look in those boys eyes filled with excitement on their first squirrel hunt is something I&#;ve looked forward too all their lives. This weekend will be the beginning for them.

I just put a scope on my lil Henry 22 rifle. It&#;s a joy to carry around. I was reluctant to put a scope on it because I like the looks of a lever action without them. But my eyes just are not what they were. If the sun is out in front of me, I don&#;t have a clear view of the bead. Missed too many squirrels because of it. I&#;m ready now. And very impressed with the lil gun stretching it out. Got until the March to put some up in the freezer.

I've been told there's a blade and a bead. At least I think I remember there being one at each end when I was younger. Now I can only see one or the other. If I'm focusing on one the other is not to be found . . . must be some new cloaking technology that the scope manufacturers developed to sell more scopes.

I've been told there's a blade and a bead. At least I think I remember there being one at each end when I was younger. Now I can only see one or the other. If I'm focusing on one the other is not to be found . . . must be some new cloaking technology that the scope manufacturers developed to sell more scopes.

If the sun is behind me, they are clear. Use a ruger mk4 target on most hunts. It doesn&#;t put the most meat on the table. It is challenging but handguns are obnoxiously loud for squirrel hunting. A full choked 20 gauge is about as good as it gets. I will say in many places I hunt a 22 is a safety liability. #5 and 6 shot sting on the way down but a 22 can actually cause damage. Just something for the &#;high bred&#; to think about.

I&#;ve used both and have been happy with both!
In regards to an 870 super mag though I wouldn&#;t recommend it over other guns. I&#;ve not been happy with mine compared to the mossberg 500 I&#;ve got. I&#;m actually looking at getting rid of it and getting a 835 or 535.

I have never heard this before. I love my 835 but usually people are just the opposite. hate the mossberg and love the remy

I have never heard this before. I love my 835 but usually people are just the opposite. hate the mossberg and love the remy

New Remingtons are dreadful. Just hot garbage. The fit, finish, and feel are pretty much gone. I've had the chance to handle thousands of firearms working inventory counts at a sporting goods store, and Mossberg is to shotguns now what Savage is to rifles. I really like the 500s, 835s, and 930s.

I have a wingmaster that I adore, but if I was going to buy a new pump I'd get a Mossberg over a Remington, and a Browning BPS over both of those.

Edit: not that it natters to anyone but me, but it's a '52, not a '62. Original production year.

New Remingtons are dreadful. Just hot garbage. The fit, finish, and feel are pretty much gone. I've had the chance to handle thousands of firearms working inventory counts at a sporting goods store, and Mossberg is to shotguns now what Savage is to rifles. I really like the 500s, 835s, and 930s.

I have a wingmaster that I adore, but if I was going to buy a new pump I'd get a Mossberg over a Remington, and a Browning BPS over both of those.

I&#;m in agreement. Just bought a new 20g for my wife and went with the Mossberg over the Remington. Very sad state of affairs, my 870 is about 25 yrs old and slick as frog slime. New Rem was like pumping wet cat litter

I&#;m in agreement. Just bought a new 20g for my wife and went with the Mossberg over the Remington. Very sad state of affairs, my 870 is about 25 yrs old and slick as frog slime. New Rem was like pumping wet cat litter

Yup. The 870 used to be a much nicer gun. Now they're both fugly and rough around the edges, but functional. Both are easy to work on or get parts for. The Mossberg is generally a little cheaper and (to me) has the best controls, so it wins the working gun award.

New Remingtons are dreadful. Just hot garbage. The fit, finish, and feel are pretty much gone. I've had the chance to handle thousands of firearms working inventory counts at a sporting goods store, and Mossberg is to shotguns now what Savage is to rifles. I really like the 500s, 835s, and 930s.

I have a wingmaster that I adore, but if I was going to buy a new pump I'd get a Mossberg over a Remington, and a Browning BPS over both of those.

Edit: not that it natters to anyone but me, but it's a '52, not a '62. Original production year.

yeah, I gerw up with a vintage 870 featherlight .410 . the thing was money. My father ran into a hard spot after losing his job and sold it--for a lot--when I was like 16. HE(and I) regret it to this day. I have a 870 supermag 12ga and its pretty much a POS, but a good duck gun to beat the hell out of. the finish sucks, it jams, the parts are burred, but it does seem to go baang everytime and hit what Im aiing at. I had a mid 70's 12gauge wingmaster that I gave to my father a few years ago and that was a MUCH MUCH nicer gun.

I have an immaculate Ithaca featherlite 12ga as well, that is a totally different story. work of art, slick as snot, fine tuned machine...would love to find one in 20.

yeah, I gerw up with a vintage 870 featherlight .410 . the thing was money. My father ran into a hard spot after losing his job and sold it--for a lot--when I was like 16. HE(and I) regret it to this day. I have a 870 supermag 12ga and its pretty much a POS, but a good duck gun to beat the hell out of. the finish sucks, it jams, the parts are burred, but it does seem to go baang everytime and hit what Im aiing at. I had a mid 70's 12gauge wingmaster that I gave to my father a few years ago and that was a MUCH MUCH nicer gun.

I have an immaculate Ithaca featherlite 12ga as well, that is a totally different story. work of art, slick as snot, fine tuned machine...would love to find one in 20.

Funny, I almost bought an Ithaca featherlite 20 before I found my 16 gauge Wingmaster. Kinda wish I would have got it. Cheaper to feed.

Ithacas down here don't usually cost a lot at the pawn shops you find them in. Everybody wants a Remington. But the Ithacas are sweet for sure.

Funny, I almost bought an Ithaca featherlite 20 before I found my 16 gauge Wingmaster. Kinda wish I would have got it. Cheaper to feed.

Ithacas down here don't usually cost a lot at the pawn shops you find them in. Everybody wants a Remington. But the Ithacas are sweet for sure.

yeah, theres a bunch around...problem is they were around during the popularity of the "Poly choke" which I want nothing to do with....talk about throwing the balanced swing weight of a nice shotgun off!!!

Best Squirrel Guns and Ammo

Years ago, before I developed nerve damage, I enjoyed hunting, including deer hunting, quail hunting, rabbit hunting, and duck hunting. I lived in a fairly remote rural area, and we had thousands of acres of woods, pastures, and lowlands that held a variety of game and game birds. My husband and I hosted and attended scores of dove shoots over the years.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website ZCL.

One type of hunting that I found especially relaxing and enjoyable was squirrel hunting. We had pecan orchards, along with a booming squirrel population. I loved being out in the autumn woods that surrounded my home, and my family enjoyed eating squirrel recipes, so my squirrel-hunting excursions were both enjoyable and productive. If you&#;re a beginning squirrel hunter, you might find the following tips useful.

Understand Your Purpose in Hunting Squirrels

Before you load up and trek into the woods in pursuit of &#;bushy tails,&#; ask yourself why you want to go hunting. This is important because it will help you choose the best gun and the best ammo for squirrels. Why is your purpose important? If you&#;re into survival hunting and your main purpose for hunting is to procure meat for your family, you&#;ll want to take full advantage of guns and ammo with the best knock-down capabilities and the broadest coverage. On the other hand, if you&#;re mostly shooting for sport, with the meat as just an added bonus, you&#;ll likely want more of a challenge.

Where You&#;ll Be Hunting

Where will most of your squirrel hunting be done? Consider this when choosing guns and ammo. If you have neighbors or livestock near your hunting grounds, a shotgun might be the best choice because of its limited range. You won't have to worry about a stray shot hitting a human or farm animal.

But if you&#;re going to be hunting in a remote area where you don&#;t have to worry about accidental shootings, a .22 will be a safe choice.

If you're not hunting on your own land, be sure you have permission to hunt from the landowner. Even if he or she tells you that you can hunt there any time you want, you still need to let the owner know each time you hunt that you'll be in the woods.

Using a .22 Rifle for Squirrel Hunting

The two best guns for squirrel hunting, from my experience, are shotguns and .22 rifles. Each type of gun has its advantages and disadvantages. A shotgun is going to give you a better chance of hitting and killing a squirrel because your aim won&#;t have to be as precise. The downside to using a shotgun is that the squirrel meat will be embedded with shot. If you&#;re not careful about removing the shot when you&#;re dressing the critters, you&#;re sure to bite down on some of the little metal balls when you&#;re eating your quarry.

With a bullet from a .22 rifle, you can avoid shot penetrating the meat, but you&#;ll need to be a better shot to hit a small target with a single bullet. Of course, a rifle with a scope will increase your chances significantly.

Best Shotguns for Squirrel Hunting

Shotguns come in different gauges, including the 10-gauge, 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410. The larger the gauge, the more power the gun packs. Unfortunately, more power means more recoil or &#;kick.&#; Any of the aforementioned shotgun gauges would be good for shooting squirrels, but the size of the shotgun needs to be matched with the size of the hunter. Among adult hunters, the 12-gauge shotgun is the most popular for squirrels, but a .410 would be a better choice for a child, a young teen, or a small adult.

The Best Ammo for Squirrel Hunting

Once you&#;ve decided on a squirrel gun, you&#;ll need to select the right ammo for squirrels. For a .22 rifle, use high-velocity hollow-point cartridges. The wound that results from these shells will usually be fatal, providing for a quick kill.

If you&#;re going to be using a shotgun, you&#;ll need to use the right load. The higher the number of the load, the more pellets there are in the shell. BUT you also have to consider the &#;knockdown&#; power. For example, #9 shot shells have a higher number of pellets in the shells, but they won&#;t pack enough punch to bring down squirrels effectively. For that, you&#;ll need #5 or #6 shot.

Squirrel Hunting Tips

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author&#;s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Nathan on October 23, :

Scroll to Continue

I hunt woods, hay and bean fields in SE Pennsylvania, My savage 17 HMR is a laser with a nikon 4x scope, but my black mouth cur often flushes pheasant from the hedgerows and field edges so I usually use a 12g. #4 usually fully penetrates or leaves the shot stuck in in the exit side of squirrel skin. # 6 patterns best in my gun at 25-35yds. So i put a #6 in the top barrel and #4 in the bottom. If I see a squirrel a hard hit with the palm of my hand to the butt plate trips the selector to the bottom barrel. if you have a fancier gun you may ave a selector switch for barrel #1 to #2

Chad on September 28, :

Squirrel is really good to eat. Fried or in gravy over biscuits. Lots of different ways to cook them up.

I usually use 12gg 3" #6, seems to work the best for me where I hunt in Louisiana.

Darrell Kindley from Fort Worth, TX on April 04, :

Great hub! Very necessary to know.

Holle Abee (author) from Georgia on November 09, :

DawnRae, thanks for stopping by!

Dawn from Maryland, USA on November 09, :

For more Squirrel Gaugeinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

We haven't had squirrel for about a year. You've made me hungry for squirrel.

Ed Palumbo from Tualatin, OR on March 15, :

I enjoyed your Hub! My field priority is varminting (pest control) and I spend some of my time eliminating Columbian and Belding's ground squirrels, as well as jack rabbits on an alfalfa ranch. Best of luck in the field.

moneytoplist on May 13, :

Wow, I had no idea that people eat squirrels. I have traveled around most of the Europe countries but I have never seen squirrels in the menu. Good inspiration :)

Chicken Schlegel on April 03, :

Holly Sh**t! I love ur pics! they're like totally awesome, dude.

50 Caliber from Arizona on April 03, :

Holle, great write, squirrel is tasty and a good way to spend a day. Sorta like fishing, some days you catch them and others you don't. Up north here in Arizona we have the Alberts and Kaibab squirrels a couple of odd breeds that are much different in color and have perky fuzzy ears, black undercoat and a kinda grey/black tail that nest in the upper limbs of the Ponderosa pines that might be a 90 foot shot standing under the tree. 22 rifle works best for them,

dust

Mmargie from Gainesville, GA on April 03, :

Well that was quite impressive. I've never had squirrel meat, but I heard it was good.

Great Job!

Holle Abee (author) from Georgia on April 02, :

Many, many thanks, Rox!

Horatio, my girls loved fried squirrel when they were kids! We often hunted for meat: squirrels, rabbits, deer, ducks, geese, etc. I think hunting animals for food is more humane than the slaughterhouse process.

Horatio Plot from Bedfordshire, England. on April 02, :

Humm. Not sure about all that eating squirrels marlakey.

Over this side of the pond some bloke got fined £1,550 ($2,)for drowning a squirrel in a bucket in his back garden a few years ago. I think we can kill them humanely if we consider them to be pests, by whacking them on the back on the head, but drowning them causes suffering, so I'm not sure about shooting them. I'm sure farmers can do it.

Interesting, none the less.

Roxanne Lewis from Washington on April 02, :

Very interesting and yet another perfect hub for my father in-law! Thanks

Want more information on Synchronis Motor? Feel free to contact us.