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The gauge or a .22 for squirrel

TheYote

TheYote

Active Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Messages
137
In an effort to pass the time until deer season reopens l'm taking up other hobbies that I haven't participated in for sometime now. One is fishing bit this is mostly to spent time with my 2 year old little girl. She's not old enough to go hunting but loves catching small fish. The other is squirrel hunting. I grew up on squirrels and rabbit. My grandfather was good a good shot with a .22 and would hit squirrels in the head. He said shooting them with a shotgun just wasted meat lol. I'm a decent shot and was considering a 10/22 but I'm in "need" for a good shotgun and was looking at the 870 super mag for an all around gun.
 
As the self-proclaimed resident squirrel hunting afficianado extraordinaire, I'll say that ceteris paribus a hunter with a shotgun will kill circles around one with a rimfire. Properly loaded and choked, a shotgun DOES NOT ruin meat. I've eaten literally thousands of squirrels, and can count on one hand the number of pellets I've found in meat. Squirrels are fast, erratic targets. Shotguns were made for them. Folks are usually snobby about the whole rifle vs shotgun thing until I break out the Citori. A good shotgun is an absolute pleasure to hunt with.

That being said, I also have a 452 that is a joy to take in the squirrel woods, and that's what it's all about. Squirrel hunting is about sheer, childish joy. There are no trophies, and it's not a good way to fill the deep freeze. Hunt with what makes you happy, be that a tricked-out 10-22 or your grandaddy's .410.
 
dalton916 said:
Shooting a squirrel with a shotgun is a tell tale sign of being low bred.
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ouch!!!! i wore them out with my .410 from about 6 until I was 16. Im not sure there are any left in Fresno Dome or Dinky creek where I grew up hunting them.
Now days I carry the 22 its just a bunch of fun, If I still had that ol 410 I might still carry it
 
dalton916 said:
Shooting a squirrel with a shotgun is a tell tale sign of being low bred.
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You listen here pal, I ever catch you round 'bout my neck of the woods talkin' trash thatta way I'mma give you...
94c79464a5b7ec12645f8d33f492e59b.jpg


Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
Nutterbuster said:
As the self-proclaimed resident squirrel hunting afficianado extraordinaire, I'll say that ceteris paribus a hunter with a shotgun will kill circles around one with a rimfire. Properly loaded and choked, a shotgun DOES NOT ruin meat. I've eaten literally thousands of squirrels, and can count on one hand the number of pellets I've found in meat. Squirrels are fast, erratic targets. Shotguns were made for them. Folks are usually snobby about the whole rifle vs shotgun thing until I break out the Citori. A good shotgun is an absolute pleasure to hunt with.

That being said, I also have a 452 that is a joy to take in the squirrel woods, and that's what it's all about. Squirrel hunting is about sheer, childish joy. There are no trophies, and it's not a good way to fill the deep freeze. Hunt with what makes you happy, be that a tricked-out 10-22 or your grandaddy's .410.
Click to expand...

Which load and choke do you prefer? I’m a .22 man for squirrels, but the Citori would love to come out of the safe more often.
 
My thoughts are if you are keeping shot out of the body with a shotgun, then you are not shooting them on the run unless you are a great shotgunner and making all head shots on the run. If you are that good, then you can do it with a 22. But who cares. It’s fun with a bow or a bazzoka! Lol
 
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.
 
Full chocked 20 or 12 aim at the head. But this also provides me the ability to shoot on the move... yes might add a few pellets but I always liked the flexibility
 
My dad always told me when I was younger, " why would you shoot a 2 cent squirrel with a 25 cent round. So I use a 22. Because that was the first gun I ever had ( single shot bolt action marlin), and it's fun as heck. Now it's a 10/22 with a 2x scope, still fun as heck.
 
I still prefer my 452 for squirrels. Just iron sight and nothing fancy. I think I’m a decent shot but some do get away and that’s fine. Like OP, I just need a reason to be in the woods after deer, do some post-season scouting, and maybe run into some lucky shed finds.
 
Killed thousands of squirrels with shotguns of all calibers growing up, these days I mostly carry a 22. It’s quieter and less intrusive than a shotgun, in September while I was scouting deer spots and squirrel hunting there was more than one occasion where I’d find a hot hickory tree with 6-8 squirrels in it at once. Could stand there and pick them off one at a time, after a minute or so most the other squirrels would go back to feeding. My favorite gun right now is my cz 452, that thing will flat out shoot! Limit here is 12 a day and usually in an hour or so can gather that many up. This time of year the woods are so open it’s much harder to get close but can be done successfully, just take it slow and easy.
 
Ok here’s my take. Heavy leaf cover I have no problem with a full choke in my 870. I also love my 455 in 22. But my long range squirrel sniper record is 145 yards with my 452 in 17 HMR. I love the 17 for both rabbits and squirrels
 
A shotgun is nice during early season when leaves can block a head shot with a .22. My favorite squirrel rifle is a .32 caliber flintlock, although I have used a .54 on occasion.
 
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