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The gauge or a .22 for squirrel

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.
 
Nutterbuster said:
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.
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#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 1100 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 use either my single 6 or colt woodsman...depending on whats on my hip. The colt is kind of my fair weather partner. I'm a .22 guy.
 
I think a .22 is superior to the shotgun. It also makes one hunt a little better. Not to mention if one is hunting and cuts cat/fox sign, you can plop down and make a calling set up. I shoot squirrels with sub Sonic hollow points (I like to hear the "whop") but shoot bigger critters with yellow jackets as the shoot the same sight in.
 
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.
 
swampsnyper said:
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.
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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. :D
 
boyne bowhunter said:
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. :D
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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.
 
KYHunter said:
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.
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I have never heard this before. I love my 835 but usually people are just the opposite. hate the mossberg and love the remy
 
ImThere said:
I have never heard this before. I love my 835 but usually people are just the opposite. hate the mossberg and love the remy
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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 1962 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. :)
 
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Nutterbuster said:
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 1962 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.
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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
 
fbwguy said:
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
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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.
 
Nutterbuster said:
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 1962 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. :)
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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.
 
Vtbow said:
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.
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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.
 
Nutterbuster said:
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.
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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!!!
 
shotgun or .22... but for the love of god don't shoot them with a .17hmr unless you want to ruin most of the meat.
 
Nutterbuster said:
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.
Click to expand...

When I write my book the section of said book that concerns itself with the ultimate squirrel weapon will be one sentence long and the subject of that sentence will be a .22 rimfire rifle. Because it’s cut and dried and needs no Long winded Faulkneresque diatribe to answer the question.
 
dalton916 said:
When I write my book the section of said book that concerns itself with the ultimate squirrel weapon will be one sentence long and the subject of that sentence will be a .22 rimfire rifle. Because it’s cut and dried and needs no Long winded Faulkneresque diatribe to answer the question.
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@dalton916 is a fish.
 
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