any suggestions for 20 ga shells for squirrell

[ohiobenito]

I have a pardner mod choke in 20 ga.   Shells in 20 ga are a little thin in my parts.  just wondering if any of you folks have any suggestions.  I like #4, but I heard they don't pattern too well in 20ga.   squirrels have thick skin, so maybe #6 will do the trick.  thanks guys

ben

[Markus]

As a kid I used 20ga#6. It always did the trick and was what everyone around here used for squirrel,rabbit and other small game.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  When I was a kid, I shot squirrels several years with a shotgun, but it was a 12. I liked 4's far better than 6's. I often to a shot at a squirrel with 6's only to have it run, when the second barrel with 4's hammered it. I liked 6's for grouse. You might try 5's, they were also good on squirrel, and with the smaller size give more pellets in a 20 g. load. 

[45-70.gov]

if  you  like  4  get 4......and pattern  it

better to  get 4.5. and 6   pattern  and invent penetration  test
this  is  about as much fun as hunting

6  is  what i was raised  on.....that  and what was on sale
i  use  #4 in  a 410   for  pesty racoons......sure  drops  them up close

[chipmunk]

Personally I like 6's.  Although I think the way you hunt really should dictate.  I like to use 6's because I like to get close!  It seems to me that at real close ranges 6's don't blow them up like 4's do. I have had to throw a few out after a close range hit with 4's.   If you hunt like my brother does, 4's are probably better.  He starts shooting almost as soon as he sees a squirrel and 4's seem to do a better job of knocking them down way out there when he does actually hit one.  This is all opinion though...no data to back it up.

If shells were hard to come by, I'd use whatever is available and cheap.  Preferably 4, 5, or 6 and I might even use 7's if that's all I could find.

[Graybeard]

I'm not much on hunting squirrels with a shotgun but once upon a long long time ago I owned an O/U with 22 mag on top and 20 gauge 3" on bottom. I used 3" ounce and a quarter # 7-1/2 in it and it was wicked deadly on the squirrels I took with it rather than the .22 mag barrel. I'd use either #6 or #7-1/2 if it were me.

[snakeman]

I have shot hundreds of squirrels with a 20 ga. I usually use number 6 shot and don't have a problem with kills. The key is to make sure you pattern your gun and know where it hits.


snakeman

[Rustyinfla]

   I don't think I'd ever take someone else's word for what patterns good in MY SHOTGUN. Each gun is different. DO PATTERN it yourself. I once had a Mossberg pump shotgun that I used to take to turkey shoots. I always came home with at least two turkeys. Not because the gun shot all that well, but  because I knew there was a tight section in the pattern at about 7 O'Clock. That meant if I aimed at 2 O' Clock that little tight portion of the pattern would be right in the X ring.

[spikehorn]

 I usually use what ever walmart has in the box of 100 shells for 15 bucks think they are usually 7 1/2s. with the mod choke in my TDC have never had to shoot them more than once. this is my go to small game gun and i know how it shoots, like the others have said use what you feel comfortable with but pattern it and know how it shoots.

[spooked]

Back in the day(1950's) when i was a kid i'd hear the grownups ask for #5 "chilled shot", sure sounded impressive to an 8yr.old..All the general stores inna county stocked it, but today ya have ta generally take #6 shot in the settlement or go to the city for more variety and better price.
Was one old timer that was always a bragging how his ole L.C. would kill a squirrel out of the tallest tree around,sounded very impressive til I learned my Old Mossberg bolt 410 will do the same thing...Kinda shrunk one of my childhood heroes;-)

[ohiobenito]

thanks fellas, I think I'll take a few different shells out with me and a few paper plates.  It's pretty early, those pesky little limb-rats are hard to see with all the leaves still on.  I'm sure I'll be itching to shoot something by the end of the evening.  Give me a little exercise and a chance to pattern my old shotgun.  I think All I got is 4 and 6 so I'll let ya know.

[Swampman]

I like 4s because they seem to leave less shot in the meat.

[shaner]

yur way better off to use a 22LR and a good scope, way less meat damage and a lot of times a miss will get yu another shot ?

[petemi]

I like 4s because they seem to leave less shot in the meat.

The larger the shot, the fewer, less meat damage and easier cleaning, but it leaves holes in the pattern a squirrel can scamper through.  I use 6 and 7 1/2.  I dumped a big skunk walking at me a couple of weeks ago with 6's in his front end at about 25 yards.....never even sprayed.  I also killed my first pheasant with 7 1/2.  Dead right there.  Haven't changed in 50 years, 6s or 7 1/2s.  I use 8s on starlings.  Good wing shooting practice, and the silos around here are full of them.

Pete

[spikehorn]

 petemi my old farm is about the best starling bait I've ever come across, they are fun wing shooting gets you up to speed on those fast quick shots!