The 30-06 squirrel gun

[qajaq59]

If you're going to hunt squirels with the 06 don't shoot the squirel, just shoot the bark directly under him. The spinters alone should bring him down real fast. 

[buffermop]

Heck, just use a 220 gr and take down the whole tree.

[prairie_boy]

Re: the Hammond Game Getter & Alternatives

I used a couple of Game Getters for years in .30-06 and in 7mm Mag for shooting grouse while out big game hunting.  In general, they worked very well, however one must be extremely careful about the potential of gettting the buckshot stuck in the bore.  This happened to me several times and necessitated a trip back to camp to get a cleaning rod to tap out the obstruction.  Stuck balls were not related to the power level of the charge used, but was caused by blow-by of the gas past the ball. 

ALWAYS examine the bore after firing to make sure there is no obstruction, before loading again with regular ammo.  Failure to do so would have been disastrous for me on several occasions.

I eventually switched to using a 110 grain RN bullet designed for the M-1 Carbine, over 8-10 grains of Unique.  In several .30-06 rifles and at least two .300 Win mag rifles this load prints less than 1" 5-shot groups at 25 meters.  I originally found the load recommendation in the American Rifleman magazine years ago.  We've shot over 100 grouse with it since starting to use it.

I've never found a bullet that worked well with this type of load in the 7mm (spitzers don't seem to stabilize at such low velocities), but I've ordered a Lee mold for 130 grain cast slugs that should work fine. In the .32 or .35 caliber rifles, just use a flat or round nose pistol bullet.

[wallynut]

Have any of you folks tried a 120 gr cast bullet in '06??  I thought I would give this a try, just picked up the mold recently.  Never thought about using for squirrel, but there are some big snow shoe hares up north that might need some thin'n out.

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

,Wallynut & Prairie;  I've done it as both of you have mentioned.  About 8-12 grains of Unique, Universal, or Herco (or anything of a similar relative quickness), a bit of fluff, and a teflon wrapped cast bullet.  Works in .30-30 from 100gr to 170 grains, and the Lee mould in 7 x 57 Mauser (or rimmed).  I think its good for any regular round. 

The idea of Teflon, the wide gasfitters type - one wrap, is that it can be fired randomly mixed with jacketted bullets without blowing grouping.

[MLR]

When i was a kid i didnt have the money for a 22. But i did have an old 1898 30-40 krag. Used a lyman 310
tool to load up cast bullets in it. Made a fine squirrel rifle.

  Michael

[Selmer]

Anybody have any spare .30 cal cast bullets so I can try this with my .30-06?  I have a 4 year old daughter that loves to help me reload and shoot her .22 LR, but I'm thinking these loads would be the perfect way to introduce he to a centerfire in the next couple of years.  Let me know what you think, I've got Unique and 2400 coming out my ears at home thanks to my .454 Casull addiction.
Selmer