« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??  (Read 1486 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Leatherstocking

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 332
Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« on: December 16, 2007, 05:52:47 AM »
OK, I know this probably sounds crazy, but I really want to practice with the 357 more (not just target shooting) and I was wondering if anyone else has ever gone after bushy tails with a 357 - loaded with .38's I am thinking it would provide some good practice for deer hunting. Anyone else ever use a .357on squirrels or am I nuts? (pun intended)
Logged
NRA Life Member
New York State Conservation Council Member

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise" - Aldo Leopold (1949)

Offline rbergum95

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 373
  • Gender: Male
  • Theres no luck in lead unless it's flyin'.
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2007, 06:52:19 AM »
i have. loaded with some very light .38 spl 125 gr LSWC handloads. if it is legal in your area i say go for it.
Logged

Offline coop2564

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 525
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2007, 08:28:32 AM »
Its my favorite practice. When I'm serious I take my .22 cal buckmark with red dot.  But after deer season one of my favorite things is to take my .41 mag out and just slip around shooting rabbits, squirrels, crows, hogs I'll set down and use a predator call sometimes. Its a blast. Do it and enjoy.
Logged
Browning Illusion Bow
Omega Thumbhole .50_NEF Huntsman .50
Knight KP1 .243_Custom Rem 700 .308_Browning Safari Bar .300 WSM, Ruger No.1 30-06
Taurus .41 rem mag Raging Bull_S&W M&P 40C_Browning BuckMark .22_Savage 93R .17HMR

Offline Jerry Lester

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 928
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2007, 09:16:56 AM »
Quote from: coop2564 on December 16, 2007, 08:28:32 AM
Its my favorite practice. When I'm serious I take my .22 cal buckmark with red dot.  But after deer season one of my favorite things is to take my .41 mag out and just slip around shooting rabbits, squirrels, crows, hogs I'll set down and use a predator call sometimes. Its a blast. Do it and enjoy.

Yep, same here. I've been shooting everything from squirrels to deer for years with both my 357 Blackhawk, and my 357 Marlin. Personally I steer away from 38 brass in my 357 chambers, and use very light loads in 357 brass, but honestly 38 specials are perfect for small game. Before I stopped using 38 brass, my prefered small game load was a 125g SP with 4.5g to 5g of Unique with standard primers. This combo has a report that's quieter than most 22 LR loads when fired from a rifle, and just knocks a neat 35 caliber hole through a squirrel or rabbit. It'll also knock down bigger stuff like coons, and such real good too. A good cast bullet would do the same I'm sure.
Logged

Offline timothy

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 267
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2007, 11:53:16 AM »
I've killed two squirrels before with the 357 that I actually missed. I think the concussion of the dirt is what got them. Hows that for minimizing pelt damage?!
Logged

Offline Castaway

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
  • Gender: Male
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2007, 12:20:43 PM »
Sounds like fun, but I hope the squirrels you're shooting at are on the ground and not in trees. 
Logged

Offline Leatherstocking

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 332
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #6 on: December 16, 2007, 12:57:32 PM »
Quote
Sounds like fun, but I hope the squirrels you're shooting at are on the ground and not in trees. 
--- Definitely Castaway - my dad taught me safety the right way. It never takes a back seat to anything when I hunt.

Thanks for all the great replies. I guess I am not as squirrely as I thought I was - sounds like lots of others doing it to.
Logged
NRA Life Member
New York State Conservation Council Member

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise" - Aldo Leopold (1949)

Offline Old Griz

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2030
  • Gender: Male
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2007, 05:27:17 PM »
Just be sure you use enough gun. I'd hate to think of some poor wounded squirrel hit with a .357 HP running off to die some long slow death! ;D Better use a .44 at least!
Logged
Griz
<*}}}><

I Cor. 2.2 "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

Offline .357 shooter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
  • Gender: Male
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2007, 09:02:02 PM »
Yep, you bet. I like, Jerry use .357 cases with  cheap soft points loaded light. They just pop a nice .357 hole with little meat damage at slow speeds.



Bryan
Logged
New York State! Home of high Taxes......

Offline Czech_too

  • Trade Count: (24)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 350
  • Gender: Male
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2007, 09:31:53 PM »
I seem to recall hearing about 'barking' a squirrel.  As I understand it, you would shoot at the branch, just underneath the squirrel.  The impact of the bullet would stop the heart and there would be no meat or pelt damage.  Or, is this a test for the MythBusters.

Brian, in Ohio
Logged
NRA Life Member
Cruffler
INOA

genealogy, another area of interest

Offline corbanzo

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2405
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2007, 02:51:16 AM »
That is the way to kill stuff.  It's kind of like rabbits and small birds also, if you shoot them with an arrow with a field point or a broadhead, they might run a little, but if you hit them with a thumper, that kills them by shock, they arent going anywhere.  Shock is the way to go with small game. 

But I really doubt they are running much of anywhere with a .357 ;D

Make sure if you are practicing for deer that you use some of your deer loads also. 
Logged
"At least with a gun that big, if you miss and hit the rocks in front of him it'll stone him to death..."

Offline LEO

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 421
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2007, 12:39:44 PM »
I killed several squirrels with my 357 with real light cast loads, but can't do that anymore they made it unlawful to small game hunt with a centerfire cartridge.  But if it is legal where you are at it works great and you can still eat them if you take headshots (before I get flamed, I hunted with a NEF Handi-rifle, I wouldn't claim to be able to consistently head shoot squirrels with a handgun unless they were pretty close).
Logged

Offline WNY_Whitetailer

  • Look at me I'm white and nerdy
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1828
  • Gender: Male
  • Working...
    • http://www.dec.state.ny.us/
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2007, 06:18:51 PM »
Make sure to use a bullet of proper construction so that you get the appropriate amount of expansion.  ;D

Heck, anything that gets you out in the woods and shooting is good...Practice makes perfect...I think I heard that somewhere before.
Logged
Patience comes with age and You can't teach common sense

Offline Mikey

  • GBO Supporter
  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8734
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2007, 01:03:39 AM »
Leatherstocking - don't listen to them.  They are all incorrigible except for Jerry Lester and he just rties to give you the straight scoop. 

Some revolvers in 357 do shoot 38 Wadcutters well.  Some don't know the difference twixt a 357 and a 38 spl.  I am always shooting at rabbits or squirrel with a 357 chambered with 38 wadcutters; accurate and 'definitive' on small furry critters. 

Oh yeah, don't buy that stuff about giving squirrels heart attacks - it isn't being scared that kills them, it is falling off a high branch and breakin' their furry necks and winding up with a 38 wadcutter finishing shot behind the ear that kills'm.  Just falling off or getting knocked off a branch doesn't always do it...............

Geez guys..................Mikey.
Logged

Offline blhof

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 738
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2007, 12:26:05 PM »
While deer hunting from a stand, several years ago in Louisiana, I was practically attacked by a determined squirrel.  He threw limbs and acorns down on me and then it got worse, so I switched out my 357 mags for some 38 wadcutters and took aim at the tree rat as he flattened against the trunk of the tree.  He was my first squirrel kill with a 38, and it's true revenge is sweet; with onions and garlic and brown gravy.  The wadcutter caught him at the shoulder and I only had 3 legs and no head to clean.  I've used wadcutters for rabbits and armadillos before with excellent results to 30 yds.
Logged

Offline S.B.

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (6)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3953
  • Gender: Male
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #15 on: December 18, 2007, 01:01:40 PM »
Yes, my load was 2.7 grains of Bullseye under a 148 grain swagged, pure lead, wadcutter with a hollow base. And rabbits too.
Logged
"The Original Point and Click Interface was a Smith & Wesson."
Life member of NRA, USPSA,ISRA
AF&AM #294
LIUNA #996 for the past 34 years/now retired!

Offline Leatherstocking

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 332
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #16 on: December 18, 2007, 01:44:08 PM »
OK, I can't wait for January and some winter squirrel stalking!! I'll probably wait til after the holidays to get out there and take my youngster with me. He is the one that really got me thinking about squirrels again-haven't really bothered with them since I was a kid, and was looking for a way to make it more fun. I'll probably let himn take the BB gun and give first chance, then take it with the .357 if he misses.

This thread has been a hoot. Thanks for all the helpful and hilarious replies.

Leatherstocking..........aka "Hawkeye".......aka "Deerslayer"...... aka "Squirrel Slayer"
Logged
NRA Life Member
New York State Conservation Council Member

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise" - Aldo Leopold (1949)

Offline Glanceblamm

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2814
Re: Squirrel Hunting with a .357??
« Reply #17 on: December 18, 2007, 05:52:16 PM »
Quote from: Mikey on December 18, 2007, 01:03:39 AM
Oh yeah, don't buy that stuff about giving squirrels heart attacks - it isn't being scared that kills them, it is falling off a high branch and breakin' their furry necks and winding up with a 38 wadcutter finishing shot behind the ear that kills'm.  Just falling off or getting knocked off a branch doesn't always do it...............

Geez guys..................Mikey.

I have come awful close to barking a squirrel two different times but this was with a .50 cal w/80gr ffg & a patched ball. I think that the principle is that the concussion along with flying bark may be just enough to do them in.
Both of mine fell/rolled/scrambled down the trunk a way's and then perched on a lower limb and shook like a leaf!...By that time I was reloaded and executed my shots at the head only.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »