Author Topic: Handgun for squirrels (Read 4056 times)

7-30 Waters · « **on:** January 29, 2008, 06:24:43 PM »

Trying to decide on a good T/C Contender pistol cartridge for squirrels. I am considering a 25-20 Winchester barrel but what length? Anyone shoot this cartridge in a pistol barrel? Otherwise would a 22 LR be good enough for squirrels?

Thanks

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2008, 06:53:06 PM »

I have shot a number of tree rats with my Buckmark in 22LR.
I found that the standard 40 grain round nose target ammo works best on the critters.
Shot one at 50 yards that was under a tree eating a pecan. Hit him square in the chest. He dropped the nut grabbed his chest and toppled over like a B actor in an old war movie. Never twitched.
Or are you talking about ground squirrels? I like 17HMR for that as you get good style points if you hit bone. Also with the large splatter others come to eat their buddy and make good targets. I also like that the little 17 grain bullet will shatter if it hits anything and I do not have to worry about where a miss will land like I do with 22LR. Even the hyper velocity stuff will zig off. Another option is 22 Mag with the under 35 grain crowd that will do what the 17 will do but with more. The only thing it won't do is fly as flat out past 100 yards.
I think the 25-20 would be a little much if your planning on eating the bushy tails.

.357 shooter · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2008, 07:28:47 PM »

The 25-20 would work with a cast boolit, with out to much damage. But the .22 barrel out of the contender 10 inch would work great and cheap with out reloading. I use the Remington golden bullet bulk or the Federal bulk ammo from Walmart out of my single six, and they both kill squirrels with authority.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2008, 11:54:37 PM »

The .22 LR is all you need out of a handgun. I've been using them since 1961.

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2008, 01:07:32 AM »

7-30: I would first say do not give guns to squirrels. They are mentally unstable at the best and may suffer multiple personality disorders. If one gets ahold of a gun and threatens suicide the police may consider it a hostage situation.

That being said, the 22lr is the perfect squirrel round. It has been harvesting squirrels for years longer than you and I have been around put together. Whether in solid nose or hp form, it works superbly. I think you will outpace yourself with squirrels and a single shot - there may be either too many of them, in which case you should save the last bullet fer yerself or you will tire of loading and shooting so many single rounds.

The 25/20 is a neat little round. The bullet diameter is .257" and bullets for the 256 Winchester and 257 Roberts are the same diameter. The range of bullet weights on the 25/20 is from 60 gns to about 90 gns (cast). The 256 is the same. I don't know if any ammo maker produces the 25/20 or bullets specifically for it any longer but maybe some are available from some of our sponsors.

Whatever you get is going to give your years of good squirrel huntin' and although they can sometimes be somewhat dramatic when rapidly approaching 'La Morte' you can rest assured the 22lr will do the job. HTH. Mikey.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2008, 04:24:54 AM »

My favorite squirrel gun is the 10" barrelled contender with a 1.25-4x scope and shooting 22LR hollowpoints. The trajectory is flat, report is mild, it's very effective. I made the gun heavier by adding Pachmayr foreend and grip.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2008, 05:47:15 AM »

Another vote for the .22LR here and I am still using an old H&R model 649 revolver. She still shoots great but the inner frame wear has become a little warn and excessive for reliable operation of the pawl and cylinder indexing even though I have replaced these parts. I handled a guy's Ruger 22/45 just the other day and the balance and sight picture immediately got me thinking about those Squirrels.
In reality, the Ruger single six would probably be my choice but a lot of the members report them as either being good or bad (accuracy wise) with not a whole lot of in between

coop2564 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2008, 06:40:56 AM »

I have a buckmark 22lr with red dot and have killed many squirrels and coons and even some hogs with it.

Dusty Wheeler · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2008, 07:20:58 AM »

.22LR UNLESS the wounded squirrel charges...!

StrawHat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2008, 12:57:32 PM »

Quote from: Dusty Wheeler on January 30, 2008, 07:20:58 AM

.22LR UNLESS the wounded squirrel charges...!

What then?

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2008, 02:52:54 PM »

Then you need my favorite sqirrel gun, a supressed full auto mp5

I personally like a 22 lr handgun. I have an older Taurus nine shot revolver that shoots great. Most places in Illinois won't let you use 22's so it's a shotgun. If you're quick you can shoot them twice. Once in the tree and again on the way down.

kennisondan · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2008, 03:06:13 PM »

I have killed a bunch with LR in my ruger semi bull barreled 5.5" Mark 1 and 2... but I like the contender with a ten inch 22 mag... never had a wounded squirrel from a center mass hit if it moved with the mag... never wounded a rabbit beside a trail like with 22 LR at longer ranges... I can reach out to 80 -100 yards with it no problem.. I also went to the 22 mag. in my 10 22 semi auto and am not sorry for doing so ...
I used to like it when I shot a squirrel and he hung on to the limb or tried to drag himself up and out of sight... so I could shoot again ! but now I like to drop them like a hammer hit them and the mag does that...
It also dispatches raccoons and opossums with great authority.. the 22 requires a head shot or spine shot for that to be instant but the mag is more suited to the job...
it is a round I wish I had discovered and given a chance when I was younger.. I do not use the 22 lr any more for hunting squirrels as my range is increased and the one shot kills are the absolute norm .. when before I dealt with a max of 40 -50 yards and some wounded game if they moved a bit when it was on its way...
However : if you are ok with close range and will never take the long or moving shot and know you will not hit center mass nor shoot a bigger animal like a fox or coon, then the LR is intirely sufficient with good shot placement... like lung heart spine brain... ... the mag extends to the more marginal shots made in all good intention..'
for that matter when the shot is perfect and would not be taken otherwise I use a benjamin 177 pellet pistol from my Kayak ... but I want more performance range and sure kills on hits made.. and more shots available per hunt.
JMHO
dk

Greeenriver · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2008, 04:05:08 PM »

I have to fall in with the 22lr or 17hmr or 17 Moc2 group here. I mostly use a 22 or 17hmr, but I think the 17Moc2 would be as good.

Another thing to think about. In Michigan, only rimfire rifles or handguns, or shotguns, can be used for small game. Centerfires ain't allowed.

Greeenriver

MS Hitman · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2008, 05:04:12 PM »

You guys need to learn to leave those pipsqueak .22s at home. I've got a big fox squirrel I took with a .44 Mag loaded with a 240 cast SWC. Made a .430" hole through him just behind the front legs. I was deer hunting and it was all I had. He made a real fine mount and is on my wall, but try explaining it to the taxidermist.

Seriously, I have shot many squirrels with a Single-Six scoped or just a K-22 open sighted.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2008, 05:28:04 PM »

22LR UNLESS the wounded squirrel charges...!

What then?

You simply turn to your gun bearer and hope he is handing you your handing you your heavy rifle.
I personally use a 375H&H stoked with 300 grain Monolith Solids. You need to shoot him in the chops to turn him to get a good broad side shot.

7-30 Waters · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2008, 06:03:23 PM »

One other thought I had for squirrel medicine in a reduced load in my 357 Herrett.

Here is a load I want to try in my T/C Contender pistol:

Cartridge: 357 Herrett
barrel: 15" 1:12 twist
Bullet: 158 gr RN
Powder: Red Dot
Charge: 3.3 to 3.8 grains
Dacon fiber to hold powder in place.
Velocity: 721 to 834 fps

Would this make a good squirrel load?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2008, 11:26:25 PM »

the 2520 would make an ideal squirel gun! Just load it with cast as light as you can. Ive done the same with my 92 win 3220 and it makes a fine squirel gun. A 22 may be better but then i like killing things (even the squirels i kill) with a bullet i casted and a case i reloaded. I would think that a 32 mag barrel on a tc would also make a fine one.

MS Hitman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2008, 12:34:16 AM »

Yeah, I got the "Sure you used enough gun?" question. It was/is kinda funny to my taxidermist even today. Elmer Keith wrote about shooting them in Missouri with a .45 ACP.

My vote would go with a cast bullet in the .357 Herrett. Not a round ball, but it would get you close to one of those old .36 caliber squirrel guns of days gone by.

Mikey · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2008, 12:39:55 AM »

7-30 Waters: I think that would be a fine squirrel load, especially if ya kin put it twixt their eyes, 'cause a wounded and enraged squirrel is a dangerous critter.

Lloyd - when it comes to tree rats, dump rats and pimps at a distance I don't get that parochial about my rimfire ammo. Lo siento amigo. Mikey.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2008, 01:56:37 AM »

Rob,
Well yeah, but given your friendship with Larry, we should EXPECT that you would consider the .44 Mag. a proper squirrel round !

Perhaps if you can squeeze in a squirrel season hunt in W.V., you can borrow his .416 !
I hadn't read of Elmer's .45 / squirrel experience before, but I must admit that one of my earliest handgunned squirrels was also taken with a 1911 (not an A-1) .45 ACP hardball round. It worked, but then again, he was charging. I concluded that the .22LR would also have worked.
Ken

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2008, 04:53:38 AM »

Quote from: MS Hitman on January 30, 2008, 05:04:12 PM

I took with a .44 Mag loaded with a 240 cast SWC. Made a .430" hole through him just behind the front legs.

Strange, or maybe not so strange but definitely true.

Even a patched .490 out of the .50cal will do the very same. Just not near enough resistance (in a squirrels body) I guess and the bullet just zip's on through.
Course a head shot will make the head disappear and you don't want to go and shoot them long way's cause they will go hydrostat on you!

blhof · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2008, 01:31:23 PM »

38 wadcutters work well where they can be legally used. I was assaulted by a determined grey squirrel during deer season several years ago in Louisiana. I was in a deer stand with my 357 DW and proceeded to have limbs, acorns and then worse dropped on me, all the while a very loud chattering. I always keep a speedloader of wadcutters for rabbits snakes ect.. and switched out my 180gr. mags for the 38's, pointed it up and as he pressed against the trunk, I dropped him; took off the head and one front leg, but I cleand and ate him for revenge anyway.

MS Hitman · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:04:32 AM »

Maybe revenge is a dish best served warm, and with biscuits and gravy, after all.

irold · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:30:17 AM »

I can see I'm out of my league. I, too, hunt squirrel with a contender. Mine is a 14" with a Bushnell 2-6.....I'm OK out to 25 to 30 yards, but unlike the others..Pennsylvania squirrels don't hold still long enough for a good rested shot. And off-hand at a squirrel at 50 yards, more times than not its gonna be a miss. Lets hear some honest squirrel hunters, there's gotta be a few out there. That's the best practice though for the upcoming deer seasons, take that handgun out and try to hit those squirrels , beats punching holes in paper that doesn't move.......OMO

Old Griz · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2008, 06:41:25 PM »

My favorite squirrel gun is a scoped 6" S&W 617. It don't seem to matter what ammo goes through it, though I have had good results with Winchester Wildcats.

kennisondan · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2008, 05:57:58 AM »

Irold : Offhand!!!:::

thass different.. 25 30 yards but around here there are two types of squirrels.. cat squirrels don't stop almost at all and a center mass hit is lucky enough.but fox squirrels linger and lie still a while here and there and when feeding, they do not eat the amphetamine variety of tree fare and so sometimes stop or slowly move along... they are good to go with the scoped contender and a solid rest (trapped against a tree trunk, tightly... rest.)
I have shot them with the 44 mag. too.. Ms Hitman: you still got the recipe for squirrel jello ? squirrel pot pie ? what do you use for a quick follow up shot when one does not put them down ? they do move quite fast and a second shot it almost impossible to get off aimed for a stopping shot by the time you are out of recoil... I imagine that is what your other big bore shooting buddies are there for : to fire a fast back up shot on a charging wounded animal intent on turing you into a nipped to death, pockmarked mass of quivering, dying flesh.. they eat nuts first, too.. and then they taunt their prey.... that little laugh they have is chilling... to say the least..
Blhof : those La. squirrels are bad in the basin.. fighting off mosquitos big as barn owls all the time... where did you run across those nut cuttin' predators ?
dk

tanoose · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2008, 06:09:27 AM »

The 22LR is all you need i used to have a ruger single six with a 9 1/2 " barrel and i took many squirrels with this rig .

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #27 on:** February 03, 2008, 06:16:18 AM »

Irold,
I drove into the farm in NC and pulled into the one acre field was looking around when I saw a tree rat run across the dirt road and over to the pecan tree just off the road. I was still in the jeep getting ready to glass the bean fields for deer. I rolled down the window. Turned off the car. Grabbed my buck mark and cycled a round. I slowly opened the door and used it as a rest. I never said it was off hand. Aimed and pulled the trigger. It was also almost 20 years ago and I could see a tree rat at the base of a tree then with open sights.
I had been shooting the pistol a lot in informal competition and did not have my 10/22 with me as I was going to go deer hunting. When deer hunting I carry the buck mark and when squirrel hunting i carry my .44 to ensure I don't see any game.
Like I always say. I'd rather be lucky than good any day!
Other than that one time I have never been able to see a squirrel in the woods at 50 yards. The trees, branches, and leaves get in the way and I can see your concern. Out here in CA we have ground squirrels and you can see them on the rocks at 50 yards easy and they make great targets for the 17HMR, 22Hornet, or the 22 Mag.
McDuck.

7-30 Waters · « **Reply #28 on:** February 03, 2008, 01:16:59 PM »

Since squirrel season is over till next August, I'll have to try and hunt the most dangerous game in the woods during February. The cottentail bunny rabbit. May have to pack my 350 Remington Magnum for this dangerous critter.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #29 on:** February 03, 2008, 04:08:35 PM »

I'm not sure if it's enough for the vicious little things. You saw what they did to the knights in Monty pythons Holly Grail.
You may want either my 375 H&H or my AK with the 100 round drum.
All kidding aside. a 22LR is more than enough for a cotton tail. I killed a snow shoe with my buck mark II this last Oct on an elk hunt to Idaho. When I shinned him I think he ended up about $1500 a pound.
Only thing I shot the whole trip.