Author Topic: How do you shoot squirrels? (Read 4030 times)

a4beltfed2000 · « **Reply #30 on:** October 24, 2010, 02:35:25 PM »

Well after just getting back from from behind the house squirrel hunting. the .410 has done the trick once again. I have 5 .410 (2 SB1 NEF ) 2 H&R and 1 model 158. I prefer to use the #5 shot in 3 inch but 2.5 will work in a pinch. We each limited out (3 each) and never lost a one. I also have a 28 ga that works great for squirrels and rabbits but shot selection is very limited and you must buy it when you find it.

Interestly I have a model 158 that must have a 30 inch barrel, verses the standard NEF gun with the 26 inch barrels. That gun you have to be very sure of where you aim because it does hold a tighter pattern than the others with the shorter barrels.

The Hermit · « **Reply #31 on:** October 24, 2010, 03:15:45 PM »

Well, when I was hunting with the old indian, he used to throw a stone on the opposite side of the tree, then shoot the squirrel when it ran around to our side of the tree, with a .22.
Sometime tho, I swear that his breath would have killed the squirrel sooner or later anyway.

The Hermit

chefjeff · « **Reply #32 on:** October 24, 2010, 04:52:24 PM »

To answer the question;.......you shoot them in the head .

spikehorn · « **Reply #33 on:** October 25, 2010, 05:19:24 PM »

I beat captain obvious who is my alter ego to the reply, he would have said "With a gun"

bikerbeans · « **Reply #34 on:** October 28, 2010, 02:03:05 PM »

I would use my Savage 24, old one no letter suffix, 22/410 but the selector broke last winter & I haven't got around to fixin' it. Killed my first squirrel in 1961 with this gun and it was old then. This year I have used a 357 Max & a 12 gage with mod choke. The maxi is fine for head or high spine shots. The 12 ga. is pointless as the trees are too short around here and you just end of with mashed squirrel. BTW, I have a new squirrel call, my oxygen bottle. The bottle is fitted with a regulator that makes a popping sound everytime I breath. The fox squirrels hear it the popping noise and come to investigate. To bad deer aren't as stupid as fox squirrels.

BB

Swampman · « **Reply #35 on:** October 28, 2010, 02:11:47 PM »

We aren't allowed to use centerfire rifles on squirrels in FL.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #36 on:** October 28, 2010, 05:08:37 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on October 28, 2010, 02:11:47 PM

We aren't allowed to use centerfire rifles on squirrels in FL.

i never new that

are you sure?

?

bikerbeans · « **Reply #37 on:** October 29, 2010, 02:45:09 AM »

Ohio DNR Regulations allow a CF Rifle to be used on any game except deer, turkeys and Fed. Migratory birds. No specification on the caliber so if you want to shoot a gray squirrel with a 458 WM go ahead.

I use my 357 Maxi Trapper because it is lighter to carry and very accurate with the 180 grn HP/XTPs. I am using Hodgdon's starter load of H110. I just loaded some 158 Grain hp/xtp but they don't shoot as well as the 180s.

BB

eye shot · « **Reply #38 on:** October 29, 2010, 03:25:33 AM »

With the shotgun you barkem.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #39 on:** October 29, 2010, 03:33:30 AM »

We can't use a centerfire in Alabama either. Only rimfires and shotguns with #6 shot or smaller I think. I use #8 shot.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #40 on:** October 29, 2010, 06:05:24 AM »

i actually prefer a pellet gun....with scope
then a 22.....usually chest shot or head

if i use a shot gun....my ithaca 12 FULL choke
and shoot just ahead of his nose........if i want anything to eat

matthew_h · « **Reply #41 on:** October 30, 2010, 02:35:39 PM »

with a nef .410 with winchester #5 or #6 game loads(sometimes reloads) . my 12 gauge mod choke tears them up to bad unless i hit em with the fringe of the pattern . some times i take my .22lr , depends on what the leaf cover is like .

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #42 on:** October 31, 2010, 07:15:50 AM »

I'm with Spikehorn on this I love my 28ga. But after all the leaf is gone the 17m2 gets the nod. Kurt

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #43 on:** October 31, 2010, 07:28:49 AM »

This weekend I used my 12ga. They weren't shot up bad at all. On the really close shots I aimed just past his nose. Most of the pellets hit his head only. I noticed I tore them up less than with my 17hmr. The 17 is great for head shots but if you miss and hit the shoulder you might as well through the front half away.

I'm thinking of getting an H&R 20ga, but I'm not sure if it will be much different from the 12. It shoots almost as much shot at about the same speed.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #44 on:** October 31, 2010, 07:40:20 AM »

12ga 2.75 " 6 shot when the leaves are on. .22 rf after the leaves fall.

just-an-illusion · « **Reply #45 on:** November 04, 2010, 03:09:21 PM »

For me it depends on the mood. Most of the time lately I have reverted back to my childhood days and carry a 870 w/ 30" full or go pick up my grandads stevens 16 ga double barrel. Other times i take the 20 pardner or a 22lr. I have a project gun that will get the nod if I can ever find time to finish it. It is a Iver Johnson champion 16 ga w/ 28" full.

Airsporter · « **Reply #46 on:** November 05, 2010, 11:42:04 AM »

If using a shotgun, I prefer larger shot with a small payload and a tight choke, like #4 or #5 in .410 - 20ga. Hate finding/picking small shot out.

10gaugeMS^_^ · « **Reply #47 on:** November 05, 2010, 06:20:03 PM »

Quote from: HarryRichardson on October 24, 2010, 04:18:32 AM

Quote from: Dee on October 24, 2010, 03:42:31 AM
In comparison to the cost of .17 ammo to bulk 22lr, I guess I'll never understand it. But then again, that's why the make Fords and Chevys.

That's an excellent point. I may rethink the .17!

Man i seen some one shoot a squirrel with a 17 hmr it tore it in 2 with a belly shot . I usally usa a turkey load either #4 or #6 shot in 2 1/4 oz load from my 10 ga . thinking about trying steel shot on squirrels . though i shoot squirrels to feed to my cats somtimes keep the tails .

sert01 · « **Reply #48 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:16:01 AM »

Quote from: eye shot on October 29, 2010, 03:25:33 AM

With the shotgun you" barkem".

Hey eyeshot, what kind of dog do you bark like? Retreiver, Lab, Terrier? Fox (squirrel) hound maybe?

Mohawk · « **Reply #49 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:20:25 AM »

My H&R Topper 12 ga and #4 lead has always done the trick. Works great on rabbit too. Damage is not bad unless you are a few feet away. But can take a high treed squirrel with authority.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #50 on:** November 27, 2010, 03:41:11 PM »

Every time I see or hear about those old Savage M24's I think about one of the favorite teachers I had back in my school days. He said he had bought one as it looked like a dandy squirrel gun. He scoped it for use with the .22 barrel. The first time out He aimed at a squirrel sitting on a tree limb and touched it off. When it fired it was the .410 barrel that went off instead of the .22. He got so mad he threw it down the hill and stomped home. When he got home his wife asked him where his new gun was and he told her what happened. After thinking on it for a while he went back and got it... so he could trade it off.

sert01 · « **Reply #51 on:** November 28, 2010, 06:55:30 AM »

Rustyinfla, Sounds like your old teacher needed anger management classes!! And he was a teacher? Hope you never p#*ssed him off!

spikehorn · « **Reply #52 on:** November 28, 2010, 07:01:15 AM »

I think everyone who has owned one of those guns has done that at one point. I had a 22/20ga that I pulled the trigger thinking it was on the 22 barrel, much to my surprise when the the 20ga went off. Although I still got the squirrel.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #53 on:** November 28, 2010, 11:31:47 AM »

The .22 is great, IF you can see and IF the missed or through shot wont go 'God knows where'. For me, just about the time I want to pull the trigger, off he scampers, and Im no moving target rifle shot. They, like so many critters, seem to know what a 'man with killing stick that thunders' looks like! Recently Ive gone to the 20ga. and with 2 3/4", 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 dram equiv. loads and 7/8oz.#6 like it so very much. I now have the H&R 20 and a double that only goes 5 3/4# carry; what a sweetie.
If you can catch them when they circle the tree and come back to take a look you can get them in the head only.

skiforce75 · « **Reply #54 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:38:27 AM »

In the past I have always used my 20 gauge pardner with a mod choke and #5s. However, now I have a Baikal 22lr/20ga combo gun. I will still have a mod choke in this gun and I have found #5s to be the best of all worlds when it comes to killing a squirrel dead right there.

Noreaster · « **Reply #55 on:** December 07, 2010, 11:36:05 AM »

I live in Southern NH and use a .22lr. You gotta be careful with the .22lr, meat damage, head shot only. Haven't seen allot of grays last couple of years. This week I bought a Mass. license and went deer hunting in zone 10 (N/E Mass.) Holy cow, gray squirrels everywhere. I had one buzz me while sitting against a tree he wanted to go up. I checked the regs in MA and you can't use a rifle or pistol (even a .22lr,) for squirrel in zone 10. Shotgun only. No bother I'll bust out the 410 single when deer ends this Saturday. I'll probably use #6 shot as the trees are pretty tall where I'm going. My kid loves squirrel and it POs the wife, win/win situation!

CharlieT · « **Reply #56 on:** December 07, 2010, 12:44:11 PM »

I used to use my 50 cal front stuffer cap and ball. You had to hit them in the head or just leave them to smolder out.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #57 on:** December 07, 2010, 01:19:00 PM »

Quote from: Airsporter on October 23, 2010, 02:18:06 AM

This thread is making a good case for my Savage 24

I bought a 22/410 a number of years ago. To me its the epitome of a squirrel/rabbit gun.

CW

gcrank1 · « **Reply #58 on:** December 08, 2010, 03:40:13 AM »

And I sold a .22LR/20ga. a number of years ago......now I wonder why.