What Squirrel Rifle Do u Use

[scoutinlife]

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k227/scoutinlife/100_0326.jpg

I'm really looking forward to the up coming squirrel season this year it's the first season in about 12 years that I,ve went. I did squeeze some deer hunting in here and their but not enough going back to the basic this fall and winter to put some serious hunting time in and can't wait.Beside I can use those tails for the spinners I make for smallmouth and trout fishing! Here's a photo of my little winchester model 131 7 shot clip fed 22.cal with a weaver 2x7 scope. I fine tuned the scope today at 50 yards was blowing walnuts apart using winchester 22. cal hollowpoints figure good to go when we start loosing them leaves in the tree! Squirrel season opens here in Ohio Sept 1st. So what Kind of set up do u use to hunt them bushtails!

[Penny_Plinker]

Good shooting if you're smattering walnuts at 50 yards! A squirrels head will be an even better target.

I usually use a high power air rifle with a good Leupold 3 x 9 scope, but last year i used my 10/22 rifle and did okay. Our squirrel season doesn't come in till middle of October that's about time bow season comes in. It's hard to do both, so squirrel interest blows over quick, but i usually manage a couple.

Have fun...you don't have long to wait.

Penny

[HillbillyPapa]

I have a Marlin 17-cal HMR varmint bolt action I use. I use Hornedy shells. * I bought it a little over a year ago. * *Have a 3x9 Bushnell scope on it also. * Really accurate, but unless you hit one in the head it will blow it in two pieces. *The bad thing about it is-- the cost of the shells($1o. bucks) a box of 50. * That's what I was using last year when I fell over a big rock embankment and broke my leg twice! * *
*Our season her in W.Va. doesn't come in until Oct 7---------then deer/bear/season comes in with a Bow one week later on the 14th of Oct. * * * Sooos, our squirrel hunting time has to be inbetween the deer hunting trips,ehh!
*I still have a half-dozen or so squirrels in the the freezer for another squirrel stew in a few days. * I like them squirrels for sure. * Like Quail, and Rabbits too. *
*The problem is --- everytime I get an additional freezer,,, the wifey fills it up with other stuff so much-== that I don't have room for anything wild! * *I have 4 stupid lookin freezers, and no room in any of them for my wild meat. * *This has got to change! * Don't even have room for my gallon water jugs to freeze for a day at the lake!@ * * * * * ----------Now here I go again=-----Complaining and stuff! * * *
* Well,,,, save us a few of those squrrels there,,, and we will be right on their trails before long. * heheheheheheehhahhhhh. * * * * *kaaaaPooooooowwwwwwhl!

[SubVetChief]

Hey scout....You already know I have the Henry .17HMR for critters. Using just the iron sights she is still deadly.....

Mebbe next year I'll put the scope back on and see just how far I can reach out and touch the varmints. ;D

[Star1pup]

I have an Anschutz Model 54 .22 with a Redfield 2x7 scope and it is deadly accurate.

I also have a very old Marlin .22 that is almost as accurate as the much more expensive Anschutz.

Our club is raffling off a Marlin in .17 Mach2 and maybe I'll win it. I think it will be much better on squirrels than the .17 HMR.

I'm also in Ohio, but it looks like the leaves will make squirrel hunting tough for a while.

[gypho]

The problem is --- everytime I get an additional freezer,,, the wifey fills it up with other stuff so much-== that I don't have room for anything wild! I have 4 stupid lookin freezers, and no room in any of them for my wild meat.

HBPP.... anytime... let me stress this greatly... ANYTIME you have an over-abundance of fresh, wild game... give me a pm, and I will be more than happy to relieve your worried mind about where to put it...

I have freezers that I'm sure could hold as much as you need to get rid of...LOLOL ;)

gypho

P.S. I'll be huntin' too... favorite squirrel/rabbit shooter is my .22.

[American_Infidel]

Winchester .177 air rifle.

[ZOOBEAR]

I use a Winchester Mod. 63 22 and a Savage 17 HMR.

[scoutinlife]

Pennyplinker & Americaninfideel, I have never tried hunting squirrel with air rifle before I will have to put that on my list to try! :)

Zoobear I'm Drooling over the Winchester Model 63. I keep looking for one!One day I'm sure I'll find one it's nice when you due find those treasures! ;D

Star1pup,good luck on the drawning and I can't wait till the leaves start fallen for us. 8)

Chief nothin like dialing out is their! ;D

Hillbillypapa Ouch!!! Sorry to hear about your accident! :o

[Quietgentleman]

I hunt squirrel and rabbits with my Gamo Hunter 440 air rifle.

QGM

[lostinthewoods]

I use an old Western Field 22lr. The rifle was made by the Westinghouse company way back in the day. It is a single shot and has a olympic peep sight on it. It works great on apples and such, I've yet to get a squirrel with it. I bought the rifle 2 years ago for my son for $45.00. Isaac is only 18 months old now so he doesn;t mind dad using his rifle for now. ;)

Truth be known......... I'm not above using the trusted ol 870 for the little vermin either. Having the shotgun along makes the occasional dove or rabbit a little easier.




lost

[hilltopdude]

My favorite way to get a squirrel is barking them with a blackpowder rifle.

[Tuckahoe]

My tree rat gun is a Remington Target Master .22 using shorts it is almost silent.

[foxfire]

I still have and use a Remington model 514 single shot .22 that my Dad bought for me about 40 yrs ago. Since it has only open sights, I do cheat occasionally and use a little lever action Marlin with a scope. (I AM getting older!!)

T.

[Arkansas_Fat_Man]

8) When I carry a rifle it's an old Remington 22.auto. If I carry my shotgun it's an old J.C. Higgins 16 guage bolt action. ;)

[lostinthewoods]

It is a single shot and has a olympic peep sight on it. *It works great on apples and such, I've yet to get a squirrel with it. *

Well tried out the rifle today. In a word....DANG IT!!! No the rifle worked just fine but those olympic peeps that work SOOOOO great on paper......Well they SUCK in the woods. The peep is kind of like looking up the north bound end of a south bound GNAT! Brown squirrels on brown trees, in the woods, while it's overcast just isn't what this rifle is made for.

Oh well, nothing ventureed nothing gained, right? Next time I'll just take the 870, there were lots of doves out and about today.




lost

[lost1]

I have an old Remington 22 my Dad gave me when I was 10 many, many years ago. I have plenty of meat in a big freezer.
I also have a Henry .17 it's a good squirrel gun if you want'm skinned, cooked and eaten before they hit the ground.
There's a season on squirrels?

[Jeep]

Winchester 94/22 with open sights.

[scoutinlife]

Hey Jeep great gun 94/22 I have one as well and I cherish that little gun.

[feralgun]

Nice to see that there are a few squirrel hunters here. I grew up in Michigan and my earliest memories of hunting are about going after Squirrels with my best friend and our 10/22 rifles. I still have that gun and it still shoots as accurate today as it did then, even after what must be a million rounds or so. About 12yrs ago, while back in Michigan for a couple of yrs. I had a friend of mine turn me on to Blackpowder guns. I have always been facinated with smaller calibers, and so this interest went with BP too. I bought a little .32 cal Traditions percussion lock. They called the gun the "Deer Hunter", but with a load of 25gr of 3f powder it is deadly accurate and that is all I use on squirrels now. I have been living in Oregon now for the past 5 yrs, and they just don't seem to have woods teeming with the bushytails like in Michigan. I do miss the Michigan squirrel season. Just FYI, you guys that are using .22's and missing the head shots and it is tearing up the meat. Try using CCI's "small game bullet" SGB, they work great and if you miss the head shot, it doesn't tear up the meat as bad as a HV HP. Also, the little .32 cal, seems to do less damage than a .22, just a clean .32cal hole through and through and knocks 'em dead everytime. Try it with a smoke pole some time, its great fun. Good luck to all of you on your seasons this year.

[Dan_Kane]

I have enjoyed bagging squirrels with a .22 , but I started to wonder about how sane it was to be sending bullets, albeit small, up into the air...hey, even I miss the little buggers sometimes ;-)

Nowadays, my rule of thumb is to use shot for anything that can move my line of fire above the horizon. I generally use my 12ga with dove shot, but Iwould like to get a .410 or 20ga to be more precise.

How do I avoid cracking teeth on shot when I cook my famous squirrel jambalaya? It ain't a foolproof method, but I aim for the head, and eat the arse ;-)

[traderran]

still using the winchester mod 63 that my grandpaw gave me in 1953 still works like a champ.

[gump]

Hell, I saw Ted Nugent shoot some squirrels out of trees with a bow. He was a guest (on his own ranch ???) on ESPN last weekend. Damn good shot.

[scoutinlife]

Traderran I'm droolin the Winchester model 63 is on my wish list! What a classic!!!!

Feralgun 32. muzzleloader I am looking to find a good deal on one of those to add to my collection!

[feralgun]

I used to take Fox Squirrels in Michigan with my bow when I lived in town. It worked very well.

[scoutinlife]

I used to take Fox Squirrels in Michigan with my bow when I lived in town. It worked very well.

Now that took skill!!!!! ;)

[feralgun]

Actually, it wasn't too hard. Ever since I was a young boy I have been exposed to bows, but have always preferred firearms for hunting. When I lived in the city, the squirrels were always much closer than out in the woods. Anyway, I have always been pretty accurate with a bow. The one I used in the city on the squirrels was a Golden Eagle Hawk Carbine, I just used field tips. The bow shot very well and was probably more accurate than I was, but it worked. I can tell you all about what makes a firearm tick and how a bullet flies, but when it comes to all the details on what makes a bow work(compound bows), I am really lost. All I know is that I can shoot them well, but still prefer a gun. ;D The bow for me comes in handy when I need a silent kill, such as when I was living in the city where you weren't allowed to discharge a firearm, but all them tasty little bushy tails were running around waiting to be put into a fine squirrel stew.

[HillbillyPapa]

I have my Marlin .17 cal HMR sighted in at 100 yrds now. I can bust a squirrels head at 1oo yds 3 out of 5 times. 50 yds I can put a whole round of 5 shots within a 1 inch diameter. 75 yds I get 4 out of 5 in the 1 inch diameter. Of course that is shooting with a rest. Freehanded standing I would think I can make 2 out of 5 in the 1 inch diameter at 50 yds, and would be lucky to get a 3 inch diameter on 3 out of 5 at 100 yds.
I have a 3x9 scope on it, but I am not as steady as I used to be. Then again, who is? ??? ;)

[clawhammerdan]

I have two rifles I use for squirrels. A Winchester 9422 (lever action)...open sights. Dead on accurate. Beautiful little firearm that was my very first rifle.

The other one I like using is a Remington 572 (slide action) with a Simmons 4x32 scope. A tackdriver at 50 yards!

I am trying to enroll in a muzzleloader building class this coming summer. You build a muzzleloader of your choice from scratch. If I do, my choice will be a .32 or .36 flintlock with a forestock that goes the length of the rifle. It will be a blast picking off the treerats with that thing!

[shadowwalker]

I usually use a 22. But on occasion I have used a 300 magnum. It was usually after sitting around listening to a squirrel for a couple of hours chatting at me. I just got fed up with it.

[scoutinlife]

I usually use a 22. But on occasion I have used a 300 magnum. It was usually after sitting around listening to a squirrel for a couple of hours chatting at me. I just got fed up with it.

;D ;D ;D

[wy0mn]

Feralgun is right, you should try a muzzle-loader; its a blast in more ways than one.
I used to hunt squirrel & deer in TN with a .40 Cub, flintlock, from Dixie Gunworks. Anyone can pop a cap, but you have to use flint to truly appreciate our Colonial/Pioneer ancestry. Those folks were tough!

No huntable population of squirrels in our part of WY.

[jim]

I've got a Beeman .177 and it works great on the tree rats. I've got the itch for small bore ML, and may try that soon. A Wrist-Rocket works well at close range too.

jim

[deerhunter1362]

I use a 300WSM ;D Just kidding....I dont really go but when I do I use a 10/22 or i use a .410

[jjspirko]

I have an old Marlin Model 25 I have had since I was 13, (well over two decades ago) that I must have but 50,000 rounds or more through. It looks better then many of my guns, I have redone the stock, I keep the blue touched up. Why because of my dear love for that gun. I have guns that are "much better" in the eyes of most folks, but I can still nail bottles off hand at 100 yards with my old Marlin, what more could you want.

I wrote an article about this gun, you can read it here, http://providetechnology.com/oldgun.htm I will probally never use another gun for squirrel in my life. Read the article and you will understand why.

When it comes to women and guns there is a "one" for every man, I am a lucky guy because not only did I find both of them, I have managed to hang on to both of them too.

Jack

[jessedesmithy]

i use a marlin model 99 m-1 .22, with a tasco 4x20.
it worked well down in texas, but i have yet to take it out in the mountains.

[Phil_R]

Savage Mark II FV - .22LR with Tasco Target/Varmint 2.5-10 power, 42mm objective.

http://www.savagearms.com/markiifv.htm

[padraic]

Old Mossberg 20 gauge when the leaves are still on the trees. After the leaves have dropped I switch to my 10/22. Its just a lot easier for me to hit them on the run with the shotgun when they're scampering through the leafy tree tops. After the leaves drop I can see them from farther away and the .22 works great than.I only have to wait till the first weekend of Sept here in Iowa and the season runs clear through to the beginning of Jan.

[rimfirehunter]

My squirrel guns are any of the following... Marlin 925M .22Mag, Savage MkII .22lr, Springfield Armory M6 Scout .22lr/.410, scoped Ruger 22/45 with 4.5 PacLite upper or my trusty Armalite AR7.

Been working up loads for my TC Cherokee .32cal muzzleloader and hope to use it this fall/winter. Also picked up a Rossi Model 62C pump .22lr carbine and will give it a go just to see how it does in the woods.

In years past I used everything from 12ga to .410's or various .22's depending on time of year and location. When hunting in proximity to civilization I tend to go with a .410 these days and reserve the rimfires for deep woods hunts.

rimfirehunter

[RangerRick]

Here in Oklahoma you can't use a rifle on public land so I go with Sweeties 20 ga. double and on private it's the Ruger 10-22 with a 1-9 scope. Around the house I use a .177 cal pellet rifle with a 1-9 scope to keep the squirrels out of the pecan trees.

Rick

[ol_hoot]

Depends on whether I'm hunting alone or with friends that have squirrel dogs.

Alone I use my 16 ga. Remington pump (Mod 31)

If I'm with people and dogs I carry a Nylon 66 (.22) and mostly let them blaze away with the shotguns until one gets way up or I just get a good shot.

[feralgun]

[quote author
I am trying to enroll in a muzzleloader building class this coming summer. You build a muzzleloader of your choice from scratch. If I do, my choice will be a .32 or .36 flintlock with a forestock that goes the length of the rifle. It will be a blast picking off the treerats with that thing![/quote]

Clawhammerdan, Did you ever get to do this class this summer? I would love to do something like that. My best friend lives out here now with me and we were just talking about building our own flint lock .32's for squirrels. One thing that you may want to consider that we found out(if you have not built your own yet) is that you will want a special lock for your squirrel flinter. It is basically the same, except that there is a bit more of a little "bridge" or "wall" built up on the side of the flash pan towards the rear or closest to the shooter, where you put your powder. This is to keep, or help keep the powder, and flash debris from falling back into your face and eyes when shooting up into the trees, such as in squirrel hunting. Hope this helps. feralgun 419

[Sebastian_Haff]

I use my Grandfathers .22 Remington, its a sure shot. One season I used a shotgun, don't like biting into that buckshot baby!

[Crash]

I wanted to take the 30mm cannon off my A-10, but the Air Force won't let me, so I guess I'll have to keep usin' my .22....

Crash