[Chiseler]

I'm looking to feed a not-too-distant new .22 rifle. I know that most of the time, you've got to sift through mountains of ammo to find the kind it likes best, though that's hardly a chore. I'm thinking, though, that to wring out the best accuracy, why not use Match-grade ammo from Eley or Lapua? I'm talking squirrels, not elk, here. The regular hardball .22 doesn't really expand at all, and I'm not seeing much difference from the hollowpoints, other than that they move a little faster. Think it would work? Most of the squirrel hunting I've done emphasizes shot placement over bullet expansion ("Shoot 'em in the head! Ain't no meat there!"), so I'm thinking that fraction of accuracy might be better than the marginal-at-best expansion of a .22LR.

[Art Eatman]

Considering how many squirrels have been killed with .22 Shorts, I don't see any problem. Might be a small issue with trajectory, but it won't be all that big a deal.

[marksman13]

That match ammo will be fine.

[bernie]

I am currently working my way through a case of Remington Target. It kills them dead as a hammer, and the report is milder and does not scare off the other squirrels like the high-vel stuff does. Head shots and you are fine.

[Sunray]

"...that most of the time..." It's not 'most of the time'. It's all the time. Even with high priced match ammo there's no gurarntee it will shoot well out of your rifle. If your new rifle is to be a semi-auto, match ammo may not cycle the action either. However, match ammo will kill a tree rat with no fuss.