What choke

[dispatch 510]

would you use for squirrel hunting? Mossberg 12 gauge with a 24 in barrel.

Thanks:)

[Inspector]

It depends widely on the ammunition you intend to use (low brass, high brass, 3" magnums), the distances you'll be shooting and whether you intend to harvest any meat from them for consumption.

I'd say for anything out about 80 yards -- use #6 or #4 shot and high brass (or 3" magnums), a modified to full choke should work.

Closer than that (30 to 80 yards), I would possibly use improved cylinder bore and the same shot (4 or 6). Even closer (say, 5 yards out to about 30 yards) and I would switch to low brass with either cylinder bore (or halfway between cylinder bore and modified) and I would use 6 or 7.5 shot.

If your intent is to eat the squirrels, then the above should be a pretty good guideline. If they are pests and you just want to eliminate them, then modified or full choke and 6 shot with high brass, even at close ranges. If you don't mind shooting 3" magnums (or 3.5" if your gun takes them), then use the largest available for your gun -- if you don't intend to eat them and they are simply varmints or pests.

[rantingredneck]

3" or 3.5" Magnums for squirrels :what:?

Are they mutant ninja squirrels?

Stick to the 2 3/4" loads or even drop down to a 20 or .410. I've killed hundreds over the years with a plain old H&R Topper break action .410 with #6's.

Modified choke in your 24" Mossberg should do fine for most reasonable shots.

[dagger dog]

Heavy cover dense leaves, etc. mod works well with 6's in regular feild loads.

My favorite for taking limits of squirrel(that is when I can find 'em) is a double twelve, choked mod and full. With that gun,choke combo, using 2 3/4" 3 1/4 dram 1 oz 6's you can reach to the top of the tallest oaks, or take them off the ground at 20 yds or less with out destroying the tasty little buggers.

But if you're shooting a single that mod tube is a good in between! You just have to take your shot when they are in the range of your shotshell, barrel length choke combo.

Go out and pattern your gun with the mod. and full tube see which will best fit the conditions you will be hunting.

[Inspector]

3" or 3.5" magnum shells will give the shooter virtually the same velocity of the pellets, just more of them.

If it is a distance shot, then the shooter may want more pellets, especially if the shooter has an improved cylinder bore choke where the pellets are spread way out at a closer distance and the additional number of pellets may make up for the spaces between the pellets at a farther distance - where one may typically miss the squirrel.

I'm not arguing the use of a .410 or other gauges, but the OP specifically stated they are using a 12 gauge.

If the mission is to eliminate pests, then use whatever you want to to get the job done as humanely as possible (i.e., as little pain to the critter as possible). Before I got my 22-250 many years ago, I used a 270 on woodchucks with excellent results (in that there was apparently little pain). I was simply eliminating varmints that were destroying the fields and I wasn't out to put food on my table.

I did eat a woodchuck once (which I took the head off of with one shot), carefully making a stew out of the meat and putting it in a crockpot all day. One taste of the meat and my dog ate the rest of it. :barf:

I suppose if I were starving, anything would taste good, including, but not limited to, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, ants, etc.

My favorite squirrel gun is now my Ruger 22 Target Pistol. I make head shots with it with open sights out to about 80 yards. However, the OP mentioned 12 gauge. My Mossberg 12 gauge has cylinder bore for a choke (basically, no choke).

[Dave McCracken]

I've taken tree rats with chokes from None to Too Much. Full works for me best, IMO. I like 6s for humane kills, though I have used 7 1/2s and 5s.

Using a mag load on a 1 lb rodent is simply overkill.

And for those who don't care for the taste of either squirrel or chuck, trying simmering them in tomato sauce with Italian sweet sausage. Cook until the meat can be pulled off the bones, and do so. Dice, return to the sauce and serve over pasta.

[throdgrain]

80 yards ???

[Inspector]

Yes, out to 80 yards - through the neck - single-handed, resting the barrel on a porch deck railing.

[throdgrain]

Sorry I just re-read that and realised I'd misunderstood. I thought you were talking about a shotgun at 80 yards.

Still 80 yards with a .22 pistol takes some doing too ...

[Inspector]

I agree, I was surprised myself when the red squirrel dropped from the tree. I went over and the Eley bullet had gone right through its neck.

About the "overkill" - if the object is to eliminate a rodent or varmint problem, use whatever on them, even if they do explode.

[throdgrain]

My jaw dropped when I read that, however on reflection I'm sure a red squirell is a different thing in your country to ours. :D

Over here the red squirell is a protected and endangered species :) It's them nasty greys we shoot.

[rantingredneck]

3" or 3.5" magnum shells will give the shooter virtually the same velocity of the pellets, just more of them.

Yes I'm aware of the differences. However suggesting their use if you are just removing pests vs. shooting them for food assumes that 2 3/4" loads are ineffective and magnum loads are required. That is simply not the case.

[Inspector]

rantingredneck

That's why my first sentence in my first post stated "It depends widely on the ammunition you intend to use (low brass, high brass, 3" magnums), the distances you'll be shooting and whether you intend to harvest any meat from them for consumption."

If there is a squirrel 100 yards out, the shooter may want a 3" magnum (or 3 1/2").

If these 3" and 3 1/2" are of little value, why do they manufacture and sell them in the first place?

Modified choke in your 24" Mossberg should do fine for most reasonable shots.

Well, what may be a reasonable shot for you and what may be for the OP, may be a difference of 50 yards. Also, how do we know that the OP doesn't already have a full case of 3" magnums?

I don't care what you use. Use 22 bird shot at 5' if you really want to.

The person asks for advice, I think I'm giving him/her advice and then I get an argument. A person who is asking for which choke to use and the only information I have is that it is a 12 gauge tells me nothing. Anyone who has been shooting shotgun for any length of time and is proficient at it knows that there is a lot more to shot patterns, shot placement, shot density, etc. than just the choke!

Do what you want. Just don't complain to me when you shoot something and it goes limping away in agony (and then all the ANTI-GUN and ANTI-HUNTER people complain)!

[rantingredneck]

If there is a squirrel 100 yards out, the shooter may want a 3" magnum (or 3 1/2").

Get closer.

If these 3" and 3 1/2" are of little value, why do they manufacture and sell them in the first place?


For things bigger than squirrels (Turkey, Waterfowl, Deer, etc. etc.)

[rswartsell]

+1 for rantingredneck. and plus more than that for Dave McCraken's recipe for hillbilly spaghetti sauce.

ummmm;)

[Inspector]

If these 3" and 3 1/2" are of little value, why do they manufacture and sell them in the first place?


For things bigger than squirrels (Turkey, Waterfowl, Deer, etc. etc.)

Get closer.

[rantingredneck]

I typically do.

[Inspector]

So do I, seeing that I hunt varmints, predators and big game primarily with handgun.

[Old Grump]

10 gauge black powder loaded with 100 gr of FF Goex and half a pound of 8 penny nails at 15' or less. Skins the squirrel , tenderizes him, cleans him and nails him to the tree. Somebody is taking this topic way to seriously.

OP should have given a little more info than 12 gauge and barrel length but he got his advice and now we have a range war going on. Golly gosh guys, lighten up a little.

[Inspector]

I agree, the OP did give very few details, including the type of terrain, whether the hunt is for eating or rodent control, etc.

Anyway, sorry if I was in a bad mood. It has been one of those days, but not at the fault of anyone here.

Again, sorry for being so sensitive.

And, thanks, Old Grump for pointing it out!

[Inspector]

Back to the Original Poster.

Use Modified choke. You can't go wrong.

[45crittergitter]

I say it depends on whether you're shooting them sitting still or running. I try to shoot them more or less still, and use an IM or Full. For running, probably a modified. Shot sizes #4,5, or 6 only.