[Maxx409]

Hello, I'm TOTALLY new to the hunting scene and would like to start with the really big game. We're talking squirrels and rabbits here folks. As I'm in Texas, I understand there is no closed season on either.

I'm looking for something I can learn to shoot accurately and won't set me back an arm and a leg. I've seen some .22s at academy here: http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/hunting/firearms/rifles_rimfire

I've read elsewhere a scope isn't a bad idea either. Any tips where a noob can start? I don't think I'm too wild about a lever action, but again, I have no experience. Would this be a good caliber? I have two AK's but I don't think I could hit a squirrel with one if he was trying to crawl into the barrel. :D

Plus I'd like if there was enough of em left to eat. Squirrel gravy and biscuits sounds pretty good to me. Thanks for the help.

[BP44]

Well let me be the first to say get a 10/22. on the other hand I have a little savage that is a shooting machine and I highly recommend them

[brandonc]

I would personally recommend a shotgun over a .22 for a first gun. The beauty of a shotgun is that using 7 1/2 or 6 shot (the smaller the number the larger the pellet size) You can hunt small game, but you can also wingshoot game like dove, quail or pheasant. Using slugs you can even take deer, when you get to that stage as a hunter, but with a typical shotgun your range will be limited to about 70 yards.

[472x1A/B]

A decent .22 rifle sounds like a good bet to start off with. Maybe try a shotgun when it fits into your buget. We have and shot both, the wife and I for "small" game.

[Shawnee]

20 ga. shotgun. Doesn't have to be fancy. A single-shot would be fine.

:cool:

[Maxx409]

Thanks for the replies guys, I've been reading quite a bit online about it, and there seems to be a lot of complaints of "BB's" in the meat, from the shotgun. Are they not using the right shot? If they had used the 7 1/2 or 6 shot mentioned above, would this be avoided?

I don't mind buying a different gun in a few years if I decide to hunt something bigger, I'm just curious why the common consensus leans so much towards the shotguns? Thanks again for the help.

[cbrgator]

Get a Savage Mark II. Awesome .22lr

[trickshot]

If you want a rifle, then buy a rifle not a shotgun. My first gun was an old used bolt action 22 rifle with iron sights, and I still think a 22 rifle is a great choice for hunting squirrels and cottontails. Decide which kind of action you like - bolt action, lever action, or semi-auto and get one. I suggest that you also spend a lot of time shooting at paper targets so you can get good enough to shoot a squirrel in the head.

[brandonc]

Thanks for the replies guys, I've been reading quite a bit online about it, and there seems to be a lot of complaints of "BB's" in the meat, from the shotgun. Are they not using the right shot? If they had used the 7 1/2 or 6 shot mentioned above, would this be avoided?


In my experiance, I have never had a problem with shot when eating small game killed with a shotgun, most of it comes out of the meat while your processing it, the rest passes easily through your system.

[Maxx409]

the rest passes easily through your system.!!!!!

I'm sure you're right, but something about that makes me a little uneasy... hafta pray on it.:eek:

[Random Discharge]

I'd go with the 22 over the shotgun. Economical practice and shooting fun, and perfect for squirell. Since you already have semi-auto AK's, I think it would be hard to go wrong with a Ruger 10/22 topped with a fixed power scope. Thinking through the action type first to match a big game rifle down the road sounds like (and no doubt is) good advice, but a semi-auto 10/22 is just too much fun to own!

[Maxx409]

Thinking through the action type first to match a big game rifle down the road sounds like (and no doubt is) good advice

Never would have even crossed my mind. Thanks!

[glockman19]

In the .22LR there are many choices. As an Autoloader I like the ruger 10/22 $250-$300. For a Bolt Acion I chose a Marlin 981t $150. I'll likely get a Marlin 39a $500 in lever action.

[2RCO]

For that style of dangerous game I suggest the unmatched stopping power and shock and awe factor of a .22LR. I also fully agree with the 10-22 from ruger.

Also as for why not to buy a shotgun. Shotgun ammo is quite a bit pricier than .22. Price 500 rounds of 20GA and compare it to Federal Brick ammo. I think you'll see the point clearly enough.

[Art Eatman]

Don't get me wrong; I like the 10/22. However, IMO, the best learning comes from having a rifle that helps with self-discipline. I figure a grown adult doesn't need to use a single shot, though. My notion is for any mid-priced bolt-action .22, with a tube magazine. If money's no real problem, the better quality of fit and finish plus a step up in tight-group accuracy is just fine.

It's a learning curve, working on the coordination of proper sight picture with your brain's signal to the trigger finger. Lots of time on paper, with amusement breaks for Hunting The Deadly Tin Can and suchlike. "All work and no play" is a bummer, but it's still a learning process involving deliberate thought. Not difficult, no big deal, but it does indeed take practice.

Shotguns? For squirrel or rabbit, a 20-gauge or a .410 works fine. You can easily dig out any shot during the butchering. Sure, a few shot are missed and stay in the meat, but I never broke a tooth on one. I note that "Ptooie" at the table is not a socially acceptable practice in most homes. Discretion, please. :)

[627PCFan]

If I could do it over again, I would jump straight to the 17HMR. Ballistics are great for a rimfire and knockdown power is great too-

[John828]

If I was just starting out again, I'd buy two guns to begin with and build from there.

1. A CZ 452 American (or any Marlin bolt action if money mattered)

2. A Remington 870 Express 12 ga.

With these two guns, you can hunt any small game, any time.

[Loyalist Dave]

Depends as well as where you hunt. If you shoot at the squirrel in the tree and miss, with the shotgun, the pellets fall to earth a short distance away, but where is the .22 going to land? I hunt in a park area adjacent to homes, so I stopped using the .22 on squirrels. The 10/22, or other accurate .22 LR are a good choice for small, forest game, but as has also been pointed out, a shotgun is more versatile. A used single shot 20 or 12 would be a fine starting gun.

As for rabbits being in season all year, Google tularemia, and read up on "rabbit fever".

In short, you really won't go wrong with either a .22 or a shotgun, and as for pellets in the meat, it's really not a problem.

LD

[monkyboy1975]

Or you can go with one of these, best of both worlds; 22LR on top and 20GA on the bottom. This is what my first squirrel gun was and it worked well.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I was just gonna say, but monkeyboy beat me to it. What I have, and consider to be the ultimate squirrel and rabbit gun, is a Savage 24f combo longgun which has a .22 long rifle barrel on top, and a 20 ga barrel on bottom. Throw some 6 shot in the 20 ga, and walk around with the gun set on shotgun, for quick snapshots with the game on the move. If the critter stops, flick the switch on the trigger over to the rimfire barrel and pop him with the .22. You can scope it or not. I've prefer a scope, even though the gun says "don't use a scope with the shotgun" right there on the side. Weird since they put a scope rail on it. Regardless I've done it and the 20 gauge shoots fairly close to the point of aim when it's sighted in for the .22, so you're good to go with a scope.

But, if you want to go a bit cheaper than this now-getting-expensive-since-they're-out-of-production combo gun, just get either a .22 (Marlin 60, Marlin 7000 or 795, Savage Mark 2, Savage 64, etc.), OR just get a single shot 20 ga or .410 shotgun. I'd prefer the 20 ga but the .410 would work. 12 ga would work fine too, but tear up the game a little more.

By the way, monkeyboy, I'm very jealous because you have the short-barreled wood stock 24f in 20 ga/.22, whereas I have the long 24" bbl'ed wood-stocked 24f in 20 ga/.22 - you wouldn't by any chance want to trade, would you? :) You keep your scope and I'll throw in $50 boot money. :)

[MCgunner]

I had a friend who I envied when I was a kid. I'd either have to take my .22 for squirrels or my shotgun for rabbits. Yeah, I know, coulda used the shotgun for squirrel, but I've always preferred rifles. My friend had a Savage 24V i .22/.410. To me, that's the ultimate first gun. He had it all covered. :D I'd prefer a .22/20 gauge, though. If I got one now, it might be a .22mag/20 ga., but a kid should have a .22LR for the cheap practice.

[Shawnee]

+1 for what MCgunner said.

:cool:

[Geno]

I cut my teeth on a aunt's Savage .22LR/.410, and to this day, I question if there is a "better" caliber combination anywhere. I do agree that a .22LR/20 gauge would be awful nice. Wow, that was a fun walk down memory lane!

Re: which .22LR to buy, wow, take your pick of poison. There are dozens, and all price ranges. If money is an issue, I'd say a Savage Mark II. If money isn't an issue, I'd say a Marlin 39A. I know, the 39A is a lever action, but darned accurate. It is also the only .22LR that I own that feels like a real rifle, not a toy.

Doc2005

[monkyboy1975]

"By the way, monkeyboy, I'm very jealous because you have the short-barreled wood stock 24f in 20 ga/.22, whereas I have the long 24" bbl'ed wood-stocked 24f in 20 ga/.22 - you wouldn't by any chance want to trade, would you? You keep your scope and I'll throw in $50 boot money. "

Sorry premium, I borrowed that image off of gunbroker. it's still an active auction though so check it out. That just happens to be just like the one I had right down to the soldered barrels. Man I miss that thing.:banghead:
heres the link:
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=119285740

[kmrcstintn]

if you do not mind the time it takes to load, shoot, reload, shoot, reload, shoot, etc, etc of a breech loading single shot, then you might want to look at a Rossi combo that comes with 2 or 3 barrels; 2 barrel combos usually have a .22 rimfire & 20 ga shotgun; 3 barrel combos will add a light recoiling centerfire round like .223, .243, .22-250, etc

[Kansan]

Maxx, I think you're looking in the right place for a small game rifle. A few suggestions...

The Marlin 60 is the "world's most popular .22 rifle" according to the Academy website and for $140, it's a great deal. It is allegedly one of the most accurate out-of-the box .22 rifles and you don't have to worry about magazines. All of which are reasons why I bought one myself a few months ago. Nobody will argue with a 10/22 being a great choice as well if you want to spend a little more, especially if you think you might want to customize it in the future.

You mentioned wanting something that won't set you back an arm and a leg... I've heard really good things about the Mossberg Plinkster ($99, also on the Academy website... or at Walmart) although I don't have personal experience with it. But for $99, it's practically disposable and it's supposed to work really well.

Anyway, my point is that the cheaper .22's are from reputable companies, accurate, loads of fun, will take out squirrels and rabbits just as well as more expensive choices, and can last a lifetime with proper maintenance. Don't feel like you have to go expensive to get a good product.

[Maxx409]

Thanks for all the help guys. I KNEW I could count on you. I think I'll be looking into the 10/22 ruger or the Savage Mark II. Went today, but the local Academy was picked clean. Said Christmas hit em hard. Great News... left me kind of hosed though. :(

I can't believe a 500 + round box of Federal ammo is $15 and change! Ammo for the AK's were $6 for a box of 20! Hooray for Federal! I do indeed plan to stay on paper targets until I can CONSISTENTLY get 1.5" groupings from 50 yards. I read within this distance is where most squirrels are taken with a clean head shot.

Hafta practice. Hope it doesn't take long. (Impatience is my strong suit). I'll keep you updated, when I'm ready to bag some game, and let you know how it goes, thanks again!:D

Oh and thanks for the rabbit fever link. I'm sure once I get out in the woods, I'll be too covered in poison Ivy to come in contact with the tularemia bacteria, but I'll be EXTRA careful just in case.:barf:

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The Savage will likely be far more accurate than the 10/22. Good luck. I have lots of squirrels, but very few rabbits where I hunt. On any given day, I could pretty easily get 4-6 squirrels by just waiting in the oak-ey areas for about 1 hour at first light, and 1 hour a little while before dusk.

[kmrcstintn]

forgot to mention; be on the look out for used marlin rimfire rifles; excellent quality & accurate to boot; I lucked out in snagging a Marlin 925 .22 WMR used for $169; it likes the Hornady V-Max 30 grain load;

[John828]

thinkin' we need a dedicated squack huntin tread here at THR.

Just an opinion mods.

[1911shooter]

If money is not an issue i went with the Browning T-Bolt man does this thing shoot. and the 22lr is just fine for anything the rimfire is good for except maybe coyote which the 22mag would be a better choice. but as a cost matter i would go with a good ruger 77/22. cant beat a good bolt gun for anything. the 10/22 is nice and i have a few, my favorite is my Magnum research mountain eagle rifle but now you are talking a big price tag. any of the ruger, savage, marlin or remington rimfires will serve you well.

[MCgunner]

I can't believe a 500 + round box of Federal ammo is $15 and change!

Federal lightening 550 round box? I gave under 13 last box I picked up at Wallyworld a month or so ago. But, Academy is usually a little higher on ammo.

The 10/22 is plenty accurate enough for squirrel hunting. It's just not the most accurate rifle on the block. Mine has a Hogue overmolded stock, but otherwise bone stock and shoots 1.5" 50 yard groups. It might do better with the barrel band off, but that's where the sling stud is mounted so it stays.. Now, that's plenty decent for tin cans and squirrel hunting, just that I have rifles that'll fill a dime at that range. They have the word "Remington" stamped on their barrels. I'll put 'em against any other plinker made for accuracy. I have another Ruger that gets 1" groups at 50 yards, a Mk2 pistol with 2X scope mounted, LOL. So, while the Ruger 10/22 doesn't compare to many plinkers as to accuracy, it's accurate enough for most anything you're going to do with a plinker grade .22 and it's one heckuva tough and reliable rifle. Mines a stainless rifle, too. I'm not as down on it for its mediocre accuracy as some folks are. I like it for most things I do with a .22. I'd have to spend 3 times what I paid for it to make a match rifle out of it, but we're talking plinker grade guns here. And, the 10/22 IS capable of being a match grade rifle. There's plenty of aftermarket support for it out there if that's really what ya want.

[trickshot]

I do indeed plan to stay on paper targets until I can CONSISTENTLY get 1.5" groupings from 50 yards. I read within this distance is where most squirrels are taken with a clean head shot.

Most of the squirrels I shoot are between 50 feet and 100 feet away.

[MCgunner]

I've shot 'em out to 50 yards. Some of those pine trees in east Texas are 50 yards high and then some.:what: I'd say the majority are taken inside 30 yards even in the piney woods.

[Fear of the Deer]

I am proud to hear you are getting into hunting, wish more folks would. For a beginning hunter I would say a shotgun (maybe a couple good rabbit dogs), but if you are into the sniping/plinking thing then I would get a 17.hmr but hit it in the head. Or you could just go buy a .22. No matter what you buy you should probably put a scope on it except the shotgun and the rabbit dog.

[Maxx409]

Thanks for the encouragement fear of the deer :) I actually have another post titled: .22 squirrel hunting near Austin or Georgetown?

where a forum member is helping me to choose a shotgun. I already bought a marlin .22 which I'm really excited about but I'm not allowed to use it on Public Land here in Texas. So I'm shopping for a shotgun.

Welcome to the Site. I'm fairly new myself but there are REALLY good people here. Glad to get one more.

[John828]

I already bought a marlin .22 which I'm really excited about but I'm not allowed to use it on Public Land here in Texas.

Welcome to the world of politics/hunting bureaucracies

[tinygnat219]

You essentially have three choices that won't ever need to be replaced.

.22 LR for small sized game: Squirrel, rabbit, Coyote, etc.

12 Gauge Shotgun for upland birds, Turkey, deer at close range, Rabbit, Squirrel, etc.

30.06 for longer ranged shots on everything from White tail deer to any size game in North America.

These can all be found in any gunstore, or Wal-Mart.