Blasphemy-level of ugly... Trying to find a squirrel gun.

Got the itch to do some ground squirrel hunting in Idaho this Spring. Went hiking a couple of years ago and stumbled upon the Shangri-La of ground squirrel communities. Probably a square mile of burrows and squirrels chirping constantly. The massive clear cut is hidden from the nearest road and pretty deep in the woods...



The problem is that I haven't hunted ground squirrels in over three decades and don't have a rifle set up for it.

I figured I'd just use a .22 LR and keep shots at 150 yds or less. I have two .22 LR rifles. Neither have been rung out for accuracy.

The first is a Ruger 10/22 Copper Mica Edition. Came with a generic 3x9 scope on it and when I tried to sight it in last year, discovered the scope was defective. Mounted a Bushnell Banner 3x9 on it and haven't sighted it in yet. No idea how accurate it is, but the trigger is heavy and gritty. Looked it over and saw that the stock was touching the barrel, so took it apart and filed the stock down so that it is free-floating. Hopefully that helps.



The other rifle, and the object of the thread, is a beautiful Uberti Silver Boy 1873-patterned .22 LR lever action. It is a beautiful little .22 with a crisp trigger of 2.75 lbs.

I bought it a few years ago and also bought a Weaver-style rail for it to mount a scope. I mounted a 3x9 on it and never sighted it in. It was so ugly and out of place, that I removed the scope and rail immediately. Had to watch a John Wayne movie while sipping whiskey to drive the demons away.

But... I think it will be a pretty accurate rifle if I can find some optics to test it out. So tonight, I scrounged around my gun room/lab and found the scope rail for it. Then I looked for mounts and the highest power scope that would fit it. Found my old coyote hunting scope; a 4x12 44mm Simmons scope from the 90's, still covered in a camo job matching the AR it was on decades ago.

Everything fit perfectly, but the result is so hideous, and so blasphemous, that I will have to watch every Clint Eastwood Western ever made whiletaking shots of whiskey and puffing a cigar in order to cleanse my home and my soul of the foul ugliness that I have created...





The irony of a perfectly camouflaged scope on a bright and shiny chrome firearm does not escape me.

But, does it shoot? No idea. Hopefully going to find out later today if the wind cooperates. I have 3-4 different flavors of .22 ammo to try, but hoping it prefers the CCI Mini-Mags since I have the most of that.

Waiting for the snow to melt and the squirrels to emerge in the next three or four weeks before visiting my secret spot.

If you were a betting man (or woman) which rifle do you think will be more accurate; the Ruger 10/22 or the Uberti Silver Boy?

 

I dont have any issues with that, as it looks like the mounts come off pretty easy. Just slap it on there for your squirrel hunts.

This might be an interesting (if expensive) optiom tho....if i ever DO buy a lever .22 ill probably find rhe cash to for one..
https://hi-luxoptics.com/products/m334151

 

Just for the sake of enabling, this sounds like a perfect excuse to get a new rifle in 17hmr. Either that or any of the vast array of centerfire varmint rounds. Can’t waste a good opportunity like this by “getting by” with something already in the cabinet...


That said either of your 2 available rifles sound workable, but one definitely needs more eye-bleach than the other.

 

Seems like it's time to get a BX25 trigger for the Ruger and put the eye bleach back under the kitchen sink.

 

Here’s an alternative to defiling a lever action rifle with glass

 

Depends if you want to shoot ground squirrels or hunt ground squirrels. For shooting I would just put a smaller framed straight 4 power scope on the Uberti. For hunting I would recommend a peep sight of your choosing. Depends on what you can live with and enjoy. Good hunting.

 

Just so you don't have to go outside with the Uberti wearing that, I vote Ruger!

 

This is a reply only to the demonology portion of your post.

Here here, for using westerns for assist with exorcism. I am doing the same thing by combining westerns with small doses of Modern American Gun Culture, and using it to frighten off demons. Some of these demons were in my own head, and some were in the heads of flesh-and-blood possessed individuals.

The wonderful thing about the “Shootist” (the Lord of gun culture) and his power is that he drives away the demon, AS WELL AS the butt that the demon is riding inside.

Unwelcome visitors are now a thing of the past !

 

What brand and model is that tang sight?

 

How much does that tang sight get in the way of ones shooting hand on the wrist?

Would like to know as well.

 

Montana Vintage Arms #130 with a Lil Sharps mount. I have 3 of these sights that I use on 4 different rifles. The Henry has a long tang and the Lil Sharps mount is fairly short so it’s a nonissue. The other rifles took a slight adjustment but were no problem whatsoever for me.
https://montanavintagearms.com/

 

The other rifles were really a nonissue as well. Due to the mounts being different you just feel the tops of them. The Henry you don’t.

 

From a practical hunting accuracy standpoint I've never been left wanting by a 10/22. It wasn't until I spent some time on THR that I realized there was a group of folks that were dissatisfied with the out-of-box performance of the diminutive Ruger.

Again, I'm comparing the basic 10/22 Ruger's accuracy to my application...100 or sub-yards with a scope on small rodents. Not in a competitive shooting sport were every last measure of accuracy is required.

I have access to a sheep herders property that runs about 4K head. He has fields around his house that are planted for their winter feed and 'pocket gophers' or LBJ's (Little Brown Jobbers) are a real issue for his profit margin if he allows them to get established in sizable numbers in the fields.

The last time I went to assist him with that concern I brought along this bone stock 10/22. Topped with a BSA Sweet .22 that for it's price range, has a surprising amount of features. It just so happened that there were 2 ex co-workers of mine that came along. At that time they worked for a big box sporting goods store in the gun dept. and both had tricked out versions of 10/22's...that's to say heavy profile barrels, laminate stocks and upgraded glass. When all was said and done my rig held its own against its on-steroids' versions..... I do like a lever gun though....

 

I like the Mannlicher stock. I own a Marlin model 60 which doesn’t get shot much since I got the 39-A lever Marlin. Now that is a sweet shooting 22. Keep after them damn gophers.

 

Keep making ugly rifles and the remedies for cleansing your mental palate will cause you to care not one wit about the guns,,, or shooting...or hunting. lol

 

You all are missing the most important question....what brand of whiskey?

 

I agree that the ol’ 10-22, and my newer stainless 10-22, have improved immensely with the BX trigger install, so much so that I’d have no problem taking either one out on a hunt like that.

Your version will do just fine even without a trigger upgrade. Hopefully you’ll get a chance to dial the scope in before you head out.



The International clearly likes the Blazer ammo, it’s not a big fan of the Armscor.



Let us know how it goes when you get back .

Stay safe.

 

“that I will have to watch every Clint Eastwood Western ever made whiletaking shots of whiskey and puffing a cigar in order to cleanse my home and my soul of the foul ugliness that I have created...”

Just your luck to trigger the one demonologist in the crowd, but this is the first I ever heard The White Man describe how to do a limpia.

Up till now, I only ever heard The Mexican tell of how The Cuban and The Peruvian know how to work such things.

The thing about demons is when you let demon-afflicted individuals come inside your home, through the front door, the computer screen, or even the chimney, the demonspray comes out their mouths and sticks to practically everything in the house.

So it’s good to hear how my fellow Highroaders stay spicken span.

 

For a dedicated squirrel rifle...?

Ruger RAR wood stocked 22" Bbl'ed std.

​

Have a RAR synthetic compact (18" Bbl./short LOP stock) w/ TechSights Aperture sights, as a trail carbine, and it is outstanding.

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... but a little loud for woods hunting w/o earpro.

​

GR

 

If it were me it would be head shots with my bull barreled CZ 457 17HMR.

But in your two choices I think I would be looking at the Ruger if shooting from a rested position, if on the move, the lever gets the nod.

 

This week a very good bourbon...

 

I would choose either. I don't think it is a matter of what rifle is more accurate but a question of what each rifle likes to shoot. I shoot all my 22lr's at 200 yards. Just get out their zero your rifle at 50 or 100 yards and have a fantastic day. Here is a chart that may help you get started good luck and keep us posted.

 

Got back from the range and results were mixed. Tried three different flavors of .22 LR ammo...



Started at 25 yards, sighted both rifles in, then tried all three varieties and at least two groups of each.

Winner of the accuracy competition was the Uberti using the CCI Mini-Mags...



Ruger was not far behind, but preferred the Stingers...



Out to 55 yards, the Ruger and the Uberti tied using CCI Mini-Mags and getting a 1 1/4" group...





So, both rifles were pretty closely matched using the CCI Mini-Mags.

Looking at the groups at 55 yards, I was not hopeful of getting ground squirrel head-sized shots at 100 yards with either rifle. Despite there being about a 15 mph wind during testing, I gave it a whirl and centered the crosshairs on the bullseye.

Interestingly, both rifles had one flyer and similarly sized groups with the same amount of drop.

Ruger...



Uberti...



So, with both rifles so closely matched in accuracy, I will be taking the Ruger. Simply because it is more conducive to hunting with it's non-chrome finish. I also didn't want to risk being seen in public with the Uberti in that horrible configuration.