I used to prowl around the mountains hereabouts a lot, and always had a .22 with me. If I had a centerfire rfile, I"d carry my Ruger Standard. If I had a .22 Rifle, I'd carry a .357 Model 19 or a Commercial Colt 1911.
My first time out I thought a box of 50 rd would be excessive. Soon found two boxes were needed.
Then three.
I gave up squirrel hunting a long time ago for the reasons cited by someone else --too much work for one bite of stew.
Besides, piney-squirrels aren't that good. So then I would hunt up a squirrel, coax him around to my side of the tree, then pick a pine cone near him to bust apart. Got pretty good at "curiosing" them around the tree by clucking with my tongue on my back teeth.
I went away happy, squirrel went away smart.
No doubt thinking what a lousy shot I was.
I retired the Ruger Standard a year ago while it was still functional. Greased it up good, packed it away, and got a Mark II. I don't have any idea how many rounds I put through the old Standard, but I had to replace the recoil spring assembly when it broke. I felt useless and devoid of life-purpose until the part arrived from Ruger.
I gave the 1911 to one of my sons. The Model 19 split the throat where it is notched to clear the cylinder pin. Don't know what to do about replacing the barrel, since it was nickeled.
I use the Mark II for warmup. Usually put fifty through it before picking up the CFs to make some noise.
(Incidentally, I've never had a misfire with a rimfire. I wonder how many misfires are due to poor ammuntion versus poor cleaning of the strikers, firing pin channels, dirty return springs, etc.)