Squirrel hunters w pistol apply here plz!

I had a Ruger 22/45 MKII with 6 7/8 slab bull barrel that wore a Simmons 4X pistol scope. It kills me that I sold it and would buy another if I could find it.

That said, I have another MKII WITH 4 IN BBL that it hunt with.

 

I have a mkII 22/45 gov target 8"slab side barrel. With a 2x pistol scope that is more accurate than most of my 22 rifles. taken alot of tree rats with it. It is a little barrel heavy but not bad.

 

Many shot with the Citation

 

The best squirrel gun I ever had was a Ruger MK III Hunter. The long sight radius and bright red fiber optic made open sight shooting fantastic. These days I have Smith and Wesson Victory that I have verified is up to the task at the range but still haven’t been hunting with it. The Smith and Wesson Victory also comes with a rail and the fiber optic sights are great.

With your eyes, I think you are on the right track with a red dot or scope, but given you plan to add extra weight with an optic, perhaps you’d prefer something 4 5/8 or 5 inch. I’ve only been squirrel hunting one or two times since my son was born. I hope he wants to join me some day. Usually it just turns into a walk in the woods, which is fine by me. Be safe out there, and if you don’t have a good recipe for squirrel dumplings let me know!

 

Speaking of squirrels taking over the world… one day on my way to work the accelerator on my car stuck. I had to ride the brakes all the way into a parking lot. It was still doing 35 mph with the brakes fully depressed! I put it in neutral and was able to coast and get stopped, called a tow truck and had it taken to the shop.

A few hours later they called and told me I was good to go so I went in and asked the fella what was going on. He looked at me and said, “I’ve never seen anything like this before, here’s the problem.” With that he pulled a walnut out of his pocket. “This was stuck behind the cable holding the throttle wide open!” He used a few choice swear words. When I got home and told my neighbor he said “it’s the squirrels getting you back for hunting them!” I don’t trust squirrels one bit.

A house I lived in long ago had squirrels in the attic. One night I heard a ruckus in the ceiling and went to check it out. There in the attic was a squirrel just staring at me like he owned the dang place. I shooed him away and saw the stupid thing was chewing on the hot wire for a light fixture! Again, I don’t trust ‘em.

 

One of the reasons I like the Swampfox Kingslayer and the Swampfox Liberator (tube type) is that they are available with a circle dot reticle. The Holosun 507C also has a circle dot reticle. I find these work well for speed shooting (steel plates) and for hunting.

 

I hate the red pine rats the worst. they managed to get in my bass boat and eat a $150 seat last year then chew the insulation off most of the wires. Almost burned up the boat and my garage.

 

All this thread needs is some good recipe’s for said squirrels. Unfortunately I live in a semi populated area. So no 22s for now. I will occasionally pop a squirrel w my Henry and sub sonics. Try not to disturb the neighbors. They do not disturb us. And would like to keep it that way.

 

I got squirrel lucky with this one, a 10" Buckmark. I traded a Browning BL-22 for it about 25 years ago. It will put a magazine full into an inch or less @ 25 yards with nearly everything I've fed it, including Stingers!

 

Great rig.

 

There are many different ways to cook'm. Breaded and deep fried with gravy. simmered in BBQ sauce, thrown into a stew, baked, etc etc.

Here is one my fav's though.

 

I have a MkIV Target and had a Buckmark for a few decades. The Buckmark stock had a better trigger but the MkIV trigger is fine and can be made really good. Not sure about current Buckmarks but I'd recommend the Ruger MkIV.

 

I have 45 + year old T/C with a 10 inch skinny barrel and a 2x Leupold scope. Carried in a T/C shoulder holder. Lightweight and easy to shoot. Used it for Squirrels and one time for short range prairie dogs.

 

My factory stock fixed sight Mk IV Standard with taper barrel is ridiculously accurate.

I imagine one kitted out with match trigger and good sights and optics could nail any squirrel or rabbit.

 

I have a Ruger Mk II Standard that is very accurate too. That being said, I have other rimfire pistols that are very accurate and were optics ready from the factory. I thought about putting an optic on my Mk II but I would have to either send it out to be drilled and tapped or use a dovetail mount.

 

would love to see/learn more about fanny pack that accepts a ruger single six!

 

How about my Eastern Mountain Sports #13L "waist" pack, which I used to carry my 6" GP100 (.357) for two weeks in Yellowstone? Before I bought it I made a mock-up (in wood) of my GP so that I could be sure (in the store) that it would fit the pack. I'm sure someone else makes an equal-size pack, or it might be found on ebay. My Single-Ten fits it very easily.
To add: https://www.ems.com/camp-and-hike/backpacks/waist-packs/

 

I use my High Standard The Victor to hunt squirrels ..... iron sights...

 

..........Glad to oblige..... Got two of these on sale from Midway USA about 10 years ago. I think it was a close-out because I don't recall seeing them since then. A Ruger Single Six can be put into a lot of other fanny pack type gear that is available today. A Single Six isn't overly big and heavy so you can have a lot of options on how you carry it. The fanny pack holds the Ruger and a small case that holds SD Cards for trail cams when I'm out changing SD cards. .. . Sometimes if I need to carry more stuff in the fanny pack I put the Single Six on my other hip in a small belt holster. .. Either way it's on my hip and if it's in the fanny pack the top is partially unzipped for easy access. Not exactly a fast draw rig but it works. Now if I could just post a picture of the Single Six in this thread with a freshly harvested squirrel I'd be overjoyed. Still working on that one.

 

After they are cut up like a chicken, dredge the parts in a dry coating mix of 1/4 flour and 3/4 cornmeal, then deep fry.
If you want to get fancier, layer multiple squirrel pieces on the bottom of a crockpot and cover with water (or 1/2 water & 1/2 beer). Add ~ 1 tsp. meat tenderizer and mix gently. Start on high until it is bubbling, then turn to low and let simmer for at least 2 hours. After that, stir more vigorously and see if the meat is starting to fall off of the bones. If it is, add various vegetables (carrots, onions, peas, green beans, etc.), more water and beer to cover the veggies, as well as assorted spices (thyme, marjoram, cumin). I don't add salt or pepper (dislike pepper !!) and the tenderizer adds enough salt.
You can also bake it in the oven. Put about one cup of wine (chardonnay or white zinfandel) in a 13 x 9" pan, put your spices in the wine and stir. Put the squirrel pieces in the wine and cover the pan with foil so they do a little steaming. Bake at 325-350 "F" and turn the pan 180 degrees after 20-25 minutes and bake for another 15-20 minutes. If so desired, when you turn the pan 180 deg., you can also flip the pieces of meat over so that all the meat spends time in the wine and spice mix.

 

Another vote for Ruger. I use a Mark II, or Single Six. I've eaten many a squirrel and rabbit with a .22 caliber hole in them.

 

Back in the late 80’s I picked up a Ruger MKII at a pawn shop for $125 out the door. The finish was worn, the rear sight bent and it had some dings here and there.
I was doing hot bluing with my father in law at the time. So I cleaned up the gun, sandblasted and reblued it.
It shot so good that it took the place of my Ruger 1022 as my squirrel gun.
My eyes are not as good as they once were, but I can still take a squirrel at 25 yards with my MKII.

 

FINALLY..... A handgun & squirrel picture ! Thanks, Gunny and congrats. I really like that Ruger, too. I'm headed for the woods this afternoon to the trail cams and maybe see a squirrel within Single Six range.