Squirrel hunting : Shotgun or rifle ?

[Patocazador]

Amen! For even more fun, an accurate .22 pistol.

Amen to that. Here's an old photo:

 

[stillquietvoice]

Shot them left handed. Of course they were acting kind of crazy so they weren't in their right mind.

 

[film495]

I'd think some type of shot shell from a .22 might be more forgiving with accuracy and not as dramatic as a shotgun, but I've never done it.

 

[Patocazador]

I'd think some type of shot shell from a .22 might be more forgiving with accuracy and not as dramatic as a shotgun, but I've never done it.

A .22 shotshell is either #11 or #12 size shot. Those squirrels better be within 10 feet for it to be effective.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Which is the best to use to get squirrels in your opinion ? I am talking about shooting them to eat so I don't want to tear the meat up very much but I do want to get as many as I can. I've only used .22LR in the past and its very hit and miss with the .22LR. If you use shotgun , then what gauge do you use and why ? Any information is appreciated.

I'm in the both category.
Like MCB, time of year changes it.
I like strolling along with a 410.
My 17 hmr is great in the winter.

 

[MacAR]

I guess it depends on the situation for me. If I'm hunting by myself, without a dog, I take a 22. Preferably a pump or automatic. Though a single shot Remington and a handful of shorts makes for an interesting afternoon stroll. When hunting with dogs, shotgun all the way. I've been using my old Model 12 16 gauge, but the last couple hunts we went on this year I tried a new gun. I had an old, barrel-less Mossberg 500c 20 gathering dust in the corner. It'd been given to me after the PO fell and bent the barrel and broke the stock out of it. I ordered a new stock/forend set, and found a 22" youth barrel on Ebay. Put it together, stuck a full choke in it, and it's a squirrel killing machine!

Mac

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Which is the best to use to get squirrels in your opinion ?

The BEST way to get squirrels is to shoot them in the head with a .390 patched round ball from my .40 caliber Poor Boy flintlock...., but...., the problem where I hunt is the close location of houses and farms. That 95 grain ball going through the squirrel means I need to make sure I have a good backstop like the trunk of a tree if I need to shoot upwards. So I have to pass on some shots.

On the other hand if I take a 20 gauge shotgun, shooting upwards at any bushy-tails is just fine, whether I'm using a flintlock tradegun, or somebody is using a Mossberg 20 gauge pump with a full choke. A lot fewer passed shots.

So for me here in People's Republic of MAЯYLAИD, if I'm going out for a walk in the woods, even if I just take a modern .22 LR rifle, then I might shoot a squirrel if one presents a good shot, but IF I'm going out to put squirrels in the freezer for future use in the pot and on the table....I don't want to pass on any shots so it's shotgun .

LD

 

[bearman49709]

Scoped .22 LR, head shots only, if they're in a tree then I only shoot if they're on the trunk or on the side of a 6" or larger branch. Leaves make no difference I just find a clear spot to shoot threw.

 

[Meeks36]

A .22 shotshell is either #11 or #12 size shot. Those squirrels better be within 10 feet for it to be effective.

Tried that didn't work. It was 5 feet away. Didn't phase it. My grandpa shot a chipmunk with rat shot killed it. Used a 4 in break top H&R.

 

[bearman49709]

Tried that didn't work. It was 5 feet away. Didn't phase it. My grandpa shot a chipmunk with rat shot killed it. Used a 4 in break top H&R.

I shot a gray squirrel about 30 feet up in a tree, it fell dead at the shot. Normally I use them for chipmunks or red squirrel only.
I use Federal, Remington or Winchester shot in a Mossberg with AC KRO GRUV rifling or Marlin with Micro grove rifling, these pattern better than standard rifling.