JTHunter
Member
Bernie - with my Marlin 881 bolt-action and a 3-9x scope, I can hit 'em in the head at 75 yds. 3 out of 4 times (when braced against a tree).
Looking for an interesting squirrel rifle
- Thread starter bernie
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Ar180shooter
Member
If you want uber accurate for a reasonable price, CZ 452.
5 groups at 50 yards all shot consecutively, no re-shoots. Smallest group was 0.183", all were under 0.4" and the average was 0.294".
5 groups at 50 yards all shot consecutively, no re-shoots. Smallest group was 0.183", all were under 0.4" and the average was 0.294".
MCgunner
Member
My Remington 597 magnum will shoot 1.5 MOA with about anything and shoots flat to 100 yards.
Fella's;
I'd most enthusiastically second AR180shooter's suggestion except for the fact that the OP stated that he wasn't too keen on getting a bolt gun. I dunno why though, but it's his thread. I've got my CZ452 American sighted in at 100 yards & routinely take small varmints at that range. My longest witnessed and lazed shot was 170 yards, cold barrel, with wind. Not gonna say I'll do it every time, one shot, but that gun is a shooter!
900F
I'd most enthusiastically second AR180shooter's suggestion except for the fact that the OP stated that he wasn't too keen on getting a bolt gun. I dunno why though, but it's his thread. I've got my CZ452 American sighted in at 100 yards & routinely take small varmints at that range. My longest witnessed and lazed shot was 170 yards, cold barrel, with wind. Not gonna say I'll do it every time, one shot, but that gun is a shooter!
900F
bernie
Member
I have not entirely ruled out bolt guns. I simply already have a bolt gun. I truthfully was just looking for something that might have a more "vintage" feel.
ColtPythonElite
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Don't buy a CZ bolt gun...It will render your other guns useless.
Ar180shooter
Member
You may find that in the CZ. It does have an "old school center-fire" feel that you don't get with many other rim-fires. I think it's the checkered walnut stock and mauseresque action.
OldBrownDog
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T/C .22 Classic/ R55, if you're looking for a different and accurate semi. I've had very good experiences with mine, and everyone I've ever seen has driven tacks. It will be joined by a CZ 452 at some point though...
I understand not wanting a run of the mill rifle like a Marlin 60 or a 10/22 but some of those rifles are very accurate. I killed a squirrel with my 60SS at 50 yards shooting off hand. I hit it right behind the ear which is exactly where I aimed. It never moved farther than it fell after I shot it. I've seen some 10/22's be very accurate too but I will say my experience is that 60's are generally more accurate out of the box.
Please buy what makes you happy but don't think that inexpensive means cheap when it comes to rifles. I can post a group I shot with my 60SS at 90 yards that measured just over .3" and all shots were in the bulls eye on the target. They can shoot very well. I certainly have more accurate rifles but there's something to be said for hunting squirrels with a semi-auto. I've seen more than one tree with a day's limit of squirrel's in it. It's much easier to bring down a few of them with a semi-auto.
Please buy what makes you happy but don't think that inexpensive means cheap when it comes to rifles. I can post a group I shot with my 60SS at 90 yards that measured just over .3" and all shots were in the bulls eye on the target. They can shoot very well. I certainly have more accurate rifles but there's something to be said for hunting squirrels with a semi-auto. I've seen more than one tree with a day's limit of squirrel's in it. It's much easier to bring down a few of them with a semi-auto.
Ar180shooter
Member
Chiappa makes their "little Sharps" rifle in .22lr. Can't comment for price and availability, or accuracy, but it exists on their web site.
MCgunner
Member
A squirrel rifle need only be 1 or 1.5" at 50 yards accurate. Sure, a one holder adds confidence, but I killed a ton of squirrel as a kid with an old Mossberg M152 which shot about 2" at 50 yards, usually had closer shots in the live oaks than one gets in the pines.
Even this Chiappa M1-22 (spittin' image of a .30 carbine) I bought the other day out of nostalgia, mostly, is 1" at 50 yards accurate with CCI. It's VERY ammo picky, though. Federal bulk don't shoot for squat, terrible. But, if it's got a CCI head stamp on it, even stinger...weird...it shoots well. I've been plinkin' with it and totin' it on my woods walks lately. It's even lighter than my Ruger at 4.8 lbs, makes for a handy little woods carbine. Trigger is pretty stiff on this thing, but crisp.
If I just HAVE to shoot one hole 50 yard groups, I revert to my old Remington bolt gun. My Remington 597 semi auto will do it at 50 yards, though, but it's a .22WMR, so that might be considered cheating.
The .22WMR has advantages, though, in that I can whack squirrel at 100 yards with no hold over. Solids don't do any more meat damage than a .22LR, either, just stay away from those 30 grain frag rounds.
One problem with any .22 mag is availability of ammo. If you think it's tough to find .22LR, just TRY to find .22WMR. You CAN find it on the net, with a hefty shipping charge.
Even this Chiappa M1-22 (spittin' image of a .30 carbine) I bought the other day out of nostalgia, mostly, is 1" at 50 yards accurate with CCI. It's VERY ammo picky, though. Federal bulk don't shoot for squat, terrible. But, if it's got a CCI head stamp on it, even stinger...weird...it shoots well. I've been plinkin' with it and totin' it on my woods walks lately. It's even lighter than my Ruger at 4.8 lbs, makes for a handy little woods carbine. Trigger is pretty stiff on this thing, but crisp.
If I just HAVE to shoot one hole 50 yard groups, I revert to my old Remington bolt gun. My Remington 597 semi auto will do it at 50 yards, though, but it's a .22WMR, so that might be considered cheating.
The .22WMR has advantages, though, in that I can whack squirrel at 100 yards with no hold over. Solids don't do any more meat damage than a .22LR, either, just stay away from those 30 grain frag rounds.One problem with any .22 mag is availability of ammo. If you think it's tough to find .22LR, just TRY to find .22WMR.
You CAN find it on the net, with a hefty shipping charge. TexasPatriot.308
Member
the .22 long rifle is the basic of rifles....if you cant shoot it without a scope, cant do it with irons.....you will never be much of a shooter/hunter. you should be dead on at 50 yards or more, very much dead on or face it....you aint a rifleman.
Maybe go with a combination rifle/shotgun? Definitely not run of mill.
I picked up a Chiappa Double Badger 22lr/.410 and couldn't be happier. I am using irons but could also mount a scope if I wanted.
I also shopped for a Savage 24 and 42.
The single shot makes me pick my shots very carefully and the .410 is good for the early season when the trees have lots of leaves.
I picked up a Chiappa Double Badger 22lr/.410 and couldn't be happier. I am using irons but could also mount a scope if I wanted.
I also shopped for a Savage 24 and 42.
The single shot makes me pick my shots very carefully and the .410 is good for the early season when the trees have lots of leaves.
Tommygunn
Member
edit.
Tommygunn
Member
An interesting squirrel gun?
Different squirrels like different guns.
First, have your squirrel do some study and research.
My squirrel did, and he settled on a Thompson.
Did the squirrel pay the 200 acorn NFA tax?
MCgunner
Member
The peep isn't as effective for old eyes as a scope, but it sure the heck is easier to use than open sights! I find I CAN shoot a receiver mounted peep well, still. The 10/22's open sights I gave up on and mounted a scope.
oneounceload
member
Glad those who had/have 39As like theirs; mine was accurate - when it worked. Broke more firing pins in several months than should have happened in multiple lifetimes. Marlin never got it fixed right.
A Remington 541T would be good, the Marlin 60 for inexpensive is also crazy accurate as is just about any Anschutz
A Remington 541T would be good, the Marlin 60 for inexpensive is also crazy accurate as is just about any Anschutz
My marlin 795 comes in a 4.5 lbs.. That makes for some easy squirrel hunting. It depends on what kind of hunting I intend to do but if I'm walking I'll take the 795 every time. Plenty accurate, light and easy to shoot off hand without a scope. To me that's a perfect squirrel hunting rifle. If I'll be sitting under a tree at dawn waiting for the squirrels to come out and start cutting I'll generally take my 60SS with the scope on it. I can get comfortable with it and shoot from a tree branch rest generally. I'll sit against a tree and have a stick with a y in it which I'll use as a rest. I've had squirrels crawl down the tree I was leaning against and sniff the end of my rifle barrel because they wanted to know what the new and different thing was in their space. I couldn't even shoot that squirrel because I had a scope on my ol 60 and it was too close to see through the scope. Still I've killed my share of squirrels sitting still like that. Weight isn't much of an issue when hunting like that. But if I'm moving around I want something as light as possible as long as it's still accurate.
BTW my eyes are showing their age but I can still shoot with iron sights. It's just a matter of practice IMO.
dagger dog
Member
Old eyes or poor eyesight require using what ever sights necessary to shoot well.. A fact that makes your statement out of line.
Tang sights mounted close to the eye are darn near as accurate as a scope out to 50 yds mounted on a 22 rimfire, and a Marbles or Lyman #2 are just the ticket on a Model 39 Marlin.
I'd never give up my CZ-452, but when I get the chance, I think I want a Ruger American Rimfire.
CZ magazines are something like $40 each. If you lose one, that's pricey! The Ruger uses 10/22 magazines.
If you want character, go with something blued and wood and artfully done like the CZ (maybe find one with the Mannlicher type stock). If you want practical and easily replaced and no crying if it gets scratched, maybe something else...
CZ magazines are something like $40 each. If you lose one, that's pricey! The Ruger uses 10/22 magazines.
If you want character, go with something blued and wood and artfully done like the CZ (maybe find one with the Mannlicher type stock). If you want practical and easily replaced and no crying if it gets scratched, maybe something else...
wild willy
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Like goon said you want something nice and different get a full stock CZ or if you really want a semi get a ruger mannlicher maybe one of the Talo limited editions.
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