squirrel gun

[NateG]

Okay, a buddy of mine is thinking about coming squirrel hunting with me this season. However, he doesn't have a rifle to take. And, due to budget and potential living situations (he might be moving into DC, so he's keeping his gun buying to a minimum for now), I don't think he's going to want to buy a .22/.410/what-have-you. I, on the other hand, live in wonderful VA, and would love the excuse to buy a cheapie second .22 rifle (to go with my CZ452) or a cheapie .410.

So, here's the question: given that money's kind of tight (getting a second 452 is out), what squirrel gun (bonus points for plinking, too) would y'all get?

Thanks,
NateG

I put this in the rifle category, rather than hunting or shotgunning, as it's sort of a "which .22 rifle would you pick?" question, but if the Moderators think I'm off base, mea culpa, and move away.

 

[Sunray]

Look into a 12 or 20 guage shotgun with an IC or Modified choke instead of a .410. Especially if your buddy doesn't shoot much. A .410 with its smaller shot charge will be much more difficult to hit with for a guy who doesn't shoot one regularly.
Ditto for a .22. Plus, there's a greater chance of a .22 bullet hitting something else away over there somewhere.

 

[Cosmoline]

I just found a used CZ for $199. If you want something even cheaper you can always go with a vintage .410. There are a bunch of old steel and wood takedown single shots around.

 

[Silent Sam]

Check the Taurus line of 22's. They have semi, pump, and lever actions that handle like old Browning gallery guns. I have a pump that I use for squirrel hunting and am very happy with it. If you want it scoped that choice is out though.

 

[kjaniak]

Why not try and find a combo .22/.410 or .22/20 gauge. Best of both worlds. I have been hunting squirrel with a combo .22/20 gauge for 10 years now. Love having both options at hand in one gun. Of course it might be a bit over budget. I would then look at a good single barrel shotgun in 20 gauge. Can't go wrong for $89-$100 bucks or so.

 

[Outlaws]

There are lots of sub-$100 single shot .22 around used. I love them. I would take a classy old Winchester over a modern pos anyday.

 

[roo_ster]

Used Marlin bolt action .22.

Mine is old enough to not have a serial number.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There are two ways you can go -- one is a cheap, used single-shot .22 with a cheap scope. You can get a good used rifle in any pawnshop.

The other is a 12-ga shotgun. This will be more expensive, but then you will have two guns you can use yourself -- your shotgun will be what you need for ducks, geese and other game.

 

[dfaugh]

Marlin Model 60 --$125 or less new, maybe 75 for a used one in good shape. Probably the most accurate out of the box .22 you'll find for that kind of money.

 

[NateG]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm a little leary of the 12 gauge for squirrel. Would I be picking shot out of the what's left of the meat? It seems a little overkill for squirrel. And if it isn't, then my friend could just use the 12 gauge he's planning on getting. (Or my wife's 20 gauge)

Sam, have you used the Taurus .22s? (The lack of scope mount isn't a problem at all.) They seem pretty interesting, but I haven't gotten to hold or shoot one yet.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Marlin's bolt action 22's and 22 mags shoot very well for very little $.

Just a thought.

 

[91Bravo]

I used to do a fair bit of squirrel hunting. I started with shotguns, but switched to .22's for two reasons. One, if you treat the shotgun like a rifle, the meat is ruined. Two, if you become skilled using the edge of the shot pattern to get the squirrel, finding that missed piece of shot with your teeth is a pain (literally). I switched over to a Ruger 10/22 with a 4X scope with hollow points. It required more patience to take a safe shot, but in exchange allowed longer range shots, and easier cleaning of taken game. Were I to start again, I'd probably choose a reliable magazine fed bolt-action with scope, to help me focus on my shot placement.

 

[dracphelan]

Marlin Model 60 --$125 or less new, maybe 75 for a used one in good shape. Probably the most accurate out of the box .22 you'll find for that kind of money.

+1

 

[MechAg94]

Is there a season for squirrels over there?
Are these ground squirrels or ones that just hide up in a tree?

We shot some fox squirrels when I was a kid, but they just hide up in the tree. Just sit down for 10 minutes and they start moving around again. My Dad used that as an opportunity to teach my brother and I how to shoot and some safe handling lessons. There are ground squirrels out there, but not many.

 

[mp510]

I would recommend a .410 shotgun. Use 3" shells, with a full choke, and you should have no problem for close range work. Larger guages can cause excessive damage to the squirrel at close range.

 

[NateG]

Is there a season for squirrels over there?
Are these ground squirrels or ones that just hide up in a tree?

Yup, there is. Starts in September, goes until the end of January, I think. In '07 they're adding a June season that covers most of the month.

They're tree squirrels, but they spend a good portion of their time running around on the ground, doing their best impersonation of deer. Quite annoying little guys when they do that. I imagine they'll change their tune when I've got something smaller than a .30-06. :banghead:

 

[NateG]

Oh, by the way, in Fairfax county, the early urban archery season, regular season, and late urban archery season go from mid September until the end of March. (Except for Sunday) So I can deer hunt more days this year than I can squirrel hunt. Go figure. Oh, and to make you folks in Arizona (with the draw for deer) jealous, you get six tags with your permit, and you can keep buying antlerless tags for $17 for two tags for as many as you need. The only problem is there isn't much land to hunt on in the county. Just more deer than you can shake a stick at. Did I mention I love Virginia?

Oh, and thanks for the advice on the shotguns/.22s

 

[Vern Humphrey]

They're tree squirrels, but they spend a good portion of their time running around on the ground, doing their best impersonation of deer. Quite annoying little guys when they do that. I imagine they'll change their tune when I've got something smaller than a .30-06.

For deer season, I carry a Hammond Game Getter. This is a cartridge with a steel head. Instead of a primer pocket, it's chambered for a .22. In use, load a nail-setting blank in the chamber, and a buckshot in the mouth. The chamber is off-center so your centerfire firing pin will hit the rim of the blank.

I've sat on a stand, and slipped out the round in the chamber, inserted the Game Getter and surprised a few squirrels.

By the way, it's really a cat-sneeze load -- no disturbing the wildlife.

 

[Onmilo]

I missed this thread before adding a new thread exclaiming my excitement at the upcoming squirrel season.

If you look hard you can find used Ruger 10/22 rifles for $100.00 TO $125.00 and they are lightly used and maintained, not beat all to heck with a bent barrel to boot.

I happen to prefer semi autos for hunting because all that movement manipulating a bolt can give you away to keen eyed squirrels.
Self loaders let you stay quiet and still and Rugers are pretty decent squirrel rifles plus with all the options and aftermarket goodies available for them your buddy can spend the rest of the winter dressing it up and turning it into whatever kind of fancy bullet hose his heart and budget might desire.
Keep him out of the bars during those long dark cold months don't you know,,,,
Never had a great deal of luck with Marlin rifles though I like the looks of the new Model 60 carbine with the walnut looking laminated stock.
I do have to admit I don't own a Ruger or a Marlin .22 rifle now, I have taking a fondness to my Model 63 Winchester but one of these will probably be more money than your buddy might wish to spend and sometimes it takes quite a bit of looking to find one available for sale.
Anyway that's my suggestion.
Good luck and good hunting.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I happen to prefer semi autos for hunting because all that movement manipulating a bolt can give you away to keen eyed squirrels.

You might want to try my game. In practice, I shoot an NRA 50-foot, 11-bull target from 50 feet. Using my Kimber M82, I put five rounds (a magazine full) into each bull -- never taking the rifle from my shoulder and working the bolt the way it is supposed to be worked.

A few thousand rounds will make you a very proficient rifleman, and give you an unobtrusive and lightning-fast bolt throw.

 

[Onmilo]

Vern I shoot a Mossberg 44US and a 581 Remington, when I can get it away from my wife, and I shoot them at paper too.
One of these days I might take my 541X out of the VCI paper and shoot it too.
Worked in a repair depot right across the parking lot from the AMU at Ft. Bragg, met and knew several skilled bolt shooters, learned a bit from them too.
Love them bolt rifles for the purpose of killing paper, but I still like semi autos for killing things.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

To each his own. I have the advantage of living on a 185 acre farm, most of which is heavily wooded -- I walk out my front door and I'm squiirrel hunting. During the season, I whistle up the horses and donkeys, feed them in their stalls, and then make a circuit through the woods -- by the time they're finished and ready to be let out, I usually have close to my limit.

I love the polished walnut and rich blue of a fine rifle. The Kimber is a joy to carry and shoot, just from its esthetics. For larger game, I use bolt actions exclusively -- except when hunting deer from horseback, when I carry a Winchester Model 94.

 

[Onmilo]

So true.
My place isn't that large but I farm a chunk for a retired lady.
Rotate between popcorn, fallow, soybeans.
I work full time as a machinist and part time as a gunsmith in addition to dragging soil around.
Good deer and pheasant, rabbits too when we can keep the coyotes at bay.
Saw three fox this year, both a good and bad sign.
I have been hunting with semi auto rifles for about twenty five years now.
Browning BAR and a Springfield M1A Bush rifle are the rifles I use in Wisconsin.
I get up there about every three years but my uncle passed away last year and my cousins are beginning to scatter.
My aunt is still around but there is talk of selling the hunting grounds and cabin.
People are becoming aggressive and rude in that part of the country now.
The indians are really pushing the limits of how far they can take their right of native culture and pursuits agreement and get away with it so I dunno.
I use AR-15 type rifles for hunting furbearing critters here at home but shhhh, don't tell anybody this OK,,,,,,
I am seriously considering buying a Ruger 77/22 Hornet and I did kill my very first deer with a Model 94 Winchester.
My dead uncle was still using an old Savage 340 bolt gun in .30/30 to kill deer and black bear right up until he passed away and I am still going to recommend a 10/22 for our squirrel hunter.
Heck they are even easy as pie to sell off if he doesn't find squirrel hunting to his liking.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One of the great secrets to coyote control is donkeys. A pair of donkeys in a fenced woodlot will keep the coyotes out -- here in Arkansas, there is a good deal of demand for donkeys to run with sheep and goats to protect them from coyotes.

I would not sell land, if I had any choice. The hunting is a bonus, not the primary reason to own land. It can only appreciate in value.

I have a Ruger 77/22M, and it's a tack driver -- if the 77/22 Hornet lives up to that, it is a fine rifle. If you get one, contact me and we'll make it shoot right -- loading the .22 Hornet is a Black Art.

 

[Geno]

I'll be the odd duck -- Skip the bolt actions

Consider a used T/C Contender carbine. You can get one at the gun shows for around $200.00, and add a low-power scope or red dot. They have a 1 M.O.A. guarantee to boot.

Even if you purchase it used, T/C will honor the lifetime warranty.

Doc2005