Squirrel hunting with a muzzleloader

[Country_Soldier]

Hey THR,

Got a noob question about squirrel hunting, never did much of it, didn't think there was enough of the squirrel to really give it a thought. Had a buddy of mine back in the states, said he took a mess of squirrels in one day, and was talkin' about how fun they are to shoot and hunt.

Well, I wanna give it a try as soon as I get back stateside, but I have some restrictions. I mainly hunt on the Fort Hood reservation, and with that I can only use blackpowder rifles or shotguns (can't use regular rifle or air rifle). I would think that if I used a shotgun, there might now be enough left to make getting the squirrel worth my time, so I started looking into muzzleloading, as I already own a knight muzzle loader. I can not find a muzzle loader that fires anything smaller than .50 cal., so I started looking into sabot rounds (have never used them before), and was looking at a light weight round, found these at knight rifles website.

http://www.knightrifles.com/red-hot-bullets-M900578/

Would these be ok for squirrel hunting? Thanks THR

 

[Blue68f100]

I would use a shotgun over a muzzle loader. A 45 slug will desrtoy what little there is. With a shotgun you normally on hit them with a couple of pellets. I prefer using a 20ga with #6 shot. The bad thing about a shotgun is once you shoot the tree rats head to the next county. You have a small target since you mainly want head shots to save the meat. The use of a caller can stop there exit stage left with the right bark. Can also bring them in to close range.

Can you use a pellet rifle? These have more than enough power and are quite for the most part.

 

[Country_Soldier]

yah know, I don't remember if you can or not, been a while since I looked at the regs.. Usually went out with my muzzle loader. I know you can't use a regular rifle except on a guided hunt, but not sure about air rifle. Was asking about these bullets because I'm fairly accurate with mine. Can head shot a rabbit at 40 yards with no problems, was thinking with lighter bullet and lighter load maybe could use for squirrel

 

[PistolPete45]

I agree the pellets would be best Most fun as well & quiet

 

[Country_Soldier]

well, I did alittle research on Fort Hood Hunting Regulatons. Will have to rethink how to do this one. found the annual booklet that you get every year when you renew your license, looks like I have been hunting rabbit wrong. but here is a screen shot of the page, says that I can only hunt squirrel and rabbit with a shotgun, or muzzle loading shotgun, anyone got any suggestions from here?

 

[dab102999]

I am unable to open your pic on my phone but....since you stated must be a shotgun why not get a 4-10. I have killed many a rabbit and tree rats with them when I was younger and knowing your pattern and placement will make for good head shots a majority of the time. And yes squirl is good. Anymore I just through them in a crock pot with cream of mushroom soup but will fry up the young ones.

 

[Country_Soldier]

looking around now, that was first thing that had crossed my mind was a 410 ga., just going over it again to see if I can use lead shot, then will try to find shotgun from there

 

[Country_Soldier]

nope, nothing bout lead ammunition, guess that parts covered, just gotta find a shotgun. 410 actually wouldn't be that bad, wanna get my daughter into hunting and I wanted to start her off on rabbit and squirrel, 410 ga would be perfect for her

 

[Hanshi]

I do all my squirrel hunting with a .36 flint SMR or a early American smoothbore flintlock. It's fun, cheap and sporting. I've never felt at any disadvantage using flintlocks even in regular gun season.

 

[hipoint]

you can get a little break action or older bolt action .410 pretty darn cheap where I'm from. Around a hundred bucks is going rate, a little more if it's nice.

.410 is a very underrated caliber (don't know why it isn't a "gauge"). I've seen them do things that they have absolutely no business doing

 

[ljnowell]

you can get a little break action or older bolt action .410 pretty darn cheap where I'm from. Around a hundred bucks is going rate, a little more if it's nice.

.410 is a very underrated caliber (don't know why it isn't a "gauge"). I've seen them do things that they have absolutely no business doing

Its because the .410 is the only shotgun that is measured by caliber.

As far as it being a good choice for a beginner, yes, it has lighter recoil. However, it also has a much smaller payload and can be much harder to score accurate hits with. In many cases its harder to use than a larger gun because of this.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

A 45 slug will desrtoy what little there is.

Actually, my .54 flinter works fine on squirrels; takes the heads right off. Rabbits too. BUT it was wasteful on lead so I got a .40 flinter for squirrels and rabbits keeping the .54 for deer, and the .40 works well too. I also use a 20 gauge flint trade gun on 'em.

LD

 

[Leadbutt]

Oldest son was stationed there years ago, but when we went hunting for rabbits and squirrels we ended up buying a couple of Mossberg 410 pumps, and had a great time chasing them.

If they would allow muzzel loaders[rifled} I would go with my 36 caliber styled long rifle, have used it to take several over the years

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've used a .50cal m/l to shoot squirrels with. I used regular .490rb over 50gr of FFFg powder. Accuracy is paramount. fwiw this load will still shoot broadside through a whitetail deer... btdt.
I tried to make head shots when possible. Out to ~25yds it was a "hoot" to hunt with. Do check the regs.... and be careful when you shoot, try to put the ball into the tree trunk to avoid shooting off into the "wild blue".

 

[3212]

I picked up a 20 guage H&R break action for about 50 bucks if I remember correctly.I think it would make a great squirrel gun.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Especially if it's a full choked version.

LD

 

[PapaG]

Either my .32 Cherokee or my Savage 17 HMR. Either one requires head shots.