The Best .22 Sporter Rifles For Hunting Squirrels

[SwampWolf]

I first started hunting squirrels when I was a youngster back in the late fifties and I recall my grandfather's advice back then: "If you want to have the most fun hunting squirrels, hunt them with a .22 (my rifle at the time was a Winchester Model 67 having the original factory open sights). But if you're really hungry and want squirrel stew for supper, hunt them with a shotgun".

Over the many years since, I came to prefer hunting bushy tails with a rifle (and sometimes even with a .22 pistol when I wasn't that hungry ) because for me, rifles are much more fun than hunting them with a shotgun is. Here are the four .22 sporters that I've come to like the most over the last several decades:
My Marlin Model 39 lever-action having a Williams "5D" aperture sight.
A Steyr Männlicher "Zephyer" bolt-action with a Bushnell "Banner" 4x scope.
A Ruger 10-22 "International" (a Talo configured Mannlicher) .22 auto having a Williams peep sight.
And my Remington Model 504 bolt-action with a Nikon "Prostaff" 4x scope.

I wish I could list a Winchester Model 52 Sporter as one I have but they're way too pricy for me and very hard to find anymore. So anyone else care to report what their favorite squirrel hunting .22 rifles and sights are?

 

[nettlle]

Kimber Model 82 with a Leupold 2x7 Rimfire.

 

[Jeff olson]

Here we go.

 

[Armored farmer]

This is my favorite squirrel/ rabbit hunting gun.
Savage 24 in .22lr/.410

 

[Atavar]

For me it is my completely ugly Marlin .22WMR bolt with a 4-something scope on it. Head shots on any squirrel I can see are no problem.
If I want to shoot cheaper then it’s my Ruger Mk4 wearing a Sig Romeo3. I just have to be a little sneakier with that.

 

[12Bravo20]

When I hunt squirrels with a 22 rifle, I usually grab my Marlin Model 70 with a 3-9 scope. Though I do like to use one of my many 410's from May until leaves start to fall. Once winter hits and all the leaves have fallen, I will grab my Savage MkII chambered in 17m2 for longer shots.

 

[mcb]

I have killed a heap of squirrels with my 10/22.

 

[brewer12345]

I usually use a marlin 39a or a 10/22 with a kidd trigger. When I hunt aberts I often use a Buckmark since they are a little dumber.

 

[LoonWulf]

only squirrels ive ever killed were with a pellet rifle from my uncles deck. Id probably take my Ranger if i got the chance now tho....course my qb78 Repeater would probably do just as well.

 

[troy fairweather]

There are many I like but most are out of my price range, most important thing is it has to be accurate and feel right in your hands. Been really liking the ruger American rimfires, cz a good choice to.

 

[Bronco72]

The best one is the one in you hand
My 125 yds. or less ( when condition allows may 150 yds. ) is a Volquartzen , 10-22, ! Tried a bunch of different brands of ammo and settled on the best for the price, Federal or Aquila ! Now I am ground rat shooting so it is bulk critters. Not the edible tree variety.

 

[Atavar]

I usually use a marlin 39a or a 10/22 with a kidd trigger. When I hunt aberts I often use a Buckmark since they are a little dumber.

Ooh, Aberts are yummy.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I have a Winchester M52, but its not a sporter, hence far too heavy to carry afield for squirrel hunting.
Id probably grab this one for tree rats-

Romanian M69 with 4X Redfield.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I never used 22LR for squirrels. My rimfire Sporter of choice was a Marlin 17V 17HMR. A thoroughly awesome small game rifle that was too accurate to be believed.

 

[12Bravo20]

I never used 22LR for squirrels. My rimfire Sporter of choice was a Marlin 17V 17HMR. A thoroughly awesome small game rifle that was too accurate to be believed.

The only problem with using 17m2 or 17HMR for squirrels is that you are pretty much limited to head shots only if you want to eat the squirrels. I learned the hard way on that with the first squirrel I shot with my 17m2 at 70-75 yards. I took a body shot and destroyed the squirrel.

 

[3Crows]

This maybe shooting the CCI Quiet, either Target (solid) or Varmint (Segmented). Not so likely to zoom off into the next parish. Or Short CB.



I have come to believe that a PCP air rifle is superior.

 

[mavracer]

Haven't hunted squirrels in a long long time. If I was to go now I have a bunch of 22s that I could use but of them my Savage Mk2 is near perfection.
It's in a Boyd stock with a Bushnell Engage 3-12X and a Tacsol Aeris Suppressor.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Haven't hunted squirrels in a long long time. If I was to go now I have a bunch of 22s that I could use but of them my Savage Mk2 is near perfection.
It's in a Boyd stock with a Bushnell Engage 3-12X and a Tacsol Aeris Suppressor.View attachment 1146236

Wow, that is sharp!

 

[I6turbo]

Since I don't eat 'em, I don't kill 'em, but if I were going to hunt squirrel again, I'd probably use one of the two below. The CZ 452 Military Trainer because it's fun to handle, operate and shoot, and just feels like a squirrel gun in hand. The Remington 121 because of the nostalgia (my Dad's gun, I hunted squirrels with it when I was a kid) and the finer sights that work even better for my eyes than the CZ tangents. A squirrel is a plenty big enough target that I shouldn't need a scope, so I'd probably give the poor animal that slight advantage (if one can somehow consider hiding unarmed in a tree from a man with a gun an advantage).

 

[d2wing]

Now it would be a CZ 452. In the past a 10-22, and a Winchester 74. Also a Ruger MK ll pistol. Like Loonwolf I have used a QB78 in town.

 

[d2wing]

I first started hunting squirrels when I was a youngster back in the late fifties and I recall my grandfather's advice back then: "If you want to have the most fun hunting squirrels, hunt them with a .22 (my rifle at the time was a Winchester Model 67 having the original factory open sights). But if you're really hungry and want squirrel stew for supper, hunt them with a shotgun".

Over the many years since, I came to prefer hunting bushy tails with a rifle (and sometimes even with a .22 pistol when I wasn't that hungry ) because for me, rifles are much more fun than hunting them with a shotgun is. Here are the four .22 sporters that I've come to like the most over the last several decades:
My Marlin Model 39 lever-action having a Williams "5D" aperture sight.
A Steyr Männlicher "Zephyer" bolt-action with a Bushnell "Banner" 4x scope.
A Ruger 10-22 "International" (a Talo configured Mannlicher) .22 auto having a Williams peep sight.
And my Remington Model 504 bolt-action with a Nikon "Prostaff" 4x scope.

I wish I could list a Winchester Model 52 Sporter as one I have but they're way too pricy for me and very hard to find anymore. So anyone else care to report what their favorite squirrel hunting .22 rifles and sights are?

How do you like the Styer? I shot one and it was very accurate. But the bolt was so stiff I didn't like it.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Those CZ 452 Military Trainer's are a great rifle. Do they still make those?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Those CZ 452 Military Trainer's are a great rifle. Do they still make those?

452's have been out of production several years.

 

[Armored farmer]

I thought I would try this Hatsun95 .22 pellet rifle on Squirrels, but I haven't done it yet...I have to be in the right mood to want to clean them. My Mrs is never in the right mood to cook them.......


I have to ask my 87 yo mother to fry them and make gravy. my 89 yo dad loves squirrel and biscuits and gravy...so I try to get a few to them in the fall.

 

[.45Coltguy]

452's have been out of production several years.

That's too bad. I have a CZ 452 Scout that I bought some years ago for my wife and it fits her perfectly. Any of the 452's sure were nice.