Wanting something for squirrel control besides a 22 and need opinions.

[JTHunter]

Hoppy-tn - another poster mentioned the Benjamin pump-up rifle but I have a word of warning about any pump or break-barrel pellet rifle. You have to make too much noise and/or movement with those that will warn the squirrels.
There are "pre-charged" rifles that are multi-shot with little movement to give you away. And, as they now make air rifles up to .38 caliber (too noisy), a .20 or .22 caliber pressurized has the power and quietness to do the job close to your house or out in the woods. The biggest drawback is refilling the tank as you need a VERY high-pressure pump to refill that tank.
Good luck and good hunting/eradication.

 

[bearcreek]

any suggestions on a different caliber than a 22 would be appreciated along with any experience of a caliber I should consider.
thanks for any input and help,

Hoppy

Why do you feel that you need something other than a .22? "Just for fun" is an ok answer, but that'd be pretty much the only reason to go to something else.

 

[drobs]

Another vote for a 410 either single shot or pump.
I shot a squirrel that was chewing on my deck last spring with my 410 single shot. I couldn't find hearing protection in time and went without. I was amazed no ear ring.



You might try some Squirrel Repellent as well:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/animal-stoppers-squirrel-stopper-1-gal-nested-trigger-sq-u-128-1744752

Let me know if it works.

 

[lemaymiami]

Another vote for an air rifle... As a kid I terrorized the local squirrel population with a Benjamin 22 pump up rifle. This was nearly sixty years ago now. I actually still have it (it will go to one of my seven grandkids eventually). Absolutely deadly on both rabbits and squirrels if I did my part out to over 100 feet.. If you do undertake a campaign.. local fly tyers will want their tails...

 

[stringnut]

I would stick with a 22 long rifle since noise is a concern. 22 mag and 17 HMR are great for small to medium varmints at the ranges you describe. However they are much louder than a 22 lr. Also, being faster, have quite a crack compared to the long rifle. 22 hornet is worse yet. 204 Ruger is at least as loud as 223/5.56.

22 subsonic ammunition may be just what your looking for. Tends to be more accurate than high velocity. Drifts less with the wind. No sonic crack. Mark some distances and then shoot at those distances to Learn point of impact. Then get a cheap range finder for longer shots and you’re good to go.

 

[JEBruns]

Out to 70 yards? I don't blame you for looking for something better a .22. We solved that problem years ago on our acreage with a .17HMR. It's everything I always wanted a 22 to be. Flat shooting, very accurate out to 100 yards and devastatingly effective on tree rats. Might be a little louder than a .22, but not much. We have an all brick house, so no tree rat problems there, but they get into the bird feeder and that makes the wife mad. Only reason I keep a small game license is pest control around here.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

In addition to CCI Quiets, have you ever tried their CB Longs in your Marlin? I just did a posting about my experiences last week with both types of ammo from a long barrel:

Turkish Mauser + Erma Rimfire Conversion = Uncontrollable Giggling

I've mentioned my Erma .22 rimfire conversion for the K98k Mauser in previous postings. I may have already shared the short video of me firing it through my 7.92x57 Turkish Mauser rifle using high velocity Remington Golden Bullets: https://playeur.com/v/y9tK6D23R8m Note that I kept...

www.thehighroad.org

 

[alfsauve]

My Maltese caught 6 this past year. It’s not that she’s so fast but the squirrels make poor decisions as to which way to zig or zag.

for the others, I use a .22 caliber spring air gun. All under 15yds. The springer can always be ready to us, just cock and shoot. CO2 and PCP require fillups or changing bottles.

when I do use a .22lr I use CBs because theyre so quiet. CBs with a silencer make the action sound defining.

 

[bearcreek]

Just a thought. As a long time hunter and also a building contractor, there are things that can/should be done to make the house more squirrel resistant/proof. Shooting some might help short term, but if you want to actually fix the problem permanently, improving the building is the only real solution. From what you describe, you've got ideal squirrel habitat. You could shoot every squirrel in your woods but more will just move in.

 

[deadeye dick]

My problem is getting them to stand still. I have a sun room at the rear of my house that's backed by 93 acres of woods. The windows are sliders which i crack a little, just enough to poke the barrel out. The ground is clear for 25 yards than the woods. As soon as they see me they scatter for the woods Seems like they know what a gun barrel is because when i am unarmed they stay put. All the windows have vertical blinds so all that is visable is the 2 inch crack for the barrel. If they don't hear me they see me. Thinking of getting a gilley suit. Any suggestions?

 

[Thomasss]

I took out a lot of yard squirrels with a Benjamin 22 caliber pump pellet gun. Over 20 yards bullet drop starts to come into play, plus chipmunks have a fast enough reaction time to get away between the sound and impact. The other trick was a live trap around the trouble areas.

I grew up with a Crossman .22 air rifle. (Same as a Benjamin) 8 pumps will take out almost any small critter and tree rats are a lot easier.
Try a slow cooker with a quart and 1/2 of water per squirrel for two hours. Leave the water and debone the meat and add back in and add your favorite soup as a base for another hour or so. I will also add cream corn and mushrooms makes a fine meal.

 

[tark]

Saber toothed tree rats can be irritating.

I live in the country so noise isn't a problem.

I like to attract them with an open bowl of sunflower seeds...

With a tub of tannerite in the middle...

 

[hso]

Air gun.

 

[hso]

Have you thought of chemical warfare?

 

[The Night Rider]

New .22LR Tippmann Gatling Gun!

The new Tippmann 22 Gatling gun is here and it’s bad ass!#gatlinggun #tippmann #oldwest

youtube.com

 

[Marc Alverson]

The CCI "Quiet 22" is surprisingly quiet from a bolt or lever-action rifle. Try it - it might be the easiest solution. A bolt rifle with a .22 suppressor and Quiet .22 ammo is really quiet! Otherwise - go for a nice pellet gun.

 

[22250Rem]

I vote "air rifle", because nowadays they can be real efficient without much noise. Had some Red Squirrel issues around here last year and used my .22 cal. Benjamin Trail, by Crosman. A break barrel pellet gun that gets the call for squirrels out to about 20 yards so that's what it gets zeroed at. The Reds are the ones that cause a lot of trouble in the attic, garage, or wherever, and can be legally shot year round with no bag limit, ( at least in NY State) so I declared war on them. .. Problem solved, but we live right next to a woods with lots of gray squirrels and sometimes get over run with them. The wife wants me to send them to a "relocation camp" a few miles from here, versus shooting the grays, so we use Havahart Traps baited with black walnuts or a cracker with peanut butter on it. That works, too, so either way we can reduce the excess squirrel numbers around here without resorting to actual firearms. Here's one on the way to its new home; I just place the trap into my truck bed and release the prisoner when I get to where I'm going.......
...There's more to squirrel control than just using things that burn gun powder. The Benjamin Trail is also quieter than a .22 rimfire.

 

[Pudge]

Guys, he started this thread because his wife said: "Buy a new gun". A .17 isn't a terrible idea, but neither is another .22. If your Marlin is a lever, look for a bolt (CZ) and some glass for on top. If your Marlin is a bolt, maybe try a lever, or a semi. Or maybe a Ruger Mk handgun?

 

[AJC1]

So if new is given the go ahead check out the cz 457. They have an easily changeable barrel between 22, 22 mag and 17hmr. The 10/22 is also easy to switch a barrel from 22 to 17h2. If you go with a 17h2 get a pile of ammo because it's not produced all the time.

 

[Armored farmer]

I could use my current 22 rifle, it’s an old marlin (about 45 years or older

I don't suppose your Marlin is marked ".22 short, long, and long rifle", is it?
If so, you could also use 22 shorts to keep the noise down, yet still have an effective squirrel getter.

Despite that, my vote still goes to a quality break-barrel springer like RWS or Hatsun. Put a good scope on one and have fun with it. It'll drive tacks and kill yard squirrels, plus be a hoot to shoot.
Your neighbors won't freak out if they see you stalking the back yard with a "pellet gun".

 

[tws3b2]

I'd move to a new house, show my wife where the door is and send my dogs to the pound. Problems Solved.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

What what and more what to these replies. Get a S&W MP15-22. Use subsonic ammo. Done

 

[Russ57]

To me, there are the ones out in the woods. Then there are the ones in my attic.

If I don't need to shoot anything inside then I don't need to get a pellet gun (unless I want one and I do).

Anything other than a .22 gets costly to shoot. Maybe that isn't an issue?

Take it from me, be glad it isn't raccoons!

Agree with squirrel proofing the house first.

 

[cjwils]

If you can find them on the internet, look for Aguila Calibri or Calibri Super. The regular Calibri is such a light load that it might nor clear the barrel in some rifles, so maybe you should get the Super. These are extremely low pressure, low noise .22 rounds. Even the Super is way less than a typical .22 short.

 

[mope540]

My Maltese caught 6 this past year. It’s not that she’s so fast but the squirrels make poor decisions as to which way to zig or zag.

Nice!! Watching your Maltese catch its prey must be an awesome sight.

Last time i dispatched a grey squirrel raiding the bird feeders (used the RWS Model 48 mentioned before) I tossed it out in an open area and within 10 minutes it was gone. I didn't see what took it, but i did see a bald eagle in the area not long after. There are a few around here.