Favorite .22 squirrel and rabbit round?

ArkansasHunter · 03-15-2008, 11:30 PM

I've olny hunted squirrel a few times with a 22 and each time was a bad day to hunt them.
So I prefer my 12ga remmy 870 express, but next squirrel season I will be useing my new Pardner Pump 20ga. and if it does poorly it will be traded off...A.H

sell33 · 03-16-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHmsj

Not at all, Sell. But, the question was "what is your favorite .22 round" (or something to that effect.) My favorite shotgun load is #6 in 20 ga. followed by #6 or #7 1/2 in .410. Yep! I hunt squirrel with shotgun, too.

msj

ah missed the 22 part lol. I always just use the cheap stuff, 550 round value packs lol

andrew cochran · 03-16-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sell33

am i the only person in the world that uses a shotgun? i have always used a shotgun especially for rabbits, still go for headshots but thats all ive ever known. squirrels is usually 22 sometimes shotgun there too tho....i don't know what kind of rabbits everyone else has but hittin the ones i hunt with a rifle would be a bit hard....

I hunt squirrels and rabbits with a shotgun and a .22. I find rabbits are very hard to get with a rifle, but I enjoy the challenge. I agree with AH shotgun works the best for me too. If you care about dinner use a shotgun, if you like the challenge use a .22. I don't get the part about stingers and sqirrels and rabbits. There is nothing left after you get done If you shoot them with it.

NHmsj · 03-16-2008, 06:49 PM

I'd like to note that when I'm squirrel hunting I tote both a .22 and a shotgun - I carry Remington's model SPR94 .410/.22LR shotgun/rifle combo. I feel I have the best of both worlds when I carry that gun. I know some people don't hold shotgun/rifle combos in high regard, but this piece is a squirrel gun. Squirrel hunting is why it was purchased and squirrel hunting is what it is used for (of course, rabbit, hare, grouse or any other small game should also beware.) The gun is also primarily employed as a .22 with the .410 usually being employed only when a safe rifle shot is not presented. Still, RN .22 rounds are what I prefer, and after reading some of the posts in this thread, I think I am going to give subsonics a look see. Although, from what more I have been reading, maybe I am just not that good a shot that I'd realize the potentially improved performance subsonics are said to offer.

msj

LiveToShoot · 03-16-2008, 07:20 PM

Depends on how far away it is when I take aim...

Wal-Mart bargain boxes of various 22 shells have been working great, and if my target/game is further away I have reloads for the 44 and 45-70 rifle to help keep me proficient with.

Some day soon I want to get a 204 and see how it works on targets/game that's further away.

LakerDad · 03-16-2008, 07:36 PM

I would have use my first squirrel gun, a 16 ga. double barrel with #6 shot and a close 2nd is the .22 LR in the Viper ammo at 1450 fps for a head shot.

ShawnF · 03-16-2008, 10:18 PM

I go with the fedral bulk 550 pack at wallyworld. they shoot well enough for what i use them for.

Cyrille · 03-17-2008, 04:40 AM

Federal copper coated HV solids do a job on squirrels, particularly in the head.
Haven't tried them on cottontails though but I would expect they'll do.

andrew cochran · 03-17-2008, 09:26 AM

If it works on squirrils it should work better on rabbit!

NHmsj · 03-17-2008, 05:23 PM

Dem squirrels are tough customers!

msj

andrew cochran · 03-17-2008, 06:02 PM

They sure are!

SwedeSteve · 03-21-2008, 09:02 PM

I shoot whatever is cheapest for hunting. At the bench, Lapua subsonic.

Ruckus · 04-18-2008, 03:02 AM

Ah now I have a better idea of what to try out in the new gun. It's a
Rossi 20 guage / .22

Purdy · 04-24-2008, 11:33 PM

When I learned to hunt, my Dad wouldn't let me shoot squirrels with anything but 22shorts. We were "huntin' for food" like Jed Clampett and he thought that long rifle's tore the varmits up to much and were to expensive.

andrew cochran · 04-25-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purdy

When I learned to hunt, my Dad wouldn't let me shoot squirrels with anything but 22shorts. We were "huntin' for food" like Jed Clampett and he thought that long rifle's tore the varmits up to much and were to expensive.

Wal now it's the other way around usually shorts are more expensive.

Purdy · 04-25-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew cochran

Wal now it's the other way around usually shorts are more expensive.

Wouldn't you just know it. I haven't looked at or bought 22's since I left Missouri long long ago. I had a Savage pump (mod. 29 I think) that had shot so many shorts that when I got my first job and got some LR's, they wouldn't eject. The chamber had eroded ahead of the short ctg. case and bulged the LR cases.

andrew cochran · 04-27-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purdy

Wouldn't you just know it. I haven't looked at or bought 22's since I left Missouri long long ago. I had a Savage pump (mod. 29 I think) that had shot so many shorts that when I got my first job and got some LR's, they wouldn't eject. The chamber had eroded ahead of the short ctg. case and bulged the LR cases.

I have heard that could happen.

Mike Franklin · 04-27-2008, 07:32 PM

Lord I love squirrels and dumplings!
I hunt with a shotgun when there are houses within a 1/2 mile or so. When I use a .22 I use whatever I happen to have on hand. I don't think I've ever taken a shot farther than 15 yards max.
Jackrabbits are a whole 'nother deal. Unless you can garantee a head shot I use at least a .38.
The only part of a Jack I've ever eaten was the backlegs. They tend to be real stringy.

sc928porsche · 05-15-2008, 07:17 PM

Jacks are good eating if you don't get an old one. There are still a lot of them in the Sacramento and San Jauquin valleys. Since the land out there is mostly flat, getting real close dosn't happen too often, so you find a colony, lay down, wait for them to pop up and drop them with a 22lr. Most shots were in the 100 yd area.

Ferroflame · 05-15-2008, 07:58 PM

Hey when is Squirrel season anyway?

03-16-2008, 06:49 PM	#24
NHmsj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 153	shotgun/rifle I'd like to note that when I'm squirrel hunting I tote both a .22 and a shotgun - I carry Remington's model SPR94 .410/.22LR shotgun/rifle combo. I feel I have the best of both worlds when I carry that gun. I know some people don't hold shotgun/rifle combos in high regard, but this piece is a squirrel gun. Squirrel hunting is why it was purchased and squirrel hunting is what it is used for (of course, rabbit, hare, grouse or any other small game should also beware.) The gun is also primarily employed as a .22 with the .410 usually being employed only when a safe rifle shot is not presented. Still, RN .22 rounds are what I prefer, and after reading some of the posts in this thread, I think I am going to give subsonics a look see. Although, from what more I have been reading, maybe I am just not that good a shot that I'd realize the potentially improved performance subsonics are said to offer. msj __________________ "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam!" (Popeye the Sailor)

03-16-2008, 07:20 PM	#25
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,506	Depends on how far away it is when I take aim... Wal-Mart bargain boxes of various 22 shells have been working great, and if my target/game is further away I have reloads for the 44 and 45-70 rifle to help keep me proficient with. Some day soon I want to get a 204 and see how it works on targets/game that's further away. __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

03-16-2008, 10:18 PM	#27
ShawnF Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Buffalo Wyoming Posts: 140	I go with the fedral bulk 550 pack at wallyworld. they shoot well enough for what i use them for. __________________ shoot low they might be crawling

03-17-2008, 09:26 AM	#29
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,308	If it works on squirrils it should work better on rabbit! __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

03-17-2008, 05:23 PM	#30
NHmsj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 153	Dem squirrels are tough customers! msj __________________ "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam!" (Popeye the Sailor)

03-15-2008, 11:30 PM	#21
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,912	I've olny hunted squirrel a few times with a 22 and each time was a bad day to hunt them. So I prefer my 12ga remmy 870 express, but next squirrel season I will be useing my new Pardner Pump 20ga. and if it does poorly it will be traded off...A.H

03-16-2008, 07:36 PM	#26
LakerDad Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 249	I would have use my first squirrel gun, a 16 ga. double barrel with #6 shot and a close 2nd is the .22 LR in the Viper ammo at 1450 fps for a head shot.

03-17-2008, 04:40 AM	#28
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,899	Federal copper coated HV solids do a job on squirrels, particularly in the head. Haven't tried them on cottontails though but I would expect they'll do.

03-17-2008, 06:02 PM	#31
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,308	They sure are! __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

03-21-2008, 09:02 PM	#32
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 12,130 Images: 1	I shoot whatever is cheapest for hunting. At the bench, Lapua subsonic. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

04-18-2008, 03:02 AM	#33
Ruckus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14	Ah now I have a better idea of what to try out in the new gun. It's a Rossi 20 guage / .22

04-24-2008, 11:33 PM	#34
Purdy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 96	When I learned to hunt, my Dad wouldn't let me shoot squirrels with anything but 22shorts. We were "huntin' for food" like Jed Clampett and he thought that long rifle's tore the varmits up to much and were to expensive.

04-27-2008, 07:32 PM	#38
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	Lord I love squirrels and dumplings! I hunt with a shotgun when there are houses within a 1/2 mile or so. When I use a .22 I use whatever I happen to have on hand. I don't think I've ever taken a shot farther than 15 yards max. Jackrabbits are a whole 'nother deal. Unless you can garantee a head shot I use at least a .38. The only part of a Jack I've ever eaten was the backlegs. They tend to be real stringy.

05-15-2008, 07:17 PM	#39
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: living in Alabama now Posts: 280	Jacks are good eating if you don't get an old one. There are still a lot of them in the Sacramento and San Jauquin valleys. Since the land out there is mostly flat, getting real close dosn't happen too often, so you find a colony, lay down, wait for them to pop up and drop them with a 22lr. Most shots were in the 100 yd area.

05-15-2008, 07:58 PM	#40
Ferroflame Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 427	Hey when is Squirrel season anyway?