.22 or .410 for squirrels?

outdoorsman · 10-20-2008, 01:30 PM

I got some 21/2" #8 shot to blow those tree rats away! BIG MISTAKE! I shot one 3 times until it fell out of that tree! I couldn't find it, though.

Now I'm switching to 3" #6 shot!

DeanC · 10-20-2008, 02:39 PM

yeah 71/2 Winchester AA had similar effect at distance, they ran/crawled off. I too went to #6 and considered even #4...but I gotta draw the line somewhere, #6 should do fine otherwise I'll be using #00 and making burger or collecting stray legs and bodies.

Larrydh · 10-25-2009, 02:00 AM

Shooting a 410 is not cost effective...expensive.

stinkybriches · 10-26-2009, 12:45 AM

yeah .410 shells arnt cheap. but a 12 is way overkill for squirrel. might as well be a punt gun, lotsa lead in any meat thats left.

roggom · 10-27-2009, 12:31 AM

I use 7 1/2 normally and 4 if they are way up there. I carry a buckmark pistol with red dot for some variation, but I prefer the 410. an old school Mossberg 183.

Remington has a rebate of $2 per box until the end of OCT(for sts and nitro). http://www.remington.com/pdfs/09REM5...bateCoupon.pdf

I normally shoot federal walmart specials, but I am getting a Gauge mate 20 - 410 adapter for my daughters 20 gauge and it is spec'd for the STS or Win AA.

ArkansasHunter · 10-27-2009, 12:42 AM

This is an old thread but I will make a comment. Don't wait until the leaves are off the trees. The squirrels will see you better and since your shooting a 410 you need to use it when the leaves are still on the trees where you can stalk closer in order to get a good shot at a squirrel with the 410.
Use the 22 when the leaves are off the trees. Set up some where and wait, take a pocket note pad and an ink pen.
If you shoot a squirrel leave it where it fell and write on a page of the note pad squirrel at 3: oclock.
If another squirrel comes along and he's at 10: oclock and you shoot him do the same as with the first squirrel. Squirrel at 10

clock.
When finished hunting go gather them up...A.H

Lobo0311 · 10-27-2009, 03:46 PM

I perfer my 12ga with #6 shot fro tree rats, however the .22 works well to The last time I dispatched anything with a .410 it was a big boar 'coon that had wandered under the trailer I was livin in at the time my roomie had shot him several times with his .22 and just managed to piss him off, I was able to stick the barrel almost flush against him and pull the trigger......no more mister coon. When we weighed him he came in at about 45 lbs, like I said he was a big 'un.

Cross Hair · 10-29-2009, 05:01 PM

I use .22wmr and go for headshots. Buddy and I have contest every year... only head shot squirrels count for total tally.

I still take the 20ga out in the timber a few times too.

10-20-2008, 01:30 PM	#21
outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jackson County, Indiana Posts: 130	I got some 21/2" #8 shot to blow those tree rats away! BIG MISTAKE! I shot one 3 times until it fell out of that tree! I couldn't find it, though. Now I'm switching to 3" #6 shot! Last edited by outdoorsman; 10-21-2008 at 10:03 PM.

10-27-2009, 12:42 AM	#26
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 17,218	This is an old thread but I will make a comment. Don't wait until the leaves are off the trees. The squirrels will see you better and since your shooting a 410 you need to use it when the leaves are still on the trees where you can stalk closer in order to get a good shot at a squirrel with the 410. Use the 22 when the leaves are off the trees. Set up some where and wait, take a pocket note pad and an ink pen. If you shoot a squirrel leave it where it fell and write on a page of the note pad squirrel at 3: oclock. If another squirrel comes along and he's at 10: oclock and you shoot him do the same as with the first squirrel. Squirrel at 10clock. When finished hunting go gather them up...A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 10-27-2009 at 12:45 AM.

10-27-2009, 03:46 PM	#27
Lobo0311 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 633	I perfer my 12ga with #6 shot fro tree rats, however the .22 works well to The last time I dispatched anything with a .410 it was a big boar 'coon that had wandered under the trailer I was livin in at the time my roomie had shot him several times with his .22 and just managed to piss him off, I was able to stick the barrel almost flush against him and pull the trigger......no more mister coon. When we weighed him he came in at about 45 lbs, like I said he was a big 'un. __________________ If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

10-29-2009, 05:01 PM	#28
Cross Hair Long Tail Squirrel Hunter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Illinois... Middle of Nowhere Posts: 1,305	I use .22wmr and go for headshots. Buddy and I have contest every year... only head shot squirrels count for total tally. I still take the 20ga out in the timber a few times too. __________________ *Most of my life I've spent hunting,... the rest of it I've just wasted*

10-20-2008, 02:39 PM	#22
DeanC Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greenbrier TN. Posts: 31	yeah 71/2 Winchester AA had similar effect at distance, they ran/crawled off. I too went to #6 and considered even #4...but I gotta draw the line somewhere, #6 should do fine otherwise I'll be using #00 and making burger or collecting stray legs and bodies.

10-25-2009, 02:00 AM	#23
Larrydh Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Shooting a 410 is not cost effective...expensive.

10-26-2009, 12:45 AM	#24
stinkybriches Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 86	yeah .410 shells arnt cheap. but a 12 is way overkill for squirrel. might as well be a punt gun, lotsa lead in any meat thats left.

10-27-2009, 12:31 AM	#25
roggom Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Firestone, CO Posts: 82	I use 7 1/2 normally and 4 if they are way up there. I carry a buckmark pistol with red dot for some variation, but I prefer the 410. an old school Mossberg 183. Remington has a rebate of $2 per box until the end of OCT(for sts and nitro). http://www.remington.com/pdfs/09REM5...bateCoupon.pdf I normally shoot federal walmart specials, but I am getting a Gauge mate 20 - 410 adapter for my daughters 20 gauge and it is spec'd for the STS or Win AA.