.22 or .410 for squirrels?

[outdoorsman]

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]

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]

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

[stinkybriches]

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]

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]

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

[Lobo0311]

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]

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.

[Link23]

i like .22 shorts, even though i go hunting in the middle of hundreds of acres i just like the little round i also use .22 shorts when i go coon hunting and ive NEVER had to shoot one more than 2 times, (the hounds take care of them when they hit the ground)
here in kentucky it didnt even cross my mind to use my mossberg bolt action .410, i go hunting in a prem. tree stand that i have put up and just take a picture of the little fella after i shoot him so i know exactly where to go

[GlockMeister]

If you're shooting them on the ground, .22LR. If up in a tree, .410.

[nathangdad]

I think a .410 is a good idea,

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Lobo0311

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.

My LORD,you two certainly put a lot of lead in that one!!Raccoon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!

[samuel]

Originally Posted by GlockMeister

If you're shooting them on the ground, .22LR. If up in a tree, .410.

White Pigeon,Mich is a small town with woods right beside the limits.Squirrel have been hunted in those woods by thousands of hunters using everything from ML,s to .22,s on up.There has never been a report of a shot getting away from anyone.West of WP in the country there is a woods about 1/4mi from a friends house.His house was hit 6times at one end while he was painting it.If shooting in the air,you just never know where a .22lr will wind up. ,,,sam.

[ghogslugger]

I use both, .410 when the leaves are still on and .22 as soon as most of them are off.

[k-80]

do you have a 12ga? a 12ga or 20ga will give you a bigger pattern

[outdoorsman]

I got a cheap red dot on my single shot .22. Is this a good idea, or should I invest in a low power scope, maybe 2-7?

[Dakoma]

I like the 410 for fast moveing squirels and cotton tail in the wooded area where a fast shot is needed,#4 shot is what I prefer and yes 410 shells are expensive I buy a few boxes of 3" Magnum about every 2 or 3 years but load all brass fireformed 410 shells for my single shots made from 303 British rifle brass,LG pistol primers,cut my wads out of cork and over shot cards out of what ever I can find thick enough and smear a dab of silicone sealer over the cards to make them water proof and I think I will never wear the shells out.I am like sam when it comes to shooting in the air with a 22LR you just dont know where it will end up,I have shot alot of squirels with my Ruger MKII pistol but they were on the ground.

[sawtooth]

im way to nervous to use a .22 lr squirrel hunting. i switched to shotguns and high powered pellet rifles. the rounds dont travel as for or carry the energy as much at longer ranges or a .22.

like metioned the pellet from a shotgun suck to bite on. my pellet rifle sees alot more action

[Tack Driver]

Originally Posted by outdoorsman

I got a cheap red dot on my single shot .22. Is this a good idea, or should I invest in a low power scope, maybe 2-7?

Just get a 3-9x32 Simmons or Bushnell for $50, it's just a .22, you don't need a Leupold or Zeiss.