.22 or .410 for squirrels?

outdoorsman · 10-14-2008, 08:00 PM

I've used a scoped .22, which I couldn't get shots. I've used a .410 with #6 shot, and missed one at 10? yards

, but I feel lucky this time! I've decided to stick with the .410 until the leaves fall off. Is this a good decision?

Cyrille · 10-14-2008, 08:42 PM

y'u pays yer nickel an takes yer choice!

But unless that .410 is a piece of metal that can't shoot worth a hoot, the idea of useing it until the leaves fall ain't a bad one atall!

Diller23 · 10-14-2008, 09:00 PM

I use both and .22 isnt a challenge anymore I like using a .410 slug it makes a little bit of a mess but its fun to watch tails fly. I would go with .410 over .22.

sell33 · 10-14-2008, 09:32 PM

i use a shotgun now too, when leaves are off the 22 will come out...or 22 mag.

NHmsj · 10-14-2008, 09:49 PM

The .410 is a great squirrel getter. A scoped, combo .410/.22lr is even better! But, have you patterned that .410? You gotta know where that shot stream is going and how it patterns if you want to have the gun work for you effectively and consistently.

msj

webs · 10-15-2008, 06:55 AM

I just hate to bite down on shotgun pellets while eating my favorite wild game,so my choice would be the .22 rimfire.Hunting Squirrels in the leafy cover of dense woodland habitats with a rifle is an art form and skill that adds a challenge to the hunt,but that is only my opinion and some may think differently.To each their own.

NHmsj · 10-15-2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webs

I just hate to bite down on shotgun pellets...

You'll get no argument from me regards that matter. If I had my druthers, I'd much prefer to employ the .22 before the shotgun to drop a bushy-tail. Unfortunately, however, southern NH is just too heavily populated to be lofting rifle bullets into the treetops on a regular basis. If it's on the ground or with a solid backstop, the .22 is used. Other than that, the selection switch stays on .410.

msj

Dan22 · 10-15-2008, 09:35 AM

When I was a teenager I bought a like new Mossberg bolt-action 410 from a friend of my brother.
My friend Don had a Mossberg .22 and we would spend our fall days hunting squirrels in upstate NY.
I liked to hit moving targets so Don would shoot a branch to get the squirrels moving and then i would pick them off with the 410 as they jumped from tree to tree.
One day some friends asked me if I had a shotgun as they were going clay pigeon shooting. I didn't know what a clay pigeon was but said I'd give it a try.
When I got to the site they all started laughing when they saw I had a bolt-action 410 instead of a pump or auto 12 gauge.
They decided to let me try anyway and I never missed a single clay pigeon all day. They even threw up two at a time and I managed to hit them too. Working the bolt between shots was not a problem.
At the end of the day all the fancy shotguns were leaning against a car and the guys were lining up to try my little 410.
That Mossberg will always be a fond memory for me.

tippmann7 · 10-15-2008, 05:32 PM

i use my .410 everynow and then, mostly the 20ga tho. im still waiting on the leaves to fall tho

ArkansasHunter · 10-15-2008, 05:40 PM

Diller23 you should be ashamed of yourself waisting squirrel's. Surely you were kidding ?
Many of us here are responsible Sportsmen or Hunters. When we read a post like your's I can't help think what the Anti's would say or do.

Let's not give fodder to Anti's and non-hunters. Where I live shooting a squirrel with a 410 slug is illegal.

Accept my humble appoligys if it's legal in the state you live in...A.H

AllAlaskan · 10-15-2008, 06:06 PM

^ You have a good point. I believe if your ganna kill something it should be in Self defence or defence of property or food. You shouldnt be waisting an animal like that. thats exactlly what the Anti-hunting and Anti-gun People just love to use as ammunition against us.

Cole K · 10-15-2008, 06:55 PM

Have you patterned that .410 with the #6's?

I've always used a .22 rifle or a .22 target pistol until most of the leaves were off and then use a shotgun.

The Ol’ man said, “Son, don’t brag to me about the long shot you made! Brag to me about how close you got!”

kygunsmith · 10-15-2008, 08:25 PM

The "backwoods" rule of thumb was to use a 22 short HP AFTER the leaves fell.The 410 is usually full choked and shoots more like a rifle. At ten yds the pattern was small and possibly off center. Never think you can ever compete with backwoodsmen, guides, etc. who could reliably pull off fantastic shots with cheap guns and old-fashioned calibres. I hunted 30 years for a 410 with modified choke. Found one and kept it! Course I'm too old to hunt, now!

DeanC · 10-16-2008, 07:32 PM

I like the challenge of a .22 but if its near houses or folks I chose the shotgun, I don't want to be lofting bullets into space not knowing where they are gonna land. But that said it is still possible to use a .22 you just have to hone your stalking skills.

gunsavvy · 10-18-2008, 10:32 PM

I personally ALWAYS use my .22 for all small game hunting except rabbits on the run, and even then i use my .22 sometimes. other than that i use a 12 gauge with 7 1/2 shot in slower shells so's i dont tear em' apart.
The .22 is such a great caliber, cheap, accurate... what i'd do is use .22 shorts such as CB shorts, or just normal shorts anywhere, so that those high flyin' shells wont go far if you miss. the other up-side to the shorts is that the bullet goes slow, so it will kill a bushy tail deader than a doornail, but wont tear em' apart or scare any others away. if you get some see thru mounts for that scope, you can use your open sights and your scope, or get a laser for those tricky shots. thats my take.

Diller23 · 10-18-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

Diller23 you should be ashamed of yourself waisting squirrel's. Surely you were kidding ?
Many of us here are responsible Sportsmen or Hunters. When we read a post like your's I can't help think what the Anti's would say or do.

Let's not give fodder to Anti's and non-hunters. Where I live shooting a squirrel with a 410 slug is illegal.

Accept my humble appoligys if it's legal in the state you live in...A.H

I'm sorry but just because I wasted a couple skinny red squirrels eating up the inside of my cabin I'm not a responsible hunter? WTF is that about? Times are tough use what you got. If someone is trying to hurt you or your family are you gonna set your gun down n say its not right to kill n use your fists? No youre not youre gonna try n save lives n if it means puttin that bullet in em so be it. And I'm all against Anti's if they wanna take away my guns let em come n see how many lay on the lawn. In my eyes justice was served they were destroying my property so I killed em simple as that. If it was illegal whoops DNR doesnt give a damn anyways they cant even patrol their own rivers without getting hung up on a sandbar with a JON BOAT!!! Shows how much they know especially when they say not to shoot at running deer wth am I supposed to do pay for a deer watching license not a deer hunting?

AllAlaskan · 10-18-2008, 10:53 PM

I was talking to a couple guys at work and they asked me why I liked shooting and hunting with my .22 so much and I told em because the ammo is cheep and mods for the gun are cheeper than a big gun. Not only that But I like being able to pick off small targets with 1 shot. One guy at work has the mentallity if its not kicking like a mule then its not worht shooting, funny thing is when we are done his shoulder hurts mine doesnt lol, well unless I break out the .12 guage and start pumping slugs through it. Either way I enjoy shooting my .22 cause its cheep and its still fun. I meen Heck I bought a scope and a stock for it and payed less than $100 for em combined (Bought the scope first then the stock which is still in the mail). THe stock I want for my shot gun alone cost $120 before shipping.

AllAlaskan · 10-18-2008, 10:57 PM

Diller I can understand shooting em if the are causing damage I use to shoot em in Alaska at my grandpas property in Soldotna for the same reasen. But there is no need to get upset. I think if you would have said that they were causing damage in the first post I dont think any one would have said any thing.

big shrek · 10-20-2008, 12:24 AM

Here's the headache about using shotgun rounds for small game hunting.

Unless you are a Mighty Good Shot and only do headshots...you can spend a lot of time picking shot out of your dinner. HOPEFULLY you don't bite into anything.

It ain't a bad idea to sweep your game with a metal detector before cooking it...ESPECIALLY if you used a shotgun.

big shrek · 10-20-2008, 12:26 AM

Oh, and I'm actually AMAZED that anything in Arkansas is illegal when it comes to hunting...I've seen ARK boyz on U-Tube sitting on top of a pile of corn ears & shooting the deer that come out to feed on it. I believe they call that BAITING in most other states...

10-14-2008, 08:00 PM	#1
outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jackson County, Indiana Posts: 130	.22 or .410 for squirrels? I've used a scoped .22, which I couldn't get shots. I've used a .410 with #6 shot, and missed one at 10? yards, but I feel lucky this time! I've decided to stick with the .410 until the leaves fall off. Is this a good decision?

10-14-2008, 09:00 PM	#3
Diller23 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 32	I use both and .22 isnt a challenge anymore I like using a .410 slug it makes a little bit of a mess but its fun to watch tails fly. I would go with .410 over .22. __________________ I like military gun trivia! Its fun stuff.

10-14-2008, 09:49 PM	#5
NHmsj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 187	Great Squirrel Getter The .410 is a great squirrel getter. A scoped, combo .410/.22lr is even better! But, have you patterned that .410? You gotta know where that shot stream is going and how it patterns if you want to have the gun work for you effectively and consistently. msj __________________ "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam!" (Popeye the Sailor)

10-15-2008, 09:35 AM	#8
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 666	When I was a teenager I bought a like new Mossberg bolt-action 410 from a friend of my brother. My friend Don had a Mossberg .22 and we would spend our fall days hunting squirrels in upstate NY. I liked to hit moving targets so Don would shoot a branch to get the squirrels moving and then i would pick them off with the 410 as they jumped from tree to tree. One day some friends asked me if I had a shotgun as they were going clay pigeon shooting. I didn't know what a clay pigeon was but said I'd give it a try. When I got to the site they all started laughing when they saw I had a bolt-action 410 instead of a pump or auto 12 gauge. They decided to let me try anyway and I never missed a single clay pigeon all day. They even threw up two at a time and I managed to hit them too. Working the bolt between shots was not a problem. At the end of the day all the fancy shotguns were leaning against a car and the guys were lining up to try my little 410. That Mossberg will always be a fond memory for me. Last edited by Dan22; 10-15-2008 at 10:17 AM.

10-15-2008, 05:32 PM	#9
tippmann7 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Attica, Ohio Posts: 1,209	i use my .410 everynow and then, mostly the 20ga tho. im still waiting on the leaves to fall tho __________________ DEWmocracy, the few, the proud, the GREEN

10-14-2008, 08:42 PM	#2
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 2,064	y'u pays yer nickel an takes yer choice! But unless that .410 is a piece of metal that can't shoot worth a hoot, the idea of useing it until the leaves fall ain't a bad one atall!

10-14-2008, 09:32 PM	#4
sell33 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,035	i use a shotgun now too, when leaves are off the 22 will come out...or 22 mag.

10-15-2008, 06:55 AM	#6
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 275 Images: 3	I just hate to bite down on shotgun pellets while eating my favorite wild game,so my choice would be the .22 rimfire.Hunting Squirrels in the leafy cover of dense woodland habitats with a rifle is an art form and skill that adds a challenge to the hunt,but that is only my opinion and some may think differently.To each their own.

10-15-2008, 05:40 PM	#10
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 17,211	Diller23 you should be ashamed of yourself waisting squirrel's. Surely you were kidding ? Many of us here are responsible Sportsmen or Hunters. When we read a post like your's I can't help think what the Anti's would say or do. Let's not give fodder to Anti's and non-hunters. Where I live shooting a squirrel with a 410 slug is illegal. Accept my humble appoligys if it's legal in the state you live in...A.H

10-15-2008, 06:06 PM	#11
AllAlaskan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: In HOT North East Texas Missing COLD South Central Alaska Posts: 1,553	^ You have a good point. I believe if your ganna kill something it should be in Self defence or defence of property or food. You shouldnt be waisting an animal like that. thats exactlly what the Anti-hunting and Anti-gun People just love to use as ammunition against us.

10-15-2008, 06:55 PM	#12
Cole K Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 62	Have you patterned that .410 with the #6's? I've always used a .22 rifle or a .22 target pistol until most of the leaves were off and then use a shotgun. The Ol’ man said, “Son, don’t brag to me about the long shot you made! Brag to me about how close you got!”

10-15-2008, 08:25 PM	#13
kygunsmith Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 148	The "backwoods" rule of thumb was to use a 22 short HP AFTER the leaves fell.The 410 is usually full choked and shoots more like a rifle. At ten yds the pattern was small and possibly off center. Never think you can ever compete with backwoodsmen, guides, etc. who could reliably pull off fantastic shots with cheap guns and old-fashioned calibres. I hunted 30 years for a 410 with modified choke. Found one and kept it! Course I'm too old to hunt, now!

10-16-2008, 07:32 PM	#14
DeanC Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greenbrier TN. Posts: 31	I like the challenge of a .22 but if its near houses or folks I chose the shotgun, I don't want to be lofting bullets into space not knowing where they are gonna land. But that said it is still possible to use a .22 you just have to hone your stalking skills.

10-18-2008, 10:32 PM	#15
gunsavvy Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 18	I personally ALWAYS use my .22 for all small game hunting except rabbits on the run, and even then i use my .22 sometimes. other than that i use a 12 gauge with 7 1/2 shot in slower shells so's i dont tear em' apart. The .22 is such a great caliber, cheap, accurate... what i'd do is use .22 shorts such as CB shorts, or just normal shorts anywhere, so that those high flyin' shells wont go far if you miss. the other up-side to the shorts is that the bullet goes slow, so it will kill a bushy tail deader than a doornail, but wont tear em' apart or scare any others away. if you get some see thru mounts for that scope, you can use your open sights and your scope, or get a laser for those tricky shots. thats my take.

10-18-2008, 10:53 PM	#17
AllAlaskan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: In HOT North East Texas Missing COLD South Central Alaska Posts: 1,553	I was talking to a couple guys at work and they asked me why I liked shooting and hunting with my .22 so much and I told em because the ammo is cheep and mods for the gun are cheeper than a big gun. Not only that But I like being able to pick off small targets with 1 shot. One guy at work has the mentallity if its not kicking like a mule then its not worht shooting, funny thing is when we are done his shoulder hurts mine doesnt lol, well unless I break out the .12 guage and start pumping slugs through it. Either way I enjoy shooting my .22 cause its cheep and its still fun. I meen Heck I bought a scope and a stock for it and payed less than $100 for em combined (Bought the scope first then the stock which is still in the mail). THe stock I want for my shot gun alone cost $120 before shipping.

10-18-2008, 10:57 PM	#18
AllAlaskan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: In HOT North East Texas Missing COLD South Central Alaska Posts: 1,553	Diller I can understand shooting em if the are causing damage I use to shoot em in Alaska at my grandpas property in Soldotna for the same reasen. But there is no need to get upset. I think if you would have said that they were causing damage in the first post I dont think any one would have said any thing.

10-20-2008, 12:24 AM	#19
big shrek Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northwest, FL Posts: 3,128 Images: 56	Here's the headache about using shotgun rounds for small game hunting. Unless you are a Mighty Good Shot and only do headshots...you can spend a lot of time picking shot out of your dinner. HOPEFULLY you don't bite into anything. It ain't a bad idea to sweep your game with a metal detector before cooking it...ESPECIALLY if you used a shotgun. __________________ In every Unit...there is a Scrounger...

10-20-2008, 12:26 AM	#20
big shrek Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northwest, FL Posts: 3,128 Images: 56	Oh, and I'm actually AMAZED that anything in Arkansas is illegal when it comes to hunting...I've seen ARK boyz on U-Tube sitting on top of a pile of corn ears & shooting the deer that come out to feed on it. I believe they call that BAITING in most other states... __________________ In every Unit...there is a Scrounger...