Best cal. - The Firearms Forum

TheSniper · 03-19-2009, 05:32 PM

What is the best cal for squirrel hunting 22lr or 22mag?
Geting on T-Bolt Target/Varmint!
http://www.browning.com/products/cat...25&type_id=176
Thanks.

Mr. Nameless · 03-19-2009, 05:34 PM

either one would work, but you have to think about price of the bullets.

PetahW · 03-19-2009, 05:48 PM

For small game hunting, you're limited to the LR if you want edible meat - or else limit yourself to head shots with the WRM.

smokyhollowforge · 05-11-2009, 12:13 PM

I like LR and there cheap!
Just my taxed 2cents worth

carver · 05-11-2009, 02:09 PM

What PetahW said! To be honest, the best round for squirrel hunting is the lowley old
.22 long, not the long rifle, and I like the shorts for cat (grey) squirrels. Some old time advice for squirrel hunters, I've been at this game for over 50 years. A .22 long rifle will shoot thru a squirrel real fast. A long will shoot thru also, but slower. Going thru slower gives the bullet, as it deforms, more of a chance to pull the squirrel lose form the limb. Same holds true for the .22 short, and the smaller cat squirrels. I've left more than one squirrel lying on a limb, or up in the leaves, holding on with a death grip, after being hit many times with .22LR ammo. The WMR is just too much bullet for squirrel hunting, unless you can be sure of a head shot, and in my book that is no place to shoot a squirrel. The head is the best eatin part! .22 LR has a muzzle velocity of around 1250fps, depending on what brand you're shooting. The .22WMR has a muzzle velocity of around 1800 - 1900fps, again, depending on the brand you're shooting. That's fast enough to blow up a poor little ole squirrel! Where would you shoot a deer? That spot works real well for squirrels too!

kutaho · 05-17-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

What PetahW said! To be honest, the best round for squirrel hunting is the lowley old
.22 long, not the long rifle, and I like the shorts for cat (grey) squirrels. Some old time advice for squirrel hunters, I've been at this game for over 50 years. A .22 long rifle will shoot thru a squirrel real fast. A long will shoot thru also, but slower. Going thru slower gives the bullet, as it deforms, more of a chance to pull the squirrel lose form the limb. Same holds true for the .22 short, and the smaller cat squirrels. I've left more than one squirrel lying on a limb, or up in the leaves, holding on with a death grip, after being hit many times with .22LR ammo. The WMR is just too much bullet for squirrel hunting, unless you can be sure of a head shot, and in my book that is no place to shoot a squirrel. The head is the best eatin part! .22 LR has a muzzle velocity of around 1250fps, depending on what brand you're shooting. The .22WMR has a muzzle velocity of around 1800 - 1900fps, again, depending on the brand you're shooting. That's fast enough to blow up a poor little ole squirrel! Where would you shoot a deer? That spot works real well for squirrels too!

+1. well put.

Sandman · 06-19-2009, 09:40 AM

I went from .22LR to .22WM a few years ago and have not looked back. I mostly take headshots when squirrel hunting anyway (the LR damages the meat on a squirrel also), but if I can't get the head shot, I put it through the ribs and no damage to the shoulders, not much meat lost. Much better range with the WM over the LR, more power, all around better round in my opinion.

zb338 · 06-19-2009, 10:05 AM

If you want to do head shots, an excellent squirrel gun
is the .17 HRM. If you hit the body the crows get to eat
the squirrel.

Zeke

Southern Boy · 06-19-2009, 10:23 AM

All are fine for the application, however as stated. 22lr bullets are roughly 20.00 per 1000, as compared to 15.00 or so per 50. I personally use a bengiman Sheridan 177 cal air rifle, 1000 fps. for small critters, just a lot of fun and quiet also. Except for pumping noise.

38 special · 07-02-2009, 08:36 PM

22 long or long rifle. 22 mag is typically not as accurate and acuarcy is what its all about with squirells. I like a bolt action 22 rifle with a 4 power decent scope (not the cheap junk 22 scope) that comes with many of them. Head shots on squirells is what you want You have to be patient and wait for the good shot. Try all the 22 shells and find the one that shoots best for your rifle and use that. They do shoot different.You have to know just where your rifle shoots at various distances and how good it groups If the group is bigger than a squirells head you have a problem. You never want to cripple a squirell or any animal for that matter.

fyimo · 07-29-2009, 08:26 AM

+1 on the 22LR over the mag mostly because of the ammo cost and the amount of meat damage.

whip · 08-01-2009, 09:39 AM

When I was 16 I hunted squirrels on a farm in Iowa. The old farmer that owned the land would laugh at me when I pull out my .22 lr rifle. He always said to me that your a real sportsman with that .22 lr. One day he went with me and used a browning 12 gauge shotgun. He got his limit in no time looked at me and said, "Guess Im not a sportsman, but I do like to eat squirrel!"

Danwin22 · 08-02-2009, 08:39 AM

My favorite is the .22 LR but I'd be willing to try .22 Longs if I could find them. I sold my .22 Magnum pistols because the price of the ammo is way more than regular .22.

I did see some .22 Shorts at Gander Mountain but it's been years since I've seen a .22 long for sale.

The .22LR solid point is fine for most small game hunting but I occasionally buy hollow points if the price is right. I'm mostly shooting targets these days so I'm not concerned with ruining squirrel meat.

Recently picked up three 550 value packs of Federal copper coated .22 HP's at Wal-Mart for $13 and change per box.

xwad · 08-02-2009, 08:26 PM

I'd go with the .22 LR because it's cheaper and does less damage to the squirrel than the .22 magnum would do.

03-19-2009, 05:32 PM	#1
TheSniper Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 28	Best cal. What is the best cal for squirrel hunting 22lr or 22mag? Geting on T-Bolt Target/Varmint! http://www.browning.com/products/cat...25&type_id=176 Thanks. -->

03-19-2009, 05:34 PM	#2
Mr. Nameless Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coast of N.C. Posts: 1,264	Re: Best cal. either one would work, but you have to think about price of the bullets. __________________ Signed ~BMP Two classifications of terrorist dead and not dead enough

03-19-2009, 05:48 PM	#3
PetahW Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: State of Despair Posts: 239	Re: Best cal. For small game hunting, you're limited to the LR if you want edible meat - or else limit yourself to head shots with the WRM.

05-11-2009, 12:13 PM	#4
smokyhollowforge V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 73	Re: Best cal. I like LR and there cheap! Just my taxed 2cents worth __________________ "I'll give up my gun when they pry it from my cold,dead hands from around it" Charlton Heston, May 20th 2000, 129 NRA Convention

05-11-2009, 02:09 PM	#5
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,288	Re: Best cal. What PetahW said! To be honest, the best round for squirrel hunting is the lowley old .22 long, not the long rifle, and I like the shorts for cat (grey) squirrels. Some old time advice for squirrel hunters, I've been at this game for over 50 years. A .22 long rifle will shoot thru a squirrel real fast. A long will shoot thru also, but slower. Going thru slower gives the bullet, as it deforms, more of a chance to pull the squirrel lose form the limb. Same holds true for the .22 short, and the smaller cat squirrels. I've left more than one squirrel lying on a limb, or up in the leaves, holding on with a death grip, after being hit many times with .22LR ammo. The WMR is just too much bullet for squirrel hunting, unless you can be sure of a head shot, and in my book that is no place to shoot a squirrel. The head is the best eatin part! .22 LR has a muzzle velocity of around 1250fps, depending on what brand you're shooting. The .22WMR has a muzzle velocity of around 1800 - 1900fps, again, depending on the brand you're shooting. That's fast enough to blow up a poor little ole squirrel! Where would you shoot a deer? That spot works real well for squirrels too! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Last edited by carver; 05-11-2009 at 02:12 PM..

06-19-2009, 09:40 AM	#7
Sandman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 552	Re: Best cal. I went from .22LR to .22WM a few years ago and have not looked back. I mostly take headshots when squirrel hunting anyway (the LR damages the meat on a squirrel also), but if I can't get the head shot, I put it through the ribs and no damage to the shoulders, not much meat lost. Much better range with the WM over the LR, more power, all around better round in my opinion.

06-19-2009, 10:05 AM	#8
zb338 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Recently moved to Pennsylvania. Posts: 286	Re: Best cal. If you want to do head shots, an excellent squirrel gun is the .17 HRM. If you hit the body the crows get to eat the squirrel. Zeke

06-19-2009, 10:23 AM	#9
Southern Boy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 110	Re: Best cal. All are fine for the application, however as stated. 22lr bullets are roughly 20.00 per 1000, as compared to 15.00 or so per 50. I personally use a bengiman Sheridan 177 cal air rifle, 1000 fps. for small critters, just a lot of fun and quiet also. Except for pumping noise. __________________ "The 2nd Amendment is my "concealed carry permit"" Ted Nugent

07-02-2009, 08:36 PM	#10
38 special Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 548	Re: Best cal. 22 long or long rifle. 22 mag is typically not as accurate and acuarcy is what its all about with squirells. I like a bolt action 22 rifle with a 4 power decent scope (not the cheap junk 22 scope) that comes with many of them. Head shots on squirells is what you want You have to be patient and wait for the good shot. Try all the 22 shells and find the one that shoots best for your rifle and use that. They do shoot different.You have to know just where your rifle shoots at various distances and how good it groups If the group is bigger than a squirells head you have a problem. You never want to cripple a squirell or any animal for that matter.

07-29-2009, 08:26 AM	#11
fyimo V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 187	Re: Best cal. +1 on the 22LR over the mag mostly because of the ammo cost and the amount of meat damage. Last edited by fyimo; 08-22-2009 at 09:34 AM..

08-01-2009, 09:39 AM	#12
whip V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 238	Re: Best cal. When I was 16 I hunted squirrels on a farm in Iowa. The old farmer that owned the land would laugh at me when I pull out my .22 lr rifle. He always said to me that your a real sportsman with that .22 lr. One day he went with me and used a browning 12 gauge shotgun. He got his limit in no time looked at me and said, "Guess Im not a sportsman, but I do like to eat squirrel!" Last edited by whip; 08-01-2009 at 09:40 AM..

08-02-2009, 08:39 AM	#13
Danwin22 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 223	Re: Best cal. My favorite is the .22 LR but I'd be willing to try .22 Longs if I could find them. I sold my .22 Magnum pistols because the price of the ammo is way more than regular .22. I did see some .22 Shorts at Gander Mountain but it's been years since I've seen a .22 long for sale. The .22LR solid point is fine for most small game hunting but I occasionally buy hollow points if the price is right. I'm mostly shooting targets these days so I'm not concerned with ruining squirrel meat. Recently picked up three 550 value packs of Federal copper coated .22 HP's at Wal-Mart for $13 and change per box.

08-02-2009, 08:26 PM	#14
xwad Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Best cal. I'd go with the .22 LR because it's cheaper and does less damage to the squirrel than the .22 magnum would do.