long, you want accurate? and squirrel capable look at the 17 HM2, I put a bunch of money in a custom 10/22 for squirrel hunting back in 92, in '05 I bought a savage mark II in 17 HM2, it'll shoot rings around the 10/22 and I have cleaned house in indoor target competition with the ruger so it shoots good. a pic, you can tell which is which
the first 3 shot group from my savage was .213" at 50 yds, the ruger will do as well with standard velocity target ammo, but at 100 yds the difference is amazing.
RR
Rifle or pistol!, any older .22cal rifles are very accurate, I have an old Stevens/Savage M 80a that will shoot circles around what is being produced today, a lot of older 22s that I fix shoot better than new rifles, Winchester, Remington, etc. About the best out of the box 22 rifle today is the Ruger 10-22, after about 150.00 to 300.00 they are real tac-drivers, Ill stick to my old rifle though. As far as pistols go, I just ordered in a Ruger MKIII Hunter to tote during gun season for squirel bobcat and fox, Ive shot about 300 rounds through it so far, Im pretty impressed with the accuracy, fifty yds I can keep a five inch group offhand. Im getting ready to scope it so it should get the group size even tighter, factory sights are not very impressive with this pistol, the front sight is to big and the rear sight is more of a combat v type so finding a good hold is near impossible on small targets.
I bought a bargain priced Marlin 25N years ago that has proven to be worry free and accurate as hell. Unfortunaley the trigger is pretty rough. However, with an old Bushnell 3-9 X 32 scope it is really a great small game gun. I have used it for squirrells and it is light and comes to the cheek pretty nice. I'm not touting it as a dream gun, but I don't panic when I bump it around a bit, and it is pretty tough, .. it takes more than a little rough use and stays completely functional.
I think Marlin still offers the same basic bolt action with a 7 shot magazine but now calls it the 925.
I think I paid $69.00 brand new for it at an old chain store called Korvette's in Southfield Michigan around 1983. I ended up buying 2 aftermarket magazines for it to carry loaded in my pocket.
Hard to beat the Ruger .22 though.
If you have no limit on your budget go for a CZ!!!
Do you find the .17 blows the squirrels up to much. I know,head shots don't matter, but if you shoot them behind the shoulder? My cousin hunted with us with one last year (opening day is always a tradition with us--hunted out in "rock oak") and he blew the heck out of the squirrels he did not shoot in the head.
I myself hunted with my grandfathers old winchester single-shot with open sights--that is a challenge--especially when the leaves are on.
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Looney tunes deductive reasoning:
--Me smell Mohican burning
--Me last Mohican
--Must be me!!!
--EEEOOOWWW!!!!!
Do you find the .17 blows the squirrels up to much. I know,head shots don't matter, but if you shoot them behind the shoulder? My cousin hunted with us with one last year (opening day is always a tradition with us--hunted out in "rock oak") and he blew the heck out of the squirrels he did not shoot in the head.
I myself hunted with my grandfathers old winchester single-shot with open sights--that is a challenge--especially when the leaves are on.
With a .22 You cant kill a squirrel,rabbit,crow,prairie dog or coyote at 200 or 250 yrds like you can with a .17 cal.I myself would rather have a .17 cal. than a 22 anytime. A 17will destroy more meat at close range. If you are hunting in thick cover, with leaves on the trees, a .22 would be much better. Maybe even a 20 gauge, hehe
MY .22 squirrel gun is a Marlin bull barrell, bolt action. Truth be told, do I really need that barrel, nope, but Ilike it. Fortunatly in a .22 it really doesn't amke it that much heavier. As far as what I would reccommend, if you are set on a .22 then I suggest the 10/22. hard to beat for the money. Hard to beat for anything for that matter. But that is my opinion. the 17's are great shooters. accurate and all that has been said above. The one thing Ihave seen though is that the ammo costs a little more then .22 I like my 22 because I can take it to the range all day and notspend a fortune, and use it for squirrels.A full day on therange with a .17 can get a litle pricy. Just a thought. I don't have a .17 yet. But, my next quirrel and small game rifle will be a .17.
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I bought a Remington 552 Speedmaster in 1961 when I was 16, put a Weaver 1.5 x 4.5 scope on a few years later, it was a fine rifle and I killed a ton of squirrels...I thought it was accurate until.....
A few years ago I bought a Remington 541-T with a blonde curly maple stock, put a Leupold Compact 3x9x33 on it...At 50 yards, it will group inside of a dime, its truly a squirrel rifle...
Never cared for the Rugers, have to do spend as much to make them shoot as you do up front....
hillbilly, was that with the HM2 or the HMR? I've only shot a couple that got into the body, all entrance wounds were in the head but a few exited around the shoulder and the damage wasn't any worse than a 22 LR.
RR
I bought my 14 year old a Savage Mark II with accutrigger in 22cal this year. I mounted an old scope I had on it so he could practice for shooting his scoped muzzleloader. First time at the range (before I had a chance to check the sight in) he set up some clay pigeons on the 50 yard berm and proceeded to blow them up one at a time. I have yet to shoot it, he won't let me, but its obviously doing well for him. I picked it up from Sportsmans Warehouse for around $140. It's not to fancy but it sure seems to shoot well.
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David
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Groucho Marx
Good 22 for squirrel hunting
