Rifle Or Shotgun For Squirrels

[cjwink]

I would go with the shotgun. You want to make sure he has fun and success to get him hooked.. Then when he gets the hang of the shotgun.. Move on up to a 22

[Hick442]

go with the ruger i have killed many squirls and its much funner with a rifle and way easier to clean.

[arcticap]

I recommenda .410 shotgun at his age. Remington made a youth pump that was recently discontinued butis still available new. It still might be toolong for a 7 year old and a little pricey, but a single shot with a youth stockshould definitely be a gun that he can learn tohold and shoot.
.410'sare agreat way to teach a youthhow to hunt and shoot because the pattern of a 3 inch.410 shellis easier to shoot game withthan a .22 LR, since perfect accuracy isn't required with it's more open pattern. Also 3 inch .410 shellsloaded with#6 shot are veryeffective. If3 inchersare too powerful for him to shoot, then hecan always hunt withthe 2.5 inchshotshells until he's ready for the longer ones.
Installing a red dot on a.410 for him would be very cool, especially for shots at moving game. The single shot gunsare inexpensive enough that a red dotcan beadded and it will still be affordable!

[vaslugger]

Thanks to everyone who replied and I will take everything
into consideration but I am leaning towards the Browning
BPS 20 gauge but will also look at the Ruger 10/22 and
probably the looks and feel will determine my final decision.
Both will cost the same when I figure in the scope price of the
Ruger.Will be getting one in a couple of weeks.Thanks Alot! Mike

[Buckhunter46755]

ORIGINAL: Wingbone

As a kid, I hunted squirrels exclusively with a shotgun. That was along time ago. I found that squirrel hunting with a .22 is the best training for deer hunting you can do. It teaches you stealth, vigilance, patience and precision, all goodskills to developfor deer hunting. ...and you get to eat some squirrels.

I would have to agree with this. Although I have used both since I already have them.
It depends on whether you plan on hunting for other species later, like deer or even rabbit. It can get addictive hunting....Although I have heard of some people that actually use a .22 for rabbit hunting. Must be hard though....lol

chris

[Edcyclopedia]

shotgun, you can also bird huntif you get bored

[idunno]

I guess I'll chime in with my vote for the BPS. I really enjoy the challenge of hunting squirrels with a 22, but the shotgun would be much easier for your son to learn to shoot. I realize you're looking for yourself, but a good youth model 20 ga will be small enough for your son to handle and yet in my opinion not too small for an average size man to shoot. In the colder months if you're still hunting squirrels the youth stock will be easier to shoulder with heavier clothing. I read an article a while back (Dick Metcalf I think) that said his favorite deer gun was a Remington 1100 20 ga youth with fully rifled barrel for those same reasons. Also said that 20 ga slugs have a little more energy than a 45-70 with same weight bullet and doesn't have the recoil of the 45-70. I'm not sure, but I think you could get the combo with both smoothbore and rifled barrel. Then you will have a really good starter deer gun for your son when he's ready for it.

[ox1443]

Go for the 20 gauge with Winchester 3 Inch #4 Drylocks Steel Best loud for squirels or even number #6's will do good