Small Game, Predator and TrappingFrom shooting squirrels in your backyard to calling coyotes in Arizona. This forum now contains trapping information..
The best Guns for Squirrel Hunting are the .22 Rifles,410 and 20 gauge shotguns..if You want a faster harder hitting 22LR shell get the CCI Stingers..they have more power and are hollow points with some serious hitting-knock down power.The 17 HMR is going to reach out much further but may do more damage and will cost a lot more per shell than a 22LR.
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Subsonics work just fine. I use CCI Subsonic hollow points out of my Marlin bolt action. They are very accurate and work well on small game. Max range is 40 - 50 yards with the subsonics. I guess you could shoot a little farther, but I try to keep my shots closer. By the way, they are not very loud, much quieter than a .17
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yeah shooting subs id think youd have to go with a bolt or pump or single shot, they might not have enough power to reliably throw the bolt of an autoloader. Like someone else said, you might want to try air rifles, although depending on how powerful you go some of them are almost as loud as a 22. I love rimfires and airrifles and small game hunting, i have a henry rifle in 17 that im setting up as my new squrriler, cant wait to try it out
Cant beat a lever or bolt 22 with sub's and good glass. I love to shot tree rats with Mossberg 144 LSB with Eley Subs or RWS Subs. Have killed my limit many times from same tree without ever haveing to move except from one side to the other while in a hickory stand while they are full bore cutting.
Many times they don't even stop cutting, I guess they figure its just a nut falling loudly.
The Savage Mark II 22LR makes a great squirrel rifle. Very accurate with the Accura Trigger and comes in different combos. I have also tried the 17 HMR with the same results. Too loud and Too destructive. The 22LR will be ideal with the Federal Match ammo which is all I use for squirrels. Hope this helps.