For spring squirrel, scattergun. Especially here in east TN they aren't staying in the trees, they hit the ground a kick up a rooster leavin' the area. It's very difficult to do any good w/ a rimfire right now. Early-mid fall I will occasionally bring out the .17 but its usually my old 20g Remington 1100. Yesterday morning we saw about 15 and even w/ shotgun only got 3 shots off at a few dumb enough to stay in the trees.