The red rider is not powerful enough for killing squirrels but last winter me and my daughter killed 5 squirrels in the woods around our house with a Daisy 760 pump. I know it would be nice to own one of the adult air rifles, but I know alot of the new young hunters wont be spending that kind of money anytime soon. Take a look at the pump-up daisy models, keeping the fps in mind. These guns will do what you ask but getting close, say, 30 yds or less is a MUST. They' ll drop with a head shot.

Happy huntin'

GB