Are you serious???

An AR-15 for squirrels? Thats like using a .50 BMG for coyotes or deer. You would shoot the squirrel and there wouldn't be anything left. Someone else point this out, but it sounds like your husband and his buddies want an AR-15 to play with. Get your self a 22 or a 410. 17 is alittle hot for a 15 to 20 yard shot.

As far as your hunting stratagy goes... Just make sure you spray paint that short bus camo so the squirrels can't see you coming. Part of squirrel hunting is being stealthy. You don't just go trudging through the woods like Jim B. Redneck and fire at anything you see. You goin with 8-10 people hunting is a bad idea. Someone is just asking to get hurt.