You dont want to shoot squirrles or rabbits with it, there will be nothing but pieces of skin and meat left. It will totally blow them to smitherines. yotes or ground squirrles would be ok. If you use a 70 gr bullet. turkey would be ok. I have been using a .243 all my life, I'm 38 now. It does one hell of a job on deer, never had one get away, ever. You will love it, good choice.