22 Hornet, hand loaded.
use 7.0 Grains of SR-4759 behind a 50 grain bullet. Also, 4.0 grains of UNIQUE with either a 40 or 45 grain bullet works fine too.

Does a fine job on squirrels.

Al

I like the 45 grain bullets designed for Hornet velocities pushed by a bit of 'Lil Gun. I have tried it on squirrels but it really tore them up. Do the tougher 50 grain bullets keep the meat damage down very much?

That be why you practice a lot Uncle, head shots don't tear up the meat

That's getting about as close as any centerfire load I've heard of to 22LR cost per shot. Not sure what the 4759 goes for today, but I'd venture $28/lb or less, so under a 10cent bullet, you're looking around 13cents per shot. The cheapest I tend to run is 223rem with 20grn of 4198 under bulk 50grn pills for 8c per bullet and the same per shot in powder, so I shoot 16cents per round with that load.

Mine truck a little faster though, so like Superhunt mentioned, if I'm hitting squirrels with a 223rem, it's headshots or mid-body, otherwise nothing worth stewing.

You can get REALLY sporty and get yourself a .32cal Kentucky squirrely rifle and learn to "bark" squirrels! That's fun and doesn't leave a mark onnum!

The 22 hornet using hand loads from 1300FPS to 3000 FPS. is a handy little round in a rifle. Down at 1300FPS 40 to 50 grain bullets don't tear up the meat of a rabbit or squirrel., And as said practice and make head shots.

Al

I do take head shots but only when and where appropriate. I have seen too many shots slightly off center that have done less than immediately fatal damage. Whatever the most humane shot is presented is the one that I will take, and that is often in the lower chest.

I asked a simple question and the resulting posts suggesting that I practice strike me as flippant and somehow just rub me the wrong way. I stuck my nose in somewhere it did not belong recently and one of our good posters responded "Entire problem woulda been averted if responses answered the question ", and I believe that he was right.

Wasn't being flippant Uncle, just practical. Not much meat on a squirrel in the first place so I aim for the only spot where I am not losing meat. That be the head. Takes practice to be consistent on squirrel head shots. Plain and simple. It's a small target and one that never sits still for very long. I still have an old Weatherby XXII semi that I bought in the early 60's with my farm money. That thing has head shot more squirrels and rabbits than I can count. Out of the 8 .22 rims I own, my hand naturally floats to that old girl whenever I am going to go pop some tree rats. It's also the very first rifle my kids and grandkids ever live fired. When I was living in Pa and had to go to a manually operated .22 for tree rats I hunted down and found the newer Mark XXII bolt action based on the Anschultz and danged if that puppy isn't just as accurate. Now personally I like the CCI stinger hollowpoint ammo. Pretty much anywhere you hit them in the head, you will have a dead squirrel. I would imagine the same results from a 45 grain V-Max pushed at Hornet velocities. Pink mist anyone?

I also was talking about the 22 hornet hand loaded so speeds are not so high. I take head shots but also some times go between the shoulder and the rear legs to keep meat damage down.

Problem getting any rim fire ammo in this area so practicing with any of them is just wasting ammo you could hunt with if you know your gun. That is one of the reasons I have went to the 22 hornet I can reload for and not spend hours and fuel money trying to get 22 rim fire ammo.

Al

You must be getting pretty good accuracy with your reduced load Hornet, at least for the ranges that you would normally take a squirrel. I will have to give it a try with some Unique and 50 grainers.