More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

This fall, I can either use my model 60 glenfield .22, which I haven't found to be very accurate past 25 yards or so, or my 12 gauge with 6 shot. My interest is first in killing them so my kids can see success. Maybe next year I will get a .22 mag or .243 or something, but should I just go with the shotgun, or would you advise me touse the .22 anyway?

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

Use your 12 gauge till the leaves fall off. Then switch to your .22.Unless you have found a lot of sucsess with the 12.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

OK, thanks!

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

when it comes to shooting tree rats i like to use my 410 during the early season and then switch to useing my 22

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

if success is what your looking for go with the 12ga... and number 6 or 4 shot...

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I like usina 22 its a liitle tuffer, but using a shotgun isfun too i like using a 12 gauge with 6 shot or a 20 gauge with remington express longe range.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

No offense but if you cant kill a squirrel with a 12 gauge you need to practice. And if you want to show succes yous your .22 to get better. Then blast one with the 12 gauge for your kids to see. Honestly I think 12 gauge is a bit over kill for tree rats.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

If you are wanting to get the kids into hunting,it's sorta like fishing,if they go and don't catch anything , then they get bored.same in hunting,they wanta get something,and you want to show them how it works.

all that being said,I would go with th 12 ga. or any shotgun(so you can get something),with the 22 you may not get a lot with the kids with you.(movement and talking). after that then you can take one at a time and use the 22.

the 22mag. and 243 is a little overkill for the limb rats.(some will say the 12 ga is also overkill)

lots of people disagree with me ; but there wrong:D:D

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

A.D.D. Boy,
I didn't say I couldn' t kill one with the 12 gauge. I just want to take one gun with me and get ideas on which of the two is best.

I do want to eat the squirrels, so wondera little about pellets being in there. Still, success is the number one goal so I will take the 12 gauge.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

SO YOU THINK THE22MAG IS OVER KILL BUT NOT THE 12 GAUGE. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM :D:D:D:D:D:D

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

Tree Climber said the 22 mag may be overkill. I just want to be assuccessful as possible, while still having edible meat that isn't all shot up. I am also looking at this thread for ideas on what gun to get for the following years. When those leaves are off the trees, rifles will give me more range than the 12 gauge, and I might go with a Ruger 10/22, 22 mag or .223 or something. The first response made a lot of sense, going with the 12 gauge at first while the leaves are on the trees since I will have limited sight anyway (i.e. almost everything I am able to see should be in range of the shotgun).

Thanks to everyone for all the responses!

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

i think the12 is too big, to many pellet holes. and if you get one a little to close you'll end up with hamburger meat. to me the perfect rabbit and sqirrel guns are the .410 and .22 lr. or better yet, an over and under .410- .22

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

if you have no other choice a 12 will work you just have to go with smaller shot and if possible pull your aim slightly to the side... by this i mean do not aim center mass on the tree rat but put you sight just in front of his nose.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

A 12 guage is fine, I have used one for years and know a lot of folks who hunt squirrels with a 12 guage.

#6 shot, and don't take any shots that are too close. If I have one that nearly runs across my lap I wait for it to get 20 yards away.

I also pattern my 12 guage to get an idea of the spread at varying distances - no different than preparing to hunt turkey. That helps me a lot with avoiding pellets in the body.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I agree, 12 is fine. Its always my standard to down-size weopons as the season progresses or as i improve. I personally love my Rem. .410 pump shot. But i love the challenge of the .22. Thats the largest caliber that i would use

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

yeah, i second whoever said the 243 is overkill, plus it isnt safe to shoot it upwards...

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I use a .410 every year when I go out for my traditional "first hunt" of the season ... Labor Day. There are too durn many leaves for the 22 yet. After that, I typically don't get out until at least mid-October and I switch to the trusty Ruger 22. I admit I enjoy it either way, but the challenge of the 22 is a lot of fun.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I have a Ruger 10/22T with a 4-12x40 on top of it. I plan on killing a ton of squirrels with it this year, and for many years to come (if I get many years to come lol). If you want your kids to enjoy squirrel hunting, you should get them some squirrel printed targets, you can find them in most gun shops and online, and let your kids shoot the 22LR at the targets and when they get good at head shots, THEN you should take them squirrel hunting. Kids have a ton of fun shooting at targets and when they finally get to kill squirrels for real not only will they be ready but they will enjoy the experience thta much more.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I like using my 22 with a scope and only make head shots up to 50 yards. If the squirrels are skittish and always moving then the 12 ga would work the best, but I've found that it causes too much blooshot meat making it worthlesss.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I would definitely go with the 12 ga. This time of year, the rats are in the tops of the trees and usually don't come down. The nuts haven't fallen, and they have no reason to. Their up their in the leaves bouncing around from limb to limb. And as far as the shot goes, once you skin the rat, you can see where each one went in and pick it out after you have cleaned it. I'm using a 20 ga. right now, and will switch to the 22 or 17 later on in the season when the leaves drop, and they start to come down. Good luck, hope ya nail a bunch of them. We already have eaten quite a few, and have 22 in the freezer. And I'm going hunting sat. and sun.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

I always use a ruger 10/22 its a very accurate and reliable gun. Plus I've been hunting squirrels so long that I like the added challenge. Although I prefer to hunt them with a 10/22 I have used a shotgun before. For the people who think a 12 gauge is overkill I beg to differ with you. When I've used a 12 gauge for hunting I find less damage to the animal than when I use my 10/22. Also I find that .410s do more damage to the squirrel than a 12 gauge. This is because all of the .410s that I have seen or used had a tighter pattern compared to thepattern of my12 gauge but I suppose these results are based on certain barrel lengths and shells used. Either way I like my 10/22 and will probably never change guns.

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

Doug, I prefer .22lr or .410, but alot of guys use what ever they are comfortable
with....to each his own!

RE: More success on squirrels with .22 or 12 gauge shotgun?
 

a .22 scoped out is sufficient...Itll teach accuracy...and thats key to hunting accuracy and shot placement...Good to teach the younguns..BLESS YOU