Shot gun, or .22 for small game.
 

Hey guys, as you know, I'm getting into small game.. I'd like to do squirrels, rabbits, and maybe birds. Wondering if y'all think I should go with a .22, or some kinda shot gun? I don't really know what size shot gun I would need, 12 gauge? I'd most likely Get a Savage .22 Long Rifle, or Marlin 22LR Semi-Automatic. Dunno about shot guns though. I'd like to keep it cheap, under 150 AT THE MOST, 130 would be better.

I know I would not be able to shoot birds with a Rifle, but not sure if I would go after them or not for sure, just one more tag to pay for.. :violin:

So what are the advantages of a shot gun over a rifle with rabbit and squirrels. We've got mostly slash pines round here, so the squirrels don't have much to hind behind as far a leaves go. To me it seems like a sighted rifle would be better rot he rabbits (I'd shoot them more then squirrels because the season is year round).

Thanks for any help! :)

Shotgun for small game

i think a single shot .410 would be perfect, you can pick up a used one for fairly cheap. Its the smallest of the shotgun gauges and its small enough that it wont damage your game as much as a 20 gauge or 12 gauge would.

If later on you would like to have more of a challenge than the marlin model 60 .22 is a great choice.

Shoot'emdead. Although I see you want to know what to buy, a shotgun or 22 rifle, and I'll try to give you my opinion, I can see you are trying to figure out how to start with hunting as a whole. I'll try to give you my feedback but keep in mind that what I'm saying here is my personal opinion based on a couple of years hunting in Florida and making a lot of mistakes, most of them involving a lot of $$$. Just to answer your question, I suggest you go with a shotgun. A shotgun will give you more options once you get hooked with hunting and start looking at other game besides squirrels and rabbits. Something you need to keep in mind is that in Florida, small game also means hogs. I'm sure that you will cross paths with more than one at some point and a 22 is not your best option.

Now, I'm going to give you some additional pointers.

Hunting, even if it is small game, can become expensive in a flash and this is important to keep in mind if you have limited resources to spend. I'll start by saying that although I'm not rich, I do have some resources and I can afford to pay for a lease, I can afford to buy guns, equipment, gear, etc. However, I don't approach my hunting experience that way. On the contrary, hunting for me is the experience of been outdoors with my wife and sons. I only hunt public land and if you do your homework, you'll be successful. Now, if I was going to start all over, I'll do as follows:

1. If I can only afford one piece of equipment to hunt, I'll definitely go with a 12 gauge shotgun. Although I enjoy archery a lot I'll probably won't jump into archery immediately. The archery season in our state is your best chance to score a good deer or hog, however, archery can become expensive in a very short period. An average bow, a dozen arrows, broadheads, release and other things you'll need will suck a couple hundred dollars in no time. As an example, my 2 bow setups with associated equipment had taken probably more to $2,000 from my checkbook.

2. Now, once the gun season starts, a shotgun will let you hunt from early August (depending on region) to late April (Gen. gun/small game/spring turkey seasons). Obviously you'll need to travel across the state, but that is one of the benefits of hunting, you get to travel across the state if you want.

3. Buy a Remington 870 Espress 12 gauge shotgun. Most of the time, with a little research, you can find them for around $250. I'm my opinion they are very reliable. A box of No. 6 Remington shot for squirrel/rabbit is only around $6.00. For Hogs and deer a box of 00 buckshot is probably less than $5 (box of 5 shells) and Remington rifled slugs are also $5 a box of 5. Winchester rifled slugs are $8 a box of 15 at Walmart. If the cost of a Remington is too much for you, try getting a shotgun at Walmart. I remember seeing them for around $100 but not sure what brand, quality or if they still selling firearms.

4. Hunt public land. You'll read a lot of negative information, and yes, public land is challenging, but we have more than 1 million acres of land to hunt in Florida. Do your homework, scout and you'll be successful. There is no harm on getting on a lease if you can afford one, but leases also come with issues (poaching, stealing of equipment, etc.)

5. Buy camouflage wrangle jeans ($20) and camouflage t-shirts ($9) from Bass Pro Shops. I don't know about other hunters, but me, I'm sweating like crazy one minute after leaving the truck so I'm not sure how effective are scent blocker clothing, and bottled scents. They work, don't get me wrong, but again not priority for me.

6. Buy a thermacel. This one you really need. Learn how to refill the cartridges (super easy- just search Google) and use mosquito coils to replace the pads.

I know this was a long post, but also know you'll be getting into other type of hunting once you start with small game. I'm under the impression that $$$ is a factor you are considering and your choice between a shotgun or rifle will be key to additional spending.

I myself use a 410 bolt action for sqiurrels and rabbits

Thanks for the replies guys! :)

Lolo, after reading your post, I'm leaning to the shot gun, for the sake of versatility. I would hate to run across some hogs and not have what it takes to take 'em down or at least ward them off (not piss 'em off!).

Not sure about the brand anything yet, I may go to Gander today to check stuff out.. The Remington you mentioned is way to expensive, and I'd rather not get wally world guns.

I went to Gander today, and checked out a few guns. I saw the Savage, and the Marlin, I liked the Savage better I think. Pretty light gun. Didn't seen any shot guns in my price range though. :sad:

Keep searching the used shelves, this gives you a chance to learn prices of different kinds of guns and manufacturers. Buying a gun is something you dont want to rush into. Good luck on whatever you decide.

A shotgun is one of the best all around guns IMO. From small game to fowl and even big game you'll be set with a 12 or 20 guage. just be sure to shoot the squirlls in the head or you'll be chewin on some lead.

The only thing you'll be hunting with a .22 is.... wel squirlls and maybe rabits.

I use my bolt .410 in the earliest part of the season when the leaves are still on the trees. Usually you don't have much time to aim before the squirrel is lost in the leaves. After the leaves drop I switch to my Ruger 10/22 or if I'm feeling lucky my Single Six.

Already been said; but a 410 Bore and 22LR O/U rig would be really sweet.

not to sound like a jerk but i cant believe that you are expecting to find a shot gun, much less a half way decent one, for under 150. expect to spend at least 300-400 for a cheap start up cost. a shot gun, cheep and used, is gunna run you at least 200 and probably closer to 250. you will need to practice before you pursue your game so expect another 30 for clays, shells, and paper targets to pattern your gun. then your going to need camo cloths so thats another 30-40 minimum. and there are going to be a lot of unseen costs too such as extra choke tubes. while hunting is fun and rewarding, it has become a very commercialized sport.

don't buy into all that marketing . you don't need all the extras. if your looking for a quality shotgun with interchangable chokes go for a mossberg 500a and you'll be set. for around $250 you can get one new.

It's a personal choice and what kind of hunting to enjoy. If hunting squirell only I use a 22lr. with a 3x9 scope. What kind of 22lr doen't matter as long as it is accurate. I take shots up to 50 yards and don't waste any meat and take only a head shot.
If hunting grouse or other upland birds and the occassional squirell presents a shot it will be either the shotgun or a 22lr revolver I carry depending on the shot opportunity.

Unless your shooting at running or moving targets, I'd go for the .22. I think hunting with a shotgun for squirrels and the like is alot more fun with a .22. Plus shotguns put the squirrels away longer than a .22 does. I myself use a Benjamin 392 air rifle. If i miss sometimes i get another shot...

I'd get either a herrington&richardson or new England arms (same company) 20 gauge to start they're around $115 new and work great. There just a single shot but that'll train you to not rush your shot. I use a 870 12 ga and a savage 16 ga as my hunting shotguns but my wife has a H&R 20 and is perfect for beginners. Either 22 would be fine I've used both my 22 now is a OLD Remington 552 speedmaster with a cheap 3x9 bushnell on it and it works great bought it used for $75. Don't just ignore used there often as good as new but cheaper. But I say go shotgun

Here's my very first gun my grandad got me when i was 11 or 12.NEF 20 guage. Last year I put a ATI extendable stock on it becuase I've grown quite A bit over the years lol. The gun was originaly $75 and the stock and everythign set me back $65. I've killed hundreds of squirrls a few hogs and rabbits along the way and maybe a few ducks. I carry it mostly in the swamp when I'll be wandering around in the muck all day. Very light and easy to shoot.

why no air rifle option? Adult Air rifles are very powerful. some of them are every bit as power full as rim fire's or shotguns.
They are cheaper than a rim fire rifles and are quieter most of the time. Some times I get several shots at squirrels in the hunting woods.
SO for the early season I grew up on a 20" barreled single shot rimfire. I would shoot shorts at squirrels and it would be really quiet. I could get several squirrels from the same tree.
In those days you could get any kind of 22 rifle to handle shorts. but it would handle shorts only. Now you can only get LR unless you get a bolt gun and feed it one short at a time, its sad.
Now the Air rifles serve in their stead. Check them out, You wont be disappointed.

Thanks again guys! Switch back, Air rifle would be alright if I could hunt with them in Florida, but it's illegal to hunt with 'em! :sad:

Just go get a 12 gauge and be done with it. Either a Mossberg or Remington. Or Charles Daly. Hit a pawn shop. There's gotta be allota guns for sale. Actually got a Ithaca 12 dbl barrell for 180.00 back in 1992. Still use it to ward off borders. But at your point in hunting a 12 gauge will allow you to hunt it all.

Although......It is addicting. Be for-warned.

I wouldn't by a charles daily. They are going out of business so Their warranty and service work might be hard to get done if something does go wrong with your gun...

i've been hunting rabbits for YEARS and i suggest shotgun with field shot, or even dove shot.

small game moves quick, and since it seems that you're new to small game hunting you need to be super quick at times and your best bet then is a shotgun. you can find a used single shot 12ga for 75 bucks. my first shotgun was just that a savage single shot 12ga and it works like a charm for fast movers. i've killed squirrels, hundreds of birds/rabbits, you name it. definately one of the best buys.

but then again if you're lookin for more of a challenge i use my savage bolt action .22lr with a scope.

In my opinion both have pros and cons but in most scenerios a shotgun is worth a lot.
You open up your options with quick shots at fleeting game when otherwise you would have just stared and watched the rabbit or whatever you were hunting vanish.

never buy a gun from gander mountain, or any chain stores like that, their guns are way over priced, especially there used ones.

i use a singleshot 12 guage for rabbit squirell and birds and best of all you can get a new h&r for 100 dallars NEW out the door at wall mart

im gonna put in my 2 cents.

I recenently bought a new mossberg 500 20 guage youth model and it came with 3 chokes and 2 barrel. one rifled one smooth. I got the youth model for the compactness. love this gun. paid 350 $.

now I am going to try dove hunting sunday with it but for rabbits and squirrels ill use my marlin model 60 .22. I feel I am a good enough shot to where the .22 is sufficiant.

what ever you choose just have fun and be safe.

completely agree. I like Fin, Feather, and Fur myself. they are the cheaper of the option here in northeast ohio

I got Marlin 22LR Semi-Automatic and I have no worries.