BlaZer, I see you are from Illinois. I am too, and primarily use a shotgun because most of the public land around me does not allow rifles at all. I would use a .22 more if I could for squirrels, though. I use a very light shot for squirrels (7 1/2 or 8) -- Kills more like a blunt force instrument, and I rarely have much penetration or many pellets in the meat.

My brother in law stood in a line for 2 hours before th4e nearest Gander Mountain opened last Saturday. He got some 22LR ammo at 12 cents a round and said it was empty aisle when he left the store.

:D Al

I use a shotgun for birds but a .22 rifle for rabbits and squirrels. I've been known to head shoot the occasional blue grouse back in my native CO with a .22 as well. By the way, shooting grouse with a .22 is legal there. I've also been known to use my RWS pellet gun in .177 for rabbits and squirrel as well.

Shot is not hard to pick out of the meat if it's in their. I used # 7 1/2 once while primary grouse hunting seen a squirrel and took the shot. The squirrel just chartered at me had to shot them a seconded time. Now I carrie some #6 with me.when I grouse hunt in case a squirrel shows up. Know plenty of people's that head shot grouse with a 22. My cousin used to carrie some shot shells for his 44 magnum just for grouse at close range under 10 yards he was deadly. But as you are a beginner and have not killed a lot of squirrels.I would stick with your shotgun for the time to you get some more under your belt and good luck.

22's rule for small game.

.22 & shot gun
 

Early squirrel season because of leaves, I use a 12 gauge, with #6 shot, Mod choke. When leaves are gone I use a .22 rifle. Rabbits i like my 12 ga, o/u. Bird's ,12 ga o/u shotgun .

My 15 yr old son and I only use a .22 for our small game. It is good as it gets.....

ive always heard, rifle if you want to hunt, shotgun if you want to eat lol

early season i often take a 20g due to the leaves. Ive found i like to use express loads in #4 shot. There are less shot so the meat doesnt get torn up, and also they seem to penetrate all the way thru the squirrel unlike 6s or 7s that sometime stay in the body.

late season i like to take a 22 or 17hm2, sometimes an air rifle.

i use a pellet gun with hollow point pellets