small game: shotgun vs. rifle
 

I have been hunting for around a year or so now and I got one rabbit last year and one squirrel so far this year both with a 20 ga shotgun with a mod. choke 26 inch barrel and used 6 shot on the rabbit and 7.5 shot on the squirrel, and have had very few pellets in the meat, so why do people have so much problems with shot in the meat? also do you use a rifle or shotgun and what gauge of shotgun also if you use a rifle is it for more sport or to save meat? thanks

Use 5s or 6s in your shotgun and unless you are very close they will do the job better with less of a chance to fill either a squirrel or rabbit full of pellets. I like to use a 22 for squirrels and try for only head shots since they are sitting still and it's more fun than wacking them with a shotgun. You either hit and kill them or generally it's a complete miss.

cool I will try the #5 or 6 next time I go, thanks

I like to use a .22 Hand Gun.
It is more of a challenge.

17 HM2, headshots only, no hair or bloody meat that way, the fine shot get hair balled on them and drive it into the meat, hate cleaning them killed with fine shot.
RR

Unless you are strictly squirrel hunting, use a shotgun. Rifles for bird hunting are not a good plan and it isn't real smart to shoot a rifle at running rabbits or at flying birds and if you hunt waterfowl, rifles are not legal.

Re-read your own statements and you might find clarity.

Two animals over the span of two years really isn't enough experience to make a lot of judgment around likelihood for pellets in the meat.

I personally don't complain about pellets in the meat, but I do often notice I waste a lot more meat from being "bloodshot". This typically refers to meat damaged by passing shot, so whether the pellet is still inside or not, I don't eat it - I find the cuprous taste of bloodshot meat to be off-putting.

Keep shooting small game with a shotgun, but give it a whirl with a rifle too. Both are very different types of hunting. You'll eventually find that you tend to get more game by being mobile and using a scattergun, but you'll also find that you ruin less meat with the rifle. Ups and downs to any choice.

12 ga for rabbit, 22 for squirrel until they leave the trees and start digging up their stash in mid/late season. then they get the 12 too.

another thing i like for squirrel is an air rifle. they make them now with 35# piston instead of the standard air chamber. i got a gamo last year and several thousand of rounds for well under $200.
way fun... more than enough for mr bushy tail.
you can get them in .22 or .177.

I use number 6 shot remington express extra long range 20 ga shells. Have not had a problem with a lot of shot still in the squirrel I aim for the head and use a full choke. My main squirrel gun is a savage 24 22 mag over a 20ga. So best of both worlds.

@Nomercy448 true lol, I guess I will try using my .22 some this year and see how I do.

Shotguns for rabbits (running) and head shots with rifles for squirrels (sitting).

Of course if you have a rifle and you see a sitting rabbit; by all means shoot him in the head.

It's hunting...................

I bought a Benjamin air rifle at Cabella's for squirrel hunting this year. It will be my first time hunting with an air gun. This video convinced me to to give air guns a try:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvWZDi6iiao

It requires you to verify age due to the many, many headshots that he filmed. Good stuff, great slomo footage :)

Don't know much about air rifle but I wouldn't use one my cousins son has one don't remember brand but made in Spain. .177 had to shot a opossum 3 times in the head point blank in a trap. It is very accurate at 15 yards. But wouldn't take it hunting I would stick with your shotgun and #6 shot.

as far as small game goes, you wouldn't really "need" anything more.
they would make the perfect survival gun. endless squirrels, rabbits and birds...

I prefer a .22 rifle. No kick and fun to shoot. I have used my 12 ga before while goose hunting for an opportunity shot at a squirrel and it ripped in half when I tried to skin it. (In fairness to the shotgun, I was using high brass steel T shot and was only about 15 feet from the squirrel. I don't own a 20 ga.)

When I use a 12 ga I use the same remington ammo express long rang #6 shot. Aim for head not many pellets in rest of the body I use a full choke. That tight choke makes the pattern tight so most shot hits the head.

22 rimfire = squirrels

scattergun = bunnies

I like my Ruger 77-22 for both squirrel and rabbits. I can stroll into the woods and set down and with in a hour or so fill my daily limit using hollow points and taking head shots.
Don't hunt rabbits with a dog so taking it really slow thru cover and keeping a sharp eye many time see that shiny eye of the rabbit before it moves. That type of rabbit hunting sharpens the skill of still hunting deer.

But with the shortage of 22LR ammo becoming a problem for me I may end up going back to my old child hood hunting method which was a 20ga. with 7 1/2 shot. We always picked out any lead when we cleaned the game in my child hood. Not really all that hard to do.

:D Al

gander mountain had tons of cci 22lr recently, i stocked up while i could.

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