I haven't hunted squirrels for quite a few years and I plan to start. I hunt in big woods with a .22 LR. What bullet do you like for squirrels? The standard target 40 grain in CCI and Winchester group really nice in my rife, but what is better for hunting: standard target or hollow points?

I always used standard target, but then again never tried the hollow points on one.

I use Winchester Wildcats solid points. A hit in the chest and they fall like rain.

try some remington yellowjacket hallowpoints they are 32gr. cone shaped hollowpoint at 1560fps. or some aguila super max HP they are 30gr. hollowpoints that are about 1750fps.

I always use standard points in LR and head shoot. But, I picked up a box of a 1000 hollow's by mistake this summer so I guess I'll be trying those. Don't see where one has much advantage over the other for tree rats as long as they shoot well from your piece.

My concern is not in what bullets, as any will do the job(IMO), rather I want the most accurate. Every 22 long gun or pistol goes through an ammo test (12 different types) to see what is most accurate. If you've never done this, it may surprise you.

Not to start an argument but hunting squirrels as a kid we didn't do any ammo testing it was what we could afford (we always bought name brands but that was what was available and on sale) didn't do any comparison's just bought and shot but always plinked around before we went so we knew where rifles were hitting before we hunted (scopes or iron sights didn't matter) dialing in and making adjustments were all part of the fun. Times seemed simpler then, but then again we didn't have 50 brands to choose from just three or four and one was a hollow point, but we just stuck to the target loads and did fine. Looking back on those times got me cravin' fried squirrel, now I got to go dig out regs and see if their in season lol.

I figure as long as I can still nail the suckers in the head - I'm good to go

try several types and use what you like best .I use several Winchester Power Point , RWS match and Remington or Eley Target

BTW in the "big woods " after the leaves have fallen and the shots get long (80yds on out)I switch to the .22 mag and solids cause the HP's make a mess when you miss the head and connect on bone I have blown some in half this way.

my marlin .22 mag likes the maxi mags from cci and the 10/22 likes the mini mags zingers..as does my MKII..I used to shoot a lot of squirrles but really have never had to shoot at them from 80yards..well one woods I hunted had a hickory that was close to 120 feet tall...that was a gold mine of a squirrle tree..suckers would get in that thing and you could just sit and pick them off..My BIL and I both shot a limit from it one bright Nov morning..that was 8 each...think I'll be heading out next week with the oldest Grandaughter to see if I can get some for the freezer...she can't "hunt" yet but she sure can go with me...

has anyone used .22 air rifle? i use .177 mostly . but been lookin into a .22 airrifle. i like the 22 rifles, but pellets vs ammo is way cheaper an seems to do the same  job

For Two Tales, 120 feet divided by 3(1 yard )= 40yds . places I hunt in Dec.- early March are large tracts of mature Oak and Hickory with a few huge Pines and the little buggers can see you for quite a ways off . I have seen them running in the tree tops and on the ground over 150yds away. The best way I have found to "hunt" them is just to pick a good spot in a central location of feeding and pick them off and mark the spot for later , a dog with a good nose helps .

rb6, yep my math is pretty good...120 feet is 40 yards..half the distance you mentioned..(80yards) old growth oak and hickory is common were I grew up...late season we still only had to shoot'em close except when one would venture to the top of the hickory or one of the 100+ foot oaks...normally just doing as you mentioned..sit down, don't move, then pick'em off one at a time...fried squirrel for supper...

Thanks,everyone for your comments. Very helpful. I am taking my .22 out to the range tomorrow. Here in PA squirrel season comes back in after Christmas. I will try to get some for the freezer.

i have shot squirrel at over 150yrd. with a .22lr just use one of the super high vilosity rounds that i posted erlier and test fire some to figuer drop.

got two squirrels on sat after alot off stalkin. was very snowy that day. they was hiding tight. used my gamo air rifle .177 Went to bass pro sunday n looked at the .22 Benjamin nitro piston. SWEET gun. Thats totally what i want next.

id go with that is most accurate and try and only take head shots as not to waits any of the meat

Just remember a 22 will go a long way shot into the air

Ive used both types and they both will kill a squirrel equally.The hollow points will do a lot more damage though. Take head shots if at all possible and watch them drop.

I use the cheapest but accurate one.

I have never had any luck with any other bullet than a cci stinger for squirrel hunting. With one hit to the head they're down for the count. The downside to the bullets is yes it is a hollow point but the price is $25.00 per box of 50. They are also good for dropping wild hogs at 150 feet.

First off; welcome to the forums wweeks! How 'bout putting a post out in the "New Members" forum and introduce yourself a bit. Where are ya, what do you like to do outdoors etc...

As for the 22 ammo, I've never had any problem with these dropping tree rats (only take head shots). And if you're paying $25 for 50 it'll save you some bucks, although I suspect you meant 25 for 500. In any event, I've never seen a 22lr that wouldn't drop a squirrel in it's tracks if you do your part.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/16...llow-point

Yes it is $25 for 50 bullets. Ive also used them to drop 125-150 pound boars from 150 feet away. The reason they cost so much is that they are hi velocity bullets.
I have used regular bullets from remington and had no luck. Ive also used the winchestor rat shot and didnt affect
The squirrels. As anybody knows that the squirrels in south Florida are small brown squirrels and not much bigger than a rat.

I use whatever my firearm likes best. My current 10/22 loves Remington Golden bullet 36 gr hollow points. My old bolt action shot Blazer 40 gr solid tips best. I mainly use a .410 for squirrel now.

Welcome to the boards wweeks11.
If you're buying CCI Stingers for $25 for a box of 50, You're getting ripped off. A box of 50 CCI Stingers should only cost about $6.00.
By the way, CCI Stingers are considered Hyper Velocity ammunition, not hi velocity. They produce a muzzle velocity of around 1640 fps. The other ammunition manufactures also produce hyper velocity ammunition. Just to name a few, Remington calls theirs Yellow Jacket and Viper ammunition, Winchester and Federal just calls theirs Hyper Speed or Hyper Velocity. Your hyper velocity ammunition will use a lighter bullet than standard velocity ammunition, this is what allows it to achieve the hyper velocity.
As for the shot shells, Winchester and CCI use #12 shot in their .22 cal. shot shells. They have a usefull range out to about 25 feet, out past that and they just don't have the energy left to do any good.

Here lately, I've been using my grandsons Daisy Powerline 880 BB gun to take care of the tree rats in the pecan trees in my yard. Ten pumps and one shot usually knocks them out of the tree.

I use those 40gr CCIs and they work just fine for squirrels. Good luck

Both are good. I prefer hollow points because i always shoot them in the head. Target points work good but the squirrels tend to jump around and twitch alot, hollow points = out like a light.

I use hollow points when I hunt with my .22 short rifle, and use standard target in my .22 LR. It really doesn't matter if you make a headshot.

To be honest, I have no clue. I've always taken the rats with my .177 pellet gun. (Not standing on a soap box here) As steve mentioned, I too, make the head shots. And the times that I was off, ended up in shoulder shots which still took them out. In my book sqirrels are pretty whimpy, so even the lightest powered .22 round will take them out. But they taste great regardless of what round helps put them on your table!

I have seen them take 6 to 7 body shots from a 22 pistol before they dropped. I too take head shots. It shouldn't matter if the bullet is a solid or a hollow point if the tree rat is shot in the head. Myself , I like Federals 32 grain bullet that you get in the 550 round bulk box. It's also a hollow point. It's accurate, and very consistent out every gun I've seen it shot thru. I've shot ground squirrels at 75 yards with it. They're about half the size of a tree rat. My gun doesn't like the Winchester stuff. It'll shoot The Remington stuff pretty well.

6 and 7 body shots w/22? Was there anything left to eat after that?

There's not any meat to speak of. Just ribs.  The majority of the meat is on the legs.  There is very little along the back. Actually, my point was supposed to be that a 22 pistol  won't kill a squirrel with one shot.

Posted By bigrig on 01 Jan 2013 03:23 PM
There's not any meat to speak of. Just ribs.  The majority of the meat is on the legs.  There is very little along the back. Actually, my point was supposed to be that a 22 pistol  won't kill a squirrel with one shot.

Yes it will. If a .177 pellet gun can do it, then a .22 pistol definately can. Just concentrate on (head) shot placement.

I have probably killed 100s of squirles using a .22 caliber pistol (my favorite way of doing it)..it's a .22 caliber wether from a pistol (revolver or autoloader) or a long gun...many one shot body shots (lots more head shots) still dead still got skinned cleaned cooked and eaten...bunches of them were fox squirrles.which are 3 -4 times larger than greys...back when I was 8-9 years old we only got to use the "BB" Cap .22 caliber rounds (these are mini short .22s) still killed them "pushin' up daisies dead" 

a 22 pistol won't kill a squirrel with one shot.  recon I'll have to remember that next time I head out with my sidearm...s'pose if no one tells the tree rats I'll be OK with it....

6 or 7 shots with a .22? I hit a squirrel in the chest with a 880 daisy and knocked him out cold. I think u need to work on your accuracy.

Amos: If you had read the post closer instead of being so critical.  You'd have seen that I said seen.  Not that I had done the shooting.  It's called paying attention to detail instead of running mouth. Insert foot. Either the guy I was watching doing the shooting wasn't hitting this one right, Or, this one was on steroids.  He was getting body hits.  It just stayed up there. You want to get personal on shooting ability.  What was the longest shot you've ever made.  Try a 300 yard head shot with open sights on a deer.  I did that at 13 y/o.  My speedgoat was taken 2 years ago at 335 yards with one shot.  I do 500 meter silohettes sp?.  I'm 60 now.  And could probably still show you some tricks. I used to do competition target shooting.  I wish I could still shoot like that. When I was in the Army overseas.  They said. You have to draw another weapon.  Your a sniper now.  We didn't have all the fancy stuff they have now.  We didn't have sniper school.  We had a REmington 700 ADL with a Simmons 3x9x40 scope.  We had a hunting rifle to hunt people with.  No custom rifles and neat toys that they have today.  It was all dead reckoning. Your spotter carried a rifle scope to spot your shots.   He carried an M-16 as your back up just in case you needed him to use a heavier volume of fire to unazz the area in a hurry.
 wweeks:  I agree with Steve that your getting ripped off with the Stingers.  I just got the latest Cheaper than Dirt catalogue friday.  $4.93 for a box of 50.  Minimags are $6.49 for a 100 round box.
vanguard:  150 yards with a hyper vel 22?  Damn boy.  That's a heck of a shot. Was it standing up on its haunches? That's stretching it for a 22lr.

Calm down guys. Let's stay focused on this. Shot placement is the key point regardless of what ammo is used. Period. Tree rats can be taken with all (ammo) that was discussed thus far, but as repeated by many, placement is crucial. Not to mention distance. Refine your skills with the two, and you can make your most comfortable choice. Not to throw another stick in the fire, but I remember my buddy taking tree rats with a wrist rocket and BB's when we were kids. He knew what worked and how close to get. (And we got in trouble for killing squirrels!)
And Big rig; don't take this wrong, and I read and respect your experience as a shooter. But you said the rat "Just stayed up there" after multiple shots. They were probably all hits, and the rat WAS probably dead. I've seen then claw in to a tree after being hit and die there. Wouldn't come down until they stiffened up and claws relaxed, or you climbed up and got them.

thanks SJ! Hell. many a Treerat went into the pot due to a BB.

I don't care what animal you're talking about. Shooting skill and shot placement is the key weather you're carrying a BB gun or a 300 Weatherby Mag.

More doesn't equal better, which is a trend that just causes me to shake my head... always has but that's a whole different fight.... lol

That's a good point steve. "More doesn't equal better". I seem to be seeing/hearing alot more of folks (Mostly new hunters) boasting about the shoulder/hip cannon they just got to hunt something that is way out of the league for the weapons capabilities compared to what they intend to hunt. Simply put, why buy a 12 guage to shoot moles? In my book, it's their personal compensation for the lack of experience in the hunt itself, as well as (again, lack of) concentration on placement and distance.

Shootinj: I've seen them hang from one foot, and had to shoot the foot off to get them down myself. So, good point. There is a possiblity it was dead already as you said.
Even though you can shoot them with a shotgun. I think it's more fun. And more challenging to head shoot tree rats with a 22.

In 1961, while still in High School I saved enough money to buy a 9 shot Hi-Standard (double-nine) Longhorn .22 Cal. Revolver, 9.5 inch barell, for $61.83 Brand new. I've killed so many squirrells with this pistol, I could'nt venture to estimate the number. Not often, but some were moving along the tree limbs. As has already been pointed out, if you practice, know your equipment, practice some more and become confident you can kill a squirell with any .22 cal. I've killed squirells with Air rifles and BB guns also, but the distance was close range. Unless you make a brain shot, a BB won't bring a Tough skined squirell to the ground. It more than likely will die later in a den tree, or not at all. I have killed squirells that had lead under the skin that had been hit with a shotgun. Old squirells are Tough critters. If you don't put lead into the heart, backbone, lungs, neck, or brain, it will take more that one shot to kill it. That's if you get a second shot. They know where every knot-hole in the forest is located.

hey man - was wondering if you dropped off the face of the earth! Glad you didn't. ;-)

Ain' it amazing how those little b*stards have a knack for moving at JUST the right second.... lol

YEP,
Hi youself.
Been busy with the seasons, taking care of the cripple, Tanning deer skins, butchering meat for the freezer, etc.
I have found time to read the comments and spats between the regulars tho. How's things up thar in Yankee land?

Yankee Land? I resemble that remark. LOL. It's all hunting land.

Good point J... I think he was channeling rt... lol

Shootin'j
Yo'all is right. was just joshin steve cause I's hangin out in Ozarks. I've been in steve's part of the country. Went to Plattsburg NY once. That is some of the Prettiest country I've ever been in. It was the time of the year when the Maple trees were in their amazing glorious colors.
I just referred to steve's country as Yankee Land because Mo. is further south.
When I was in Australia, everyone north of their "Island" was a Yankee!!!

Oh Yeh,
Forgot to mention, If it weren't for the Yankees, we would still be an English Colony.
Don't blame me. Not my fault I was born in Missouri.LOL.

Shootin'

He and rt are good guys. Instigate sometimes, but so do I. All in fun and not really taken seriously. Hell, if we all got together and had a drink of our choice, it'd probably be a blast!

The wife tells me I may be headed south to research a place for us to retire. She doesn't want to waste her vacation and being the fool that she is, she trusts my opinion so she wants me to go look around. I'll be down south, probably in the Southern part of Va or in N. Carolina somewhere so looking forward to maybe meeting some of our rebel brothern.

Shootin'J,
If you use I44 to get to Springfield, you will pass by my part of the country by about 25 miles.
To answer some of your questions: The Tree Rat season opens 15Apr. each year and goes until Feb.15 of The next year. The population is determined by the food supply. I killed my daily limit from one Hickory Tree every time I went out. The tree is behind my Corral, so I only had to walk to Backyard fence. Rabbit population in my part of state not so good. Too many coyotes and Feral cats.
I consider calling someone who lives in the Northern Part of the Country a Yankee to be a compliment. If I was trying to offend someone who lived in the Northern part I (might) call him a Torrie. In my book the word Yankee is GOOD, not derogatory.
Oh yeh, btw, I spent 20yrs, 3mos, 3days in USAF. If you want to give me you address, I can sent you a list of all the critters that are legal to hunt and the seasons.
My e-mail is: gnatsum65@hotmail.com. We have some good places to fish for Trout. Both wild trout and State Parks that are stocked.

Forgot to ask!!!
If steve can call someone who lives in the South, rebel brothern, why can't I call the north Yankee Land? See what I mean? All depends on how terms all used and the tone of voice..... (and I was grinnin, when I asked him about Yankee Land)., but if you want me to I'll take it back!
Peace Bro.

No hard feelins taken at all guys. I'm just corn-fused on some of the lingo. You know bubbler vs water fountain, and soda vs pop and the like. I'm pretty sure RT can attest to "Controversial" posts or comments that I have posted in the past, and it is fully understood on my part that what we submit may not always agree with everyone. I'll be the first to admit that I am guilty of that at times. Anywho, the next time I head down there, I'll shoot you an email, and maybe we can hook up for some rat season. If I drive, I'll bring my .177 pellet gun, as I stated, that is my preffered rifle for the rats. Less legal crap to deal with when crossing state lines too. That's great that your season goes so long. Ours only runs from Sept to Feb. Slim pickins in my book, but if I can get to the right woods, I do OK. I agree with Steves last post, and if we all got together, we WOULD have a good time. Let's just have the drink AFTER the hunt. Not before.

etaylor8, I used to live in Knob Noster at Whiteman AFB, just west of Sadalia in 1990. I loved heading down to the Ozarks for some good bass fishing. Of course I had to stop in at the Bass Pro shop headquarters in Springfield, loved that place. Hated the dang snakes that kept wanting to climb in the boat!

Steve, if I can swing it in the future I may be heading to Texas to live. I'm tired of the dang Yankee, liberal, bleeding hearts up here giving us woodsman a bad rap. No offense, shootin'J, I spent 10 years of my life serving this county, and on foriegn soil to come back to this crap? Of course I'm reffering to the new gun laws. Sorry for the rant guys, it just wrinkles my bloomers!

I'm sorry, I got off the main topic here?  Although a shotgun is the "easiest" way to shoot them, picking lead out of your mouth while eating them is no fun.  It's really hard to get all the pellets out while cleaning, they seem to hide very well.
I prefer a .22, it's lighter to carry, cheaper on ammo, and makes you a better shot.  Squirrels have amazing abilities to "hang on" after being shot. Try not to shoot them while on the trunk, get them out on the limbs if you can for better recovery and maybe a follow up shot if needed.

I have a stepson and DIL living in Knob Noster, but he ain't into hunting/fishing. (YET! but I keep trying.) So when I'm down there, I chum with my (AF retired) Sis and BIL in Springfield. They, on the other hand live to hunt and fish. And as you touched on, OFTEN visit Bass Pro. When I visit, we go at least 2-3 times a week. My BIL and I usually end up prying my sister off of something shes looking at when it's time to leave. Only to do it again the next time we visit. No offense taken on the yankee thing either. I guess I am one, but only cuz I was born here. But no liberal tendencies from this yankee expressed or implied. I have no prejudice for any responsible hunter regardless of where theyare geographically located. HUnting is hunting, is hunting. It's that simple. Let the liberals debate their narrow-minded opinions while I go out and hunt. Anywho, as you said shotgun IS the easiest, but as you also stated, (And I agree with) the drawbacks of chompimng into shot when trying to eat. What sux is, Wisconsin wont let you hunt t-rats or squirrel on public land with anything other that shot. Overkill in my book. I understand your mention of coming back to these gun laws, as I am in the exact same boat. Just don't refer to your" bloomers" anymore. That's just wierd. Being we're both vets, skivies would be more understanding. Trivial, but JMO. I too got off track abit, so I'm gonna let this go. Happy huntin!!!

I'm very comfortable with my wierd statements, along with my wife, 5 kids, 4 grandkids and one on the way. Your from Wisconsin and they call you a Yankee?
I guess I didn't figure the term went that far west of us? If you haven't guessed, I'm a upstate NY Yank, right in the middle of farmlands galore. I caught all the jokes while serving in the military too. Good times! Watch out for Steve though, I believe he is weirder than me. LOL!

GLW,
Over twenty years I was in the USAF, I could never get any closer to Mo. than Lockbourn (Rickenbacker) in Oh. Everyyear I filled out my "dream sheet", I wound up overseas. Maybe that's why I retired back home. Was stationed at Dyess in Ablene Tx. when I got out, but that wasn't much closer either.
And yeh, The snakes are bad here if you aren't watchful, most won't (attack) you if you give them a chance. If one tried to climb into you boat, it might be because he was tired of swimming and wanted a lift to dry land. We have some HUGE Timber Rattlers here. I saw two last fall over 4 ft. long.