Registered: Nov 2011
Location:
Posts: 49

Im new to squirrel hunting, I am an old coon hunter & always carried an open sights single shot 22. When hunting with a dog by your self what gun or rifle is best to drop game to a young dog ? Thank you for your help.

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Registered: Aug 2010
Location: Troy NC
Posts: 2288

410 pump lol. these leaves in south ga are on most the year and by the time you find the squirrel he is ready to get out of dodge.

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: eastern panhandle,wv
Posts: 78

I prefer the .22 mag with solid points on squirrel and hollow points on coon

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Registered: Jul 2007
Location: Goose Lake Iowa
Posts: 133

you cant beat a ruger 10/22

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 2814

When I hunt by myself, I just bought a Remington 870 20 guage shotgun. It came with a plastic stock and black matte finish on the barrel and is supposed to be weather-proof. It is light and 20 guage shells are cheaper than .410 shells.

When I have a buddy with a shotgun, I carry a scoped Ruger 10/22 with a stainless steel barrel and a plastic stock. It is weather-proof. The guy with the rifle gets first shot and then, it is who can get him.

I have another scoped stainless 10/22 that I carry in a Wick gun case with a sling coon hunting.

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Registered: Oct 2006
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Posts: 105

quote:

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Originally posted by hdstewart
Im new to squirrel hunting, I am an old coon hunter & always carried an open sights single shot 22. When hunting with a dog by your self what gun or rifle is best to drop game to a young dog ? Thank you for your help.

---

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location:
Posts: 49

hey guys thank you for the help. I have a good little 20ga with lots of amo. I enjoyed reading your advise ! thanks Howard

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Central PA
Posts: 363

Didn't see where you were from but those folks that like the 410 are probably from the south. You are gonna have a hard time knocking a squirrel out of a tree here in the north with a 410. With a 20 guage you are gonna need high brass 4 shot when they are haired up for the winter. That being said a .22 that is sighted in or a .22 mag will drop any squirrel out there. I like either my 20 gauge with 4 shot or the mag. The mag is great if you see a yote or other game that is out there a little bit and if it is sighted in right you can get all head shots. I don't have a 12 guage or I would opt for that. One thing is with a 12 guage it is easy to find what shot, high brass, low brass whatever you want. It is not so easy with a 20 guage and it is harder to find a good deal on the shells. Also you can use that 12 guage for ducks, turkey, or whatever. I myself an gonna get a 12 guage one of these days and put away the old double 20.

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Last edited by huntsmenbob on 11-07-2012 at 01:54 AM

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location: jacksonville, nc
Posts: 2856

i prefer using any 22 other than a single shot but i usually use a 12 ga auto. i don't hunt squirrels for my food but i do feed them to the dogs and they don't mind the occasional lead shot in their food.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location:
Posts: 866

charles daly 20 ga is light and will get'm. a 12ga works good too.
round here you want get a shot at a still squirrel often, they timber bad.

Last edited by headless01 on 11-08-2012 at 11:07 PM

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Registered: Feb 2007
Location: Williamstown ky
Posts: 486

I like a 22 rifle, always have. Sometimes I have to lead a couple of dogs so I bought a Ruger 22 Charger that I like real well. I can carry it on my side with a holster and it leaves my hands free for the dog leashes.

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location:
Posts: 49

Thanks for all the input guys. I have enjoyed reading it. I have a charles daly 20ga. I have a 22bolt action mag with scope. I like the overunder 22/20ga idea but not looking to drop more money at this time. I moved from nortwestern pa to charlotte nc last oct. plan to hunt n & sc mostly. However I do travel in pa some, so I will do some hunting there as well. I dont hunt for my food , I hunt for the love of watching the dog. I do like the taste of wild game & intend to eat a few squirrel. I have knocked a lot of coon down to my dogs over the years and never ate one. I hope it never gets so bad I have to start! Thanks again Howard

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 1594

The 22/20 gauge is great in theory, bad in practicality. If you carry one of the heavy jokers all day you will figure out what I am talking about.

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: canton texas
Posts: 709

well i do it for the fun of it with a .32 caliber black powder . i've killed so many critters in my day i need the added excitement of traditional ways to get me off the couch and into the woods . and actually the smoke pole has alot less meat damage than a 22 rifle .

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6168

You really can't beat a good ole Ruger 10-22 with the best optics you can afford. Makes finding those squacks hiding in the fork of that big ole red oak tree easier, and when paired with the right ammo...they are a TACK DRIVER.

I also have a .17 Mach 2, with a 3x9 scope. I can shoot the eyes out of them if I can see the eye.

If I'm hunting with a buddy that is carrying a rifle, I'll carry the shotgun for those that are "riding out".

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Registered: Sep 2004
Location: LAKE VILLAGE, IN
Posts: 549

I like a Browning A5 20 gauge semi auto with #5 or #6 shot.

I like a 22 semi auto with a scope when the leaves
are off. Only if someone else is packing a shotgun.

These gray squirrels are quick little buggers!

I like to squirrel hunt NOT squirrel shoot. LMAO!

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Central PA
Posts: 363

Remember though you can't use a semi rifle to hunt in PA but you can use a semi shotgun.

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Registered: Nov 2012
Location:
Posts: 1

Really like Ruger 10/22 scoped & good cci mini-mags

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: crossville tn.
Posts: 17

Stainless 10/22 ruger with 10x50 scope unless huntin rain lol then i carry ole trust h&r 20 gauge single shot!

Last edited by luxcurs on 11-24-2012 at 01:42 AM

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 2814

I have a Savage .22/.410 over and under and while it is a collector's item these days, I carried it squirrel hunting for a while and it is way too heavy. When I bought my new Remington 870 20 guage shotgun, one of the big factors I judged which gun to buy was weight. I almost bought a youth model but it was only a half pound lighter. When buying my gun, weather resistance was a big factor. Some ofthe best squirrel hunting is in the light rain. And, I factored in how much a beating the gun can take. Plastic stocks and matte barrel finished take a lot more beating than a wood stock and blued barrel. I figure my plastic stock and matte barrel will hold it's value much more than a scratched wood stock and a rusted barrel would.

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location:
Posts: 49

Thank you for your input guys. I have enjoyed reading each & everyone of them. I have a charles dayle semi 20ga I bought for a beater. Thats what Im going to start off with. Hopefully I can pick up a buddy or two or three along the way, then I can carry my scoped 22mag my wife bought me for agift & I have yet to shoot. Thanks guys. Oh by the way I head out tomorrow to pick up my young blk mouth cur Im buying frm MrRick Clough of newtown In. A gentlemen & man of his word . Thanks Rick

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Registered: Jul 2008
Location: N.E. Iowa
Posts: 363

quote:

---

Originally posted by Oak Ridge
You really can't beat a good ole Ruger 10-22 with the best optics you can afford. Makes finding those squacks hiding in the fork of that big ole red oak tree easier, and when paired with the right ammo...they are a TACK DRIVER.

I also have a .17 Mach 2, with a 3x9 scope. I can shoot the eyes out of them if I can see the eye.


If I'm hunting with a buddy that is carrying a rifle, I'll carry the shotgun for those that are "riding out".

---

Yep and Yep.

10/22 with a good scope and CCI Stingers. Bad medicine for squirrels by day and coons by night.

When I have another hunter with me I carry the 870 12 gauge and let them shoot a .22. Then when they miss and get them moving I get a little "wingshooting" practice.

Around here the squirrels laugh and barely flinch at a 410. If they are close a 20 might get their attention.

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Registered: Feb 2007
Location: Williamstown ky
Posts: 486

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lakeland Kennel
I have a Savage .22/.410 over and under and while it is a collector's item these days, I carried it squirrel hunting for a while and it is way too heavy. When I bought my new Remington 870 20 guage shotgun, one of the big factors I judged which gun to buy was weight. I almost bought a youth model but it was only a half pound lighter. When buying my gun, weather resistance was a big factor. Some ofthe best squirrel hunting is in the light rain. And, I factored in how much a beating the gun can take. Plastic stocks and matte barrel finished take a lot more beating than a wood stock and blued barrel. I figure my plastic stock and matte barrel will hold it's value much more than a scratched wood stock and a rusted barrel would.

---

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 2814

I will look them over but I doubt if I would buy one. I liked the old selector switch on the side instead it of being on the hammer. And, the double barrels are what is really heavy. I do know the older 22/410 over and unders are expensive guns. Too expensive to beating up out in the woods.

I carried my Savage a number of years.

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Registered: Mar 2012
Location: southern il
Posts: 113

I like my remington 552. its a tack driver

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