Squirrel gun

open sights · #1 11-22-2011

I have a .177 pellet rifle, break barrel style, Is this good for squirrels? Or should I use my .22 lr?

jpkokanee · #2 11-22-2011

Read the hunting regulations. As far as i know a squirrel is a fur barring animal and may be hunted without a trappers licence. Tread lightly.

KegRiver · #3 11-23-2011

No, .177 is not a good choice. Under ideal conditions it will work, barely.
Some of the high velocity .22 cal, high priced air guns do a credible job but anything less just doesn't have enough penetration.

Red Squirrel are fair game on private land to which you have right of access.
But not on public, IE crown land, if you didn't already know.

Alberta Bigbore · #4 11-23-2011

I'm using a .410 and a .22lr..............have a Primos squirrel call that works pretty good. tasty suckers

open sights · #5 11-23-2011

Ok thanks ill use my 22, and yes I my friend let's me hunt on his farm

#6 11-23-2011

I don't know, I killed a pick up truck full of squirrels as a kid with my .177. Shoot them in the head and you get no damage to the hide at all.

Rugerlover · #7 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpkokanee

Read the hunting regulations. As far as i know a squirrel is a fur barring animal and may be hunted without a trappers licence. Tread lightly.

Red Squirrels are a fur bearing animal here in Ontario. You can take them with a small games license though. Eastern greys are not a fur bearing animal...they can be taken with a small games license also.
The MNR fish and wildlife rep told me this on the phone personally.
Don't know where you are but should be the same case.

buckbrushoutdoors · #8 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KegRiver

No, .177 is not a good choice. Under ideal conditions it will work, barely.
Some of the high velocity .22 cal, high priced air guns do a credible job but anything less just doesn't have enough penetration.

Red Squirrel are fair game on private land to which you have right of access.
But not on public, IE crown land, if you didn't already know.

When I was kid I killed a ton of big manitoba squirrels with my pelletgun! Lots of big jack rabbits as well!

duffy4 · #9 11-23-2011

It goes without saying...or does it???

When shooting UP, as where squirrels usually are, be sure you have a back stop, usually the tree, behind the critter to catch the bullet.

Otherwise you are sending dangerous lead off into the air, it comes to earth you know not where.

KegRiver · #10 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

When I was kid I killed a ton of big manitoba squirrels with my pelletgun! Lots of big jack rabbits as well!

I and my brothers did too, then we got .22s and never touched a pellet gun again.

With the pellet gun there were far too many squirrels that died a slow death, and in most cases, got away as well.

I remember one that my brother shot at least ten times without inflicting a lethal wound.

Like shooting a Deer with a .22 rimfire. I can be work but I wouldn't recommend it.

#11 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KegRiver

I remember one that my brother shot at least ten times without inflicting a lethal wound.

.

Yikes, that was one weak pellet gun.

uplander · #12 11-23-2011

My .177 break barrel works like a charm on them I find its mor the pellet choise that will make the difference

Tundra Monkey · #13 11-23-2011

I was too worried about launching 22's around my "neighbourhood" so I used the .410.....too noisy and expensive but very effective. There are a few cabins and homes around here so now I use my .177 all the time. I stopped counting at 50 this summer......I hate them tree rats. Even caught momma comin' in this summer sporting the pellet gun and three of them in her hand....wearing a lil' black dress

tm

trapshooter · #14 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

I'm using a .410 and a .22lr..............have a Primos squirrel call that works pretty good. tasty suckers

Where did you get the squirrel call? I am looking for one.

Jamie Black R/T · #15 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by trapshooter

Where did you get the squirrel call? I am looking for one.

This works pretty good for me.

Rugerlover · #16 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

When I was kid I killed a ton of big manitoba squirrels with my pelletgun! Lots of big jack rabbits as well!

I absolutely love jacks can you post pics of any that you hunted?

Alberta Bigbore · #17 11-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by trapshooter

Where did you get the squirrel call? I am looking for one.

I got it from FastSteel as a gift. I have never seen one here on the shelves or even on Primos website.

works like a charm i plan on eating a few squirrel stews this year

Alberta Bigbore · #18 11-23-2011

ok i lied... just looked.. it is still on the website.. I have this call and it works everytime

https://shop.primos.com/pc-496-24-sq...uster-pak.aspx

.

Rugerlover · #19 11-24-2011

I have a Knight & Hale squirrel call. It be nice if it came with a DVD instruction...it comes with a CD. I should have payed more attention when buying it. Hard to figure out, how the pros are using and explaining use of the call to work most effectively in that CD.

Men are visual learners.

Alberta Bigbore · #20 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugerlover

I have a Knight & Hale squirrel call. It be nice if it came with a DVD instruction...it comes with a CD. I should have payed more attention when buying it. Hard to figure out, how the pros are using and explaining use of the call to work most effectively in that CD.

Men are visual learners.

Check YouTube. I know instructional videos for the Primos squirrel Buster is on YouTube.

Pioneer2 · #21 11-24-2011

A .177 pellet is fine for squirrels at 500fps or better.Headshot =Deadshot

KegRiver · #22 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Yikes, that was one weak pellet gun.

LOL YEah, most of them are, unless one spends a few hundred dollars.

I bought one a couple of years ago to discourage squirrels from raiding my bird feeders. Made a lucky shot on one a tipped him over from 20 paces with one shot. The rest have taken multiple shots and still come back, but not very often now. I guess they don't like little round bruises.

marlin1 · #23 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugerlover

Red Squirrels are a fur bearing animal here in Ontario. You can take them with a small games license though. Eastern greys are not a fur bearing animal...they can be taken with a small games license also.
The MNR fish and wildlife rep told me this on the phone personally.
Don't know where you are but should be the same case.

greys are considered an invasive species out here , no license required . Usually don't see them outside the city though . We don't have a small game license like BC . crows ,magpies , gophers ,badgers , and a few others can be taken without a license

Lefty-Canuck · #24 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

A .177 pellet is fine for squirrels at 500fps or better.Headshot =Deadshot

Better make sure the pellet gun is under the magic "500 fps" unless you have it registered....no joke

LC

marlin1 · #25 11-24-2011

my crosman C02 will kill a gopher at under 500 , I'm sure a squirrell would be the same , I was pretty close though

#26 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KegRiver

LOL YEah, most of them are, unless one spends a few hundred dollars.

I bought one a couple of years ago to discourage squirrels from raiding my bird feeders. Made a lucky shot on one a tipped him over from 20 paces with one shot. The rest have taken multiple shots and still come back, but not very often now. I guess they don't like little round bruises.

Hmmm....my old $20 break action did the job pretty well when I was a kid. Made enough selling squirel tails and hides to buy my first .22 with scope....so did my buddy. Maybe they ones now aday are weaker...haven't shot one for a while.

open sights · #27 11-24-2011

My dad bought me this here pellet rifle for my 12th birthday, that was 8 years ago. I saw it on the shelf recently at the store and is was about 150, it's made by Winchester

KegRiver · #28 11-24-2011

I have a Crosman 760 rated at 600fps My Chrony says it actually puts around 350 fps which is what I have come to expect from cheap air guns.

Rugerlover · #29 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

A .177 pellet is fine for squirrels at 500fps or better.Headshot =Deadshot

headshot maybe...

I shot one in the upper body with the .22LR CCI CB longs....low velocity ammo goes about 700 and change FPS and it did not kill the grey squirrel, I shot from point blank too. I couldn't shoot with accuracy to its head cause it was moving all around while being caught in a 110 trap by the feet and tail way up on a log.

Okotokian · #30 11-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheephunter

I don't know, I killed a pick up truck full of squirrels as a kid with my .177. .

me too.

I also recall we killed a muskrat with our pellet guns... but it took a lot of shots. That was a bad idea.

Didn't repeat it.