Best setup for squirrel hunting

hoytcanon said:
Red squirrels and greys/fox squirrels are completely apples and oranges... we shot hundreds of reds with pellet guns... you can walk right up to them... you can't get away with that with a grey or fox... a precise rimfire has proven to be the best all around squirrel medicine.
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Yes, tis true for lots of folks in many areas. What's really ideal in the woods in my zone is a well set up 12 or 20 ga. shotgun that patterns tight at 40 yds. My Rem 870 12 ga. trap gun with 26" Carlson's barrel with an improved modified Comp-N-Choke & topped with a Bushnell Holo Sight is fast and deadly on squirrels that jump from tree to tree as well as being super violent at sweeping the bastards off of tree trunks in close. I use standard 3 dram, ounce & an 1/8th trap loads with 7.5 shot that proves a deadly performer on small critters & I keep a few Winchester rifled slug loads in me spare pocket for bigger buggers in season.;)

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I run a Browning BL-22 with iron sights up at the cabin for pest control from raccoon all the way down to squirrel size rodents.

I feed it anything 22 from shorts, long and long rifle. All depends on my application and needs. The CB shorts are super quiet when silent application is needed.

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Hmmm... Living in Ontario means going after the grey/black squirrels - which I don't mind as they are an invasive species, and are dominant over the red squirrels. So I do my best to even the odds. I think folks underestimate the challenge posed by hitting something the size of a golf ball, freehand at 25 yards in various orientations.
Its easy to discount the rifle/caliber, but in the end the limit is often the operator. I live in an oak forested area, so there are lots of opportunities, but they are often quick shots aiming high in trees. I took it upon myself to practice shooting my 22 - a vintage Cooey Junior Rodentmaster with custom faux ivory (plastic) stock inlays, off-hand, with iron sights. After a few sessions, my marksmanship had definitely improved, to the chagrin of the local tree rat population.
 
People are getting confused between incidentally "shooting" pest chipmunks/red squirrels and "hunting" for grey/fox squirrels... the two activities couldn't be more different... and plinking pests does not require the same sort of precision equipment required to be consistently successful hunting grey and fox squirrels.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
Yes, tis true for lots of folks in many areas. What's really ideal in the woods in my zone is a well set up 12 or 20 ga. shotgun that patterns tight at 40 yds. My Rem 870 12 ga. trap gun with 26" Carlson's barrel with an improved modified Comp-N-Choke & topped with a Bushnell Holo Sight is fast and deadly on squirrels that jump from tree to tree as well as being super violent at sweeping the bastards off of tree trunks in close. I use standard 3 dram, ounce & an 1/8th trap loads with 7.5 shot that proves a deadly performer on small critters & I keep a few Winchester rifled slug loads in me spare pocket for bigger buggers in season.;)

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Very nice 870 SHELL SHUCKER.

What's the riser you have on the Hogue stock and what is the forend ?

I like the Carlson barrels. Going to pick up a 24" ribbed. Been thinking of getting one of mine tapped for a rail to add a red-dot or holosight.

Like your setup a lot, nicely done.
 
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madashell said:
Very nice 870 SHELL SHUCKER.

What's the riser you have on the Hogue stock and what is the forend ?

I like the Carlson barrels. Going to pick up a 24" ribbed. Been thinking of getting one of mine tapped for a rail to add a red-dot or holosight.

Like your setup a lot, nicely done.
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Gracias amigo. The cheek riser is a piece of high density foam that I robbed from the handle of my broom and the fore end grip is a Pachmayr Vindicator unit.I'm happy with the the quality of the Carlsons barrels (Chrome lined bores & chambers) as well as their choke tubes.

For bowling pin shoots or for going to town on squirrels & rabbits in thick cover, I just switch the gun out to tactical mode and readjust the sight for POI.;)

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SHELL SHUCKER said:
Gracias amigo. The cheek riser is a piece of high density foam that I robbed from the handle of my broom and the fore end grip is a Pachmayr Vindicator unit.I'm happy with the the quality of the Carlsons barrels (Chrome lined bores & chambers) as well as their choke tubes.

For bowling pin shoots or for going to town on squirrels & rabbits in thick cover, I just switch the gun out to tactical mode and readjust the sight for POI.;)

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Robbed from the handle of your broom... blahhhh !! I love it !!! Looks like it works perfectly.

Thanks for the info. Don't think I've seen that Pachmayr forend before, looks nice & compact. Will have to look that up.

I like your style man.
 
hoytcanon said:
People are getting confused between incidentally "shooting" pest chipmunks/red squirrels and "hunting" for grey/fox squirrels... the two activities couldn't be more different... and plinking pests does not require the same sort of precision equipment required to be consistently successful hunting grey and fox squirrels.
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This, they are feeding very expensive birds haha. (1st one of the season is for me)

Mount Sweetness said:
If you are having trouble hunting squirrels with a scoped 22lr, I don't think anyone is going to be able to help you.
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No trouble, 37 this season.

I wasn't happy with my setup, I am looking for better options and some different opinions or ideas.

I think I'm going to switch from the CZ452 with a 3x9 on it to either a savage mark 2 FV-SR or a ruger 10/22 tricked out. With a 2x7 or a 1x6 sitting ontop.

Depends how much I want to spend come late summer. A light, compact but accurate 22. (maybe even a 17hmr if I can find a savage FV-SR in that cal)
 
I use a Brno No.1 with a Leupold Rimfire 2-7
I have used many Rimfire rifles with iron sights as well as shotguns, but now the Brno is what I use for a serious squirrel hunt.
I only do a couple squirrel hunts per season and I like to come home with a handful each time.
 
Mount Sweetness said:
I use a Brno No.1 with a Leupold Rimfire 2-7
I have used many Rimfire rifles with iron sights as well as shotguns, but now the Brno is what I use for a serious squirrel hunt.
I only do a couple squirrel hunts per season and I like to come home with a handful each time.
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Yes, If I Don't hit bag limit for the day (5) then I'm disappointed.
 
hoytcanon said:
You are going backward with those choices.
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I'm looking for a shorter barrel and a rifle that is easier to shoot off hand as most of my shots are standing unsupported (using a sling)

The long heavy barrel of the 452 varmint wasn't that fun or easy to lug around and steady.

I'm hoping a short barrel with less magnification helps me out. Not looking for 1/2 inch groups at 50, just tree rat head at 50 (so 1 inch groups)
 
What about a Lux or American? It would be very tough to go to a Savage from a CZ. No offence to Savage owners, but cycle each action and you'll see what I mean.
 
Canadiankeeper said:
I'm looking for a shorter barrel and a rifle that is easier to shoot off hand as most of my shots are standing unsupported (using a sling)

The long heavy barrel of the 452 varmint wasn't that fun or easy to lug around and steady.

I'm hoping a short barrel with less magnification helps me out. Not looking for 1/2 inch groups at 50, just tree rat head at 50 (so 1 inch groups)
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Shorter than 20 inches and lower than 3X???

You are expecting miracles that just aren't going to happen. You have a fine rifle... buy good ammo and learn to shoot it. 3X is fine for shooting at 20 feet... and you won't often shoot at 20 feet.
 
hoytcanon said:
Shorter than 20 inches and lower than 3X???

You are expecting miracles that just aren't going to happen. You have a fine rifle... buy good ammo and learn to shoot it. 3X is fine for shooting at 20 feet... and you won't often shoot at 20 feet.
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Yer eyes must be be worse than mine as 3-4.5x suits me fine out to 200 yds. on claybirds fer casual plinkin' with my CZ 452. For whackin' critters though, I prefer around 80 yds. unless I'm doing ground squirrels in Alberta. I then have no big worries popping at them out to long range if it ain't windy. Got tons of good hits inside 150 yds. when conditions (And lack of hangovers.)allowed.;)
 
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