Best setup for squirrel hunting

SHELL SHUCKER said:
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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He was worried 3X was "too" much magnification...
 
The Varmint has a 21" barrel, the American has a 22.5" barrel... although the American barrel has a slimmer profile... IMO, the 452 American makes an excellent squirrel rifle.
 
I would encourage the OP to go with the regular 22.5" barrel. I just made a switch from an Anschutz 1416 with 18" barrel to an Anschutz 1416 D-HB with 23" barrel and a VX-2 6-18X40 AO scope... I can easily take 20 yard shots at 6X, but shooting eyeballs at 12-18X is much easier than at 9X when the range gets beyond 50 meters.
 
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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See, here is the issue... I OFTEN do... lol I usually spot them around 30-50 yards and then stalk closer. Last two tree rats of my season, under 20 yards away.

diemaco said:
Flog the varmint and get prophet river to bring in an American for you.
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diemaco said:
American suppressor ready comes with a 16" barrel...
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I do like this idea, nice short barrel with a stock that gives you a proper cheek rest for optics

hoytcanon said:
I would encourage the OP to go with the regular 22.5" barrel. I just made a switch from an Anschutz 1416 with 18" barrel to an Anschutz 1416 D-HB with 23" barrel and a VX-2 6-18X40 AO scope... I can easily take 20 yard shots at 6X, but shooting eyeballs at 12-18X is much easier than at 9X when the range gets beyond 50 meters.
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I like this Idea, I was looking at the Anschutz 1416 D G Classic 15" .22 LR but I have trouble spending around 1500 (after tax and shipping) on a 22LR rifle. lol Note that if I build a 10/22 I will likely be at that area anyways with less accuracy.

10/22 build rifle $400, stock $350, Barrel $350, trigger $150 (rough estimates) is still around $1250 lol.

Ruger American $500 bucks? lol about 1/3rd the price....

Thankfully I have some time.
 
Canadiankeeper said:
well I am a gun NUT and today is slow at work haha.

I think there is better, the real question is what am im willing to pay for better lol
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If I may suggest... unless you are prepared to go with an Anschutz, you are already shooting the best rifle under 1K... if you don't want to drop $1500, then spend $400 on quality ammo and do more shooting to get to know your rig.

P.S - the up front cost of $1500 is peanuts compared to all of the other costs you are investing in your hunting excursions.
 
hoytcanon said:
If I may suggest... unless you are prepared to go with an Anschutz, you are already shooting the best rifle under 1K... if you don't want to drop $1500, then spend $400 on quality ammo and do more shooting to get to know your rig.

P.S - the up front cost of $1500 is peanuts compared to all of the other costs you are investing in your hunting excursions.
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:runaway:

I know! LMAO and people say golf is expensive.
 
I wouldn't ditch the 452, I'd ditch the optic and get a Leupold VX-2 3-9X33 rimfire EFR instead ;)
 
GD7 said:
I wouldn't ditch the 452, I'd ditch the optic and get a Leupold VX-2 3-9X33 rimfire EFR instead ;)
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These Ruger 77 RSI's are wearing the VX-2 3-9X33 EFR, the top rifle took a couple dozen squirrels ths fall;

IMG_6700_zpsv2dwympn.jpg
 
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Canadiankeeper said:
This, they are feeding very expensive birds haha. (1st one of the season is for me)



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)
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The tricked out 10/22 is a great idea. You may have to compromise at longer ranges and go for body shots though.
The 10/22, the king of the gopher patch, will do ok on squirrels too.
 
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