squirrel hunting with 12 gauge shotgun
What stops me from choosing a shotgun over a rifle? A good squirrel gun should also have a high-quality trigger and good sights. Shotguns for Hunting Small GameThe coolest thing about shotguns is how inherently versatile they are. Although I tend to avoid using it for smaller game, it is an excellent choice for birds of all kinds and, when loaded correctly, can even be used for hairy game and deer in certain situations. What are some of the best shotgun accessories for squirrel hunting? Lately Ive had a few people question the safety of firing up into a tree with a 22 rifle. When I was a kid I had a .410, and I used it for hunting squirrels and rabbits, he said about the small diameter shells. Ive shot the 20-gauge version, and its recoil with anything heavier than a dove load is akin to Daniel LaRussos crane kick to the face. Dont let my discrepancies with the shotgun deter you from taking one in your favorite patch of woods. If you're serious about squirrel hunting, there are many choices in the market, but you need to know which rifle is best for the task. The current production Grade VI models have golden critters engraved into the receiversquirrels included. The muzzle is threaded for use with a suppressor, too. WebThe Improved Cylinder choke for squirrel 12 gauge rifles is one of the best-choked rifles on the market. One of the most misunderstood things in all of hunting is what a gauge is. Some people have never even heard of, let alone considered a 28 gauge. I hunted gray squirrels and red squirrels during October in New York with a Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun. However, you shouldnt worry about waking up the smaller squirrels while hunting with this gun. If you are unsure that a 22 rifle fits your safety threshold, or your state doesnt allow rifles for small game hunting, the shotgun will be your best and only option. The main reason is accuracy. The 16-gauge which is rapidly becoming obsolete, A Guide to All the Mounting Footprints for Holosun Red Dot Sights. WebVintage Remington Rabbit & Squirrel 20 GA Shotgun Shell Empty Box. Shotguns are popular firearms used for hunting a wide variety of game, including birds, rabbits, squirrels, and larger animals like deer and bear. However, its important to remember that birdshot is not meant to shoot larger mammals, and is less powerful than other ammunition. Modified is fine for 26"+ barrel. Take out your rifle in the early part of the season and you very well could be using the right gun at the wrong time of the year. The best .410 pump shotguns are light, reliable, and affordable. If a squirrel is moving 3 m east of its origin, what is the total distance it has traveled? What is the best way to clean a shotgun after squirrel hunting. The #1 food of Americans during the Great Depression, What You Should Know About Hunting On Public Land. 
I did some hunting about ten years ago with a single shot mossberg, same loads and choke, same experience. 5 Best Shotgun for Squirrel Hunting. Its 20-inch barrels are perfect for hunting squirrels, as most of the hunting takes place in close quarters. Thats the Good Time Trifecta in my book. Small-bore muzzleloaders can be a little finickybut theyre also amazingly accurate once you dial into the right load. Imagine you are making lead balls. My inclination is not to start youth with the 12 gauge. The most common shotgun gauges are 12-gauge, 20 Unfortunately, there arent many pellets in the typical 3/4-ounce shot charge of a 28-gauge. And after skinning a few thousand bushytails, Ive gotten OK at it. WebA 20-gauge or smaller shotgun loaded with 6- to 7 1/2-size shot or a .22-caliber rimfire rifle is recommended. Even then, if you are seeking higher potential, the 3.5-inch 12-gauge might be a more versatile option. Plus, its cheap and accessible. We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. 6 works well. What is the difference between a rifled barrel and a smooth bore barrel? Sub-sonic ammo makes for the quietest report, but it sucks for huntingespecially at yet slower handgun speeds. 
I shoot the squirrel anywhere from 20 to 80 yards, it falls over and dies. Back in my earlier days of squirrel hunting I liked hunting in a four man team: Two gunners (Semi-auto guns 10/22, Marlin 60), One sniper (some type of scoped rifle), and One cleanup man (shotgunner). A hunter who owns a high quality 3 12 gauge shotgun with interchangeable choke tubes, such as a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500, can hunt virtually any type of small game or bird, including rabbit, squirrel, quail, dove, grouse, ducks, geese, and turkey. Particularly in parts of the rural South, shotgunners are the dominant force in squirrel hunting. Free shipping. Squirrels are one of the easier fall-weather small game animals to hunt in New York, but I also hunt other small game, including cottontail rabbit, pheasant, ruffed grouse, turkey, and snowshoe hare. The trusty .410 is what most of us start out on. Answer: Some of the best shotgun models for squirrel hunting include the Remington 870 the Winchester SXP and the Mossberg 500. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disclosure: Squirrelhuntingjournal.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The factory barrel with mod choke patterns well with 6 shot. 
At most with a shotgun you will experience the peppering effect. Like the Winchester M37, the Topper had everything going for it, as squirrel guns go. However, I do caution against using a 28-gauge for pheasant hunting. A versatile small-game hunter should regard his firearms as the foundation of his hunting gear. When I go pheasant hunting, I usually bring one of my 12-gauges along. They will find reasons not to do it again. Answer: The best shotgun sling for squirrel hunting is the Uncle Mikes Quick Detach Sling. There are several ways to do this, and we'll, What Size 410 Shells For Squirrel Hunting, What Size 410 Shells For Squirrel Hunting? I'll be working on making more small game videos in the future.Considering how smart the squirrels are where I was hunting, I think this hunt couldn't have been much more successful. Knowing it would turn the trunk at any moment, I lifted my Harrington and Richardson Topper 58 12-gauge and waited. My hunting buddy in high school carried one, and when wed finish our limits of a morning, wed take whatever ammo was left in our pockets and load it into the 30-round banana mag he kept in his backpack. Its also drilled and tapped for an optics base, which is all but mandatory for hand-gunning squirrels. The regular: 1 1/4 oz will also work fine but I'd use a improved cylinder bore for this 12 gauge load on Squirrels and Rabbits with #6 or #7 1/2 size shot. Where I live, some places the shotgun is the only gun allowed for hunting. He had a very cool customized Ruge10/22 semi-auto rifle with an overmolded Hogue stock, scope and good binoculars. 
With a classic walnut stock and the unmistakable brass deflector, the 552 Speedmaster is another icon of the squirrel woods. For closer shots with light cover, a 20 Gauge with 6 Shot would be plenty, but for further shots through heavy cover a 12 Gauge with 4 or 5 Shot might be necessary. When hunting squirrels, its a good idea to strike them where theyre least expected. Slightly larger are the BBB pellets at .19 inches. What are some of the best shotgun brands for squirrel hunting? 
If you're going squirrel hunting, you'll probably want to use.410 shells. Velocities were measured with the muzzle 12 inches from the chronograph, and the results are shown in the accompanying chart. Some people use mag. If you are a reloader it makes the 28 gauge more appealing. It was lightweight, handled with speed and had the power the .410 lacked. To kick off this article on gear, Ill refer to one of my own passages from Volume 1 of the Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game.
Most of these classic pump-action gallery guns are surprisingly good shooters that will last forever, because they were designed to entertain the class of people who enjoy attending traveling carnivals (by God, I love carnivals). Should work well also. The most-often customized rimfire in the world definitely makes the listthough its a safe bet the plain, wood-stocked factory version bought straight off the gun rack has been carried to the squirrel woods more than anything else. As with the Ruger 10/22, every gun owner should on at least on 12 or 20 gauge shotgun. Some folks will chase squirrels with a pistol but well stick to long guns in our guide.
But I had better eyes back in college, and I used its open sights to keep our dorm room crockpot a bubbling with fresh squirrel quarters at all times. A 12-gauge has a bore diameter of .729; twelve lead balls of that size weigh a pound. The only two gauges worth considering are 20 gauge and 12 gauge. A person could spend days reading up on these arguments in dedicated firearms magazines, and youre welcome to do so. It works for me. WebThe 12 gauge is so popular because its powerful enough to hunt most species of game, but the recoil of a 12 gauge is much more manageable than the 10 gauge. Conversely, for the smaller game mentioned earlier, shot sizes of #7 1/2 and even #8 can produce devastating results due to the denser shot patterns created by smaller pellets. A little shotgun that fits, with a woods full of squirrels, is about the best way I know of to get a kid into hunting. TriStar Ive loved and hated this gun over the years. There is no question that a 12 ga. with #4 or #5 shot will kill farther. I shoot the squirrel anywhere from 20 to 80 yards, it falls over and dies. 1.5 oz. Look for a slimmer 16g frame. But a single-barrel introduced during the Great Depression gets my nod as the best squirrel-hunting scattergun of all time. Published Sep 18, 2020 7:00 PM EDT. The recoil, while more than a 28 gauge, is very controllable for most people, especially on any modern shotgun with recoil reduction technologies. Most of them came with factory full chokesalmost as if the Winchester folks knew that these would be used for dropping squirrels from high out of the canopies. The 12-gauge is far more versatile for waterfowl, and a 20-gauge with 3" loads can essentially match the 16s best-performing nontoxic ammo options. Heres why: 1. At that moment, a long-time goal had been achieved. When i have to, I use a SKB 100, 20 ga. At 69 I switched to the shotgun for clean kills and no wounding. 
Yeah I know Ive got it pretty bad. At the end of the day, you need to take what youre comfortable with, that still makes sense for the shots you will be taking and go get in the woods! WebGauge: 12 Gauge Barrel Length: 18.5" Capacity: 5+1; 6+1; 9+1 New #51604 590S Optic-Ready $704.00 Compare Gauge: 12 Gauge Barrel Length: 20" Capacity: 7+1; 8+1; 13+1 New #50430 500 Retrograde Field $606.00 Compare Gauge: 12 Gauge Barrel Length: 28" Capacity: 5+1 New #50107 500 Turkey $644.00 Compare Gauge: .410 Bore Barrel How many of yall hunt squirrels with a 12 gauge? Squirrel hunting is also the perfect opportunity to pull a favorite old gun out of the safe and use it. There are a few different types of these. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. While hunting chukars, my little 20s have amazed my fellow hunters who were carrying 12s. of #6 for both squirrel and rabbit. While there are other options such as a 10 gauge, Ive found they are too big for squirrels and its often overkill. Along Mombasa Road. 2. Totally agree with Ulysses. Annie Oakleys lever-action .22 is also the most iconic squirrel rifle of all time. A similar version with the integral mount is still listed today on Rugers website, but best I can tell, its only offered in .22 Long Rifle. The 12-gauge is still the standard-bearer and will be for the foreseeable futureyou own one and so do all of your hunting buddies. From the days of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett with their flintlocks to our souped-up ammunition and quality rifles available now, squirrel hunters have taken up the challenge for many years. The Coach Gun is available in single and double trigger models and is available in a variety of finishes. The most common shotgun used for pretty much all small gaming hunting is a 12 gauge. However, shortly after my purchase, the regulations changed, and my 16-gauge never got to demonstrate its effectiveness on ducks. The break-barrel air rifle is a joy to shoot, with an integrated moderator. They get the job done and I can reload three shells for what it takes to reload only one 12 gauge. Mine shot best with just 12 grains of FFFG black powder and a patched .310 lead round ball, and that combo was lethal on 25-yard squirrels. Shotguns are popular firearms used for hunting a wide variety of game, including birds, rabbits, squirrels, and larger animals like deer and bear. The .410 is named after its caliber measurement; the diameter of the bore is .410 of an inch, just as a .308 rifle cartridge is .308 of an inch. No electricity or running water. Join our ranks to receive the latest news, offers and updates from our team. The guns overall build quality is excellent. In fact, its one of the most popular gauges among squirrel hunters. I like to get in real close and wait for a broad side head shot. For comparison, a 2-oz. Vintage Western Xpert 12 Gauge Shotgun Shell Empty Box 2 3/4 1oz 6 shot. I ended up limiting out on pressured gray squirrels in half a day, and I also ended up shooting a bonus red squirrel. I digress. If you're a squirrel hunter, you've probably wondered what is the best squirrel gun. My introduction to the .17 HMR came while field-testing this handgun during squirrel season some 15 years ago. Ive seen them all out there and but for a few exceptions, Ive killed squirrels with all of them, too. Mine was a Rossi single shot, and it was a squirrel killing machine. WebOne claim I often hear against sub-gauge shotguns for turkey hunting is the lack of pellets and penetration. On the other end of the spectrum is the 10-gauge, which I consider to be a specialized weapon with limited hunting potential, similar to the .410. Love using both for squirrel. What Is The Total Distance Covered By The Squirrel? I got my first shot at a squirrel with a .410. It's definitely fun to get on a good hunt and knock 'em out with a well-placed shot from a rifle. What is the Best Shotgun for Squirrel Hunting? Instead, a much better option would be to start with a 20-gauge, using light loads that can be gradually increased as the young hunter grows in size and stamina. The 10-22 is handy and inexpensive, and if youre the type to tinker, theres just nothing better. info@meds.or.ke Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Lack of effective range is another reason. Winchester Vintage Hunting Shotgun Shell Boxes, Shotgun Vintage Hunting Shell Boxes, Pros; Cons; 3. TriStar Viper G2 The G2 was one of the first .410 semi-autos to be put into production. Web12-gauge shotguns are used for hunting North American game animals from squirrel to moose. So this is when a two-gun approach works best. The .410 is named after its caliber measurement; the diameter of the bore is .410 of an inch, just as a .308 rifle cartridge is .308 of an inch. But in my experience, even the skinny, factory carbine tubes are plenty accurate enough for squirrel hunting. Read Next: Four Tactics for Hardcore Squirrel Hunters. It can be difficult to draw a bead on a early season squirrel,aggressively feeding in a leafy branch tip. How about 28 gauge? Autoloading .22s dont get much more reliable, and when fitted with a heavy aftermarket barrel, theyre hell-on-wheels-accurate. If hunting larger birds is not your preference, you may want to consider the benefits of a smaller 20- or 28-gauge shotgun. 2. When they asked for it back, I told them no, and sent them a check for it instead.
While the shotgun is not my first choice for the squirrel woods, I cant neglect to give my thoughts on it any longer. I have used a 16-gauge for upland bird hunting and find it to be satisfactory, but it does have some drawbacks, which Ill discuss later. What are some of the best shotgun models for squirrel hunting? Both of these load types put less shot in the meat and have the added benefit of a complete pass through. In the Southeast, the leaf drop may not happen until November several months after most of the region's seasons have opened. As someone who has wounded squirrels with 7 s and had to chase them down and put another shot in them(ruining more meat in the process) I cannot recommend 7 s(or 8s) for squirrels in any situation. Answer: Some of the best shotgun accessories for squirrel hunting include a shotgun scope a shotgun sling and a shotgun shell holder. WebI've been squirrel hunting squirrel for years with 12 gauge shotguns and have always been successful. Undoubtedly, non-toxic shot options such as steel pale in comparison to lead shot in terms of killing potential. They are also used defensively, in tactical games, and in sporting clays. WebA good 12 gauge shotgun is perhaps the most versatile of the guns every hunter should own. 
Your email address will not be published. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. To achieve this level of versatility with a rifle, youd need a caliber that was ideal for everything from squirrels to moose. What are some of the best shotgun shells for squirrel hunting? Attempting to do so would be unfair to the birds and would likely result in many of them being wounded and escaping. I love the 410 bore with a load of #6 in 2 1/2 or 3 inch shells. For me a 20 gauge with high brass #4 shot works well. Now to throw a wrench into what I just said, let's talk about the only one of these that uses a diameter measurement instead of a gauge measurement. In front of the gun, from left, are a 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 shells. As with the. So, I ran across a real good deal on a Binelli M2 20 ga. automatic and bought it. He loaned to a friend just last weekend, and that friend said the gun was so good, the scope seemed to have an autocorrect function so as to prevent missing. Thats how a surprise is suppose to work. They get in the garden and when you shoot them the entry side is clean but the exit side is a disaster. Free shipping. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo. My favorite shotgun is a Rem 870 youth 20g with mod choke screwed in; its light,compact,and the shorter stock lets me wear a heavy coat! If you are looking for a shotgun that is affordable, durable, and will last you for years, the Stoeger Coach Gun is the best choice. From my experience, I would say the 20 gauge may be the perfect squirrel shotgun. 