Author Topic: Best Squirrel shootin caliber? (Read 33228 times)

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #50 on:** March 06, 2015, 01:23:12 AM »

Quote

So where to get the barrel? I know Ed Rayl can make a custom contour, but does anyone else do that type of work?

Charlie Burton will make one for you. I am sure there are others but they don't come to mind right now.
Dennis

wattlebuster · « **Reply #51 on:** March 06, 2015, 01:49:51 AM »

What Dennis said. I have 3 Burton barrels and they are all shooters

Bob Mac · « **Reply #52 on:** March 07, 2015, 02:57:16 AM »

Might give Bobby Hoyt a call.

Pat_Cameron · « **Reply #53 on:** March 22, 2015, 11:59:43 PM »

If I lived in a place where the squirrels lived in the ground and weren't much good to eat.

I WOULD MOVE!

Just teasing.
PJC

JTR · « **Reply #54 on:** March 24, 2015, 07:16:40 PM »

Quote from: Pat_Cameron on March 22, 2015, 11:59:43 PM

I WOULD MOVE!

Just teasing.
PJC

Yeah, and we haven't had any snow in the last 70 years that I've lived here either.

But it did get down to about 55 degrees one night a couple months ago!

John

hanshi · « **Reply #55 on:** March 24, 2015, 10:29:14 PM »

.32 is ideal and I wouldn't want to go any smaller. Those little pills are small enough and fumble prone as it is.

Daryl · « **Reply #56 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:40:53 PM »

For a pure Squirrel/Snowshoe Hare rifle, I think a .25 would be even more fun. The .32 seems to work quite well for trail walks with shots from 20 yards to 110yards. Thus, it is a longer range gun than needed for squirrels or snowshoe hares. We NEED to specialize - lol.

I am eagerly anticipating having some fun with a .25, if Taylor ever gets around to building it, that is.

He has a long walnut stock already inlet for the barrel.

Kermit · « **Reply #57 on:** March 25, 2015, 08:38:44 PM »

Daryl, the .25 is indeed a hoot to shoot. A #4 buck pellet measures about .240 and weighs about 24 grains--a bit lighter than a .22 short slug (if I may reference such modern items). Easy to push these little spheres faster and flatter than that mid-19th century self-contained ammo. Use a bullet board and a starter unless your fingers are a lot more nimble than mine.

Robby · « **Reply #58 on:** March 25, 2015, 09:12:58 PM »

Use to be a .32, but then the .40 took hold of me, now its a .36 and loving it!!!
Robby

hanshi · « **Reply #59 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:31:43 PM »

A .25 is definitely specialized, Daryl. My squirrel shooting is accomplished with a .32 or .36 nowadays. I've used .45s and a .58 and much prefer something smaller.

Daryl · « **Reply #60 on:** March 26, 2015, 08:21:02 PM »

I know I have trouble with the .32's in the winter on trail walks - they are VERY small. The .240's, of course bring new meaning to 'small'. but with a loading block set up before hand in the comfort of one's home and used for hunting only - NP. Think they'd be a BLAST!

bigsmoke · « **Reply #61 on:** March 27, 2015, 09:01:55 PM »

An 8 bore works well for that.
No need to worry about marksmanship, just shoot at the trunk of the tree.
The concussion will knock the critters right off the branches.
Kinda like raining cats and dogs, only a bit different.

PS .530 ball in front for comparison.

Tony N · « **Reply #62 on:** March 28, 2015, 01:03:19 AM »

Quote from: hanshi on March 24, 2015, 10:29:14 PM

.32 is ideal and I wouldn't want to go any smaller. Those little pills are small enough and fumble prone as it is.

I agree! Even a .32 on a chilly day can be a little difficult to handle!

~Tony

Daryl · « **Reply #63 on:** March 28, 2015, 01:59:33 AM »

Tony- a loading block for such a small calibre could have form 5 to 25 or 30 (whatever you wanted) pre-lubed and patched .25 cal balls on it. There is no fumbling with the little balls when using a loading block.

One guy I used to know down South, had inlet the muzzle of his barrel into the bottom of his hunting loading block. He set the block on the muzzle and ran the ball or bullet down with a steel carry rod, The block was on a strap around his neck, and the rod stayed through that hole in the block, resting at his side. He was pretty quick when loading bullets.

Tony N · « **Reply #64 on:** March 28, 2015, 09:17:00 PM »

Daryl- sounds like a good idea for a project!
Thanks!

JTR · « **Reply #65 on:** April 02, 2015, 10:08:25 PM »

I bought one of the New 46 inch long Squirrel profile that Jason (Rice) just offered, in 32 cal. Have Bob Roller doing a lock for me, and am working on getting a nice piece of straight grained maple and someone to inlet it.

John

iloco · « **Reply #66 on:** April 02, 2015, 10:48:23 PM »

Quote from: JTR on April 02, 2015, 10:08:25 PM

I bought one of the New 46 inch long Squirrel profile that Jason (Rice) just offered, in 32 cal. Have Bob Roller doing a lock for me, and am working on getting a nice piece of straight grained maple and someone to inlet it.
John

Wish I could get one his locks for the 32 46 inch barrel I just ordered from Jason. I got the last one he had in stock.

Gun_Nut_73 · « **Reply #67 on:** April 04, 2015, 09:03:24 AM »

I have a .31 cal percussion with a 39" barrel. I use #1 buckshot, and it shoots better than I do. An empty .223 case holds about 30 gr of 3F, and seems to work well for me. I have a non-HC M1 cleaning kit with a couple extra lengths to use as a range and cleaning rod.

Old Ford2 · « **Reply #68 on:** April 04, 2015, 02:59:38 PM »

Quote from: bigsmoke on March 27, 2015, 09:01:55 PM

An 8 bore works well for that.
No need to worry about marksmanship, just shoot at the trunk of the tree.
The concussion will knock the critters right off the branches.
Kinda like raining cats and dogs, only a bit different.

I like the way you think!
Fred

JTR · « **Reply #69 on:** April 10, 2015, 06:37:53 PM »

Got my 32 cal barrel from Rice, got a nice walnut blank from Dunlop, both going to David Rase for mating!

John

Daryl · « **Reply #70 on:** April 11, 2015, 07:43:46 PM »

To answer the very title of this thread "Best Squirrel shooting caliber" - difficult. I think perhaps this changes with the person.

Some, with mostly running shots in the trees, might think a 20 bore cap or flint would be best. Those who can wait for still shots, might like a gun that performs wonderful accuracy for them to make head shots. I think in this context, the best might be the most accurate. That might be a .40, .45 or .50 or even larger - what's the most accurate.

What the ranges are, dictates calibre to some extent. The larger the bore, generally the more accurate the rifle - however, past .40 cal. the accuracy improvements might not show much at squirrel ranges.

Heavier charges in small calibres that give such flat shooting over 50yards, tend to be hard on the body shots- thus head shots are needed. The more accurate rifle, the better for that, of course.

I have a nice little flintlock .32 squirrel rifle, but if needing (rather than just out for a fun day) to fill my larger with squirrels, I'd probably take the flint .40 - or .45 - they are simply more accurate than my .32, thus, they arer better squirrel calibres - for me.

For other people, perhaps other calibres would be "Best" - for them.

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Author Topic: Best Squirrel shootin caliber? (Read 33228 times)

Bob Mac