Is a .40 to big for squirrels?

[RANGER94]

I normally use a .32 but just ordered a .40 which I have no experience. Is a 40 to large for Eastern Gray squirrels for hunting in PA and NJ?

[rich pierce]

Ball will go further at same angle with same muzzle velocity. A .60 will work if head shots are the norm. But it’s not good to lob those into the air. I’d not choose a .40 unless one wanted a single, all around smaller caliber for target, plinking, small game, and varmints.

[MuskratMike]

I love my .40, think it's one of the best all around calipers. My normal load is 60 grains of 3f, but if target shooting or squirrels I drop the load to 40 grains. Bark them or head shots 40 works fine.

[Bob Roller]

I would consult the squirrels on this .Actually IF I were hunting rodents a .32
would be ideal.

Bob Roller

[Daryl]

I've used the .69 a few times on squirrels with the full 165gr. 2F moose load, but on bunnies, with 30gr. 2F & 482gr. ball, it worked great!
Thus, the .40 will be just fine, if you hit them in the right place.

[Dowrat]

I've taken a "bunch" of squirrels with my .40 caliber southern rifle. 30 grains of 3fg Goex is extremely accurate at close range, allowing for head shots. In my experience, a loaded down .40 caliber round ball doesn't ruin as much meat, even on body shots, as some claim. Not much meat on squirrel ribs anyway. LOL Have fun with your 40.

[Daryl]

I rarely found all of the squirrels I had shot through the ribs with the .69. 

[Greg Pennell]

Daryl, you don’t have to find them all, just the edible bits...

Greg

[Dale Halterman]

Pretty sure .40 is the largest caliber legal for small game in PA.

Dale H

[Bob Roller]

If a 69 caliber rifle was all I had to hunt squirrel with I would try to hit
them between the eys because I was told they will charge when wounded .
Bob Roller

[hanshi]

The .32 and .36 have been my squirrel battery for decades, but the .40 is also fine.  I like 30 grains of 3F under a prb and head or rib shots.

[Robby]

No.
Robby

[skullcap]

I love a forty.  I had several  building another now as I’ve sold mine.  40 is the most versatile Caliber.   As others said. Down load around 30/40 grn for squirrel    I’ve found that 32/36 tear up a squirrel just as much as 40.   Again, Head shots or thru the ribs if needed or miss that far back.  The meats good.   40 much easier to handle the patch / ball.        Then load up for larger game. Or longer range    Other versatile methods can be used on large game also    Rick

[Panzerschwein]

Aim betwixt his peepers.

[wolf]

it will open a squirrel up. but it is ok, no more than a HP 22 rimfire i would say. this was exit hole with a RB, 30gr. of goex 3F about 30yds,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Longknife]

My first Squirrel rifle was a .40, It was an original Ohio rifle rebored by Hoyt and rifled with a gain twist.  Very accurate with a 30 grain squirrel load and up to 60 grains on bigger critters, Never hunted deer with it as .45 is min. here,,,, Ed

[homerifle]

.40 is a good little cal. If that's what you want to use go for it.

[Bob McBride]

To me a .40 is the perfect all around Varmint gun. Flat shooting and it always seems to give me a charge around 30g that is deadly accurate on small game and another around 50-60 with just as small groups for Coyotes, Bobcats, or similar. If you want a varmint gun, there's none better AFAIC.

[bob in the woods]

I had a .32 for awhile, and although I liked it, it seemed that when in the woods I would often have opportunities at larger critters....large enough that I wasn't comfortable touching off a shot with the .32
Examples like running into coyotes,  a wolf etc.  One day there was a commotion down at the chicken house around 11:00 PM so I grabbed the .32 and went down there with a flashlight fully expecting to find a raccoon trying to get at my birds.  Instead, what looked like a cougar to me, jumped off the chicken shed roof and ran off when I arrived.  I came back to the house with the idea that my small bore would soon be upgraded to a .40   I haven't had cause to regret that decision.   Huge raccoons, coyotes , troublesome beavers [ 50 lbs ! ]   + squirrels and rabbits , have all been taken cleanly with the .40     I like it .

[Panzerschwein]

I’ve knowna guys who’d used as big a .54 on a squirrels believ or not.

With about 20g he said it’d cookie cutter him. Thru and thru but not so too much meat damage.

Wow all be almost 100 post. I’m almost a muzzleloader adult now,

[410-er]

20grs of FFFg and 32 RB damage on squirrel.
DSCF2122 by t410er, on Flickr

[Panzerschwein]

20grs of FFFg and 32 RB damage on squirrel.
DSCF2122 by t410er, on Flickr

Gross.

[Bob McBride]

Funny how two people can see the same thing and have two different thoughts. All I could think of when I saw that was 'wing sauce'....

[Daryl]

And 35gr. 3F in a .36 will "decap" a snowshoe hare at 50yards.

[alacran]

Time to make a .177 caliber muzzleloader. That would be close to proper size for skwerls.