.22LR Rat(Squirrel) Shot

Air rifle much cheaper and more effective.
or

Traps,,you don't have to invest your time 'hunting' them. Unless you see that as an enjoyable way to spend some time every day.

A Have-a-Heart trap will trap one every 1/2 hr with some peanut butter and you you won't have to clean up anything or make holes on your power lines.
You will have to deal will taking the unfriendly little guy 'for a ride' though.

Smooth bore Win 61 and 62 pump .22 rifles are in the $1,000+ range is in any sort of decent condition.
The old single shot Remington 511 series guns are usually about the cheapest when you can find them.
Even the Nylon Remington series Bolt action (Single Shot) was made in a smooth bore.
The .22LR Shot ammo is crazy expensive and not very effective unless you get close.
There is .22RF Magnum Shot ammo as well. A bit more shot,,more noise. more effective. more $$. I don't know of any 'smooth bore' rifles made for it though.
I did run 5 straight on Station 8 low house skeet with a Winchester 61 22Magnum w/shot loads one time though!
 
I forget whose brand it was, but I have used the brass crimped end birdshot successfully on squirrels, but you have to be real close, and most time s it takes 2 shots. I just used a Remington 510 single shot that was not smoothbore. There is a 510 smoothbore, but they are expensive and not needed
 
I always liked the saying that ".22 shotshells are good for taking grasshoppers on the wing."

With regards to the previous post, I don't know why they want to chew on wiring. When I found that they had chewed on some Romex in my attic, that speeded up my plan.
I smoked them out, patched their roof entry, and vent entry. They came back with a vengeance, trying to tear off my work and the siding etc.
Couldn't hit them with my FN Trombone. Got serious and out came the Walther KKJ. Game over.
 
As suggested, air rifles can be very effective on squirrels. A hardware store proprietor suggested this Crossman for squirrels, and it worked DRT at the 60 foot distance we needed it for, as long we used the pointed pellets.

Crosman 760 Pumpmaster with Scope | Air Rifles | Crosman
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The only thing these 22 rat shot cartridges are good for is practicing your wing shooting on dragon flys or hand thrown baloons.

That application is great for introducing wing shooting to children.

They are hopeless on any larger game.
 
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I used Federal crimped shotshells on red squirrels with great effectiveness. Northern Red Squirrels for those of you who don't live in their range and are thinking of fox squirrels. These vermin are about the size of a large mouse if you discount the tail. They seem to have an affinity for electrical insulation in general and wreaked havoc in the attic at the farm if I didn't keep them cleaned out. Usually dead on first hit out to about 15 yards. Sometimes took a coup de grace. Never got the same results with either Winchester or CCI.
 
Buford57 said:
I used Federal crimped shotshells on red squirrels with great effectiveness. Northern Red Squirrels for those of you who don't live in their range and are thinking of fox squirrels. These vermin are about the size of a large mouse if you discount the tail. They seem to have an affinity for electrical insulation in general and wreaked havoc in the attic at the farm if I didn't keep them cleaned out. Usually dead on first hit out to about 15 yards. Sometimes took a coup de grace. Never got the same results with either Winchester or CCI.
Click to expand...

Those Federal rat shot must have some kind of magic I've never witnessed to kill even a mouse at 45'. Maybe larger shot, dunno.
 
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CCI short sub sonic is much quieter than a pellet gun and totally effective on squirrels. However, depending on where you live it may be illegal. If you are a good shot with a decent rifle you shouldn't have a problem but be safe.
 
HENRY now makes a smoothbore 22 rifle.
i agree with the airgun fans-longer range kills that 22 shotshells.
CCI "QUIET" 22 if you're able is a great round-in a rifled 22.
best of luck
Larry
 
Narragansett said:
I forget whose brand it was, but I have used the brass crimped end birdshot successfully on squirrels, but you have to be real close, and time s it takes 2 shots. I just used a Remington 510 single shot that was not smoothbore. There is a 510 smoothbore, but they are expensive and not needed
Click to expand...

Right now I have a few boxes of those, they are made by Winchester. Years ago they were available at Cabela's I think it was. I bought 5 boxes of 50 but back then the prices were not high like now.

They seem to work well enough on small birds like Starlings. I have never tried using them on Squirrels. Like I said above, all you need for them is a 22lr round. Nothing special needed either but some homeowners like to use CCI Stingers or Velocitors for Squirrels. Also like I said, nothing wrong with the CCI Quiet-22 ammo. Since they are going only 720fps you don't want to try anything over 50 yards with them, I prefer within 25 yards.
 
I really appreciate the information and suggestions offered.....

Thank you to all who offered suggestions and shared their experiences.
I now am actively seeking a quality & reliable pellet rifle to help eliminate the wire knawers and pecan stealers. Even bfore the wire knawing problems the squirrels were getting every pecan before all the leaves were even shed from the trees. I have tried "Have A Heart" traps but the little varments are really weary and learn very quickly so not many after the first few were trapped and relocated. To add there was a truck in which to transport that is no longer available.
Please accept my gratitude for all the help.
 
This may not be the case here, but some jacket material for wire and cable are soy/vegetable based. Mighty tasty for rodents.
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Yes, soy bean based plastics are squirrel bait! Both my neighbor and I have had the little buggers chew up the gas lines on our propane grills. And a couple years ago they got the EVAP return lines on my truck. My garage mechanic said that it is a common problem with autos of certain years, especially if they are not driven much. Our Dodge Dakota is a 2001.

John
 
Are there states where squirrel hunting/shooting is not regulated? In Michigan, they are considered game animals and are protected by game laws with hunting seasons established. Also, I agree that more would be wounded and suffer a long time before dying if shot with this stuff.
 
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