Handgun squirrel hunting

Bmlove · Apr 20, 2015

Hey all. Not sure where to post this but would like to be able to hunt squirrel with a nice handgun and was wanting to see if there's anyone in the forum that does this and what they use. Please, no rifles. Really want to give the little fellows a chance. Lol. Would like to use a S&W if possible.

tbgunner88 · Apr 20, 2015

The only handgun I've ever used to hunt squirrels is a Thompson Center Contender with a .410 barrel, but I don't guess that really counts. I've saw some people use pistols like the Ruger Mark series or the Browning Buckmark to hunt small game like rabbits, but squirrels can be challenging enough with a rifle.

Rpg · Apr 20, 2015

I've shot more squirrel with a beat up prewar Colt Woodsman than anything else.

My Ruger Mark 1 bull barrel 22, my High Standard B and my M 34 have killed some too.

An old, somewhat finish challenged Woodsman can be found for a very reasonable sum as can a pretty good older High Standard.

I'd buy a Woodsman or High Standard.

I only shoot standard velocity 22 ammo: more than enough for this application.

Dandecoteau · Apr 20, 2015

I have used my beretta m9a1. Shot a rabbit with a +p super lite fragmenting hollowpoint. Obviously we didn't harvest it for meat. LOL

My m9a1 is ridiculous accurate, I'd like to get out and do some hunting with it again. It really kicks some ***.

You can always use the Taurus judge. 410 and 45. Have to get pretty close to use the 410 though. The spread was ridiculous.

Bmlove · Apr 20, 2015

tbgunner88 said:
The only handgun I've ever used to hunt squirrels is a Thompson Center Contender with a .410 barrel, but I don't guess that really counts. I've saw some people use pistols like the Ruger Mark series or the Browning Buckmark to hunt small game like rabbits, but squirrels can be challenging enough with a rifle.

Thanks for response. Will keep those in mind.

silentflyer · Apr 20, 2015

S&W 17 8 3/8" .22 and a S&W 14 8 3/8" .38 loaded with wad cutters, a few with a S&W 48 .22 mag 8 3/8"...head shots only,I like the long toms.

arjay · Apr 20, 2015

I've taken prairie dogs and rabbits with a Ruger,haven't had a chance to hunt with my pre 18,but it should work just fine.

22hipower · Apr 20, 2015

The guy I acquired this 648 from claimed the reason he had purchased it was for "fox control" in Colorado. I haven't shot any with it but am sure that it would do the job if called on. No, 648s aren't usually black, this one has been cerakoated. And scoping a S&W is generally not recommended by the collector crowd but this one had it when I got it. Locals here frown on shooting firearms in the city limits so my squirrels drop via a Beeman Kodiak 22 caliber pellet rifle. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

J. R. WEEMS · Apr 20, 2015

Taken more than my share of tree rats with this one---

John F. · Apr 20, 2015

Many years ago, when shooting Bullseye, I used a S&W Model 41 with a 5" lightweight field barrel. With a sanded-down set of factory target grips, it fit fine in a 1911 GI style flap holster which provided good protection. Accuracy with match ammo was excellent. Seriously wish I hadn't sold it!!!

Model 34 4" kitgun is good if you have the eyes for it.
Tried a borrowed 4" 63 and it wasn't nearly as accurate as the 34 no-dash.

I agree that a Colt Woodsman (pre-war preferred) 6.5" is the cats' meow.
Lucked into 1 with a V-notch rear and small bead front sight. Didn't know how that combination would work, but it turned out to be vastly superior on small "field" targets for me than the usual Patridge sight. You don't cover up as much of the target, and the little gun shoots like it has radar on it. I zero mine 1" high at 25 yards so I can set the target just on top of the sight, and it is deadly out to 50 yards or so. I did a comparative accuracy test between a good lot of Eley and some CCI Standard velocity ammo when I got it -- six, 5-shot groups at 25 yards. Group sizes were virtually identical, so I just use CCI Standard and save the extra money to spend on Eley for my .22 rifle.

I also have a lot of experience with the old Hi-Standard Model B, and while it is a truly bullet-proof design (probably more durable than the Woodsman, if I had to guess), the trigger was no-where near as good as that on the pre-war Woodsman. Sights were not nearly as good as on the long-barreled "Target model" pre-war woodsman. (They called the long barrel Woodsman a "Target", and the 4" barrel version a "Sport.") The Target came with adjustable sights, while the 4" came with fixed. YMMV.

Good luck!
John

jinx · Apr 20, 2015

I don't know how many rabbits and squirrels have fallen to my K 22. It got to the point that my hunting buddy and I set a new rule. Head shots only. This caused us to be better shots and did not ruin any meat.

kraynky · Apr 20, 2015

The last time I did that was with a Browning Buckmark Bullseye, 7" barrel topped with a Leupold 4X28 dialed in to use Winchester Super X HP,s that would consistently make head shots at 25 yds, with a good rest. It was a squirrel thumping machine. ...............why I thought I had to trade it , I don't know. But I did.

Any of the previously mentioned handguns will do the same with some tuning and practice. I had a custom made leather chest holster that I was smart enough to keep. It's simple, lightweight and comfortable to hunt with. I had a photo of it somewhere once upon a time. EDIT: Here it is.
Go have some fun and make up a batch of squirrel dumplings,.........and then call me!

InTheWoods · Apr 20, 2015

I have shot them with almost every SW rimfire I own, but the most effective is my 648 .22 mag. with a 2x Leupold scope on it. For squirrels I feed it with CCI .22 WRF 45 grain loads. Quiet, accurate, and they shoot to the same point of aim as .22 SuperX magnums do out of this handgun at 50 yards.

hawkeye17 · Apr 20, 2015

buckmark hunter with red dot works fine for me .

one eye joe · Apr 20, 2015

AS FAR AS AN S&W THAT WILL GET THE JOB DONE---THIS IS MY NO-DASH 8 3/8" MODEL 617 IN .22LR. IT HAS AN ULTRA DOT , 30MM, RED DOT ON IT, USING A NO-DRILL SCOPE MOUNT, THAT IS NOT DESTROYING THE ORIGINALITY OF THIS BEAUTIFUL REVOLVER. THIS HANGUN SHOOTS LIKE A RIFLE, AND WILL KNOCK AN ACORN OUT OF THE PAWS OF A SQUIRREL ABOUT TO TAKE A BITE…. A SET UP LIKE THIS WILL COST NORTH OF $1,000. BY THE TIME YOU ARE DONE……(THE PIC ON THE RIGHT IS THE 617, WITH THE MOUNT AND A 2X LER SCOPE, WHICH IS THE PACKAGE AS I PURCHASED IT ON GUN BROKER)

FOR SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER MONEY, I WOULD MOUNT THE SAME RED DOT, USING A NO-DRILL MOUNT, ON A CLEAN USED RUGER MK II, GOVERNMENT TARGET MODEL. I WOULD ALSO INSTALL A VOLQUARTSEN TRIGGER KIT. I MAINTAINED AN AVERAGE IN THE LOW 290s FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES WITH SUCH A PISTOL, IN BULLSEYE COMPETITION. IT ALSO ACCOUNTED FOR MANY SQUIRRELS, RABBITS, AND FOX IN THE FIELD……

Goldstar225 · Apr 20, 2015

Back in my prime I spent two years hunting squirrels exclusively with a 6" model 17. Never came home without meat. Then like a damn fool I traded it off. One of my greatest regrets in life.

slimjim9 · Apr 20, 2015

No suggestions for a .500?

Bmlove · Apr 20, 2015

Thanks everyone. Now it's a matter of narrowing the field down to reasonable cost and availability. Some of these recommendations are out of my price range and others i have not seen available. When I get something will let you know and send pics. I have a mark I and an American heritage 6 shot revolver with LR and mag cylinders now. Might have to trade up.

Abflyboy · Apr 20, 2015

slimjim9 said:
No suggestions for a .500?

If I had a .500 S&W, I would have killed squirrels with it. As it is, my 8-3/8" 629 does the job quite nicely.

bigsteve113 · Apr 21, 2015

This is what I use. Sometimes they're too far for head shots!

Handgun squirrel hunting

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