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Thread: Pondering a unique squirrel gun

  1. #1
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    Pondering a unique squirrel gun

    Looking for an accurate, low velocity(750-900 fps squirrel round.
    Something in the 24-30 caliber range, 60-90 grain pure lead pill.
    Single shot, bolt action or lever action.
    Curious as to what is out there, old or current.
    Suggestions, ideas?

  2. #2
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    Dryball's Avatar
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    Have you considered a .25cal pellet gun? Ive killed everything up to woodchucks at 100yds. I get about 15 shots per tank
    Domari Nolo

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
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    Why would you give a squirrel, even a unique squirrel, a gun?
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  4. #4
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    It has crossed my mind, but would like to see what is available out there in center-fire.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dryball View Post
    Have you considered a .25cal pellet gun? Ive killed everything up to woodchucks at 100yds. I get about 15 shots per tank

  5. #5
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
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    Size 0 buck shot in .30-30 over 3 grains of bullseye or red dot is pretty good. Just roll the shot in liquid lube, and load in an unsized flared case. Added bonus is that balls travel much less than boolits.
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    How about a T/C Contender in 327 Federal and fire 32 S&W out of it.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    I also would say consider a good air rifle.

    Hatsan for example makes a 135 in .22, .25 and .30 caliber. Quieter than any centerfire you are likely to run across without a supressor. Lower cost to shoot.

    But if you really want centerfire, then anything from .223 up to .357mag can be loaded down to quiet small game loads.

    I really like the Lee .314 90 gr truncated cone in both .300 blackout, and .30-30.
    3-4 grains of fast powder a primer and a small cast bullet. You get low noise, predictable results and surprising accuracy.

    For me the powder of choice was Red Dot as I can shoot it in everything. Shotguns, pistols, rifles.
    Works on everything, it just may not be the fastest, most powerful load. Or it may not cycle a semi auto action. But it will shoot.

    Even my SKS loves that little .314 90 gr lee bullet over 4.6 grains of Red Dot.
    Mine is a Yugo, so I just turn the gas off and have a very quiet accurate straight pull bolt action.

    What you did not mention is how good your eyes are, and if you can still handle iron sights.
    I've been switching everything I can over to Red Dot sights (prefered) or scopes.
    I just have no accuracy with iron sights beyond 30 yards anymore.

    That will have a major effect on what gun you want.

    If Irons are ok a good used Win 94 in .30-30 would make a nice light quiet critter killer with the right loads.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    308 win with 90 gr to 100 gr boolet with 3.2 gr of bullseye works great. I tried the round balls but accuracy past 25 yards wasn't very good

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    The lee 90 gr tc or the 100 gr lee 2R round nose shoot awesome

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    32 Cal muzzleloader.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    A contender in 270 Ren or 25-20 would fit the bill.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    Its a little on the big side, but I use 38 specials in a 357 lever rifle. A 158 grain RNFP loafing along at 800 or so FPS does the trick nicely, although no doubt you could use a much smaller bullet. If suck a thing exists, a 327 fed mag lever would throw a smaller diameter bullet at modest velocities nicely.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  13. #13
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    32 S&W long rolling block

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    256 win is what I would like for an obscure/unique loading, you can make brass out of 357 mag brass necked down to .25 cal the neck ends up being shorter than factory brass but easier to source... to get 7-900 fps one would have to play with his own load recipe probably with trail boss.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Maybe a Savage M-23 in .25-20, or better yet a .32-20,still fairly reasonably priced, or a slick Rem model 25 pump but they are kind of hard to find and expensive. I found one that someone drilled [rather badly] for a scope,got it for a decent price and really like it.

  16. #16
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    223 remington, 7gr of unique and any 50 to 60 gr bullet.

    there's your 'unique' rifle

  17. #17
    Boolit Master quail4jake's Avatar
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    Win '92 SRC in .32-20 with a 78 gr NOE rn cast soft with enough Titegroup to get 800 fps. That's what I use anyway...

  18. #18
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    I download .223 in my Savage Axis all the time for small game. Several powders that work well and loads are available online to look up. Lee Bator for a boolit!

  19. #19
    Boolit Master

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    My first thought was 32-20, but if it was me wanting something you don't see every day, I'd be breaking out one of my .218 Bee rifles shooting a 40 grain cast bullet at 22 LR or 22 mag velocities...

    Click image for larger version. 

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  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    I use a single shot NEF in 223 with a NOE 62 RN PB powder coated. I'v shot them from between 800fps and 2350fps depending on the need. I use different colors of powder to distinguish my loads. I am going to modify a piece of brass to take a shot shell primer and see what velocity that will give me with the 32 RN. In the field reloading as the primer and Boolit will be press fit, just need to deprime and reload
    Common sense Gun Safety . . .

    Is taught at the Range!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check