Maximum shot distance for squirrel with open sighted hand gun?

[superior]

I want to hunt squirrels with my 7.5" RBH... I know there are some good shooters here, but honestly, how far can you reasonably shoot at one with open sights. I've made some great shots at targets @ 20 yards. ( 1 inch groups using a rest). Blackhawk 45Colt 454 roundball 4 gr bullseye is my load.
I can shoot the lights out with the Lee 452-255 rf also, but the RB is more economical and alot quieter.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

That depends . . . do you plan on eating them . . . that depends on how good a shot you need to be . . . :mrgreen:

[superior]

Yes, I would like to can the meat and later combine it with rabbit and wild hog for sausage.
So I guess, head shots are what I have in mind...Or at least upper torsoe...( not much meat on the ribs anyway)

[DanWalker]

When I'm shooting well, 50 yard shots on Prairie dogs with my blackhawk aren't too tough.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/crowshooter223/129164565218192679.jpg
This 35 yard shot on this marmot with the 38 snubby was tough. Even had a witness!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/crowshooter223/marmot38spl-1.jpg
We used to handgun hunt Jacks in the summer.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/crowshooter223/danjack-1.jpg
I've killed PILES of prairie dogs with this pellet gun.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/crowshooter223/pdogpelletgun07-1.jpg
You'd be suprised at how effective a guy can get if he just gets out there and TRIES...

[TCLouis]

improve the accuracy of the handgun they plan to use.

I'll use me and my Buckmark as an example.

When I bought it I had a 30 Caliber ammo can full of loose 22 ammo that the pistol liked.

By the time I had shot all of them through the Buckmark it had shot itself til it was fully trained and provided accurate results downrange.

Shooting them til you get them trained to be accurate is the best way to get a pistol ready to hunt.

I have quit shooting it much and wouldn't you know it, the Buckmark has already forgotten some of it's accuracy training . . .

[Thumbcocker]

My advice would be to find your load, get it signted in with paper, and then do lots of field shooting. A roll of necco wafers from a candy store put up at various distances is good, also just walk and shoot at leaves sticks etc. You are hunting so there are no rules about positions or use of a rest. Even a shoulder agaist a tree trunk can make a big difference. I am much better at making one shot hits on something than shooting groups. The guys who get good groups offhand awe me. If you are hunting tree squirrles you can usually get within 15-20 yards. Can't speak to ground squirrels. I always go for rib shots no meat there.

Dan it looks like you have way too much fun with handguns.

[Iowa Fox]

Contender with a 14" 22 match barrel and a good solid rest @ 50 yrds is no problem.

In fact a contender with a good shooting cast load from a solid rest would be no problem most of the time.

[JeffinNZ]

Go buy a carton of small grade eggs and see how far away you can reliably hit them.

[DanWalker]

Golf balls and charcoal briquettes make great targets also. A golf ball will soak up quite a few hits, and usually fly quite a ways when hit. Briquettes make a satisfying,"puff" when hit.

[HammerMTB]

What can go wrong if you miss? I've missed plenty of squirrels, both short and long range. They are predators to my garden and tree fruit, so as far as I'm concerned, it is open season all the time. How's 200 in the past 2 years grab ya?
So my $.02 is get your best shot off as soon as ya can! If ya miss, try again! If ya knock the he|| out of a bunch, don't worry! They'll make more!

[Twinkiethekid]

My pops always uses his RBH 22 MAG to about 60 yards, made some really good shots with that gun.

[TCLouis]

So I'm thinking after rereading your post that with some practice to account for drop at distance that 40 - 50% kills at 50 yards is possible.

Squirrel outline target lotso shooting with the head as the only acceptable hit will equal stew with meat.

As someones tagline used to read . . .

Aim small, hit small

[45lcrevolver]

I use a 45 lc 4 5/8 barrel for squirrels. As long as you hit behind the shoulders, meat will not be damaged. I use a 300grain rnfp at about 750 ftps. It what shoot at soa in my pistol. 30 yards no problem, after 40 it gets iffy for me.

[NVScouter]

I regularly shoot ground squirrels at 0-250yards with a 45LC RBH. No meat involved and I only use the revolver for fun or "Hey are you looking at me?" situations.

After a day of blowing up a couple hundred sage rats the handguns, 300WBY, smokebombs etc. come out.

Realisticly I'd do 75-100 yards max with 25 being about right. If you hit in the area they die, especialy on rocks I aim on or low to hit the rock. The boolit blows up and becomes a frag.

My old 22LR/Mag Ruger would take them at 0-100y all the time if I did my part.