Squirrel Hunting with Cast? What Caliber?

[DonMountain]

My wife was always very protective of "her" squirrels that she enjoyed watching in our yard. We live on a farm with plenty of room around us. Two weeks ago her car stopped running and our SUV started throwing error codes on the dash. I found out that the squirrels had chewed wires off both of them. I still can't find the problem on her car. For a solution to the situation, yesterday she shotgunned three of them and wants me to shoot the rest of them to keep them away from her car. I have an assortment of old military rifles and an AR in 223. Any suggestions on making them good squirrel guns? 6.5 Swedish maybe as I have cast projectiles for it? 7mm Mauser? 30's? M1 carbine?

[dangitgriff]

Good Lord, just get an air rifle!
[emoji23]

[Texas by God]

Buy her another box of shotgun shells. She's on a roll!

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[gumbo333]

From .22 thru 45/70. You have several that should work with low velocity loads. In my very limited experience heavier cast for caliber has grouped better at lower velocities than lighter. Make sure the cast bullets are a bit larger than the bore. A lifetime of info all over this site. A 405 in a 45/70 accurate at very low velocity will remove a squirrel head very nicely. Have fun.

[Conditor22]

If you want to shoot "old military" 223, 55gr, BE, 3.5, if you're in a hurry I'd stick with a 4-10

[John McCorkle]

Cat sneeze loads for 30 would be a dandy and fun.

I use Lee 314-90swc sized down and powder coated in a range of 30 Cal's over a very light load of Tite group...

Any lightweight boolit would work with the same principal...stuff it in the case of a very light load of pistol powder and blaze away. Look up cat sneeze loads for more of what folks use

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[Nobade]

Put a lot of thought into how far a rifle bullet will fly when fired into the air at a high angle. Then buy more shotgun shells.

[DonMountain]

Put a lot of thought into how far a rifle bullet will fly when fired into the air at a high angle. Then buy more shotgun shells.

Well, I don't buy shotgun shells either. I was an avid trap shooter with one of the stepsons until the daughter died of cancer a year ago and we stopped trapshooting together. But I still have about 6000 12 gauge trap loads all loaded up with 7-1/2 shot at around 1100 fps. Thats what my wife used on those three squirrels yesterday. But they have a limited range to kill squirrels. But up close they work fine. So, I was looking for something with a little longer range maybe. I guess I could break out the 22 long rifle also since ammo is starting to come back in the stores now. But being a cast bullet person, I always think of them first and what I could do with a cast bullet.

[Shopdog]

8" Python with a 2X Luepold,custom mount,and sling studs. Shooting a Lee 140 SWC backed by 5g 231. Shot this load right at 15k rounds. Head shooting squirrels is pretty much a gimme.

[dverna]

A lot depends on where you live.

An air rifle as mentioned above is a good choice. If more rural, the .22 is cheap and effective.

Call me frugal, but I would not waste money using shotgun shells when .22's are $2.00 a box...plus I like a bit of a challenge.

[brewer12345]

I have shot small game with standard pressure 38 special. Keep it under 1000 fps and pay attention to your backstop. Either that or buy a bag of 5 shot and roll a few boxes.

[Walks]

Get a Cat.

Preferably a Big male Rescue that you can convince them not to neuter. Get a Cat flap so he can avoid the Coyote's.

You will be squirrel free in a week.

[Petander]

You need a 500 S&W.

I once shot a magpie from two yards for poo-pooing on my wife. There's still a hole in my garage roof.

The bird pretty much disappeared.

[richhodg66]

Air Rifles work, .22 LR work. I use reduced loads in a .22 Hornet most of the time, but 100-110 grain flat point bullets in a .30-30 or similar work well too. A shotgun is gonna be hard to beat if you can use it where you are.

.30-30 with the Lee 113 grain soup can and five grains of Clays
242651

.22 Hornet, 45 grain plain based WFN and two grains of Bullseye
242652

.22 Hornet, Bator bullet and six grains of 2400
242656

20 gauge is good too
242653

16 gauge too
242654

[Winger Ed.]

Buy her another box of shotgun shells. She's on a roll!

Yeah,,,,,,,,,, OK, where's that 'like' button that news stories have?

[Tripplebeards]

Just soak a bag of peanuts in some marlin fly bait.

[trapper9260]

Buy her another box of shotgun shells. She's on a roll!

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I say the same she is doing great do not stop her.Keep her going on it. She knows where they all are and going to.

[richhodg66]

Haven't had a problem with squirrels, but the field mice around here will nest in a car engine and chew stuff up if you don't leave the hood up. A cat would be a good solution for mice, squirrels would be more able to avoid a cat.

[Blammer]

may be a bit potent for what you want but lots of fun!

also for the car, get 'mint extract' mix it with water, spray under hood, on wiring, inside where vents are. Mix it strong. 1 cup of water add 3-5 drops.

squirrels don't like the mint and will stay away, and it smells nice and minty. :)

[georgerkahn]

Heeding Nobade's sound advice re range of bullets is a very good point. In my youth, many, many, many squirrels were dispatched with a Mossberg Model 42 .22 bolt action, using .22 SHORT ammunition. Quite quiet, quite deadly, and -- perhaps "sick" -- but I'd always note that a squirrel hit in the head (my aiming point) would always jump up and do a dying/dead flip; if hit anywhere (lethally) else -- they'd just drop.
The humble .22 short really packs quite the deadly force on squirrels!

[SSGOldfart]

A lot depends on where you live.

An air rifle as mentioned above is a good choice. If more rural, the .22 is cheap and effective.

Call me frugal, but I would not waste money using shotgun shells when .22's are $2.00 a box...plus I like a bit of a challenge.

Man how long has it been since you bought 22lr. shells????

[richhodg66]

Man how long has it been since you bought 22lr. shells????#2 son and I were in the local Orscheln's looking around today. They had 16 gauge shells, 1 1/8 ounce of #8s or #6s, $19.99 a box. Same number of 20 gauge shells, one ounce of shot, $7.99. Doesn't seem like you find good .22 ammo anymore for much less than a dime per round.

I'll keep using centerfires on squirrels, cheaper and better. Even shotguns don't have as much of a difference as one might think if you use commonly available shells.

[bikerbeans]

3" 410 with 5/8 oz of 6 shot over I4227. Out of a 500E with fixed FC will drop a fox squirrel at 30 yards.

BB

[Tripplebeards]

I just sprayed a half a gallon of vinegar under my deck where there’s a rabbit living. I don’t know if squirrels hate the smell of vinegar as well? I tried mothballs last year. I put them in back of my Hosta plants . For some goofy reason the squirrels picked them out and tossed them in the yard. Looked like it hailed.

[If1Hitu]

Try a stone and flip....[smilie=l:

[dverna]

Man how long has it been since you bought 22lr. shells????

Go to Target Sports website.

I buy in bulk.

[Maine1]

110 gr lead M-1 carbine boolets work great in 30-30 and 308.

The flip works too, even better with lead round balls

[hwilliam01]

Get a German Shepherd....haven't seen a squirrel in the last 4 years...

[WRideout]

Well, I don't buy shotgun shells either. I was an avid trap shooter with one of the stepsons until the daughter died of cancer a year ago and we stopped trapshooting together. But I still have about 6000 12 gauge trap loads all loaded up with 7-1/2 shot at around 1100 fps. Thats what my wife used on those three squirrels yesterday. But they have a limited range to kill squirrels. But up close they work fine. So, I was looking for something with a little longer range maybe. I guess I could break out the 22 long rifle also since ammo is starting to come back in the stores now. But being a cast bullet person, I always think of them first and what I could do with a cast bullet.

I once shot a squirrel that was looking straight at me with 22 short. Hit him in the chest, and I found the bullet under the skin on his rump. It had gone end-to-end. 22 short is all I use in rimfire for small game now. On a different note, I have used .311 round balls in my Nagant pistol with a 22 case full of Red Dot and it is surprisingly accurate. I know that wasn't one of your guns, but the principle applies.
Wayne

[GhostHawk]

^

Air rifle from Sheridan blue streak on up.
.22lr in almost any configuration.
Or a cast lead bullet over a few grains of
Red Dot in any caliber from .223rem to .45-70 will do the job.

But the shotgun works too, just noisier.

[dale2242]

Tree or ground squirrels?

[MrWolf]

Been buying 22's for four cents. Just saw Thunderbolts for three cents a round.

[Tripplebeards]

Been buying 22's for four cents. Just saw Thunderbolts for three cents a round.

What happened to .99 cents for fifty golden bullets? Guess the 70’s are gone.lol

[Tripplebeards]

I got a rabbit the other day at close to 20 yards with my browning 22 cal nitro pistol. I mounted a camouflage Tasco PDP2 red dot sight on it. It went through the rabbit and and my vinyl siding as well. Guess I’ll have to make a trip to the hardware store for some grey caulk to fill the dime sized hole. Luckily it’s on the bottom piece closest to the ground. Rocket pellets...the ones with the bb in front sure are penetrators. I’ve taken quite a few raccoon with the same set up. Head shots only of course. Predator pellets don’t penetrate coons out of the browning pistol but same predator pellet in my Walter talon 22 mag nitro piston air rifle they’ll go completely through raccoon skulls at 30 yards. I think it’s time for a cold steel blowgun.

[gumbo333]

If you are not going to blast them with a 45/70 I guess a 22 would work. My brother dispatches armadillo's with 22cb rounds at very close range. Think that 6.5 x 55 cast looks good. A cast hornet would likely work. Anything that you can find accuracy with. With shotguns you have to look around, sometimes cheap sub trap 12 ga loads get pretty cheap, sometimes its 20 ga. Hardly ever 16 or 410 or 28. But your range shrinks. This looks likes 2 year project. Then there is a .36 cal flintlock. Wasn't that the squirrel gun?

[richhodg66]

I think it was Ben who posted a picture of loads like this using that Lyman full wadcutter for .32 revolvers and five grains of Bullseye in a .30-30. I've done similar loads and at 25 yards, which to me is realistic squirrel range. Honestly, I can't see it doing much better than my cast .22 Hornet loads already do. Seems like a .25-20 or similar would be the perfect cartridge for such a venture.

When I was 17, we moved into a big house that even being in town, had almost an acre back yard that was the remnants of a once large pecan orchard with probably two dozen or more mature trees. It backed up to a city ball field which was almost never occupied and a church on one side that was vacant most of the time too, and large treelines concealing most things from any other neighbors. Dad got me an entry level RWS springer and I did some of my best squirrel hunting right there in the back yards. I don't have the rifle anymore, but have used a couple of Sheridans and a few others over the years.

CB caps are quieter than many air rifles if inside a city.

Where I am now, I don't have to worry about neighbors. I'm gonna stick with my .22 Hornets and a .218 Bee when I get to it, but if noise isn't a concern, everybody has a shotgun, and an ounce or so of #6s gets it done better than just about anything else.

[richhodg66]

3" 410 with 5/8 oz of 6 shot over I4227. Out of a 500E with fixed FC will drop a fox squirrel at 30 yards.

BB

I have a couple of .410s now, one is a little snake charmer type of thing Rossi makes that sits on my lap while I mow the yard and accompanies me on trips to the mail box etc., not much of a gun for hunting, but carries like a pistol and I have a lot more confidence in my ability to take out small, fleeting varmints with it than a pistol.

The other is a nice old Iver Johnson which I would like to hunt with. I bought a box of brass shells with the intent of loading for it. Back to that someday, I hope. Thanks for that info, I was reading an article Ed Harris wrote on this subject a while back, seems he had a similar load.

[sparky45]

Are you sure it's the "tree rats" and not Packrats? Around here it's most likely going to be the latter. One nested last year under the hood of my tractor. Older tractor so the rewiring wasn't that bad. I have a Hw30 that punches through a 303 tin can at 25 yds. ; plenty of steam to roll a tree rat.

[robinsroost]

Plenty of good ideas here. I like my model 500 Mossberg .410, full choke, and 3" of #5 or 6 shot. I also have a Traditions Crockett .32 muzzleloader. With 20 grains of powder it makes less noise than a .22 and hits like a 22mag. You did not mention this as a choice but I load 85 grain LRNGC's over Clays for my .243. Keep yer powder dry.

[DonMountain]

I don't have a 410. My wife and I use 12 gauge doubles for trap shooting, and now squirrel shooting. She uses a 356 Winchester for deer hunting. She likes that lever action with a short barrel for climbing up her deer stand. Light, accurate and has a scope on it. But a little large for squirrels. We do have an old 22 rifle with a scope, and I bought a box of 1000 rounds at WalMart. So now we are ready with that. But it always seems like the squirrels are moving around too fast so the 12 gauge with trap shells seems to be the thing for now. But I was considering casting up some more bullets for that 6.5 Sweed and see what I can do with that. Or the 7mm Mauser.

[John McCorkle]

How would one of those 38 or 45 pistol shot shells pattern out of a rifle length barrel? One of those Henry single shots with 357 load of shotshell (saw a post making shot cups out of old milk jug plastic) may do well at short range from a rifle length barrel

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[DonMountain]

I am shooting these tree squirrels at distances from about 25 yards out to 50 yards or more with the 12 gauge shotgun, selecting the full choke barrel for those longer ranges. A pistol caliber with a shot cartridge would be real limited in range. But the 22 long rifle with scope would be the thing since it has a scope on it. Trouble is the squirrels are never sitting still. And I am not sitting in the woods waiting for them to show up. I see them out the window and grab the shotgun and run out the door to find them running. Even if I sneak out they are already on the move. But they do tend to always be around the cars. A 410 might work at close ranges, but I don't have one. Nor a 20, or a 16, or a 28. For trap loads I just load the 12 gauge shells down in the same range as a light 20 gauge. 7/8 oz of 7-1/2 shot at 1100 fps. Should I buy a bag of #6 shot and load 1-1/4 oz at a higher velocity for those longer ranges and more killing power? I hate to use my AR-15 in 223 with scope because I lose all of my brass. Although when I am shooting at coyotes I don't even stop to look for the casings.

[richhodg66]

That .356, a .38 Special wadcutter and about five grains of Bullseye or similar charge of a pistol powder would be the ticket.

[brstevns]

5 gr. of Unique or Bullseye under a cast bullet for the 223. Turns it into a 22 WMR. They however will not cycle the action/ Don't have that problem because I used them in a Martini Cadet

[Renego]

Richhodg66,

Is the 45gr WFN a commercial boolit or do you cast your own? If the latter, what mold?
I'm getting ready to reload for a .22 Hornet H&R 058 rifle.
Thanks.

[cwlongshot]

These aughta be dandy form a 22H 218 Bee or 222/223...

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Bullets/Casting/A5B9ED4A-6928-4896-B4C4-4A602E5ABE2E_zpshnta6o72.jpeg

CW

[Uncle Grinch]

Better check you DNR rules first. I know Georgia does not allow centerfire cartridges for small game. It’s rimfire only.

[richhodg66]

Kansas has no such regulations.

The one I use for squirrel loads most in the Hornet is this one, you can get it hollow pointed (never have seen a need) plain based or gas checked. I ordered mine all plain based because I never planned to shoot them at more than .22 LR velocities.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=24_114&osCsid=bc7aj8ilvricmrbcsd9nnirff5

This guy sells what looks to be very similar bullets on gunbroker
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/815126840

As mentioned, I also shoot the Bator bullet Midsouth had special orders for a while back, but I think it's discontinued. The current Lee is not the same. I recently got one of the original Ranchdog molds for his .22 bullet I hope to get to this Summer as well.

[popper]

Subsonic 22LR or shorts. Click call (like a dog call) will make them stop and look at you. Works for grackles too. Hot melt bullets work good to 50 and don't go much past that.

[Mr_Sheesh]

I've used 22 Long CB Caps a lot in past. 22LR for pack rats tho, detest those. Had one crawl into an insect zapper to avoid the cat in my shop once; ZAPPP the back rat didn't survive. "So tragic" :p

[yeahbub]

HAH! Don, a friend's wife had that attitude about deer until she tasted venison. First, it was "Don't hurt the poooor widdle animals!" After grilled venison chops, she said "Get out there and kill some more - that meat is good!"

To answer your question about cast squirrel loads, most .30 cal's will readily accommodate a .315-.325" dia. RB with card wad and soft lube cookie in a reprimed unsized case with a few grains of something fast. Most have sufficiently long necks that the assembly won't fall down into the case, the best of these being the .30 carbine - small case, good ignition and the 16" twist is easy on a RB. Even a .375 RB pushed through a size die proper for the throat in your rifle makes a dandy light-weight plinker of sufficient accuracy for what you describe. I cast mine of WW's and size them the same day, while they're still soft. A few grains of Red Dot, 700X, PB, trail boss, etc., say 2-5gr will get them moving with plenty of zip. It's fun to develop this kind of load, but wouldn't it be easier to use a .22 rimfire , or, as dangitgriff mentions, a pellet rifle? That said, a friend had good success with heavy .22 pellets in primed .223 cases, no powder IIRC. Not sure how fast the twist is in your AR and how that would affect the accuracy, but giving it a try would be simple enough. In the 6.5 Swede, I've wondered if roll-cutting the gas check shank and two or three driving bands off of Lyman 266469 or similar and turned base first would work as a small SWC. Never tried it yet, but it's on the idea list.

[truckjohn]

30-06 168 Berger on top of a max load of 4350.

I apologize in advance for any squirrel residue on your car or roof.

;);)

[WRideout]

I used to use target loads of #8 in my 12 ga for squirrel, but I was losing too many. When I moved up to #6 lead it would solidly anchor them.

Wayne

[curioushooter]

It is my firm belief that a 22LR/410 gun is an ideal squirrel and rabbit gun. I have hunted both with everything from a 32-20 contender wearing a red dot to a 20gauge SxS, to a Kimber 82. I keep going back to the 22/410.

I use 11/16 oz of #6 in the 410 and CCI blazer to stinger depending on the temp (colder temps, slower ammo) .

[rdwarrior]

I have worked up a good load for my 30-30 - 175 gr cast boolit sized at .311 in front of 2.9 grains titegroup. runs around 615fps per the chronograph.

[Mr_Sheesh]

For .22LR at lower costs, 2 good sources for price lookups;

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/22lr

http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/rimfire/22lr/

The first you can control a bit more, but searching within the results on the 2nd gets you the same results; I don't think they both search the same web sites completely, I tend to look at both.

3.2 cents for CCI (assuming it's Blazer) is not too bad for plinking etc. :)

[waksupi]

It sounds like you need a .36 flintlock rifle, and round ball.

[robinsroost]

It sounds like you need a .36 flintlock rifle, and round ball.

waksupi, I prefer a .32 caliber percussion. Mine is a Traditions Crockett, much more accurate than I am. With 20 grains of 3fg it makes less noise than a .22lr and hits like a .22 magnum. Next, I will try 10 grains to see if there any perceivable difference. Keep yer powder dry...………….robin

[SSGOldfart]

Just load up a box of training rounds for your 223/5.56 AR.very easy to make, 1st clean case,drill the flash hole out with a 1/8 drill bit now Mark the cases so you don't use them for full power loads I use mag primers because they will work the action on our AR's and M16's,next load a 22 caliber pellet into the neck of your primers case, I found accuracy was better if I loaded the pellet backwards. This is the training round use to teach troops to shoot the M16. Many hours where spent shooting down a hallway into sandbags,I've used it for years keeping everything out of the garden,squirrels rabbits mice and even a few dogs here are there.

[uscra112]

Shame you don't have a .25-20. 60 grain cast and about 1.7 grains of Red Dot makes a dandy subsonic squirrel load.

In a .22, the CCI Quiet round does it at across-the-yard ranges and won't alert the neighbors. I use them on the opossums that plague us every summer.

[Cast_outlaw]

Well that lee 314-90 swc with 2.5 tight group is quiet and accurate in my sks at just around 900fps it’s quieter than 22lr quiets

[Mr_Sheesh]

A .22 Hornet might work well for this job too

[mac60]

Just like Uncle Grinch in Georgia, in Alabama we are limited to rimfire firearms or shotguns with 2 shot or smaller. Something I've noticed when using a shotgun for squirrels is at long range a larger size shot kills better. I load #5 copper plated shot. The plated shot is much harder than non plated shot. It penetrates much better. I'll admit that the reason I'm doing this is twofold - I get more clean kills and I don't have to worry about picking shot out of the meat. I understand that you're not eating them and just want to get rid of 'em - you'll kill a lot more of 'em with bigger harder shot.

[richhodg66]

A .22 Hornet might work well for this job too

The .22 Hornet is the best I've found so far. It just downloads so easily. Two grains of Bullseye is my standard with a cast, but it makes more noise than I think you'd want if neighbors were a concern. I've gone as low as 1.5 grains and it works well too and is much quieter.

I would think a .25-20 or similar with cast would be the perfect squirrel rifle, I just don't happen to have one (yet).

[kycrawler]

Run a pole or 2x4 between 2 trees. Wire an ear of corn in the middle. Set 2 110 conibears on either side Of the corn repeat as needed

[cwlongshot]

I agree the 25/20 is quieter than the Hornet and the 32/20 is quieter still, all with very light loads.

CW

[quail4jake]

I love that .32-20 idea, I've shot many squirrels with my win '92 loaded to original .32 WCF specs. I use the 115 gr RNFP at 1250 fps because it groups the best of any I've tried although it is overkill for squirrels. The best mass harvest I've done is with a small pile of corn about 40 yards from a treestand (a very comfortable one), wait until the pile is about completely gray with squirrels and blammo! One blast from my BT99 with a handicap load and it's game over, there are usually some that are still doing the death shuffle so I dispatch them with a Stevens Favorite .22 short. The most clandestine way to rid squirrels is a product called "Tomcat" which is a solid rodent bait (anticoagulant) smeared with peanut butter and placed strategically near your bird feeder. The bait chunks have a hole in the middle, best to screw them to a treetrunk or something to prevent translocation. :popcorn:

[trapper9260]

I had made up some reduced loads for my 22-250 with 45gr PB cast. to shoot like a 22lr for this reason when I want to use that rifle to go out and also shoot regular loads in the same gun. for more then one use of game. I did crony the load with GC that is what it came with and PB and after I get what I was looking for in GC and then I enter all in a site that is for reduced loads to see what the load will be and went from there.

[cwlongshot]

I shoot a Speer swadged 115swc in .314 dia boolit on top of tha tiny scoop of PB powder. It dosnt make 700 fps and shoots a gnats eye. With very quiet report. I dont think Id use it much past 25-30 yards but I always have a couple In my pocket what I have that gun!

CW

[8mmFan]

So far we have always used a .22. This year, however, I suspect we’ll use all manner of cast bullets with cat sneeze loads. 7x57 and 8x57 for sure. Always used safely, of course - no shots fired up at all. We have plenty of opportunities to shoot down at them at our place, and there are a lot of squirrels.

The boys and I enjoy eating them.

8mmFan

[hazmat]

I use the "Original" Cast bullet -.32 patched roundball out of a 32 Blackpowder rifle. Cracks like a 22 mag and will touch them with death at 50yards. You can get a lot of use out of a pound of black powder!

[richhodg66]

I use the "Original" Cast bullet -.32 patched roundball out of a 32 Blackpowder rifle. Cracks like a 22 mag and will touch them with death at 50yards. You can get a lot of use out of a pound of black powder!

This is something I will eventually get around to trying. I have a .32 muzzle loader and cast up some .310 round balls a while back to try. What loading of powder should I start with? I'm fairly knowledgeable about muzzle loaders and have hunted with .50s and .54s, but one this small is a new game.

[psweigle]

I'm sure its been suggested already, but the 30 carbine would be my choice given the guns you mentioned, and the distances you mentioned. I'm also sure that you would really want to powder coat them so the gas block didn't get leaded. I would load the 30 carbine as if it were a 32-20. And you would have to cycle the action by hand.

[DonMountain]

Ok, I have kind of cleaned up the squirrel problem with 1-1/8 ounces of #5 shot in 12 gauge Remington Gun Clubs over 25.0 grains of Herco. And some Winchester copy wads of course. They fly good and kill good at close ranges and through the trees. Now I am going to upgrade to an old Military rifle in 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with a carbine length barrel. I also happen to have cast, but not sized and lubricated yet, a whole bunch of Lyman 266469AV 437 RNGC 140 grain 6.5 mm. So, what kinds of loads will work well with this bullet for squirrels? Powder types and amounts? Of course I will look all of these suggestions up in all of my manuals. But is there any combination that works well for this application? I prefer a bolt action so I can keep my brass. But an M1 carbine with 129 grain cast sure was one of the first suggestions I liked.

[trapper9260]

Kansas has no such regulations.

The one I use for squirrel loads most in the Hornet is this one, you can get it hollow pointed (never have seen a need) plain based or gas checked. I ordered mine all plain based because I never planned to shoot them at more than .22 LR velocities.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=24_114&osCsid=bc7aj8ilvricmrbcsd9nnirff5

This guy sells what looks to be very similar bullets on gunbroker
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/815126840

As mentioned, I also shoot the Bator bullet Midsouth had special orders for a while back, but I think it's discontinued. The current Lee is not the same. I recently got one of the original Ranchdog molds for his .22 bullet I hope to get to this Summer as well.

I have that 22cal boolit in 45gr GC/PB and have it shoot PB like a 22lr . out of my 22-250 Rem 700.

[midnight]

Like hazmat, a 32 cal patched ball out of a long barreled flintlock. You learn to be reeeeel steady.

Bob

[bisleyfan41]

I know it ain't fun, different, exciting, or hand loaded but CCI .22 SGBs do real well on squirrels. $6/50. Done.

[robinsroost]

This is something I will eventually get around to trying. I have a .32 muzzle loader and cast up some .310 round balls a while back to try. What loading of powder should I start with? I'm fairly knowledgeable about muzzle loaders and have hunted with .50s and .54s, but one this small is a new game.

Rich, I load 20 grains of 777 in my Traditions Crockett. It makes less noise than a .22lr and hits like a .22 magnum. It will keep 5 shots in a 1" circle, from the bench, at 25 yards. I have read that you can go down to 10 grains of 777 or 3fg and I will try that. Keep yer powder dry...……...robin

[Boolseye]

I will tend to use light charges of bullseye for my cast squirrel loads. 3.2 gr. BE with Lee 314-90 SWC in any .30 cal is ample squirrel medicine. The same load under a NOE 225-55 (rcbs) in .223 is also very effective.


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[John McCorkle]

I will tend to use light charges of bullseye for my cast squirrel loads. 3.2 gr. BE with Lee 314-90 SWC in any .30 cal is ample squirrel medicine. The same load under a NOE 225-55 (rcbs) in .223 is also very effective.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI wish Lee offered this as a six gang mold...I go through a mountain of them

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[cwlongshot]

I know it ain't fun, different, exciting, or hand loaded but CCI .22 SGBs do real well on squirrels. $6/50. Done.

[smilie=s: (Insert sarcasum) Only this is “CAST BOOLIT BOARD” not “SWAGED BOOLIT BOARD” So 22RF dont count. :veryconfu [smilie=s:

CW

[bisleyfan41]

[smilie=s: (Insert sarcasum) Only this is “CAST BOOLIT BOARD” not “SWAGED BOOLIT BOARD” So 22RF dont count. :veryconfu [smilie=s:

CW

There is this....

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?41-Swaging

:drinks:

[Three44s]

How about why the critters are so interested in wiring all of sudden?

Well it turns out the insulation tastes or smells good to in certain instances!

Some car manufacturers are using wiring insulated with plastics that have compounds that include biomass from plants .... such as peanuts and soybeans to name but a couple.

This is done to meet government sustainability and recycling targets.

Makes a lot of sense don’t it? You certainly need your chewed up vehicle to be more recyclable faster and more easily?

BTW my vote goes to 20 ga shotgun or 22 hornet or 25-20 win.

Three44s

[tja6435]

I’d put mouse poison in the engine compartment. I’ve battled field mice in my truck for a couple years now, I avoided poison at all cost initially but that’s the only way to really push the population back and out of the vehicles. Even with a small army of cats, they won’t get every mouse. I do need to get some cats though to help with the bunny population that decimates my gardens.

[DonMountain]

I’d put mouse poison in the engine compartment. I’ve battled field mice in my truck for a couple years now, I avoided poison at all cost initially but that’s the only way to really push the population back and out of the vehicles. Even with a small army of cats, they won’t get every mouse. I do need to get some cats though to help with the bunny population that decimates my gardens.

I don't want to use the poison solution either, since the half dead mice and squirrels might be eaten by all the black snakes that usually take care of all the mice. And that leads us back to an overabundance of mice. If I use a trap then I can see the dead animal. If I shoot the squirrel then I can see the dead body. And besides, it gives me something to look out the window for when I am drinking my morning coffee. With my 12 gauge double leaning against the wall next to me.

[Three44s]

They really do not like mint oil but you likely need to find their nest to break the cycle or trap the current adults out already even with the oil.

I agree on the poisons, we are always afraid of the secondary poisoning. They say no “except” ..... you know there is always an “except” in there ....

I am a fan of lead, you aim it and that is that but time is a factor.

I have my cousins Rodentator borrowed and that is a blast (literally). We are inundated with ground squirrels (the rodent variety) here in the PNW as well as the ever determined gopher. The Rodentator uses propane and oxygen and injects it into their burrow. You count until you are about to run out of nerve and then hit the ignition.

Locally an orchardist used one but unknowingly was on top of an intersection of tunnels and the blast broke and ankle.

Another guy was close to his house and went after a ground squirrel. He loaded it up real good, hit the trigger and blew his house (tunnel led to his crawl space).

Two guys in the Canadian prarrie are said to have set several thousand acres ablaze with one.

I was getting a stiff flash back from ground squirrel tunnels and it was burning the hair off my arms when the flames reflected off the oak trees the holes were next to.

There just is not anything easy is there?

Three44s

[robinsroost]

[QUOTE=Three44s;4701867]How about why the critters are so interested in wiring all of sudden?

Wiring insulation contains salt which is an attractant to mice, squirrels and some birds. Keep yer powder dry...…….robin

[Tom W.]

I suppose a .45 caliber muzzleloader is out of the question........

[Drm50]

I have a couple favorite squirrel guns other than 22s. I've got a old Marlin 1894 in 32/20 that I shoot 98gr Fn. use mild load of Unique. Also have a m53 Win 25/20 that does well with 60gr FN, also mild loads of Unique. These rifles do less damage to small game than 22HPs. I don't hot rod the 94 Marlin it's over 100yrs old. I have 32/20 revolvers and use same load in them. The m53 Has a bore like a dime but it won't out shoot the 32/20.

[osteodoc08]

Unfortunately GA regs require rimfire or shotgun IIRC otherwise my 32-20 would be out with me.

[Boolseye]

I’ve hunted squirrel with an AR15 using a 4.0 gr. load of BE and a 55 gr. RF (NOE 55-225 RF, actual around 60 gr.). THey say you can't hunt with an AR, there'd be nothing left of the animal :neutral: Does very well. that is the only cast load I've hunted squirrel with (generally I use a TC Encore, not the black gun). I also have the Gibson load for Lee TL 314-90 SWC (3.2 gr. BE) that I would use in a Mosin. Yet to try that one on bushies. Have never killed a gray with a handgun.
-BE


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[curioushooter]

I've done this with three centerfire cast boolits loads, though I think that nothing beats a 410 shotgun with #6 for squirrels in trees and it is far safer this way as the projectiles will be harmless when they return to earth. 22LR is hands down the most economical. A 22LR/410 combo gun is THE ideal squirrel/rabbit rig IMO.

Buutttt...32-20 loaded with a ~32 caliber round ball (00 buck) and a small charge of Tightgroup or Unique propelling it to about 800-900 fps (just subsonic) is excellent out of my Contender. I chase them with a cookie of grease and a card wad. I've also rolled them in LLA. I never shoot enough to really foul up the barrel. Just enough room in that short neck. This load also works in 30-30 or 30-40 and is easier. This load will deliver an immediately fatal body shot and not be terribly destructive and pass through.

Another load that I recently discovered (my friend loaded it) was launching a 375 round ball from a 38 special case in a 357 mag rifle chased with grease cookie and card wad at just under subsonic. This load is considerably more destructive I'm sure, but it was accurate.

Another bizzare load that worked well for squirrels was loading three swaged 00 buck balls that were made into little tuna can shapes in a swage tool. I'd wrap them like a tootsie roll in vellum paper and shoot them out of a Nagant revolver with a small charge of tightgroup in 223 cases I converted to 7.62x38R. Stunning accuracy and all three would hit in an inch or two of each other at about 20 yards.