First squirrel with a 308!

[davidheart]

I know it's not as glamorous as "first deer with cast," but I thought I'd post this for those of you who want to use one rifle for everything.

In the quest for a "do-all" rifle, I picked up a Model Seven in 308 that started out as a black stainless. After some creative spray paint and a bedding job with JB Weld she was off to the local gunsmith to reduce the barrel length to "19 and thread it 1/2x28 for the Form 1 suppressor I legally built. I could have fluting done cheaply ~$25 and save a couple ounces while I was at it. 308 was not my first choice of caliber for a lightweight stalking, do-all rifle, but the abundance of brass and some help from Cast Boolits members here "urged" me in that direction. (Thanks to George & his friends!)

Wearing a Leupold 2.5-8x36 we weigh in at 6lb 10oz. Add the suppressor and I'm at 7lb 14oz. In the future I'll add a Wildcat Composites stock to reduce the weight slightly and more importantly, stiffen the forend.

With multiple j-word workups at 100 I'm able to group 1/2 to 1 inch consistently. With the suppressor I could shoot full bore, top end 308 loads all day with no flinch or shoulder pain.

Despite what some have said about featherweight barrels, I've found the rifle is accurate as long as I do my part. With this light rifle it takes much more concentration to stay accurate than with my 8.5lb Mauser, but with the suppressor and cast boolits I could easily put in a load of trigger time to perfect my form without bugging my neighbors.

However, cast boolits are where she shines. The Lyman 311041 and RCBS 30-150-FN group within an inch with 22gr of IMR 4227 while 5.5gr of Bullseye throws a 150gr subsonic accurately to 100 yards with or without the suppressor. How accurate?

I thought I'd test my subsonic "small game" loads the other day. I've shot at least 100+ at targets to 125, but I was scared to shoot a squirrel or other small game for fear of wasting an animal. I took 2 small game rounds into the woods and sat at the base of a tree. After some calling a few squirrel popped out at ~50-75 yards. Afraid to spoil meat and waste the life of an animal I aimed for the head. It would be either a clean miss or a kill. The first squirrel was brought low, jittered around on the ground, and then stopped. I watched it all in my scope. The other two squirrel were only mildly phased and the subsonic shot sounded like a spitball in the woods. No human or deer would know the difference between it or a small branch dropping from moderate height. 5-10 minutes later the other two squirrel came back out. Based on the results from the last squirrel I felt comfortable shooting my second round. I aimed again for the head. Perfect shot and the squirrel dropped. The other squirrel hung around without running this time, wondering what just happened. If I had more than two rounds I would have had three squirrel that day.

I walked up to the spot where both were shot. Both perfect headshots. Zero gross overkill. Two nice squirrel for the pot. I will never hesitate again to use this round in the woods on the deer stand, stalks, or otherwise. My 22 Hornet with solid boolits or 22lr with hollowpoints are more destructive than this.

This year this gun has taken 8 deer and two squirrel now. Tomorrow is a Black Bear hunt in a local WMA I plan to visit. I truly have a combination I could confidently use for absolutely any hunt I feel may come up in my lifetime with cast boolits and J-Words, be it small game, deer, black bear, or elk!

Without this forum I would have never gotten into reloading as I did or been able to shoot as much as I have. Thank you all for your help and support!

251934

[Hawks Feather]

A .308 will require to to continue to be a good shot when it comes to squirrel and will serve as great practice for your bear. Nice shooting.

[Kylongrifle32]

Nicely done. Wish I could hunt small game with a reduced load center fire cartridge. I have a Handi rifle in 30-30 and love plinking with the Lyman 311414 over 6 grains of Unique.

[John McCorkle]

Nice!! Planning, testing, fiddling and achieving your goal! Man there is something sweet and satisfying about thinking a think and following through that makes this a great milestone

Congrats and continued success

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[William Yanda]

Great job and thanks for the report.

[trapper9260]

This is interesting for how you did .I had went with lighter boolit for a 32 cal and size down for my 308 win. ,also on 30-06 and 30-30. I done it with 00 buck shot too. I did not put it in the field yet for small game. But only on paper. Glad to see how you did and how the squirrel looks. That great shooting and keep you up on shooting and put meat in the pot.Thank you for shearing.

[jaysouth]

I wish:

I could hunt were it was safe to shoot up in trees

My state would let us use centerfire for small game.

Good job on your "project".

[rking22]

Nice project, I agree with the concept too. I picked a Kimber 84 Classic in 308 for my do everything hunting rifle. As it played out for me, I discovered it was more about liking different rifles than being logical. Glad your choice played out to your satisfaction. Would be really nice if Tennessee would let us use centerfire for squirrels. Good shooting, sure are easier to drag out than deer, ain’t they :)

[richhodg66]

Hard to beat a .30 caliber as a do all. The .30-30, .308. 30-06 etc., all load down real easy with cast and can still be thumpers if need be.

[brewer12345]

Nice shooting.

I have done similar with cast in a 357 lever using 38 special standard pressure loads. They seem pretty forgiving since the boolits aren't hitting game fast enough to blow them up or cause expansion, so they just drill a 36 caliber hole through the critter. Have taken bread basket shots on cottontails that show less meat loss than a 22LR hit. I have worked up a load with the lee soup can and my 30-06, but it is definitely supersonic and haven't tried it on game yet.

[davidheart]

Thanks guys! I felt oddly very proud of these two squirrel! It's such a cool feeling. 8-)


I wish:

I could hunt were it was safe to shoot up in trees

My state would let us use centerfire for small game.

Good job on your "project".

Oh golly, I wouldn't shoot a rifle, center-fire or rimfire up into a tree. I wait until the squirrel are on the ground or close to it or have a solid backstop for limited bullet travel (thus using a squirrel call). No matter what when firing a rifle one needs to be sure of his target and what's behind it!

We're only allow to hunt small game with a centerfire during large game seasons or designated large game hunts on public property.

[skeettx]

GREAT report
Thank you
Mike

[wch]

The first rule: "Use enough gun".

[s mac]

It's legal to use center-fire here, I have used a 308 for years, 125 gr bullet and 4 grs of Promo. Lots of fun.

[Tripplebeards]

Sounds like I need to switch to a 308 being you made some nice small holes...here’s my first cast rabbit i shot at 136 yards with my Ruger 7744 with a Lyman devastator.

https://i.imgur.com/kQY8UqQ.jpg

[skeettx]

PLENTY of meat left for the stew pot
Mike

[Treetop]

What a great story, davidheart! One of my absolute favorite hunting past times is hunting bushy tails using cast boolits. My most accurate squirrel load, so far, is the old standby 311291 in front of 5.5 gr. of Alliant Red Dot in .30-30 caliber. It will shoot < 1" at 50 yards which is plenty accurate for my squirrel needs here in the Brazos river bottoms of central Texas.

Thanks for posting your experiences and congrats on your first 2 cast boolit squirrel kills! Treetop

[Murphy]

Sounds like I need to switch to a 308 being you made some nice small holes...here’s my first cast rabbit i shot at 136 yards with my Ruger 7744 with a Lyman devastator.

https://i.imgur.com/kQY8UqQ.jpg



Think ya' used enough dynamite there, Butch?

Murphy

[15meter]

Not enough gun.

A guy at the local gun club used to talk about hunting squirrels with a 338 Win Mag and cast boolits. He liked to sit at the base of a tree and wait for one to sit on a branch above him.

Then shoot it through the branch.

One of his nicknames is squirrel bait, because he's nuts!!!!

[smoked turkey]

davidheart I too like the .308. Mine is a TC Encore with the ProHunter barrel. I used it to fill my buck tag with a 311291 over 12 gr of Unique. It did a sensational job. Our whitetail are not as heavy as some in the northern part of the state, but I scaled mine at 175 #. It was a nice racked 6 point. It came in directly straight at me and I don't like chest shots but I felt I had no choice and shot it at about 40 yards. It ran about 20 yards and piled up. I finally got it processed and just tonight I made 6# of summer sausage. I also made 6# of breakfast sausage. I have probably a dozen bags of burger and several packages of steaks and a few roasts too. We will get a lot of good eating from it. I got off track but wanted to let you know that I am encouraged by your squirrel report. I need to do that as we are over run with them.

[Bookworm]

Can't use centerfire for squirrel here in Okieland. Dang shame.

Good in you, davidheart, for taking the time and making the effort to become proficient with that rifle and load. It takes confidence to take a shot at a squirrel head at distance.

[Texas by God]

This makes me want to develop a round ball load for my 38-55! And I know from experience that a 50 caliber Muzzleloader will kill squirrels.....

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[Bookworm]

This makes me want to develop a round ball load for my 38-55! And I know from experience that a 50 caliber Muzzleloader will kill squirrels.....

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That just reminded me, years ago I was hot on the idea of a .36 flintlock for squirrel. I was single, and looking for something to fill my time.

Then, I found something to fill my time, and ended up married. It'll be 21 years in January.

I haven't thought of that .36 muzzle loader since, until just now....

[nagantguy]

The idea of one rifle to do it all has always been my dads philosophy; I have an assortment of rifles and it seems to grow every year but in the smaller house and as I get older/wiser? I’m looking seriously into one rifle
For about everything; you work up was great thanks for sharing and it’s hard to argue against .308 for just about everything!

[Rizzo]

Nice rifle and nice shooting!
But, a 308 seems a bit overkill for a squirrel.
Wouldn't a 22LR, such as the Ruger 10/22 be more fitted for small game.....and cheaper to shoot, even with reloads.
Do you have a 22LR rifle?

[iamdrglass]

Nice rifle and nice shooting!
But, a 308 seems a bit overkill for a squirrel.
Wouldn't a 22LR, such as the Ruger 10/22 be more fitted for small game.....and cheaper to shoot, even with reloads.
Do you have a 22LR rifle?

My personal experience with shooting small game (mostly jack rabbits) The .44spl loaded with Skeeter loads, .357 loaded at 1050ish with rnfp/tlswc, Do a lot less meat damage on small game than my .22 lrf hp bullets. I have not shot as many with the 30/30 loaded at 1000-1200fps as the others but the results are similar. Me personally shoot cast at comparable prices to .22lrf (excluding labor). Two more comments. When the game that I have shot with the center fire rounds have all been drt, They have not needed a follow up even center punched in the mid section. The jacks hit with a 22 stinger or velocity are a bit more spectacular visually and some needed a follow up shot or a Jack Russel to finish the job...... And yes I do eat a lot of my jacks. If you can legally use a CF to hunt small game try it out and see for your self.

[trapper9260]

I had set up my 308 win and 30-30 and 30-06 to shoot 00 buck shot size to .310 for a small game load

[robinsroost]

I took 5 fox squirrels with a Model 700 Remington BDL .243, using 75 grain JHP's, all head shots, over IMR 30-31. The woods was so dry you couldn't get within 75 yards of a squirrel. I have loaded up some 85 grain LRNGC's over 4 grains of Clays to try next. Indiana has no regulations on caliber used to hunt squirrels, my favorite wild meat...…….robin

[Cary Gunn]

Gents,

"Davidheart's" use of his little Remington .308 carbine to secure a skillet of fried squirrel sure puts a glow in my aging eyes. It conjures images galore of quiet, happy hunts in pretty hardwood timber, and many truly memorable meals of fried squirrel, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Dang me, but I think I can actually hear the bushytails cutting nuts high in the hickories.

My .308 Win. small-game load, by the way, uses the Lee "trashcan" bullet -- a 113-grainer with a flat nose that I prod toward the tree tops with small dabs of Bullseye, or Unique, or almost any other of the faster-burning Alliant pistol/shotgun powders. The flat nose -- at a velocity of, maybe, 1000 fps -- puts a hard smack on squirrel and rabbits without destroying edibles.

I also have a lot of fun with the .270 Win and another Lee cast bullet of about 100 grains, also propelled to plinking/target velocities by the faster-burning Alliant powders.

The same .270 bullet, clothed with a gas check, also shoots fine for me with a somewhat heavier load of Alliant 2400. This load is too energetic, though, for use on small things for the table. I think it's the unprotected nose of this bullet, coupled with velocities in the neighborhood of 1900 FPS, that causes too much hurt to be placed on the little fuzzies.

Strangely, though, in what I considered an interesting study in bullet construction and wound ballistics, I once saw a buddy place a 130-grain .270 big-game bullet on a Wyoming cottontail about 20 yards away along a dusty two-track. A huge cloud of dust and debris arose behind the little fellow, and I thought my friend had somehow missed the easy shot, since the rabbit just sat there.

But, moments later, the grass-muncher took a couple of short hops -- and fell over dead.

Rather than blowing the tender target to kingdom-come, as some might expect, the jacketed spitzer big-game bullet cleanly pierced the critter's chest, leaving little more than an ice-pick sort of hole through the ribs. The big-game spitzer obviously didn't even begin to expand on its short, rapid passage through the two-pound bunny.

The dressed rabbit was later added to a steaming pot of camp chilli and simmered for another half-hour or so. Later, the conglomeration was dumped atop a big mound of spaghetti, producing probably the best camp meal three hungry hunters had on that year's week-long pronghorn/mule deer jaunt.

Anyway, Davidheart, thanks for the memories.

Happy trails,

-- Cary Gunn --

[davidheart]

Nice rifle and nice shooting!
But, a 308 seems a bit overkill for a squirrel.... Do you have a 22LR rifle?

Thank you for the compliment! Yes, I do. But I can't reasonably make my own ammo for it. I remember not long ago 22lr was scarce to come by any place you looked. If I could make my own ammo I could always provide for my family. Just another reason to be able to have my "do-all" rifle. Also, it'd be mighty hard to carry two rifles or a rifle and a shotgun in the woods on a hunt. This way I could use one rifle and bring two different rounds of ammo to hunt multiple species at the same time. :-D

Great story Cary! I know about the Lee soup can, I've just never had the pleasure to try it! I believe they don't make that mold anymore?

Today I went bear hunting with a buddy of mine. While we didn't see a bear during our hunt time, I managed to head shot another squirrel. My friend was sitting about 200 yards away from me. Through text messages to each other he wanted to know if I saw anything. "No, but I just headshot a squirrel." Boy my friend was jealous! He never even heard it happen and couldn't believe I was able to do that with the same rifle I was bear hunting with.

An hour or so later I smelled a wet dog... that's a bear. I just never saw him. When we left we noticed a fresh pile of scat between the two of us. Oh well, that bear slipped right by us. At least I have more pot meat and my wife was happy.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Shot a squirrel with a full power 30-06 once. Head shot, nothing lost that I eat. Figured it was time to leave the woods, no deer, and I might as well walk out with meat. Now, the one I hit with a 20 ga. slug was another matter.
CF

[woody1]

Great story Cary! I know about the Lee soup can, I've just never had the pleasure to try it! I believe they don't make that mold anymore?


The Lee 2-Cavity Bullet Mold C309-113-F 30 Caliber (309 Diameter) 113 Grain Flat Nose Gas Check is still being made.

[Cary Gunn]

Howdy again, gents,

Here's a culinary question related to "iamdrgrass's" Post # 26 above: what variety of jack rabbit are you shooting, in what part of the country are you finding him, and what's your favorite recipe to render said critter into tablefare?

My rabbit munching has been limited to the cottontail persuasion, whether found in the east, midwest or western states.

I've run across, but never eaten the huge whitetail jackrabbits of Great Plains and Inter-Mountain West. They seem to be a very robust animal with plenty of meat on them, but I've never had the opportunity to put one on the table. Am I missing a potentially good feed?

In my much younger service days, I used a .22 rimfire pistol to thin the population of antelope jackrabbits in the desert of west Texas and southern New Mexico. But those poor, scrawny things looked too unappetizing to consider for consumption. They seemed to be little more than fuzzy rawhide bags with big, long ears.

Maybe, though, I just wasn't hungry enough.

And, although, if I remember correctly, the skinny antelope jacks I shot had a bit of a black tail, I'm told that elsewhere in the west there exists another, separate jackrabbit species commonly known as the blacktail. I've had no personal experience at all with the blacktail bunnies, and don't know how they're viewed as human fodder.

But, it's my guess that the jackrabbits you're finding edible are the Great Plains whitetail jack.

I know that the whitetail changes colors -- from warm-weather brown to winter white -- and I'm also guessing that it's same creature called the varying hare, or snowshoe rabbit, in upper Great Lakes region and the Northeast.

I'm aware the snowshoe rabbit is considered decent tablefare, and maybe you're just dining on the western version of that big fellow with the long, wintertime white ears tipped in black.

Anyway, lemme know the species in your skillet, and pass along a couple recipes. I'll be much obliged.

Happy trails,

-- Cary Gunn --

[Texas by God]

The Texas antelope Jacks taste just like fuzzy rawhide bags, Cary. Cottontail is pretty good like you said. "Jackelope" is survival food IME.

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[fiberoptik]

Knew a guy in Yuma, Az. would shoot jacks; skin with long rubber gloves [emoji3451], and cooked em in a pressure cooker till the meat fell off the bones [emoji3090]. Made tacos from them.


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[GARD72977]

Knew a guy in Yuma, Az. would shoot jacks; skin with long rubber gloves [emoji3451], and cooked em in a pressure cooker till the meat fell off the bones [emoji3090]. Made tacos from them.


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That sounds terrible.....

[davidheart]

We don't have jack rabbits where we are but we always put field rabbits in a crock pot/pressure cooker with seasoning, veggies, potatoes, etc and pull the meat off the bones for a stew.

[Jjed]

You never know when one of those Bull squirrel's will charge, it's best to have enough gun. plus the squirrel's have no idea if it's a center fire or rim fire.:kidding: good job.

[Nrut]

Knew a guy in Yuma, Az. would shoot jacks; skin with long rubber gloves [emoji3451], and cooked em in a pressure cooker till the meat fell off the bones [emoji3090]. Made tacos from them.


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I did the same except I used a crockpot and no gloves to butcher the Blacktail jackrabbits..
After the meat came off the bone and the bones taken out of the crockpot, I put in some chopped onions and cooked for awhile, then added, stewed tomatoes, a can of green chiles and a envelope of Taco or Fajita seasoning..
Fantastic!
The Blacktails south of the orange groves between 1E and 3E (Yuma) were huge, disease free and plentiful..
I got the recipe out of a IHMSA paper written up by a guy from Tucson..
So I wasn't the only guy eating Arizona Blacktails..
Live in northern BC now and sadly there are no Blacktails here..
The Hares are few and the lil' red tree rats aren't worth butchering..

[kavemankel]

I like the setup. Never really gave any thought to using subs on squirrel. Thanks for the inspiration. Is your suppressor setup overbore like .338, or have you had any baffle strikes with cast bullets. I have always been a little scared of that. I don't want to go through the "pita" to send one back to have it fixed.

[gumbo333]

Jjed are the horns of those Bull squirrels curved up like a buffalo or spread wider like a long horn? Are they from Spain? Sure would like a pic.

[gunseller]

I also like to squrial hunt with cast in center fire rifles. 60 grain in 223, 165 in 30-30 and 180 in 308, 30-06 and 303. If that is not a big enough cal. I have used a 240swc in 44 mag, a 260 in 45 Colt and 250 in 375 H&H. Love caststeve

[davidheart]

I like the setup. Never really gave any thought to using subs on squirrel. Thanks for the inspiration. Is your suppressor setup overbore like .338, or have you had any baffle strikes with cast bullets. I have always been a little scared of that. I don't want to go through the "pita" to send one back to have it fixed.

I haven't experienced any baffle strikes. On my form1 I have 7 cone with spacers between and a "1.5 blast chamber. The 1st two cones are drilled 13/32, the rest 25/64.

[iamdrglass]

Howdy again, gents,

Here's a culinary question related to "iamdrgrass's" Post # 26 above: what variety of jack rabbit are you shooting, in what part of the country are you finding him, and what's your favorite recipe to render said critter into table fare?

My rabbit munching has been limited to the cottontail persuasion, whether found in the east, midwest or western states.

I've run across, but never eaten the huge whitetail jackrabbits of Great Plains and Inter-Mountain West. They seem to be a very robust animal with plenty of meat on them, but I've never had the opportunity to put one on the table. Am I missing a potentially good feed?

In my much younger service days, I used a .22 rimfire pistol to thin the population of antelope jackrabbits in the desert of west Texas and southern New Mexico. But those poor, scrawny things looked too unappetizing to consider for consumption. They seemed to be little more than fuzzy rawhide bags with big, long ears.

Maybe, though, I just wasn't hungry enough.

And, although, if I remember correctly, the skinny antelope jacks I shot had a bit of a black tail, I'm told that elsewhere in the west there exists another, separate jackrabbit species commonly known as the blacktail. I've had no personal experience at all with the blacktail bunnies, and don't know how they're viewed as human fodder.

But, it's my guess that the jackrabbits you're finding edible are the Great Plains whitetail jack.

I know that the whitetail changes colors -- from warm-weather brown to winter white -- and I'm also guessing that it's same creature called the varying hare, or snowshoe rabbit, in upper Great Lakes region and the Northeast.

I'm aware the snowshoe rabbit is considered decent tablefare, and maybe you're just dining on the western version of that big fellow with the long, wintertime white ears tipped in black.

Anyway, lemme know the species in your skillet, and pass along a couple recipes. I'll be much obliged.

Happy trails,

-- Cary Gunn --

Carry Gun,
I am in S.E. Idaho. The Jacks we have here are of the blacktail variety. We only keep the hind quarters because the front end isn't worth the time chewing lol you can get a lot of mileage out of them. We also watch the livers and for any weird looking things when we skin. Me and my boys debone and soak and wrince in salt water a couple of times before we cook.
As far as recipes go we like street tacos, obviously chill, rabbit caccitore over pasta. I also got kicked off another forum about 2008 when I gave the recipe for "Hope And Change Stew" which included jacks lol. It is basically beans, bacon, turnips, collard greens/kale what ever greens you have slow simmered all day. Apparently it was to political in nature for the said group of "preppers".
One other thing on cooking jacks and other weird things that me and the boys have tried, I ALWAYS BOIL FOR A LONG TIME!!!! and use garlic. I figure protein is protein I will eat your dog but not mine. I also cant bring my self to eat a skunk lol.
I am honestly not really extreme or weird, I just have a lot of respect for people in 3rd world conditions and their culinary options. I figure if they can/have/ and need to eat out of the norm stuff well I better try it at some point and know how to make it taste good just in case I need too.
FYI CROW IS REALLY WEIRD WHEN BOILED,the water turns grey and frothy, but it did taste fine. And jacks dont taste like chicken it is more like venison that has ran a bit far so it is kinda gamy but not over whelming.

BEEF its whats for dinner tonight
Dan

[Cary Gunn]

Thanks Dan,

If I ever get the chance, I intend to try jack rabbit. But I doubt I'll get far enough west to grab one anytime soon. I'm getting too fat, too lazy, and too old to tromp the timber and prairie like I use to do.

My latest unusual kitchen-table adventure involved fried muskrat, and I'm not quite sure what to say about it. The meat was actually tender and mild in flavor, but it was accompanied by the ever-present "musky" aroma that gives the critter its' name. The musky odor isn't really offensive, it's just that it's always there and you can't seem to get away from it.

I guess I just prefer a meat with a little less olfactory stimulation than muskrat offers. I can see why some people might like it, though.

Something else I want to try sometime is the "nutria," a much larger, imported, water-loving relative of the common muskrat. I'm told the U.S. southern states are over-run with the transplanted South American critter that seems to thrive where ever there's enough water to wet his feet.

They say the nutria looks much like an over-sized (8 to 10 pounds or better) muskrat, with a round rather than flattened tail. As long as he doesn't carry the muskrat's "musky" odor (and, I don't know if he does or not) I'd be willing to toss one into a skillet and put him on the table.

Maybe some of our southern forum members have had a closer association with the nutria, and can offer an informed opinion on his edibility.

But, your advice to "ALWAYS BOIL FOR A LONG TIME!!!!," brings to mind a table-tale from long ago, when a 11-year-old boy placed a .22 Short slug into the neck of a very old groundhog perched at the edge of his burrow. Of course, the tough old woodchuck seemingly took the little bullet in stride, and just disappeared down his hole.

The next day, the same boy wondered near the burrow again, but this time he carried a 16 gauge double-barrel instead of the .22. Peering into the dark cavity, the kid spied -- a couple feet down the hole -- a large, brown bundle of hair that seemed to slowly rise and fall.

The movement in the hole was the result of the labored breathing of the very sick woodchuck, which quickly succumbed to an ounce of "sixes" from the 16-bore. A long stick with a wrap of barbed wire on the end resulted in the chuck being hauled to the surface and proudly carried home.

Gramps took a look at the 12-pound critter, smiled, and rummaged in his pocket for his folding knife.

Maybe he was trying to teach that a man oughta eat what he shoots, but, whatever the reason for his actions, he ended up placing the dismembered rodent in a big pot of salted water that boiled, and boiled and boiled.

I (I mean, the boy) remember being disappointed when -- much later at the kitchen table -- the tough old varmint proved as resistant to the human tooth as he'd earlier proved to be nearly immune to the .22. Not sure if Gramps was disappointed, though he, too, was unable to gnaw and yank a chunk of chuck off the bone.

That happened nearly 60 years ago, but it's a hard memory to forget.

Happy trails, and tasty skillets,

-- Cary Gunn --

[rob55]

Nice job, and thanks for sharing.

All you guys shooting hollow point 22s at small game, stop it. Get a moa firearm and solid boo lets. When you can consistently do a headshot on a squirrel you can hit anything your shooting.

[35remington]

Given a headshot may strike he jaw of a squirrel sized animal and just wound the critter and the head is the most moving part, combined with the fact that a chest shot leaves more margin for error in terms of target size, I’ll stick with my subsonic CCI hollowpoints, thanks.

MOA 22s are talked about on the Internet far more commonly than they are found in real life in terms of 100 yard shots. Restricting oneself to a realistic 60 yards for shots at squirrel and similar sized game, the more likely to actually be attained grouping of three quarter inch at fifty yards suffices for nearly all 22 small game hunting.

[303Guy]

That is a consideration. I once shot a hare in the jaw. I knew I had hit it and was puzzled that it ran off. I watched where it went and went on a slow intercept course. I found it sitting there in the long grass and gave it a shoulder shot. I've never gone for a headshot again. The thought of that hare starving to death ....

A chest shot doesn't destroy any meat with subsonic (or supersonic for that matter).

Anyway, there is nothing wrong with big boolit on small game. I personally am going to use my 22 hornet for small game simply because I have one and need to use it. Although a light (ish) 303 boolit in my lightweight sporterized, long barreled 1896 No 1 with a SMLE barrel is waiting patiently in my safe.

https://i.postimg.cc/bJd1gKtX/1986-LE-I-001-3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/phb9XcCk)

This one won't be getting a suppressor. What it will be getting are light loads of BullsEye equivalent under 145 grain paper patched smooth sides. Subsonic and reasonably quiet.

[fiberoptik]

Pressure cookers are your friend with old meat [emoji491], old beans, etc.
Once given a bunch of beans in quart jars from who knows when found in a basement. Cooked 3 days at a low boil. No chance! Pulled out the pressure cooker, added the beans with a bit of oil to keep down the foam, brought up to pressure and let them go 45 minutes......beans for dinner [emoji899]!

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[Tripplebeards]

I can’t wait for antlerless season to be over on Sunday here in Wisconsin! The reason being is I have about a dozen fox squirrels running around by my tree stand. I always throw them in the crockpot until the meat falls off the bone. I use it a lot in hamburger helpers or just mix it up with barbecue sauce to make sloppy Joe’s. Tree rats taste pretty good when cooked correctly. Reminds me I have some turtle meat I need to thaw out.

[fiberoptik]

I shot 2 grays in my house [emoji536]. Chewed through soffit into attic. Found a hole into my drop ceiling downstairs. Shot 1 in drop ceiling, other in kitchen. Ate em for revenge! Who says revenge isn’t sweet?

Sheridans rule!
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[kavemankel]

Sure looks like a lot of fun and great practice. I can't wait to put a can on mine and try my hand at big bore small game hunting. If anything
sure would keep them from telling on me while in my deer stand.

[rickys2]

Wow that's crazy. first time I heard someone shooting squirrels with a 308.

[AnthonyB]

I hunted rabbits as a kid with a civilian, sporting model, Browning BAR in 30-06. That rifle was used on everything and carried with me anywhere a teenage boy could walk within the limits of home before bedtime in Alabama. I would be in jail today, along with my parents.Tony

[davidheart]

That is a consideration. I once shot a hare in the jaw. I knew I had hit it and was puzzled that it ran off. I watched where it went and went on a slow intercept course. I found it sitting there in the long grass and gave it a shoulder shot. I've never gone for a headshot again. The thought of that hare starving to death ........

Thank you for sharing your experience. The head of a squirrel is small enough that a 30 caliber boolit will swiftly end the animal almost regardless of shot placement on said head. A rabbit may be different. I use a 22 Hornet for rabbits.

[memtb]

My first squirrel(s) taken was in the early ‘70’s! The firearm was a Win. Model 88, running a Lyman 311466 bullet! Even with head shots, there was some bloodshot meat in the front quarters. I had read about some of the pioneers “barking” squirrels to minimize meat damage. It’s pretty effective, but you need to get to them pretty quick as sometimes they’re only stunned pretty good. They can attempt an escape, when they come around a bit! memtb

[Mk42gunner]

I've kind of wanted a Remington Model seven in .308 with a wood stock for a long time. The opportunity and money just never came together. Nowadays, I have enough projects in line to not really want to take on another.

Never shot a squirrel with a .308, but I have used a 6.5-06 on one. It was a head shot that obliterated the head fast enough the front shoulders weren't bloodshot.

I've always been careful picking up a squirrel with no visible cause of death, ever since one turned around and bit my dog Molly on the nose. Ticked her off a bit it did, she ensured it was thoroughly dead before giving it to me. (Molly was a German Shepard/ Collie cross that was one of the best friends a boy could have).

Plus Dad told a story of one of his cousins having one come to life in his hunting coat pocket. Great hilarity ensued, except for the squirrel and said cousin.

Robert

[fiberoptik]

Popped a grey in the head with a .22 LR Solid as a teen. It ran all the way up the oak, ran out of oak, kept running even as it fell, and landed with a thump. I picked it up and saw brains [emoji3447]. Happy camper! Then it turns it’s head and tries to bite me! Twisted its head around; snap! Unloaded solids and went with hp’s from then on. Don’t like surprises!


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