First squirrel hunt of 2020

[richhodg66]

Tomorrow is the last day to deer hunt and I should have been out doing that, but chose to hang around the house and target shoot. Haven't done much squirrel hunting this past year, I need to do it more. Usually I sit out the last hour of daylight and can usually expect to get one, maybe two on a good day.

I walked the dog out to the mail box and we have a good stand of mature osage trees in that corner of the property. I heard one barking up a storm and saw him at a distance, so I put the dog back in and took my old Winchester 72A out and stood behind a big hackberry tree and waited. About 45 minutes later, I had four big fox squirrels on the ground. Guess I need to get out earlier in the day. Saw a couple of others I didn't get shots at all in a fairly small area. I usually like small centerfires and cast for such tasks, just starting to work with a Savage 23D in .25-20, maybe I can get it out this weekend on the public land where I hunt deer, been seeing a lot of them out there.
254097

[smoked turkey]

Good on you Rich. That's some mighty fine shootin', and a nice looking old Winchester. I used to really enjoy squirrel hunting. I haven't done it in a long time. My grandson and I would make it kinda rough on em. He used a 22 LR and I used a .410 as back-up. Those were good times. Posts like yours makes me want to drag out the old 22. I also used to use my TC 56 smooth bore with about 1/2 oz of shot.

[Tripplebeards]

I got out for two days in between the end of antlerless only season in the holiday hunt we had here. I was seeing an average of 15 to 16 fox squirrels all all in a group while I was bow hunting and of course I never saw one with my rifle. I connected with four gray squirrels. They were the only ones I saw that day. I used my Ruger American 22 WMR with the Hornaday 30 grain VMAX. That little gun is ridiculously accurate and shoots a .3 inch group at 100 yards . I have to start making sure I hit them directly in the head. The only one I head shot was 110 yards away. The rest were taken at 10 to 30 yards and I forgot my gun shoots about an inch and a half low at close distance.

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

Here’s what that nasty little ballistic tip does...

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


Head shot didn’t make a mess,

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

I think I saved three shoulders out of eight squirrels.



I picked up a box of CCI stingers today for my CZ 452 ultra lux super exclusive I’m going to give those a try next and see if they’re a little less explosive on squirrels. I had a few crawl offs two years ago with my 22 LR so I switch to the mag. It blows squirrels out of the tree but it’s pretty destructive at times. Some shots bullet sized holes in and out and then some shots blow up like on that picture above. I shot a huge rabbit last year with the same load at about 10 yards and it blew half its head off.


I’m gonna go out and get a few more this weekend and make some squirrel drummies.

[Tripplebeards]

Here’s a few more from last year with the same load. I guess it just depends on where you hit them on how the bullet reacts. I went out and bought a 22 LR Cz452 and then the Ruger American and 22 MMR two years ago. I decided to go out and have fun and start small game hunting. I haven’t been squirrel hunting since probably the early 80s using my buckMark pistol and H&R 410.

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

https://i.imgur.com/Wr39WPd.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mRjzLe1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yB8hN4R.jpg

[richhodg66]

When I was a kid, about 14, nothing would do but that I had to have a .22 WMR, and I scrounged the cash to get one, a Squires Bingham Model 20 (I still have it). Killed all kinds of stuff with it, but even then, I quickly came to the conclusion that hollow points were too destructive on edible game and the solid points didn't kill as well as .22 LR hollow points did.

I took the rifle out a few years ago with some of that 30 grain bullet ammo and the rifle shoots much, much better with that stuff than it did back in the day when ammo selection was a lot more limited.

I still think a downloaded .22 Hornet or .25-20 with a lead bullet is a better choice for this. Interestingly, the first one I shot still had the bullet in it (Winchester hollow point) never had that happen before, only ever had air gun pellets or bird shot stay in one, never a bullet. Kind of makes me wonder if I hit a limb on the way to the squirrel or something.

[Tripplebeards]

I had a long skinny piece of lead i found in one of the squirrels this year from the 30 grain VMAX. That was a first for me as well.

[robinsroost]

Richhodge, What is your load for the 25-20? My grandfather had one that was scary accurate? [I] have always jonesed for one after getting to shoot grandpa's.....robin

[richhodg66]

I just started loading for it a couple of weeks ago. Was shooting some my Dad had cast up years ago with 3.5 grains of 700X and it seems to consistently be good enough for squirrel hunting at 50 yards. Since then I've cast some of my own and just got some good brass in yesterday, hope to get that project going soon.

[RickinTN]

When I was 10 to 12 years old I went squirrel hunting with my trusty JC HIggins single shot .22. I killed a few, all shot in the head so as not to ruin any meat, and proudly took them to the house to my Grandfather. He looked at them with a disappointed look on his face and told me I had ruined the best part. He liked to eat the brains! I had to learn to shoot them in the top of the neck just behind the ears from then on so I didn't ruin the brains. I can still remember my granddad popping the heads open with the edge of a soup spoon.
I haven't been squirrel hunting in years! May have to put that on the "to do" list.
Rick

[robinsroost]

Richhodge, Thank you for your speedy reply. I was thinkin about a 90 grain cast over 4 grains of Hodgdons Clays. I don't yet have brass or a mold...…….robin

[osteodoc08]

That’s a bunch of wasted meat. Gotta hit em in the head with the HMR. I had one but got rid of it and went back to my 22LR.

Deer season is over in a week or so here. I’d like to get 1-2 and took almost a week off to attempt to do so. After that it’s squirrel season.

[Chill Wills]

We just got our first two of the new year this morning. My 16yo son really has taken over the chore of keeping the house-siding destroying Fox squirrels from taking over. After buying the place some years ago, I had to spend a lot $ on replacing much of the ceder siding that had been squirrel chewed from before we moved in.

We have only a few acres and the horses next door prevent the use of 22rf here at home. That leaves it up to a pellet rifle - My son is pretty good with the 177 cal Air Arms 2200 to about 35 yards.
At about 1/15th the energy of a standard velocity 22rf, the Air Arms demands good head and neck hits or you are hunting them down for a second shot. The little rifle does however have enough power at 25 yards, a head shot is in and an exit too. Very effective but little room for error. Shoulder and lung shots enter but not often exit.

The 22 Hornet and the 25-20 WCF is the cast bullet of choice when we are out camping.

[Tripplebeards]

That’s a bunch of wasted meat. Gotta hit em in the head with the HMR. I had one but got rid of it and went back to my 22LR.

Deer season is over in a week or so here. I’d like to get 1-2 and took almost a week off to attempt to do so. After that it’s squirrel season.

I agree. Id switch bullets but everything else ive tried is less accurate. I haven’t sighted in dead center at 100 yards. I think I’m gonna sight in at 75 yards...or even 50 yards so there’s less drop when I aim at the heads. I grabbed a box of CCI stingers the other day and just mounted a scope on my CZ 452 ultralux 22lr. I’m going to go get it sighted in tomorrow. I’m hoping the stingers will at least put squirrels down where they stand and not blow them apart. I’m guessing they’re probably going to be almost as destructive as the 22 WMR. I guess I’d rather blow few of them up with low POA instead of picking out lead BBs.

[MOA]

Nice looking bushy tail foxes Rich. Good luck on the 25-20 project.

[richhodg66]

I agree. Id switch bullets but everything else ive tried is less accurate. I haven’t sighted in dead center at 100 yards. I think I’m gonna sight in at 75 yards...or even 50 yards so there’s less drop when I aim at the heads. I grabbed a box of CCI stingers the other day and just mounted a scope on my CZ 452 ultralux 22lr. I’m going to go get it sighted in tomorrow. I’m hoping the stingers will at least put squirrels down where they stand and not blow them apart. I’m guessing they’re probably going to be almost as destructive as the 22 WMR. I guess I’d rather blow few of them up with low POA instead of picking out lead BBs.

I've found slow and soft bullet get it done just fine. The WFN cast I use in .22 Hornet anchors them even at the mild velocities I shoot them at. Actually, I'm pretty impressed by standard .22 LR hollow points. I will say that these fox squirrels here west of the Mississippi don't seem to take near as much killing as the smaller gray squirrels I grew up hunting.

I haven't found a 16 or 20 gauge loaded with #6 shot to be real bad about leaving pellets in them, a few, but nothing that isn't picked out easily enough during cleaning. Haven't done a lot of shot gun reloading (yet) but have quite a bit of #5 shot and want to develop a nice, low pressure load for my 16s to use on squirrels. Gotta get back to that project soon.

[Dinny]

I shoot dozens of squirrels every year. I have resorted to shooting them with either 22 CB Longs or the new CCI Quiet Segmented HP at 710fps. That segmented HP doesn't kill them as instant as you'd expect. They run a short distance and fall deader than a door nail with 3 exit wounds. I like that the squirrels don't scurry off into the next county every time I shoot.

Thanks, Dinny

[Tripplebeards]

That’s why I switched to a 22 WMR. Squirrels don’t move after being shot. I just end up losing meat sometimes if I don’t hit them directly in the head.

[Tripplebeards]

Well I went out in the woods today with the 22 WMR and 30 gr vmax even though the winds had been almost 20 miles an hour. Screwed around walking and sitting for about an hour and finally saw my first and only squirrel a little over 85 yards away on a branch about three feet off the ground up hill of me. I was getting ready to shoot him in the head and he turned facing away from me getting ready to run and figured I’d try a Texas heart shot. I thought it sounded good on paper if I could clear both rear and front legs...

https://i.imgur.com/5CbLoYS.jpg

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


Well of course when I skinned it the front leg was destroyed. I shot just to the left of the Gloryhole and knocked the rear leg joint away from the body and I was able to save a good 95% of the rear leg so it’ll be added to the drummy pot. Definitely won’t try that shot again and back to head shots. That was one of the biggest grays I’ve shot in a while. He had a belly full of corn.

[RP]

Wish I could find someone that likes to eat them we feed them good all deer season and I goggled one will eat 1.5 lbs of seeds or nuts a week. I counted 7 on the corn put out for the deer at a time.

[richhodg66]

Wish I could find someone that likes to eat them we feed them good all deer season and I goggled one will eat 1.5 lbs of seeds or nuts a week. I counted 7 on the corn put out for the deer at a time.

Made a stew out of these four. Probably won't eat it til tomorrow, both my boys had other things to do this evening and the wife won't eat squirrel.

Never thought about baiting them. I don't try to bait deer, it would be a waste of time anyway, this is Kansas farmland and they live in a veritable grocery store for them. We have had the biggest crop of Osage apples I have ever seen this year, every tree was heavy laden with them and squirrels like to dig the seeds out of them, so this little grove became a target rich environment real quick.

[osteodoc08]

I agree. Id switch bullets but everything else ive tried is less accurate. I haven’t sighted in dead center at 100 yards. I think I’m gonna sight in at 75 yards...or even 50 yards so there’s less drop when I aim at the heads. I grabbed a box of CCI stingers the other day and just mounted a scope on my CZ 452 ultralux 22lr. I’m going to go get it sighted in tomorrow. I’m hoping the stingers will at least put squirrels down where they stand and not blow them apart. I’m guessing they’re probably going to be almost as destructive as the 22 WMR. I guess I’d rather blow few of them up with low POA instead of picking out lead BBs.

You’re gonna love the CZ. I’ve got a 455 model and it’s a squirrel getter! I’ve always used CCI Mini Mag but this one also shoots Federal Game Shok well.

[Tripplebeards]

You’re gonna love the CZ. I’ve got a 455 model and it’s a squirrel getter! I’ve always used CCI Mini Mag but this one also shoots Federal Game Shok well.

The tightest group so far with my CZ was with the cheap 333 Winchester hollow points at 1250 ft./s. I get crawl offs 99.9% of the time unless I hit him right in the head. They normally only go 10 to 15 feet. I had one I dropped out of a tree at about 40 yards on a full tilt run. It hit the ground and I watched it hobble 20 yards and run up a tree and into a knot hole with a blood trail the whole way. I’m sure it was a pretty poor shot. Even with a lousy shot out with a 22 WMR the squirrels don’t go anywhere. I guess if it saves some meat I don’t mind some crawl off.


I normally just always put my squirrels in the crockpot until the meat falls off the bone. I normally just eat it right out of the crockpot. I did debone some after cooked and put it in hamburger helper once and also mixed the deboned meat with cream of mushroom soup mix and poured it over toast.

[NyFirefighter357]

That’s a bunch of wasted meat. Gotta hit em in the head with the HMR. I had one but got rid of it and went back to my 22LR.

Deer season is over in a week or so here. I’d like to get 1-2 and took almost a week off to attempt to do so. After that it’s squirrel season.

Yep those HMR's & V-max's blow small critters apart!

[gunseller]

I have been shooting squirrels with a 60 grain gc out of an Interarms mini mark X in .223. Even body shots do not damage much meat and they are drt. Off hand I do not remember the amount of 2400 powder.
Steve

[Greg S]

I'm in the process of moving to TN and have interest in returning to the field for squirrels. I would love to use my Hornet and looked at NOE's 225-46 WFN 2X2 (GC/PB) for this purpose until I read the regulations and it is RF only. :-(

I was thinking of a subsonic load with the above bullet with just a 1-16 or 1-20 alloy. Since the GC/PB combo mold has been outta stock forever I was looking at the 5 cav brass GC and converting 2 cavities to PB. Would you recommend the HP Option.

[richhodg66]

I'm in the process of moving to TN and have interest in returning to the field for squirrels. I would love to use my Hornet and looked at NOE's 225-46 WFN 2X2 (GC/PB) for this purpose until I read the regulations and it is RF only. :-(

I was thinking of a subsonic load with the above bullet with just a 1-16 or 1-20 alloy. Since the GC/PB combo mold has been outta stock forever I was looking at the 5 cav brass GC and converting 2 cavities to PB. Would you recommend the HP Option.

That bullet works very well for me in the Hornet with two grains of Bullseye (my mold is all plain based). Kills way better than the ballistics and noise would lead you to believe it would. I have gone as low as 1.5 grains and it works too, and is subsonic based on the noise. Try to get Tennessee to change that stupid law.
254366254367254368

[Tripplebeards]

I sighted in my cz452 utralux 22lr today. Here’s the first five shot group I shot at 50 yards with CCI stingers. I can honestly say I didn’t really take my time and slowly squeezing the trigger and concentrating on breath control. I believe I could do even better with time and practice. My 22 WMR shoots tighter at 100 yards but I’m calling it good and I’m ready to go hunting!

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

I then played with the mill dots. The second mill dot down in my Tasco scope I hit dead center at 100 yards. I hit 11 for 11 little rocks in a row that were 50 Cent size or smaller once I figured out where to aim.

https://i.imgur.com/2sp8Rjv.jpg


At 25 yards I was stacking bullets all inside one bullet hole with Winchester 333’s with this gun today to. Man, is this a fun gun to shoot!

[Tripplebeards]

Well after trying the stingers I don’t see the hype. The first squirrel I shot today it was running away at like 10 to 15 yards and I gave them my Texas heart shot to test the ammo out out. I shot at it and it kept running like it wasn’t hit. I then shot at it again aiming right at its tail pipe. The squirrel rolled sideways got up and ran up a tree set up the tree for about 10 seconds and fell out hit the ground and tried to run and hobble about 10 to 15 yards into some thick brush. I gave it a minute and I went to look for it. I found it laying flat out on the ground head down like it was taking a dirt nap. I set my gun down and crawled in the brush to get it and it picked his head up and ran hobbling about 15 yards and ran up a tree again. I could see internals hanging out the hole that I shot in its rear. I grab my gun and rolled it right in the ear and of course it dropped Stone cold dead. Dropping up in the head TK audit and I wasn’t impressed because any cheap ammo will do that as well. So I sat down because before I shot this I saw three big fox squirrels chasing each other down the hill and I figured I’d sit for a while and wait for them to come back up. I had fun playing with my rangefinder in ranged a couple different spots. About 10 minutes later a big fox squirrel came up walking on a log and 55 yards away that I ranged earlier. I put the crosshairs right on its front shoulder and pulled the trigger. I blew that squirrel right off the log. It got up and tried in about 15 yards and I saw it wiggling around by a big oak tree. I gave in about 20 minutes and I walked over to see what happened. There was a blood trail a blind man could follow for 15 yards to that tree and it must of went up at sat in the tree and blood was dripping all over into the snow. I’m guessing the squirrel finally had enough and crawled in the top of the hollow tree and died. If I would’ve shot these with the 22WMR they wouldn’t have moved. I’m going to recite in my 22 WMR at 75 yards instead of 100 so it doesn’t drop law they close distances and wreck shoulders. Taking my 22 Long rifle out today was almost déjà vu the last time I took it out to years ago. I have to say I had only one runner that one up a tree and the other ones only crawled 8 to 10 feet and died and that was using cheap Winchester 333 ammo which is less than half the price of CCI stingers. I’ll be the last box of stingers I ever buy. I took those shots on purpose at the squirrels because I wanted to see the destruction it did or didn’t do from what I’ve read that it supposed to be comparable to a 22 WMR. They aren’t even comparable to the cheap Winchester 333s in m6 book for stopping power.

Here’s the squirrel I recovered you can see both holes that went up the tail pipe one directly in it and one just above it and they both exited in front of the front shoulder. And then the last shot I put it through the ear and they all came out in the same spot. When I skinned it the head came right off of course. also both rear legs broke right off and one was completely bloodshot so even though I realize it was poor shot placement my 22 WinMag did less damage and they dropped on the spot every time.

https://i.imgur.com/dtg1z4D.jpg

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

The final shot that sealed the deal...

https://i.imgur.com/Dc0wEXF.jpg

And where all three exited..

https://i.imgur.com/aPrvt0r.jpg


I would assume these bullets never expanded. When I cleaned it the heart and the liver were perfectly intact. I’m guessing CCI changed their lead boolit mix to a lot harder BH and it acted like a full metal jacket. I don’t know how many countless posts I’ve read on all different forums that said this ammo will literally take squirrels and rabbits heads right off their shoulders... Not anymore apparently.

I talked with CCI this morning and told them my results. They told me those bullet should have opened up and blew that squirrel apart. The technician there referred me to try a box of the segmented version. I’ll have to shop around and see if I can find a box locally and see if they group worth a darn in my gun. Same bullet with segments in it I would think it’s got a group pretty close to the same?

[fiberoptik]

The old stingers were messy. Haven’t used them in decades. I didn’t like the accuracy myself. I like the bulk Winchester ammo myself and use Paco Kelly’s Accurizer for much improved results. The dish nose works great on tree rats [emoji232]. If you want more the nastynose is even more dramatic and the tool improves accuracy as well. Well worth the money [emoji383].
http://www.pacotools.com


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[richhodg66]

Wow, not sure what the problem with the stingers is. I have found that an ordinary .22 LR hollow point with any kind of solid body hit drops them decisively and they usually don't even twitch when they hit the ground.

[Chad5005]

ive shot squirrels my whole life with a 22lr with cheap bulk ammo or a .410 with great results. this year im going with my new 22cal ruger air rifle my wife bought me.

[Tripplebeards]

Wow, not sure what the problem with the stingers is. I have found that an ordinary .22 LR hollow point with any kind of solid body hit drops them decisively and they usually don't even twitch when they hit the ground.


I’m guessing they change their alloy composition and made it way too hard so it wouldn’t expand. That was enough to never make me buy another seven dollar box of ammo when there’s a lot better “cheaper” options. I do want to try though segmented versions and the Remington yellow jackets on squirrels (if they group) and see what happens. Aquila’s are out. For some reason the two highest speed options both grouped 6” and 9” at 50 yards out of my ultralux. I would assume they make their bullets smaller in diameter then my bore?


I bet if I would’ve stuck to my Winchester bulkpack I would’ve had two dead squirrels laying on the ground the other day.



Wait!!! I just ordered two packs of CCI quiet segmented high shock 1640 ft./s ammo from the Sportsmens guide with free shipping! The only catch is they are on back order I won’t get them till the first week of February but that’s all right for $12 to the door!!!

[richhodg66]

Here's an odd "rest of the story". I made a crock pot of stew out of these four and have been working on it this past week (funny how much meat four small animals like that actually render down into). Eating the last bowl of it just now, I bit down on something I figured was a small bone fragment I missed, but it was a piece of #6 bird shot. I'm the only one who has hunted this place or anywhere close for the past four years or so, I have to assume it was one I missed or thought I had missed when I used the 16 gauge out here which has been more than a year. Didn't seem to be causing him any harm, all four were big and healthy. Weird, huh?

[Tripplebeards]

Nasty! I just experimented and tried to make drummies for the first time with one of my squirrels. They look really good on camera but I cooked them on low for an hour after browning and I overcooked them. Most the meat was crunchy and dry. If I ever try this again I’ll crockpot them until they’re tender and then batter fry them. After having them this way I think I’d rather just eat them in the crockpot anyways.

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

[fiberoptik]

+1 for crockpot.
Biting down on birdshot is the reason I don’t like shotguns. Never had a problem with .22’s doing that.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[richhodg66]

+1 for crockpot.
Biting down on birdshot is the reason I don’t like shotguns. Never had a problem with .22’s doing that.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I shot all these with a .22, that pellet had been in that squirrel a while.

Been thinking of developing a heavy load if #4s for squirrels that with a full choke would most likely go all the way through and if not, be easier to pick out during cleaning.

[Tripplebeards]

Normally when I use a shotgun I try and wait till squirrels are up a tree or behind a log with only their head poking up and out looking with the rest of their body sheltered. That way I don’t waste any meat and don’t have to pick out BBs.... Or break my teeth on them. If I just could get all the squirrels on the same page life would be good. I went out yesterday with the 22 WMR and saw six and they all ran like their house was on fire. Never could get one to stop for a clean shot and wasn’t going to blow them up again like I’ve been doing. I made a squirrel call out of a plastic comb in the top plastic ribbed lid from my milk carton. When I rub the two together it sounds like a squirrel chewing on a nut. After all the squirrels ran I sat down and scrubbed my little call the gather for a half a minute I made a couple are chattering noises with my mouth. One of them came to inspect and ran down the tree that it went to hide in 100 miles an hour ran past me and sat in a log 87 yards away....





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


I’m sure I could’ve took some running shots at the other ones and connected but I didn’t feel like blowing them in half again.

Even with an earshot when I cleaned one of the front shoulders came off. I’m sure some of the shrapnel broke apart and cause it. If I could only get a cast boolit do that on deer!

Those 22WMR hornady vmax bullets are squirrel destroyers!


Those squirrels know the gig is up after now that I’ve been out there enough times now. I might be going out with a 12 gauge and some six or 7 1/2 shot next time. The problem is 95% of them are always out of range that’s why I’ve been taking my 22s. No leaves on the trees in the snow is so crunchy they can hear me coming a mile away no matter how slow I go and sneak. I might have to man up and use the 22LR cz452 next time out with the Winchester 333’s.

[ole_270]

My dad would of thrown a coniption fit if I'd ever shot a squirrel with a shotgun. Only slightly less so if I used a body shot with a 22. Squirrels were to be shot in the head, period. Body shots made them harder to skin and wasted meat. Solids only, no hp, whether shorts or long rifle didn't matter. He grew up in the depression and the only rifle he ever used was Grandpa's old Montgomery Ward bolt action with iron sights. Once I was old enough to hunt he quit hunting, but his way was to get right under the tree the squirrel was in and get a close shot.

[35remington]

Have shot literally in the hundreds of squirrels with CCI Subsonic 40 grain HP.

Head or chest shots very lethal and drop them immediately. Deliberately shooting squirrels in the butt with a 22 is not the way to do it, and head or chest shots are not hard to obtain.

25-20 usually groups decently with 5.5-6 grains 2400 or 6.5-7 grains 4227 and cast 85-90 grain bullet. If twist allows subsonic 1050-1080 fps loads using in vicinity of 2.8-3 grains Bullseye or w231 do well in spoiling little meat yet with somewhat more killing latitude than 22 LR if bullet has decent meplat.

[WRideout]

When I used to hunt on the Cumberland Plateau in TN, I almost exclusively used my Rem bolt 22 with shorts. I hit one gray squirrel dead in the chest as he was looking at me. I recovered the bullet from under the hide on his rump. I had used 12 ga with 71/2 or 8 shot, but had too many wounded ones get away. Shotgun with
number 6 shot was a lot better.

Wayne

[CWME]

NOE's WFN out of my .221 fireball with some trailboss is my favorite squirrel load. Quiet and anchors them on the spot. If I have to be super quiet I use the CB rounds out of my Savage 22. I take a fine file and wipe the nose of the bullet to create a flat spot. The flat point reduced the number of squirrels running off with not immediately lethal holes in them.
The Paco tool has been on my list for a long time. Curious if that would help the CB rounds shoot better for me.

[Alferd Packer]

As a kid, my Dad showed me how to put a flat spot on the 40 grain solid nose bullets .22 rimfire usually cheapest priced.
He had a block of hardwood with a small hole in it, cut exactly long enough for less than an eighth inch of the lead bullet to stick out. I didn't know it was called a meplat then.
You just stuck in the .22 round and held it in with a finger and rubbed the bullet nose sticking out on a flat mill file or a piece of sandpaper till it had a flat spot on the bullet nose. Depending on the length of the piece of wood, you could even make a wadcutter out of the round.
He said it lost velocity if you made it too flat because it needed the weight of the bullet to make the powder load burn better.
Anyway, it beat trying to chomp off the end with a pair of wire cutters or a knife.
I have one made of steel now and it works no better than the wooden jig, but it kills better for me than a hollow point for hunting meat like squirrel and rabbit.
Took raccoons, badgers and porkypine, but always let possum go.
A badger is hard to stop even with hollow points, but the flat meplat with a small dimple added to the center does a better job of it.
It's best to make the jig to hold the bullet as it's easy to dislodge the lead bullet or make it loose in the shell by rubbing it on a file or sandpaper. A loose bullet or one that's crooked in the shell is not as accurate.
That can also be checked with a home made run out jig to turn the cartridge in while watching the end of the bullet to see if it shows a tiny wobble.
You only need a small short vee cut to hold the .22 case while you turn the cartridge with a piece of string and some patience.
These meplated cartridges are to be single loaded, not for feeding from a magazine.
The meplat will cause a failure to feed and probably knock the bullet crooked in the case.
These are squirrel hunter secrets from country boys my Dad served with in WW2.
He told me many of them didn't make it back, but they used to talk about hunting back home.
He said they used .22 shorts with a flat spot filed on them cause they were quieter and were much cheaper than the long .22s.

[Alferd Packer]

A lot of cops in the know made a jig like this to put a quick meplat on those old round nose .38 bullets called the widow maker.
They put the meplat on the bullets carried in their revolvers because the bullets carried in their belts had to pass inspection which meant no hollowpoints or wadcutters.
You could fail to get a promotion if failing an inspection.
Things were a lot different in the old days. Standards were different. I like to shoot .32 revolvers and round nose bullets are easy to add on a meplat.
Of course reloads can be semiwadcutters, but this thread is about hunting with .22s etc.
I think a meplat is more efficient than a hollowpoint and penetrates better while opening a good wound channel and shocking power.
Hollowpoints can be devastating, but are not reliable and consistent like a meplat is.