Handgunning for Squirrels

This morning I had planned on muzzleloading but by 8:30 AM I had changed my mind. The wind was howling and I had a better idea. I went back to the truck, dropped off my muzzleloader and grabbed my .22 Pistol.
By 11:30 I had bagged these 4, all of which were good sized grays. If I hadn't missed so many times, I'd have been done a LOT earlier! Hitting those twitchy little things with a handgun is NOT easy...I have a red dot scope on my pistol which helps a lot, though. Seems that when I would have a clear shot, get steady, and squeezing that the squirrel would dart in one direction or another.
Here's the first 2 that I got along with my S&W 22a:

The Third:

And the total for the morning:

Congratulations. Great way to spend a morning.

Great job!....I love squirrel hunting with a handgun....my choice is a Ruger Super Single Six.....keeps your eyes "sharp"....little targets that move are great...

nothing beats that fun especially with semi-auto. Damn its a blast!!!

Congrats on the rats... I also love handgun'n for skirrels....KRal

I think its safe to say that you had a better morning then I did.

Sure wish we could hunt w/ semi .22's...I'd have a fully dressed Mk2, Taclite upper and variable scope.

Good job!!

Dan, since you can't hunt with yours, you might as well sell me that paclite barrel. It should fit nice on top of my 22/45 lower...LOL...KRal

red squirrel are more of a challenge but less to eat.
i'm hopeing to get after them with my new 45-410 barrel contender in the morning.i know shot shells are almost cheating but they need a good thinning.

pter1020k, it's actually harder with that 45/410 than with a good 22lr...it's much more challenging, which you will soon find out...good luck tomorrow...KRal

Since we can't hunt with them...I've not invested the money. My brother however...wow...he's dumped a pile-o-money and time in Mk2's...several Paclite's, polishes his own lowers, makes his own triggers and grips, etc.

Thats my winter project. Try to get the old lady to let me get a semi auto squirrel killer.

Lars

I just ordered a 17HM2 barrel for the contender and I have a 4x Leupold to put on it. I figure it should be a good little rat gun.

I love handgunning for squirrels also. Only shoot one at a time so my 10" tender in 22 match works just fine. One ragged hole at 25 yards with velocitors. The 2 power leupold is a little on the weak side. Covered up the squirrels heads out far enough and had to settle for a few body shots.

Anybody know what I did wrong with the picture? Looked clear on the bragging board.

I was having the same problem, Gary said it has to do with the resolution of the pic but I haven't gone back and tried again.

awesome hunt! congrats

The picture is too small. They need to be at least close to 500 pixels wide.

herrettman...I've got a better optic for that if you are looking for one...4X w/ target dot.

Congrats Rem308 and Herrettman! I wish we had fox or gray squirrels around here, but I do have fun with the reds. I have been enjoying the challenge of using open sighted guns lately.

Great shooting. Those little guys are a blast.

I've been very blessed to have been able to hunt big game on all 6 huntable continents, but nothing gives me any more pleasure than handgun hunting squirrels. Looks like you had a great morning.

all this squirrel talk icant wait till tommorow ill have to hit the woods-having us a nice snow storm today in good ol WNY so probbaly wont see much but thats half the fun. ive been drooling about a 410/45 barrel for my encore since before i got it!!

went out for an hour this morning. no squirrels storm has them hiding.did test 45-410 barrel on a board before going in the woods works well good for small game like rabbit and squirrel out to 30 yards.i think with a little practice i could take grouse on the wing.

Nice harvest an all the squirrels!!!

Wow, those are some squirrels you folks took too...glad to see so many people out sharing the fun.

It is a blast, I normally like to take my .22 WMR out and snipe a few of them from a distance, but not this year!! It's just too much fun with the handgun!

Ok - here's my contribution to the pot.

My son (22 yippee nother handgunner) bought a ruger MKIII hunter with fluted barrel a few weeks ago. Haven't even shot it yet. I am looking forward to him getting into grad school next fall. He can't take the gun with him. Might just find it's way out into the squirrel woods.

That FA is a beauty Gary!

Nothing more fun! Great to see all the squirrels.....

Awsome job guys. I hope to get a 22 pistol soon so I can go after some tree chickens this winter.

Yep, I'm loaning my 22 pistol to a coworker and he's going to use it this weekend to try to bag a few. It's contagious around here! He already said that he knows he's going to like it so much he'll buy his own.