Target Rounds

Those are accurate target rounds in my rifles. I did kill a rabbit with SK and had to shoot it twice...in the head.

If you want to hunt with Standard Velocity (Subsonic) I suggest CCI Subsonic HP's and Remington Subsonic HP's --quicker kills, more wallop.

After the leaves come off the trees and shots are longer, it will be Mini-Mag HP's and Winchester Power-Point HP's for me. Maybe a few Federals or American Eagle---but all Hollow Points.

Like the Most Interesting Squirrel Hunter In the World says: "I don't always take head shots, but when I do, I prefer Hollow Points."

 

Solids for unting.



All depends on the distances you are going to hunt at, the positions that you are going to be shooting from, the accuracy you need, and the repeatable accuracy you are able to get under hunting conditions.

We own 86 acres and my grandchildren hunt small game all year round. Out to 50 yards from "hunting" positions the kill ratio between target grade ammo and decent bulk subsonics are virtually the same on squirrels.

Beyond 50 yards which they don't shoot squirrels at, the kill ratio on rabbits and crows is also virtually the same.

In each case they are using ammo that gives the best accuracy within the above conditions in that particular rifle and they spend a lot more time practicing shooting without a bench, without bags etc. then they ever do from one.

noremf(George)

 

I have used both solids and hp on rabbits and squirrels. I usually only do head shots. I have really seen no difference in the two when I get a head shot. My preferred round is the CCI Velocitor or the CCI 36gr HP.


snakeman

 

Save'em for plinkin' or targets and get some hollow points for hunting. Even with head shots from solid points I've had them scurry under brush and such, not enough thump.

 

Well.....

If they are accurate....I would use them hunting.....and pick my shot carefully....If you have the ability to put a flat on the end of the bullet, that could help with the "whack factor".....in the end, I use everything for hunting if I can.....I only shoot at paper to check zero of a gun......I very rarely even "plink" anymore!......

 

I've been hunting with some RWS target loads. They are relatively quiet and very accurate. Sadly, they also pass through the squirrels doing minimal damage. I can't always get a reliable head shot and I've ended up having to follow-up to stop crawl-offs. Squirrels can take an impressive amount of punishment. I'm switching back to a segmented load as soon as I can get to the range.

 

Get the paco Kelly accurizer and turn your round nose to flat points. Best hunting round around.


Faith, Honor, Family

 

10 min with a file and you have enough for a days hunting.

 

I have taken quite a few squirrels with .177 and .22 pellets. A squirrel will not survive a shot through his brain from a pellet, solid or hp .22 round or .17 HM2.
One of my first shots with a new .17 HM2 rifle occurred when a squirrel hopped up on a log about 10 yards from me. I centered the cross hairs on his head and squeezed the round off. Squirrel hit the ground behind the log where I could not see him but I wasn't worried cause I just shot him in the head or so I thought. He was gone when I looked for him but there was a lot of blood and I trailed him and actually found a blood trail up a tree where he disappeared. I looked for a while but could not locate him. After I gave up and was walking away I heard a thump and turned to see the squirrel had died and fallen by the tree. When I collected the squirrel I discovered my bullet was low at that short range and the little .17 round had taken off most of the squirrels face. The bullet never entered the cranial vault and the squirrel died of blood loss, not central nervous system damage. No animal survives a large insult to it's brain and a .22 is a large bullet compared to the size of a squirrel's brain. Think brain shot, not head shot and a solid bullet will work just fine.

 

Last year I was hunting with CCI segmented subsonic. A squirrel rounded a base of a tree stared right at me and froze the way squirrel do when they figure you won't see them. I held the crosshairs between this eyes and squeezed.

The bullet hit him straight in the mouth and into his body. The bullet fragmented and the price exited through his rear dragging half his intestines behind. I don't know how the heart and lungs survived.

The squirrel still managed to crawl 10 yards draging his dead hind legs and guts behind. I shot him again square in the head to put him out of his misery. I feel bad when the animal suffers, but there are no guarantees. Even the best placed shot can miss.

 

CCI SV is my go-to round for squirrels in my neck of the woods. Have two Model 60's and a 10/22 that shoots them minute of squirrel head. I used to use Mini Mags but after having done so, I can't for the life of me understand why so many hunters feel they have to have hollow points for squirrel sized game .

 

I agree totally. I've been using CCI SV exclusively in my .22s, for squirrel hunting, for the last 5 yrs. I can count on one hand the number of squirrels I've hit and lost in that time. Also, they don't tear up the squirrels nearly as bad as hollow points.

Maddog

 

I've killed more squirrels and rabbits with solids than I have with hollow points. That ammo you have is fine for squirrel hunting.

 

have used solids for squirrel hunting for the last 5 years (when i dont have the 17 hmr)....shoot them in the head and they drop. never had any scurry off. IMHO what you have is fine to hunt with

 

I always use target solids, and I always go for the noggin. Used solid shorts in both my Savage MkIG's, and switched over to Fed .40 grain target solids when I got the CZ 452 Trainer (scoped).
Target the eyeball, and they'll drop like they're made out of lead.

 

The short answer: I would plink/target shoot with them and buy a brick of premium hollow-points to hunt with.

 

Yes

Faith, Honor, Family

 

Use nothing but solids, last tie I used HP was for woodchucking back in the 80's

 

40g solids for the last 40 years unless it was a real deal or nothing else.look at the bullet size compared the the animal,how big of a bullet would you need for a deer ? placement is the best killer imo. a bad shot with either is still a bad shot and will lead to lost critters. a17hmr thru the ribs will not damage meat unless you eat ribs but will blow a 2" hole in the off side,over kill? yep but no chasing and getting a straight on side ways shot aint always possible so 22 with solids will do the least amount of meat damage.I have lost more when head shot and hang in a tree than have had ran off.36g work but a little more damage.shoot what is the most accurate in your rifle and you will have the fewest problems

 

I used a shotgun until I was 23 years old. My wife bought me a HW35 177cal air rifle the first Christmas we were married. When I started hunting with that air rifle it fine tuned my hunting skills. After a couple of years I decided to buy my first 22. I bought a book about 22's & it called the Anschutz the Rolls Royce of 22's. I went to the only people I knew that might know where to purchase one. They sold me their personal 54 Match single shot. That book also stated some of the best 22 rounds in the world was Eley Tenex or RWS R50.
I have been shooting squirrels for 36 years with the solid point Eley Tenex.
I always try for a head shot. Does not always work out.
Monroe

 

I have hunted squirrels for years, and used both solid point SV and hollow point ammo. Now I like shooting with the least amount of noise. So now I hunt with cci subsonic hollow points, the best if you will, of both worlds. However they will all kill a squirrel or a rabbit. :bthumb:

 

CCI Subsonic is my favorite also; quiet, accurate and never a crawloff yet. :t

 

Its solids for me. I been using them since middle 80's an they work great. I've
been using high vel. solids for quite awhile. Head shot is my first priority an rib shot is second. I use a S/S 10/22 an its a dandy.........You hit wherer you aim head or ribs
an you get no crawl offs. They are easy to clean an not all shot up. Did I mention I love Squirrel hunting, went this afternoon as a matter of fact........Redworm

 

CCI standard, in the head or upper torso, seems to put a squirrel down pretty fast in my experience.

My pistol likes mini-mags (round-nose or hp), my rifle likes standard. Either seems to do the job.

 

Cci sv here also

 

CCI SV 40 gr Solids. If you can't get them, go with the 40 gr Solid Mini Mags.

 

Either one will work for squirrels and rabbits. The solids may result in the occasional crawl-off if you shoot the body. I've killed dozens of squirrels with CCI SVs; the accuracy is great resulting in mostly head shots.

 

Been hunting with Wolf MT for years in my Annie. Works.

 

Yep, me too!!!