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Posted: 10/6/2016 10:22:37 PM EDT
[#1]
Damn Shotgun is way overkill for squirrel. .22lr is where it is at if you want to eat it. I would say if have to use a shotgun .410 bore is the way to go. Anything else not much to eat after.
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Posted: 10/6/2016 10:39:05 PM EDT
[#2]
I'll see if I can find a .410 or a 20 till then.
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Posted: 10/6/2016 10:48:23 PM EDT
[#3]
I' e killed/eaten countless squirrels harvested with a 12ga (modified choke). #6 shot is my go-to; never had a problem.
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Posted: 10/6/2016 10:49:44 PM EDT
[#4]
Hunted many tree rats with 12 gauge. Prefer 22 or 410, but you will not have a problem with your set up. Just mind your close shots. I recommend steel shot, it doesnt seem to penetrate too deep in the meat.
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Posted: 10/6/2016 11:05:18 PM EDT
[#5]
Shot my 1st squirrel w/ a 16 ga. Squirrels aren't more delicate than dove. If I recall #6 just penetrates the fur.
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Posted: 10/6/2016 11:54:52 PM EDT
[#6]
.17HMR headshots FTMFW
ZERO meat lost. DRT |
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Posted: 10/8/2016 6:44:52 PM EDT
[#7]
A lot of guys hunt them with shotguns here. They try to hit them with the fringe of the pattern. I prefer a .22 myself.
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Posted: 10/8/2016 7:09:29 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Shot my 1st squirrel w/ a 16 ga. Squirrels aren't more delicate than dove. If I recall #6 just penetrates the fur. Yup, just pick a distance as your "no shoot" distance. Small birds, small game, it's all about distance and pattern. |
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Posted: 10/9/2016 5:36:18 AM EDT
[#9]
You'll be fine. I've hunted squirrels with #7.5, #6, #4 and #2 shot. I think #4 is best, less pellets to pick out from the meat when eating and still enough stopping power out to 50+ yards. Just don't shoot anything closer than 15 yards if you plan on eating them. My average shot distance is 30 to 45 yards and #4's work great.
Around here, I prefer using shotgun during early season until all the leaves are down. Then I'll bring out the 22. Here's a few from this season taken with my M4 using improved modified choke running #2 and #4 shot. 
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Posted: 10/10/2016 5:44:52 PM EDT
[#10]
Thank you for all the replies. I am going to sit this one out. Went to Academy and they didn't had the Mossberg 500 20ga 26" barrel with a choke set I was looking for. I will look for a park that allows .22's down the road.
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Posted: 10/10/2016 6:23:40 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Thank you for all the replies. I am going to sit this one out. Went to Academy and they didn't had the Mossberg 500 20ga 26" barrel with a choke set I was looking for. I will look for a park that allows .22's down the road. They should have the Mossberg Maverick 88 in 20 ga for $190, or tell you which nearby Academy stocks it. The 500 runs $100 or so more. |
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Posted: 10/10/2016 6:50:12 PM EDT
[#12]
Just use #6 and you'll be fine. We fill the freezer here with that.
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Posted: 10/10/2016 9:19:22 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They should have the Mossberg Maverick 88 in 20 ga for $190, or tell you which nearby Academy stocks it. The 500 runs $100 or so more. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted: Thank you for all the replies. I am going to sit this one out. Went to Academy and they didn't had the Mossberg 500 20ga 26" barrel with a choke set I was looking for. I will look for a park that allows .22's down the road. They should have the Mossberg Maverick 88 in 20 ga for $190, or tell you which nearby Academy stocks it. The 500 runs $100 or so more. I'm spoiled with the tang safety from my current 500/12ga. 
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Posted: 10/10/2016 9:47:33 PM EDT
[#14]
A 20 gauge isn't gonna make that big of a difference.
Your 12 gauge set-up is fine for hunting limb rats. Use #7.5 or #6 shot and go slay the little rat bastards. |
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Posted: 10/15/2016 8:35:30 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A 20 gauge isn't gonna make that big of a difference. Your 12 gauge set-up is fine for hunting limb rats. Use #7.5 or #6 shot and go slay the little rat bastards. True. I use whatever I feel like. Lately it's been a 20. I'm a multi Hunter so I follow the laws of a certain species that might be in season ( turkey, waterfowl, etc) then if I come across a squirrel I usually can't pass it up. If you want a more multi purpose barrel Mossberg has a 20in vent rib barrel with screw in chokes. I use that for just about everything. Sold my 18.5 to offset the cost a little. And what's a inch and a half more length. Two fingers width. |
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Posted: 10/16/2016 11:37:10 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
True. I use whatever I feel like. Lately it's been a 20. I'm a multi Hunter so I follow the laws of a certain species that might be in season ( turkey, waterfowl, etc) then if I come across a squirrel I usually can't pass it up. If you want a more multi purpose barrel Mossberg has a 20in vent rib barrel with screw in chokes. I use that for just about everything. Sold my 18.5 to offset the cost a little. And what's a inch and a half more length. Two fingers width. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A 20 gauge isn't gonna make that big of a difference. Your 12 gauge set-up is fine for hunting limb rats. Use #7.5 or #6 shot and go slay the little rat bastards. True. I use whatever I feel like. Lately it's been a 20. I'm a multi Hunter so I follow the laws of a certain species that might be in season ( turkey, waterfowl, etc) then if I come across a squirrel I usually can't pass it up. If you want a more multi purpose barrel Mossberg has a 20in vent rib barrel with screw in chokes. I use that for just about everything. Sold my 18.5 to offset the cost a little. And what's a inch and a half more length. Two fingers width. Went ahead and got an aftermarket 20in barrel for the 500 for $70. Added some chokes so I am good to go. |
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Posted: 10/21/2016 11:12:17 PM EDT
[#17]
I use a 28 inch barrel with a full choke, and cheap wally world number 8 dove shot for hunting squirrels where I live. No rifles, including .22 inside city limits. It does just fine. Of course, I am shooting them out of big oaks, and pecan trees, not in the woods.
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