• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Shotshells for Squirrel/Rabbit?

Wildone39 said:
My Uncle passed away about a year ago and he didnt have any kids. My aunt called me and told my she was going to give me a 22 rifle of his and my brother got his 12 guage. My rifle is an Old lever action Marlin 39a that he bought when he was in the Navy back in the 1930s. I like it. I finally figured out how to break it down an clean it up really good. Its a good shooter. Very accurate but I dont know much about lever action 22s. Anyway, it seems to be very accurate. I have always used a Rem. 870 pump for rabbits or squirrels, so this will be my first time to use a 22. One thing about that 22 is that its short and heavy. Its seems to be a solid shooter.
Click to expand...

That marlin is probably worth some money also...

As to which shot, I was taught 4's were kings, however I use a field load 6 for rabbit or squirrel. A high brass load is a little too rough on them. And alot of it depends on the range. We hunted on one public area, and there were rabbits there, but there wasn't any hitting them with 6's at the distance they "busted cover" from!
 
I know some folks that love 4's, but I always used low brass 6's and 7 1/2's with a modified choke for rabbits or squirrels, the 7 1/2 if I expected to be shooting a bit farther. The only time I would even consider using a high brass shell would be if I expected to be shooting at the tops of very tall trees like we have on some of the river bottoms around here, and I'd use a full choke. But at closer ranges a high brass shell will tear'em up to much. But honestly i prefer a .22 for squirrels as i don't like picking out the shot and it's a good way to practice your marksmanship.
 
I've always used #7 for rabbits. And I've shot a LOT of them over the years. For squirrels, I'll usually use a .22- but with a shotgun, I'll use #7, because that's what I have around. And it's cheap!
 
6 or 7.5 low brass for my 20 for cottontails. Jacks and snowshoes gets 5/6 high brass from the 12. Don't shot squirrels myself.
 
I don't really have a preference between 6, 7, 7&1/2, or 8 shot I just buy whatever is cheapest/on sale.
 
.460 Weatherby Magnum (with a .22 short insert).

Last few years I have been using airguns more and more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top