Help me pick a ground squirrel rifle!

[Rick in Oregon]

17hmr sounds good! I think my 22lr days are dwindling other than for shooting grouse.

Tesoro, yup the 17HMR is a premier GS caliber for sure. My Annie 1715HB racks up an impressive count of them every year, but regarding the 22LR, there's nothing quite like an accurate/modified 10-22 out the truck window off a window bag on the ranch for the rats, and myself and my entire crew all have 22LR belt pistols handy for those inquisitive rats that pop up 25 feet from the bench to check you out.







Don't give up on the 22LR for the squirrels, just take your favorite 22 handgun with you next time you go out. It adds another dimension to the term "Fun with Rodents"!

 

[jxb]

"25 feet from the bench" ? oh how times have changed, we used to look up from the scope and have them running around our feet. Of course back then and where we went they were thick as fleas.

I'm liking that revolver.

 

[Reegert223]

I have my trusty 22lr Annie 1416 22in. sporter barrel with a 6-18 Leup vx2 fine duplex. It shoots moa at 100 and been my ground squirrel gun. I lost the alfalfa ranch I would shoot at and the new one only permits 17's. So I need to buy a 17 and sell my 22.

My budget is $1000 for a replacement rifle (less scope/rings). I dont live where I can check any out. Seems like my choices are Browning T-bolt target or target/varmint or nuthin. T-bolt trigger is not great but there is a proven replacement avail. Tikka is hollow plastic stock and has complaints with mags and extraction.Stock sucks but can put in a boyds but they dont have HB's. I have looked at CZ 22's in the past and wasnt impressed with fit n finish compared to the annie or browning. Ruger 77/17's are overpriced for what they are and not as accurate as the others. I dont do savage. Sako quad is out of my price as are the 1700 annies. Anyting else out there I am missing?

Also if anyone knows...are there any down sides to the Browning target over the varmint/target? chamber on the target the same? I dont field carry just shoot out of truck window or off my bench. Seems like the target would be the best pick. maybe?

thx

 

[Tesoro]

Hey Rick in my home state, I hear ya on the close range pistol stuff but I am a born rifleman for some reason. And killing is secondary to accuracy so what ever I shoot at I stretch it to the limits. Its not the body count anymore but the range of ! I am screwed this year, traded rifles and got set up to go and family stuff is taking lead...I only have this week to go before grass gets too tall. See If I can escape for a few days to get a taste of fun.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Hey Rick in my home state, I hear ya on the close range pistol stuff but I am a born rifleman for some reason. And killing is secondary to accuracy so what ever I shoot at I stretch it to the limits. Its not the body count anymore but the range of ! I am screwed this year, traded rifles and got set up to go and family stuff is taking lead...I only have this week to go before grass gets too tall. See If I can escape for a few days to get a taste of fun.

Tesoro, we're all pretty much "rifle guys" too, but we all also enjoy our rimfire handguns for the rats for another fun aspect also. Sometimes while waiting for a barrel to cool, it's fun to take a little walk and snipe some of the young and very uneducated rats with a pistol or revolver. And as far as the kill-count goes, our rancher buddies have us there for a reason, and the kill part is the primary reason they welcome us aboard.

Notice in the below pic the empty 100-count box of 20VT brass. All 100 of those rounds were shot at the rats, and with the barrel cooling in the bags, it's a perfect time to take that pistol for a 'lil walk......which I did.