The Squirrel Hunting Thread 2016

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I was there 10 days ago. Roscoe Village.

Hope you enjoy the gun. You don't see too many 17m2 guns. Inbetween a 22 and a 17hmr. Probably a really good squirrel gun.

 

[rockable]

After a few embarrassing misses that last couple of times out....it was time to check to see if the gun needs sighting in.

At 25-30 yards, the gun was shooting 1.25" low...about .33" left. THAT explains it!!! That's a big change for only that distance. I must have banged/knocked the scope into something.

It may not have been the scope. If you change brands or even lots of ammo, your POI will usually move. Once you sight in with a batch, stick with it. Resight if you change.

 

[WyleWD]

My newest squirrel getter is coming this Friday. It kinda fell into my lap, one of those" I'd be stupid not to" deals. A NIB 17M2 CZ 452 AMERICAN!

The first time I sighted in a 17m2 for ole Murphy, I told him that that cartridge would be a squirrel's nightmare. Will be anxious to hear your reviews on it. WD

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

It may not have been the scope. If you change brands or even lots of ammo, your POI will usually move. Once you sight in with a batch, stick with it. Resight if you change.

I'm aware of that, but I would think 1.25" at only 25 yards would be more than an ammo change. But I didn't change ammo. Still use CCI standard velocity hollow points. It's my go-to squirrel round. ...that is until the leafs fall off the trees, then it's the 17hmr.

But sometimes the bull/varmint barrel of the 17 is just too annoying, so I'll take the 22. (The 17 is barrel heavy, and awkward to carry over your shoulder for hours.)

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

After finding out why I was missing shots, and fixed it, (gun was shooting 1.25" low at only 25 yards), I was able to get out this morning.

I'm hunting on my friend's farm, and there's a creek that runs through it. I was hunting on the west side where there's a thin tree line...then a path for cars, then the creek, then a treeline on the other side. I was having no luck on my side, but I hear a fox squirrel chattering away on the other side. I figure I'll have to get 'em another day. Then I hear a 2nd fox chatter on the other side of the creek. Now this is bugging me. It's a little difficult to cross the creek, so I better make sure it's worth it.

I never saw the first chattering fox, but I soon found the 2nd. It's in plain sight 1/2 way up a tall tree. From my position across the creek, even with my normal 'leaning up against a tree', I don't think I can hit it. It's probably 60 yards away. Too far for my skills. There's also a farm house on the other side of the squirrel. So I figure I'll just pass. But I moved from my tree line into the car path. The squirrel didn't move...just stood there and watched me. Then I started slowly...but in plain sight...walking along side the creek, getting closer. The squirrel didn't move...just stood there and watched me. Now I'm on the other side of the creek, still in plain sight, but I'm only about 40 yards away. I have no tree to lean against, and I can't make an offhand shot at 40 yards. Besides, I'm worried about the farm house. But then I move a few steps and I can put the squirrel directly in between me and the large trunk of the tree. So now I don't have to worry about the farm house. If I miss the squirrel AND the tree trunk, I have no business shooting. (and now that I think about it, at the angle I was shooting, I would have shot WAY over the farm house.)

But I'm still worried about wavering because I don't have anything to brace against. So I decide to see if the sitting position will work. But I'm in tall grass, and it's all very wet from dew...I know I'm being a wimp here...I didn't want to get soaked for the rest of my hunt. But I knelt down anyway, but I figured I'm going to waiver too much. But to my surprise, I was considerably more steady than I thought I would be. I could hold a solid bead on the critter. so I fired. It jumped up in the tree and fell to the ground, dead.

Then as I walked back to the car...only 50 yards away, I see a fox squirrel jumping through the trees. It picks the tallest tree in the area, but I loose sight of him. I go into the woods a few steps and wait. These treetops are rather thick, and it could be difficult to find it. After about 5 minutes, I get out my cutting caller (empty 20 gauge and a bolt) and start making cutting sounds. Very soon I hear cutting sounds very close to me, but up high. I put away the caller, and very slowly start walking forward, trying not to get busted. I move next to a tree and stop to see if I can find it. About 50 yards to my right a fox starts chatting really loud. Soon, the one in front of me (that I still can't find) starts chattering back. I finally see it's tail twitching in the trees. But I don't have a shot at the rest of the body. (or the head I prefer) I wait and wait...this things just chattering away, but won't move. I finally get out my caller and make a few chirps. The fox finally takes a step or two forward, exposing only it's head to me. That's good enough for me! With confidence in the accuracy of the rifle (now), I line up a head shot and fire. It falls to the ground, I go to pick it up. Bullet entered just below the right eye, exit out left ear. Ah...an accurate shooting rifle! They're now in the freezer.

 

[WyleWD]

Could some of you post pictures of your home made squirrel calls? The 20guage spent shotgun shell and 4 inch bolt sounds intriguing. But is it a fine thread or coarse thread bolt??

The gray squirrels have invaded my favorite squirrel woods and changing tactics is a must for me now. WD

 

[ab_bentley]

Could some of you post pictures of your home made squirrel calls? The 20guage spent shotgun shell and 4 inch bolt sounds intriguing. But is it a fine thread or coarse thread bolt??

The gray squirrels have invaded my favorite squirrel woods and changing tactics is a must for me now. WD

Wayne, the threading doesn't really matter, i use nylon all thread and a Bic lighter.

That's where I got the idea.

Adam

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

This works great!

I know it's not nylon like the video above, but it was quick and easy at the hardware store. I've tried a 12 gauge, but the pitch is too low. I'd like to try a 28 gauge, but have never found a shell. So 20 gauge works best for now. I take the empty shell, put it in a vice and crush the plastic part. After that, your thumb and first finger can close it when you want to scrape.

I put a bolt/nut through one of the shells, but I put it too close to the scraping part....not close enough to the brass...so I don't use it. It just gets in the way.

While the video above is good, I don't think it's necessary to go through all that stuff: creating handles, mixing epoxy...etc. Just go to the hardware store and get a 4 inch bolt. It's the shotgun shell that makes the noise, not the bolt..so the bolt doesn't have to be anything specific. I put the washers and nuts on there for gripping purposes.

I think the cutter can do two things. First is obvious...A squirrel can think another is close buy. So they either think it's someone to be social with, or someone's eating in their territory. Second, I think it calms squirrels down soon after you fired a shot. I often use it about 5-10 minutes after I've fired, so they figure if another is cutting, the coast must be clear.

And as far as effectiveness, I think this is just as important as the accordion style squacker. It can really bring them in close. Don't keep constantly cutting on it, but rather 20-30 seconds...then wait 4-5 minutes...then start up again.

 

[ab_bentley]

@accuracyman

After getting the little gun on target I felt the need to give her a whirl. Well, two crows and a nice Red later I gave up. The crows kept following me around the woods, so they got the Squirrel treatment. The red was about 25yds, he got a neck shot.

Adam

 

[ab_bentley]

Two more greys for the pot

 

[WyleWD]

View attachment 991260

Two more greys for the pot

How are you getting along with the MII?? WD

 

[ab_bentley]

How are you getting along with the MII?? WD

I have to bed the thing, it shots little tiny groups, but all over the place. These two squirrels tonight, both had clear head shots, but the bullets went right and through the bodies. Came home and shot for groups and the first three were high centered (in the same hole) the last two were low and right. My last m2 did this, I corrected it with a free floating barrel and pillar bedding.

 

[Webster]

I have to bed the thing, it shots little tiny groups, but all over the place. These two squirrels tonight, both had clear head shots, but the bullets went right and through the bodies. Came home and shot for groups and the first three were high centered (in the same hole) the last two were low and right. My last m2 did this, I corrected it with a free floating barrel and pillar bedding.

I have a Marlin/Anshutz Model Match 64 rifle I bought about 1975 for $99. It shoots 1" 10 shot groups at 50 yds. with Eley Match ammo, about 1 1/2" or bigger with regular Rem ammo. It would make a nice squirrel gun. I might sell it.

 

[eternium66]

I have a Marlin/Anshutz Model Match 64 rifle I bought about 1975 for $99. It shoots 1" 10 shot groups at 50 yds. with Eley Match ammo, about 1 1/2" or bigger with regular Rem ammo. It would make a nice squirrel gun. I might sell it.

I recently watched a review of this weapon. It seemed to me that he had a good potential