20ga for squirrles

[kparrott154]

hey everyone,

well i shot my first deer this year and i was looking for another challenge. i woke up and saw squirrels moving everywhere outside. the only gun a have is a remington 1100 20 ga. i took a head shot with 8 shot size. does anyone else shoot squirrles with 20 ga.?

[Deerslayer243]

I do but I use #6 Heavy Game Loads.

[Brent]

Serious Deerslayer? You don't need the larger loads for squirrels, they are the same size as a rabbit as far as the vitals and actual area to shoot at. I would use 7, 7 1/2, or 8 shot. This way you have more BBs yet smaller BBs for the critter (cheaper too). I know a 410 or .22 would make it easy pickings if you have it treed up.

[smallgamehunter]

i used a single shot .410 for squirrells winchester high brass load of 7s kills them just as dead as any other gun. for the 20 gauge i would go with everyone in sayin 6,7 or 8 shot is the best bet for most small game i only use bigger shot size for rabbits due to most of my shots being at running rabbits

[smallgameonly]

well i like number 4/s for everthing except my 410 the number 4/s are good because the got more knockdown and not as many holes as 7.5 or 8 so thats why i like 4\s for my 12 and 20 but 410 number 6 do pretty good for me

[Flatcoat1]

I would have to agree with Deerslayer, go with the 6's early in the year and 5's during winter. A 20 ga is fine. I use both a 20 ga and a 12 ga for squirrel. (Reason: safety. There are too many houses near where I hunt to shoot a rifle.) (I can remember using 4's back when you could use lead shot for ducks. I shot many a squirrel from a few of my land blinds. Time to go out for a few of the little critters as the season is coming to a close all too soon. Flatcoat

[ras_f250]

I am in Kentucky and i use a 22 short hollow or long rifle hollow p. Than early in seson i use either 16ga #5 copper shot or upland load 1oz8 under cutting tree,mod chocke. When later on in the season i will use 7 steel or 7 1/2 shot full choke 20ga when leaves are gone :)

[luie b]

plenty of peole hunt squirrels with a 20 gauge. .410s are too rare to find and expensive to shoot. the 20 gauge is a fine squirrel hunting shotgun. but make sure you use no. 6 or no.5 shot.

[tjen]

#4-#5 shot size is best and 7/8oz if you can find that load if not the standard 1oz will work fine.

Less bigger shot is best as to not runin the meat and it only takes one pellet in any vital area same for rabbits( jump shooting).

[DeerSLAYER]

I use 12 gauge... and deerslayer243 stole my name