Squirrels

[kruby01 114]

The little b*****ds are a nightmare! There is constantly squirrels outside my front door so waiting for a good shot isn't an issue. I'll pop out every so often to cull a few. I hit one yesterday stone dead and one the day before that took two shots.

 

I hit one this morning cross hairs straight on its head about 20-25 yards which I'm zeroed at hitting pellet on pellet. I hit it straight between the eye and ear and it ran up the tree like I'd just tickled it! Obviously not happy for my sake and his I went to check zero....pellet on pellet as I knew it was! I double checked squirrel anatomy (which I already knew but it can't hurt to double check) went off again and saw the second squirrel about 15 yards away. Thwack, straight in the head! It rolled over and ran up the tree then stopped about 5ft. Aimed again, straight in the head, it dropped onto the floor kicking. I put the barrel to its head and gave it a 3rd shot this time in the heart and it breathed once choking then it was lights out. This was all in under 30 seconds so it didn't suffer but when I prepped it I had to skin the head as well just to check and there was two holes one side of the skull and one the other so I'm guessing they took the same exit as that hole was bigger but what the f**k? It was a mess in there so I don't know what he was still running on!

 

Does anyone else have this problem?

 

I'm using a umarex mod.55 with accupell zeroed pellet on pellet at 12ft/lb

Can anyone recommend any good hollow points to try?

I've previously used crossman premiers and as good as they are their expansion is minimal

I've also used h and n hollows and they are great but after about 15 yards they are all over the place!

[walshie 2,804]

Tough little buggers they are. Sometimes they just don't know when they're dead.

[charlie caller 3,654]

I have always found .177 the better squirrel killer to be honest, had the same problem once or twice always with .22, never had the problem with my .22 hornet though,mind you it was making 800 ftlbs lol.

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

Aye squirrls are tough indeed

Sometimes they take 2 brainshots to drop them and then another 2-3 to finish them off!!

[Geordieboy 23]

Aye them little street rat squirrels all coked up feeling no pain! haha

Seriously though that would freak me out. headshot then just running off with a hole in its head!

My bible bashing mate would see that as a sign and pack the rifle up for good. Then go down the church and beg for forgiveness

 

 

ATB Geordieboy

[dangerousdan 16]

Given that hunters on here pride themselves with humane killing with one pellet first time, then maybe you shouldnt be attempting squirrels.

[kruby01 114]

So doesn't the fact that I have asked this question show you that I think in that box too? I have asked that question to try and avoid it again and as every other comment has agreed that many have this problem! I stated that I skinned the head to check and confirmed that it was a perfect brain shot. Also a brain shot followed by a quick heart shot I doubt it had any feeling left!

[Craig Fosse 286]

It's amazing when I read this the difference a grey is to the red (not at all along the lines of shooting them) I mean as in the anatomy, the red I have over here is so much smaller, alot more weary, and actually I wouldn't class it as a pest even if it was, they are alot more docile, stick to the woodlands more than anything, and a pleasure to watch while I'm out hunting....

 

Beautiful as well.

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

It's amazing when I read this the difference a grey is to the red (not at all along the lines of shooting them) I mean as in the anatomy, the red I have over here is so much smaller, alot more weary, and actually I wouldn't class it as a pest even if it was, they are alot more docile, stick to the woodlands more than anything, and a pleasure to watch while I'm out hunting....

 

Beautiful as well.

well them grey feckers have eliminated our reds to almost the point of extinction!

 

You should feel very privileged Craig, I doubt I will ever see a wild british red squirrel in my lifetime, unless its on tv or the internet

[Astral 253]

 

It's amazing when I read this the difference a grey is to the red (not at all along the lines of shooting them) I mean as in the anatomy, the red I have over here is so much smaller, alot more weary, and actually I wouldn't class it as a pest even if it was, they are alot more docile, stick to the woodlands more than anything, and a pleasure to watch while I'm out hunting....

 

Beautiful as well.

well them grey feckers have eliminated our reds to almost the point of extinction!

 

You should feel very privileged Craig, I doubt I will ever see a wild british red squirrel in my lifetime, unless its on tv or the internet

 

 

That is exactly why I try to pop off every gray I can, (though with no permission for the airgun, and simply mooching around with my catty this hasn't been very destructive an impact...) I hate them, I still remember seeing reds when I was younger, the odd one...haven't seen one for DECADES now....

[kruby01 114]

A fair way from you all I know but in formby there is a red squrriel reserve, its just a big pine forest on the beach and its full of reds. Other than that we are plagued with greys! Did anyone see anything about those black squirrels they said could wipe out the greys too?

[Craig Fosse 286]

No kruby, any information would be quite informative. Skot if u ever find urself in jersey, look me up, I will show you the reds in their natural habitat, I'm lucky enough to have a warren in my woodland where they are all around me, the most I have seen are this year, I counted 7 in my permission the other day, all after the chestnuts.... The knowledge of greys has helped me track them down and I have found an oak tree with a load of squirrel holes in it,I will post a picture sometime.

They are tiny compared to greys, and their simple beauty and tranquility is the complete opposite to the greys, believe me I know how lucky I am.

[magnummike 39]

I have not had not had probs with squirrels running on after head shots , but they tend to roll over and dont move then after a couple of seconds start jumping around like a gymnast with a rocket stuck up its arse for quite a few seconds . I have started taking chest shots with H&N hunter pellets in .22 at 25ftlbs and they knock e'm over great . Have dug a few pellets out and they expand well to nearly doubble there orig diam . Think at sub 12 I would stick to head shots as they are as we have found out tough little buggers ,

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

A fair way from you all I know but in formby there is a red squrriel reserve, its just a big pine forest on the beach and its full of reds. Other than that we are plagued with greys! Did anyone see anything about those black squirrels they said could wipe out the greys too?

I read its just a gene, a dominant one, that gives them black fur instead of grey..

 

said something like in 25 years or so they will all be black rather than grey.

 

but its the exact same species.

 

a bit like the dobermann , they come in black, brown and blue, but mostly black then brown, then blue ones are pretty rare

[Daz 7 563]

The Grey Nutkins don't seem to like My JSB Diablo Kings weighing in at 25.4 gr in .25 cal

in the Bounce or Engine room it seems the nicest cal for instant knockdown .

 

atvb Daz 7.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Daz 7