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Which shotshell if any?

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JR

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Dec 7, 2009, 10:55:24 AM12/7/09
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A neighbor has a terrible Red Squirrel problem and has asked me to try to
"terminate the issue".
All of my .22 rifles are scoped and and of little use inside a dark horse
barn.
My choice of hand gun is limited to a tiny Sterling semi-auto in .22LR and
my Sig P229
in .40S&W.
I intend to use CCI shot shells.
I'm concerned that the little .22 will only have enough power to wound
rather than kill.
I'm pretty sure the Sig will do the job, but I'm concerned about possibly
damaging the
barrel. I really don't care about the Sterling.
I thought about trying to bait the critters outside and using a rifle, but
that hardly
seems sporting.
Any thoughts or ideas?

Regards,
JR

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Ralph Mowery

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:06 PM12/7/09
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Unless you can get within about 15 feet forget the shot shells. The 22
shot shells are about worthless, so use the 40 cal . Unless you plan on
shooting 500 or more rounds, the plastic should protect the Sig.

Best bet is a trap, or get them outside and use a rifle or shotgun.

Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:04 PM12/7/09
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On Dec 7, 8:55�am, "JR" <rac...@epix.net> wrote:
# Any thoughts or ideas?

Have you checked your local hunting laws? In some jurisdictions, red
squirrels require a hunting license, with seasons and bag limits.

You might want to actually try the rifles in the barn - the scopes may
work better than you expect. If they are variable, use the lowest
power. I would use CB long caps instead of shotshells.

Flash

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:07 PM12/7/09
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Well, if you can't live-trap them, the CCI shotshells are the way to do it.
Headshots will kill them, use a rifle with open sights, or mount a
flashlight on your scoped rifle.

Shotshells will not hurt the barrel, not even if you shoot a hundred of
them. But, do clean the bore with a bronze brush and some Hoppe's #9 to be
sure you get the fouling out.

And as an added benefit, the shotshells will not penetrate a corrugated
steel roof, if your shot is over thirty feet - they will just rattle off it.
( I have no experience with aluminun roofs.) Over thirty feet, the shot
will not fully penetrate wood or plywood sheeting if the roof is shingled,
either.

Flash

RBnDFW

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:12 PM12/7/09
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JR wrote:
# A neighbor has a terrible Red Squirrel problem and has asked me to try to
# "terminate the issue".
# All of my .22 rifles are scoped and and of little use inside a dark horse
# barn.
# My choice of hand gun is limited to a tiny Sterling semi-auto in .22LR and
# my Sig P229
# in .40S&W.
# I intend to use CCI shot shells.
# I'm concerned that the little .22 will only have enough power to wound
# rather than kill.
# I'm pretty sure the Sig will do the job, but I'm concerned about possibly
# damaging the
# barrel. I really don't care about the Sterling.
# I thought about trying to bait the critters outside and using a rifle, but
# that hardly
# seems sporting.

# Any thoughts or ideas?

You are going to have to get pretty darned close to those critters for a
pistol shotshell to be effective. Pattern it to be sure, but I'm
guessing 10-ft for a 75% kill rate.
It won't hurt the bore, except for leading.

The .22 rifles are still your best bet. Do you have open sights on any
of them, besides the scopes?
Can you mount a light on them, so the scopes will be usable?

Beyond that, you can buy a pellet gun for ~$150 that will do the job.

bfun...@cox.net

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:15 PM12/7/09
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On Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:55:24 +0000 (UTC), "JR" <rac...@epix.net> wrote:

> ...

Sporting? Why not turn on the lights?

Any way, I'd bait them with a non chain poison. At least that's what I
use for Rats.

As to the .22 shot shells, squirrels are pretty tough. I use an air
rifle for them.

brian
> ...

George

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:17 PM12/7/09
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# I'm pretty sure the Sig will do the job, but I'm concerned about possibly

# damaging the
# barrel.

I don't know how lead shot can damage a steel barrel. This isn't the first
time I have heard that concern but the steel is so much harder that it
should be impossible.

I don't see shot cartridges being overly effective for killing squirrels at
any distance you are likely to encounter them. The .22 sounds like the best
choice and strapping a flashlight to barrel or forearm should do the job. A
budget (cheap) laser might be a god investment also.
George in Las Vegas

edi...@netpath.net

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:22 PM12/7/09
to
Forget .22 LR shotshells. See if he's got a .38 Special, .357 Magnum,
9mm, or .44 Magnum handgun you can borrow - as CCI makes *effective*
shotshells for them. But .22 LR shotshells just have too tiny shot -
and too little of it.

sta...@prolynx.com

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Dec 7, 2009, 7:18:18 PM12/7/09
to
Sounds like a perfect situation for a moderate-powered airgun and a
light attachment. Or you could use CB caps in your rifle. Non-
shooting alternative is a live trap and a barrel of water. One of my
former co-workers did that, got 60 squirrels the first year, reduced
numbers the next. The trouble being that as the population gets
reduced in one locality, outsiders move in. Airgun has to be above
about 700 fps in .177 to be effective, in my experience. A super-
magnum will punch holes where you don't want them.

Another non-shooting alternative is to have really big barn cats. My
sister had a pair of 16 lb ones, brothers, they'd go after the
critters in the trees. All-meat cats, too, no fat on them. No
squirrel problems there. They'd drag the occasional rabbit home as
well, took care of ground squirrels, mice, rats and voles in the
bargain.

Stan

misanthropic_curmudgeon

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Dec 7, 2009, 9:18:11 PM12/7/09
to
On Dec 8, 4:55�am, "JR" <rac...@epix.net> wrote:
# A neighbor has a terrible Red Squirrel problem and has
# asked me to try to "terminate the issue".
# All of my .22 rifles are scoped and and of little use
# inside a dark horse barn. [snip]

# Any thoughts or ideas?

I dont know anything about squirrels, but can you 'spotlight' them the
way we do possums et al.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBRRbUvMno

JR

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Dec 7, 2009, 9:18:12 PM12/7/09
to

<edi...@netpath.net> wrote in message news:hfk60d$m74$1...@news.albasani.net...
> ...

CCI also makes shot shells for my .40 S&W.
I guess that's what I will try first.
If that's not effective I go with taping a maglite to one of the .22's
and use CB caps.
Thanks for the input guys.

Regards,
JR

Angello Huong

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Dec 7, 2009, 9:51:13 PM12/7/09
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The Reminton 30-06 sabot bullet (housed in a plastic case)
supposedly causes barrel problems due to the plastic rubbing off on
the barrel bore. I think that is what he is asking about the
shotshells.

Why not go with a .410 with snake shot (#12 shot)? Is that too
excessive on collateral damage on the barn? I figured that if he was
going to use a high power air rifle, the pellets would knock chips off
the wood beams and poke holes in the roofing just the same.

Angello

Martin H. Eastburn

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Dec 7, 2009, 9:51:15 PM12/7/09
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In CCI shot shells - I have .22LR and .38 special in them. The .38 is a good
load for varmints.
Martin

edi...@netpath.net

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Dec 8, 2009, 2:56:40 PM12/8/09
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On Dec 7, 7:18�pm, sta...@prolynx.com wrote:
# Sounds like a perfect situation for a moderate-powered airgun and a
# light attachment. �Or you could use CB caps in your rifle. �

CB caps will shoot through interior sheetrock walls - so expect they
also will shoot through barn walls or roof.

# Another non-shooting alternative is to have really big barn cats.

Local humane societies give away feral cats that aren't suited for pet
life just for barn cats. Pet stores will have contacts.

RBnDFW

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Dec 8, 2009, 9:59:17 PM12/8/09
to
edi...@netpath.net wrote:
# On Dec 7, 7:18 pm, sta...@prolynx.com wrote:
# # Sounds like a perfect situation for a moderate-powered airgun and a
# # light attachment. Or you could use CB caps in your rifle.
#
# CB caps will shoot through interior sheetrock walls - so expect they
# also will shoot through barn walls or roof.

Aquila Colibris are a step down from CCI CB caps. ("Sans poudre"). They
are equivalent to a good break-action air rifle.
They should not be a problem in a tin or wood barn. If the barn is made
of thin sheetmetal, I'd test a round in an inconspicuous spot.

Aquila Super Colibri are quivalent to CB caps.

Neither will cycle a semi-auto. I bought an old Stevens bolt gun with
tube mag just to shoot these kinds of rounds in the backyard. They are
very quiet and accurate in the right gun.

#
# # Another non-shooting alternative is to have really big barn cats.
#
# Local humane societies give away feral cats that aren't suited for pet
# life just for barn cats. Pet stores will have contacts.

MNmineiro

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Dec 9, 2009, 5:37:59 PM12/9/09
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On Dec 7, 6:18�pm, "edi...@netpath.net" <edi...@netpath.net> wrote:
> ...

Hey guys, don't put down the .22 LR shotshells. Just like 12-ga
buckshot, it has an effective range. I've found that .22 LR shot
works well on chipmunks out to 20 or 25 feet.

edi...@netpath.net

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Dec 9, 2009, 8:02:20 PM12/9/09
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On Dec 9, 5:37�pm, MNmineiro <rfra...@gmail.com> wrote:
# Hey guys, don't put down the .22 LR shotshells. �Just like 12-ga
# buckshot, it has an effective range. �I've found that .22 LR shot
# works well on chipmunks out to 20 or 25 feet.

There's no getting around the MATH that .38 Special or 9mm shotshells
have a lot more pellets by weight (or volume) - and a lot bigger
pellets that each will penetrate further if the animal is larger than
chipmunk-size, such as the squirrels we're discussing.
I've patterned 9mm shotshells. Believe me, they're impressive for
what they'd do in shooting rodents in a barn.

David R.Birch

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Dec 9, 2009, 8:37:09 PM12/9/09
to

Aquila Super Colibri is best used in shorter barrel rifles, as the
light bullet may not make it out of a long barrel. I've shot them in
my 16" barrel Rossi pump and the hammer strike is louder than the report.

David

RBnDFW

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Dec 10, 2009, 8:05:17 PM12/10/09
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David R.Birch wrote:
# Aquila Super Colibri is best used in shorter barrel rifles, as the
# light bullet may not make it out of a long barrel. I've shot them in
# my 16" barrel Rossi pump and the hammer strike is louder than the report.

I routinely shoot them through 22" and 24" barrels with no problem.
The original Colibri probably would not work in a long barrel.

TimR

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Dec 10, 2009, 8:05:29 PM12/10/09
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On Dec 7, 7:18�pm, "edi...@netpath.net" <edi...@netpath.net> wrote:
> ...

There are very few firearms problems that can't be solved by buying
another one.

Why not buy a Handi-Rifle just for this purpose? I don't know if they
come in 9 mm, but I see there's one in .357, and you needed it
anyway.

If it doesn't pattern, convert it to smoothbore. As long as you stay
over 18 inches I think you're legal.

Mk VII

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Dec 10, 2009, 8:06:26 PM12/10/09
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I've tried executing grey squirrels in cage traps with .22 shotshells
and wasn't impressed. Multiple shots and they still weren't dead.

Bluehawk99

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Dec 11, 2009, 8:05:58 AM12/11/09
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On Dec 10, 5:06�pm, Mk VII <james_w...@talk21.com> wrote:
# I've tried executing grey squirrels in cage traps with .22 shotshells
# and wasn't impressed. Multiple shots and they still weren't dead.

They must be huge squirrels...I had to put down a sick cat a few years
ago and one shot to the head with a CCI shot capsule in .22LR killed
it instantly...1 foot away with a revolver!

Long Ranger

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Dec 11, 2009, 5:27:24 PM12/11/09
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"Bluehawk99" <blueh...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:hftg3m$5kt$1...@news.albasani.net...
# On Dec 10, 5:06�pm, Mk VII <james_w...@talk21.com> wrote:
# # I've tried executing grey squirrels in cage traps with .22 shotshells
# # and wasn't impressed. Multiple shots and they still weren't dead.
#
# They must be huge squirrels...I had to put down a sick cat a few years
# ago and one shot to the head with a CCI shot capsule in .22LR killed
# it instantly...1 foot away with a revolver!

I've shot starlings at 10 feet with those and had them fly off.

Robert Scott

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Dec 11, 2009, 7:32:30 PM12/11/09
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"Bluehawk99" <blueh...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:hftg3m$5kt$1...@news.albasani.net...
# On Dec 10, 5:06�pm, Mk VII <james_w...@talk21.com> wrote:
# # I've tried executing grey squirrels in cage traps with .22 shotshells
# # and wasn't impressed. Multiple shots and they still weren't dead.
#
# They must be huge squirrels...I had to put down a sick cat a few years
# ago and one shot to the head with a CCI shot capsule in .22LR killed
# it instantly...1 foot away with a revolver!


"1 foot away" is the key to that kind of performance. Put me in with the
guys who have had very disappointing results with .22LR shotshell loads,
from the old-time crimped ones to the new-fangled plastic shot capsule
types.


Good shooting,
desmobob

Bluehawk99

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Dec 12, 2009, 6:47:01 AM12/12/09
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Mk VII <james_w...@talk21.com> wrote:

"1 foot away" is the key to that kind of performance."

Indeed it would be and as one poster said.."I've tried executing grey
squirrels in cages ..... Multiple shots and they still weren't dead."

Up close and personal with them in a cage, I can't understand why the
shotshells didn't dispatch them with one shot each!

Lee K. Gleason

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Dec 14, 2009, 7:33:03 AM12/14/09
to

"JR" <rac...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:hfj8hc$ovm$1...@news.albasani.net...
# A neighbor has a terrible Red Squirrel problem and has asked me to try to
# "terminate the issue".
# All of my .22 rifles are scoped and and of little use inside a dark horse
# barn.
..

# Any thoughts or ideas?
#

Wrist Rocket and a bag of marbles?

--
Lee K. Gleason N5ZMR
Control-G Consultants
lee.g...@comcast.net

Long Ranger

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Dec 14, 2009, 2:14:02 PM12/14/09
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# # Any thoughts or ideas?

Bait an area and put a solid backstop behind it so you can shoot CB caps.

JR

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Dec 25, 2009, 7:22:52 AM12/25/09
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"JR" <rac...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:hfj8hc$ovm$1...@news.albasani.net...
> ...

Got a call from my gun dealer late this morning.
Seems that Santa dropped by earlier and left
a gift with my name on it.
A Ruger PC-4 .40S&W in mint condition.
Ghost ring sights and two mags included.

I'm thinking two things right now.
one, that every gunner should have a wife like
mine (she ordered the gun) and
two, .40cal shot shells might do the job in
a longer barrel.
Merry Christmas All!!!

Regards,
JR

Jim Rusling

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Dec 25, 2009, 4:24:41 PM12/25/09
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Congratulations, I have a wife like that as well.
--
Jim Rusling
More or Less Retired
Mustang, OK
http://www.rusling.org
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