Hunting & Fishing Suggestion for a "walking varmint" gun

[EDELWEISS]

A buddy wants to do some hiking/hunting for squirrels and groundhog mostly. THIS is all new to me. Hes planning to use a 17HMR. I was thinking a 223 bolt gun; but he suggested shooting high angle shots at squirrels in a tree might not be the best idea.

I want something more powerful than 22LR. Is 22mag better or better enuf'? I want a rifle that feels like a rifle, something the feels like it was made for adults. Is 22Hornet a viable option? Ive been toying with a CZ 455 Full Stock in 22mag. I do like full stocked rifles.

My fall back is to pick a barrel for a ENCORE

Thoughts on a scope?

 

[Codiekfx400]

Will the shooter be using hearing protection? How far is the longest shot going to be? Will you be eating the meat?

 

[264win]

Maybe a 17 wsm, 17 hornet if the hmr isn’t enough.
The 204 Ruger is fantastic for vaporizing varmints as well

 

[101stinfantry]

For me I went with a .223, Tikka T3 and had the barrel cut back to 16.25". Every time I went with a rimfire I found myself wanting more.

 

[EDELWEISS]

Eating--maybe the squirrels.

Distance most likely no more than 100yards. We'll be walking. Ill probably bring a standing height shooting stick but no other rest.

Hearing protection--I hadn't thought of it because I don't usually wear protection when hunting; but yeah. I have a set of Anvil electronic ear buds that are GREAT.

Im thinking my buddy has a point about the high angle shots with a 223, going who knows where for a much farther distance than a 22LR but once I get into 22Hornet and larger, I wonder if its not the same issue.

Im kinda torn between 22mag and 22Hornet but still open to suggestions and advice. Do I get enuf' extra from a 22Hornet to make adding a new cartridge (and one that isn't on every shelf)> Whats drawing me to 22Hornet is that its centerfire and built like a "real gun". OTOH I think I could love a good 22mag rifle.



What about optics? Is a Red Dot like a Aimpoint H1, a horrible idea?

 

[XLR308]

The 22 mag would be a good option if you want a little more energy but the .17 cal will give flatter trajectory and from the few I've seen and shot can be pretty damn accurate.
I chose the 22mag for the sole reason of energy and killing power, the last time I took mine out was on a bowhunting trip in South Texas and killed an 80lb sow at about 75-80 yards.
One shot below the ear canal and she was dead before she hit the ground and the Rem 33 grain accutip did more damage than I had expected and was a clean ethical kill.

 

[Sieg]

Tikka T1x in .17HMR would be my current choice.

This is my Ruger American Target in .17HMR with a Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16 BDC reticle, Axiom can, and Harris bipod. I eliminated 331 digger squirrels in this orchard in 4 months last year with it from 55-140 yds.

This .17HMR is very accurate and makes head shots easy between 50-80yds. Flatter shooting with very low ricochet potential vs .22 cal rounds. I also have .17HM2, .17WSM, and a .223. Problem with the HM2 & WSM is currently there isn't a good rifle being made.

 

[RTH1800]

Tree squirrels and groundhogs are far different critters. A .22 LR is THE tree squirrel rifle.
For ground hogs I prefer a .204 R. If you use the 32 grain bullet it disintegrates on a blade of grass. Very safe in populated areas but noisy.
A 22 LR is light for GH and you will lose some down holes. A .204 is a lot of rifle for tree squirrels.

 

[Codiekfx400]

Cz 527 in 17 hornet if your not eating the meat and have deep pockets. Otherwise 17 hmr or 22 mag will work.

 

[EDELWEISS]

Tree squirrels and groundhogs are far different critters. A .22 LR is THE tree squirrel rifle.
For ground hogs I prefer a .204 R. If you use the 32 grain bullet it disintegrates on a blade of grass. Very safe in populated areas but noisy.
A 22 LR is light for GH and you will lose some down holes. A .204 is a lot of rifle for tree squirrels.

Yeah that's my "problem". Im looking for something to do both BUT its becoming clear the farther you go from one the worse performance you get from the other. Im thinking 22mag is the way to go and only take Ground Hogs at ranges close enuf' to ensure kills. Im also gonna use a shooting stick.

 

[RTH1800]

Yeah that's my "problem". Im looking for something to do both BUT its becoming clear the farther you go from one the worse performance you get from the other. Im thinking 22mag is the way to go and only take Ground Hogs at ranges close enuf' to ensure kills. Im also gonna use a shooting stick.

Look at the bright side. It's not as tough as an elk and quail gun.

 

[bourbonbent]

I’ve been using the .17HMR since it was released in a Marlin 917V and have killed countless critters with it. I think I got it around 2003 or 2004, it’s a lot harder hitting than you’d think. I’m a big fan. One of these days I’m going to get a Jackson Squirrel from Cooper chambered in it.

Here’s a cottontail I shot in the eye with a 17gr V Max. This is about the norm for head shots with it on rabbits and larger, squirrels don’t typically have a head left.

I’ve killed larger stuff with it, but folks get sensitive with ethics so I’m gonna keep that stuff to myself. I’ll say anything coyote and under with the right bullets and shot placement and it’s gonna die, or do one hell of an impression.

 

[RTH1800]

I shot a 17 HMR on ground squirrels and prairie dogs a few days in Wyoming a while back.
It was explosive and killed well to about 150 yards. Very accurate. It did fail to stop badgers beyond 100 yards. Hit after hit and they just kept going. It was a fun rifle for what it was designed for and within it's limitations.

 

[bourbonbent]

I shot a 17 HMR on ground squirrels and prairie dogs a few days in Wyoming a while back.
It was explosive and killed well to about 150 yards. Very accurate. It did fail to stop badgers beyond 100 yards. Hit after hit and they just kept going. It was a fun rifle for what it was designed for and within it's limitations.

Your experience sounds about right to me. Very accurate, kills well, but it ain’t a magic hammer.

I’ve found 200 or so to be about where it stops making squirrels stop. With the scope I have on it now, I don’t shoot them past 100. Also, burning the calories it takes to get 200 yards across a ridge with 500’ elevation change makes it less fun and more of a workout.

Birds about 300, on a REAL good day. Coyotes and foxes, best kept under 100. But, I don’t think a better squirrel chambering exists. You hit them anywhere vital, they die. That’s about what my experience has been.

 

[isofahunter]

CZ 455 22Mag is my choice for what you described.

 

[RTH1800]

Some .22 Mags will shoot 22 WRF ammo fairly well. If so, it is a bit milder and will be less noisy and damaging to the squirrels if you are going to eat them.

 

[Rillhurst]

Wore outa Savage 22 Mag in my youth on groundhogs. CZ 452 17 HMR took over easily for the Savage and added 50-75 yds to max effective on hogs.

 

[mcfred]

I think .224" is the way to go to be utterly spoiled for projectile selection. You can do .22 Hornet or .221 Fireball if you want something inexpensive to shoot that're effective to 200+ yards and they're both available in CZ 527s which are pretty decent guns in a svelte package.

I reload so I'm less interested in rimfire as I can usually load same/same for less. How're the triggers on rimfires nowadays? Im my youth they were pretty horrible. The 527's triggers are nice enough, especially with the set-trigger feature.

 

[EDELWEISS]

Is 5.7 available in anything besides the Fn PS90 or the AR57?

 

[big_matt_duq]

I don't see how shooting anything much bigger than 17 hmr at squirrels in a tree is a good idea.

 

[Sieg]

I shot a Belding squirrel today that my dogs had treed at about 40 yards with my .17 Mach2 w/ 17g Vmax. Squirrel was 10' up and facing me looking 30* to my right. Impact was inside the right shoulder and exit was 2" behind the left shoulder. I was somewhat surprised with the exit wound trauma. Past 75-80yds I usually don't see exiting wounds with the Mach2 Vmax round.

I'm not shooting for meat, just agricultural protection in a sensitive area so the Mach2 is preferred over the HMR. For efficiency and entertainment I'd rather be shooting my .17WSM.

 

[ccasanova]

.17HMR for squirrels and similar sized critters, especially if shooting up into the air/treetops. .204 or .223 if the critters are bigger and on the ground at distance. Tikka T1x .17hmr here. With a .22 can it’s easy on the ears.

 

[ccasanova]

Tikka Compact (20” Barrel) in .204 is my favorite varmint/walk around rifle for crows->hogs up to 300yd. Suppressed it is very mild. But any centerfire is too much for a squirrel hunt and too loud.

 

[xsn10s]

I never shot at squirrels in trees, makes me nervous. I've used a 17 HMR for cottontails and was pleased with it. I saw tv shows using it for hunting squirrels in trees. I'd probably use a shotgun for that niche.

 

[Seed tick]

Anything over s 22mag is going to be to much for squirrels if your going to eat them use solids. A 22 mag is a little light for ground hogs at distance inside a 100 yards probably ok. Use hollow points or bullistic tip bullets. My .02

 

[Dale264]

Savage model 25 walking varminter in 17 hornet.

 

[RTH1800]

^^^^^^^^^^
For squirrels???

 

[bourbonbent]

I thought squirrels in my area were big and abundant, you must have some serious squirrels to need a 6mm centerfire.

I’ve often wondered what hunting such a beast would be like, I imagine at their size they’re quite impressive and powerfully fleet of foot. They must literally shake the trees when they climb them, and thunder through the underbrush like a Bandersnatch.

 

[jd5521]

20 vartarg turbo

 

[la angler]

223 would be my vote you can load it down if needed too

 

[Chips26]

.22mag is plenty enough for squirells and groundhogs...why over do it?