Is .22 too small of a hunting caliber?

[Pistonjohn]

Hi air hunters out there! Is .22 too small of a hunting caliber for squirrels and up? 

I use a .22 as my feeder defender and lately I found that if my shots were even a little bit less optimal, I get a very bloody scene with much struggling before lights out. I shoot hades and 20g nsa. How do I lessen suffering with my limited off hand skill? Would higher weight, like 25g nsa, or even 34g pellets, solve my problem? Or they just would help out a little bit and I'm better off going up to a higher caliber?

Thanks for all inputs!

 

[crazyhorse]

You must get more proficient with kill shots...does not matter .177, .22 or .25 cal. Study the squirrels anatomy and you will know where to place your shots.

.Then it is a matter of range to target re enough FT LBS energy to finish the job.

 

[BackStop]

I use .177 for pesting. Tree rats, chipmunks, rats, mice and sometimes Starlings. The only time I have ANY blood is when I do a head shot. The heart keeps beating for quite a while even when the brain is dead. However, when I execute a perfect heart shot, my favorite pesting shot, there is NO blood. Stop the heart and the blood don't flow. This is also why you never want to do a head shot on a Skunk. (grin)

Of course, this all depends on accuracy and precision.

Work on accuracy and precision and the caliber question won't seem nearly so important. No matter what your target may be... (smile)

 

[Pistonjohn]

Thanks for replies. I'm talking about this kind of shots, warning graphic images:

https://imgur.com/a/uWMFxrF

Literally shot part of its brain off but the struggle continued, had to take second shot to end the misery. Some of you talked about anatomies, should I not take head shot on squirrels? Body shots maybe?

 

[BackStop]

Thanks for replies. I'm talking about this kind of shots, warning graphic images:

https://imgur.com/a/uWMFxrF

Literally shot part of its brain off but the struggle continued, had to take second shot to end the misery. Some of you talked about anatomies, should I not take head shot on squirrels? Body shots maybe?

Again, accuracy and precision trumps caliber. As I said before, I take heart shots on tree rats whenever possible. Larger available target most of the time, less chance of pass through, and when done well... no blood. The only thing is that they WILL sometimes run even after a perfect heart shot. There is enough oxygen still in the brain for them to make it up to ~20+ feet that I have seen.

Bottom line is, it is easier to make a good clean heart shot than it is to make a good clean head shot. No matter how good you are.

 

[Boots]

Not at all it's what I use running around 47ftlb 100/120 yard rabbits are normal shots we had a red fox the other night never knew what hit it about 60 yard 

 

[Pistonjohn]

I tried heart/lung shots and just as @BackStop mentioned, from time to time with that last rush of adrenaline, they ZOOMed into bushes making it very difficult to retrieve. As there is always that chance of suboptimal placement which dare I say, inevitable? This and situations in my little footage is what I'm trying to avoid. 

What do you guys think, heavier projectile or bigger caliber?

 

[Boots]

I tried heart/lung shots and just as @BackStop mentioned, from time to time with that last rush of adrenaline, they ZOOMed into bushes making it very difficult to retrieve. As there is always that chance of suboptimal placement which dare I say, inevitable? This and situations in my little footage is what I'm trying to avoid. 

What do you guys think, heavier projectile or bigger caliber?

The jsb monster redesigned are all I'll use tried the hybrid slugs etc and for me the jsb are just what a decent hunting pellet is all about I've also tried the 34 grain and a bit undecided on those 

 

[JimNM]

Your off hand accuracy needs help. Get a set of shooting sticks to hold the weight of the gun. I use them 100% of the time that I walk and stalk. When I shoot from the ATV, I brace on the hand grips or the seat. The difference is night and day compared to unsupported offhand shooting.

I use the primos tripod trigger sticks. Love em.

What the video clips is showing is called disinhibition. There is electrical nerve energy stored in the spine for rapid reflex reaction. When you take out the CPU (brain ) the controller goes haywire and all that potential movement is allowed to spontaneously erupt. That squirrel was dead-dead on impact. There was no coming back from that. A key indicator is the tail will go wild spinning in circles. If you take time to watch the doomsday boogie, you will see that the animal is not breathing.

FWIW, my choice of aim is the neck/shoulder area. It's larger than the brain and does not move as much, and it giver more leeway for offhand shooting wiggles. Either way, a crushed spine/head or a heart lung shot is lethal. I shoot for pest control rather than to harvest protein so I am not worried about ruination of meat.

Shoot'em good.

Here is the word from Ted Beir.

https://youtu.be/G1INVWP-HnI

 

[rangur1]

Thanks for replies. I'm talking about this kind of shots, warning graphic images:

https://imgur.com/a/uWMFxrF

Literally shot part of its brain off but the struggle continued, had to take second shot to end the misery. Some of you talked about anatomies, should I not take head shot on squirrels? Body shots maybe?

saw your video , that kicking about is normal after a headshot. just autonomic nerves firing off after brain has been shut down. no suffering , squirrels are very tough , they kick for a bit after a head shot. tells you you did the job right.

 

[L.Leon]

If the .22 would be "too small" then what would that say about sub 12 foot pound .177s. Some Brits are quite proficient at taking small game with them? I believe shot placement is key, range to target and knowing your limits... 

 

[ImpactX]

You worry about taking a squirrel with a .22? I've seen folks take down a deer with a .22 airgun with 1 shot and they drop like a stone.

 

[jdanvers]

I've not been air gunning for nearly as long as many in here have been but I've recently started shooting at a local dairy farm helping the farmer thin out his "herd" (lol) of pigeons and starlings. I have learned *so* much about power from doing that. I posted in here prior to going to the farm for my very first time asking questions re: "I have this type of gun and its currently shooting at this level . .. " I immediately got feedback from many of the guys that hang out in here re: "Whoa . . . that's way to hot. You're going to get pass through, punch holes in the farmers roof(s) of his barn(s) and you'll not be going back . . . "

I took the guys ( you guys here in AGN ) advice and tuned the gun down - way down to around 7-8 ft/lbs - which is still in some ways, believe it or not, a little hot. But guess what - I regularly drop pigeons at 40 yards with an 8 ft/lb HW100 .177. It's ridiculous!! Bonus - because it's turned down so low - it's stupid quiet and super efficient - I get at least 80-90 (I've never run it beyond that ) shots per fill - and it's only a 200 bar fill to boot. It has been eye opening at just what can be done with so little power. Power most definitely has its place when & where needed but . . . this little HW100 @8 ft/lbs has had me re-evaluating my needs. I joked via text with one of the shops that I purchase from a lot when I made most most recent purchase: "... oh yeah - send me 28 M3's in .30 cal too please - you know - so I can wack sparrows . . . yeah. lol! "

.22 is more than adequate for small game / critter hunting. Read and heed what the previous respondents have said re: shot placement. 

 

[Longfellow]

Work on your marksmanship, then go for brain shots. You'll find your .22 and/or even a .177 to be just fine. Sure, the squirrel may kick a little bit; but, that's just its nerves settling down.

 

[Eaglehorn]

Just use whichever caliber you're most comfortable with. If you like the added security of the higher FPE, then use a larger caliber. If you feel like you're more accurate with a smaller caliber, use that. Either way, you're dealing with small game so shot placement is more important than energy, in my opinion.

 

[wimpanzee]

I've had DRT and dancers with headshots that just shattered the skull and had grey matter oozing out. Same with heart shots. Although with heart shots, stopping the blood flow and oxygen seems to stop them faster most of the time. Like someone else said, on a head shot the heart and lungs can keep going. Get closer to the brainstem, though, and they won't do that. Always try to aim for the exit hole.

 

[triggertreat]

Not all shots will go your way. .22 is fine on squirrels. I find H/L shots to be instant lights out with no dancing, but headshots work, too. That said, I do like using my .25 or .30 cal on them and larger critters, primarily at ranges over 25 yards. The terminal velocity and extra energy proves to be more effective with a lot more DRTs occurring. As far as spillage, I hit two coons at the same distance. Both DRT headshots, but one put out at least a pint where the other did not have enough to even talk about. It just depends where the hit takes place. One thing important to me is to follow through and be ready for a second or third shot if need be. Critters are tough.

 

[Guest]

I use .177 for pesting. Tree rats, chipmunks, rats, mice and sometimes Starlings. The only time I have ANY blood is when I do a head shot. The heart keeps beating for quite a while even when the brain is dead. However, when I execute a perfect heart shot, my favorite pesting shot, there is NO blood. Stop the heart and the blood don't flow. This is also why you never want to do a head shot on a Skunk. (grin)

Of course, this all depends on accuracy and precision.

Work on accuracy and precision and the caliber question won't seem nearly so important. No matter what your target may be... (smile)

I put a Bear Broadhead through the chest cavity of a skunk at about 15 yards when I was about 15 years old. Pretty sure it stopped his blood flow as it anchored him right where he was hit.. It did not stop the spray. He was up wind of camp. It was the first day of a week long hunting camp. But not to change the subject.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replies. I'm talking about this kind of shots, warning graphic images:

https://imgur.com/a/uWMFxrF

Literally shot part of its brain off but the struggle continued, had to take second shot to end the misery. Some of you talked about anatomies, should I not take head shot on squirrels? Body shots maybe?

That squirrel isn't feeling anything. No brain shot will stop them in their tracks except the one that lands between the base of the skull and the top of the spine. Any other head shot will result in some level of dancing. This is particularly true with smaller calibers BECAUSE bigger calibers dump more energy into the skull cavity and that energy produces more hydrostatic trauma further from the POI. So yeah, if you want to stone them in their tracks you will see that more often with a .25 than with a .177 even with perfect shots.

Heart and lung shots are easier to execute IF you know their anatomy. The body shot which gives me the most reliable stop on squirrels is in yellow.

 

[Flintsack]

A 177 is more than enough for one shot kills. 

are you worried the neighbors are going to see the death dance?

If there are no neighbors to worry about injuring, there’s no reason not to hit him with something a little bit bigger. A 30 caliber Will anchor them fairly nicely.

however, squirrels are up in trees. Unless I’m shooting almost straight up, I get nervous even about using my 22. I prefer not to hit someone with an over shot.

With excellent Shot placement, some of them are still going to bounce around. Some are also going to bleed a lot. If you hit a big vessel with blood in it, it comes out.

unfortunately, sometimes you hit one too low. Maybe it paralyzes their hind legs, and they crawl off. Or worse yet they just run away with a pellet in them. That’s the scenario we all try to avoid. But if you shoot at 50 squirrels a year, you’re going to hit some not as well as others.

mike