After a lot of squirrel hunting this fall with my Hatsan Gladius, I decided I wanted a semi auto. I just needed faster follow up shots and had the need to chase a squirrel with pellets.
After nearly getting a Huben K1, I bought a Bullmaster on sale for $1000 less and began working with it. First found the most accurate round.
These were my best three. GTO 11.75gr were by far the most accurate. Their light weight intially tuned me off, but then I realized even if it is windy, I'm in the woods sheltered, anyway. Besides, the flat trajectory makes it much easier to shoot through branches. Oh yea, LEAD FREE TOO! Next, I had to pick a scope.
I realized that about 95% off all my shots squirrel hunting are 15-50 yards. Therefore, I did not need high magnification. I also realized that having to constantly adjust your scope's focus, magification, turrets- Really sucks! So, I picked the simpler fixed magnification Primary Arms 22 LR with ACSS reticle.
The ranging does not work the same with airguns, but it can be worked with. At 25 yards, a squirrel's head is almost exactly the same size as the horse shoe. The scope also only weighs 12 ounces (great for the heavy Bullmaster). Also it has space on the side for reflexive red dot. Yea I forgot, the scope only costed $100.
Then to save more weight, I replaced the Bullmaster's heavy bottle with a carbon fiber one ($120) and saved 11-12 ounces of weight up front. Total weight of the gun without scope is under 10 pounds. With scope, magazines, red dot, sling, air, is 10lbs, 11oz! (Usually, it is around 13 1/2 pounds) Range is effective from 0-70 yards, which is more than enough for squirrel hunting. Here is the final product:
After nearly getting a Huben K1, I bought a Bullmaster on sale for $1000 less and began working with it. First found the most accurate round.
These were my best three. GTO 11.75gr were by far the most accurate. Their light weight intially tuned me off, but then I realized even if it is windy, I'm in the woods sheltered, anyway. Besides, the flat trajectory makes it much easier to shoot through branches. Oh yea, LEAD FREE TOO! Next, I had to pick a scope.
I realized that about 95% off all my shots squirrel hunting are 15-50 yards. Therefore, I did not need high magnification. I also realized that having to constantly adjust your scope's focus, magification, turrets- Really sucks! So, I picked the simpler fixed magnification Primary Arms 22 LR with ACSS reticle.
The ranging does not work the same with airguns, but it can be worked with. At 25 yards, a squirrel's head is almost exactly the same size as the horse shoe. The scope also only weighs 12 ounces (great for the heavy Bullmaster). Also it has space on the side for reflexive red dot. Yea I forgot, the scope only costed $100.
Then to save more weight, I replaced the Bullmaster's heavy bottle with a carbon fiber one ($120) and saved 11-12 ounces of weight up front. Total weight of the gun without scope is under 10 pounds. With scope, magazines, red dot, sling, air, is 10lbs, 11oz! (Usually, it is around 13 1/2 pounds) Range is effective from 0-70 yards, which is more than enough for squirrel hunting. Here is the final product:
