.22 Squirrel Gun Help

[BRL]

I got rid of my Browning lever action .22 about 12 years ago when I moved from Texas to Florida and stopped squirrel hunting. Now I am going to get back into hunting them and would like to get some input as to which .22 lever gun I should consider. I like the Browning, as I did before, but don't know much about the gun today, or recent improvements that have been made by Winchester and Marlin. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Chris]

BRL:

Moved your post to the Rimfire Rifles forum...hope these guys can help you out.

Good Luck and Be Safe!  ...Chris  


P.S.  I bought the Browning lever action about 8 years ago...a sweet rifle!

[Graybeard]

I personally consider the Browning the best of the lot. It is my choice in lever rimfires.

GB

[Questor]

I agree with GB. Very nice gun. All the new development has been in bolt actions and in cowboy action guns.

[44 Man]

I have a Winchester 9422 and love it!!  My Brother-in-law has a Marlin 39 and loves his.  I don't think you would go wrong with any of the three if you enjoy a good lever action.  I looked at the Henry.  Seemed very smooth and a prefectly good rifle for the price.  But it's built with some aluminum in places that I would rather have steel.  Guess that's why it is only half the price of the others.  I have a Simmons compact 4x .22 scope on mine and its compact size complements the rifle.  44 Man

[BillP]

Leaver action???
Not to put leaver guns down but if you are looking for a squirrel rifle you might want to reconsider autos and bolt guns.  I may be wrong but I don't think you can get a target chamber in any stock leaver action.  A target barrell and chamber are the first step for true accuracy in a 22.  The bolt guns can provide out of the box accuracy and the things you can do with a 10/22 are unbelieveable.  With a 10/22 or some other autos you can have a gun as handy as a lever gun and target grade accuracy as well.

[Charles/NM]

Asking which squirrel rifle to buy is like asking what pickup to buy.  I personally prefer the Browning BL-22 and Marlin 60 rifles.  One shooting buddy perfers his Marlin 39 and another likes his hamerless Winchester lever gun.  The best way to find out is to go shooting with your friends who own a variety of guns and try them out.  The only thing I dislike about my BL-22 is that the stock comb drop is too small for me to get in a comfortable shooting position with iron sights.  It seems to me that it's set up for scope use.  But you might not find that to be true for your shooting style.

[Oldtimer]

I like the idea that "its never too late to have a happy childhood".  When I was just a kid getting into squirrel hunting, I had a Remington 514 single-shot.  My best friend had a semiauto that held 19 long rifles.  I would fire one shot and kill a squirrel and he would shoot 19 times and kill a squirrel.  The last time I went squirrel hunting, I took the girls' Marlin Papoose, and killed four squirrels and a crow.  It was a hoot!  As you are looking a different guns, you might just want to give a thought to a singleshot. :roll:

[Oldtimer]

The gun I used the last time I went squirrel was not a Papoose, but the model 15YN.  Age tells at the most embarrassing times. :oops:

[JohnClif]

I like lever guns (and have owned the Browning, Winchester, and Marlin), but if I were buying a rifle specifically for squirrel hunting it would NOT be a lever gun.

For many years I hunted grey squirrels in southern hardwood bottomlands with a Remington 541-S with a Weaver V12 4-12 power scope.  I still have that rifle and it is very accurate, but my current premium hunting .22 is my Kimber 82 Classic with a Leupold Vari-X III 6.5-20 EFR scope.  The gun shoots under 1/2" at 50 yards with target-grade ammo, and at the range I can SEE the bullets through the scope as they fly downrange and land on top of the crosshairs.  For hunting I leave the scope on its lowest power setting most of the time, but it's nice to be able to turn the power up to 10x or 12x and center a grey's eyeball at 50 yards... and then watch it disappear as the bullet smacks into it.

Although they shoot well, I'm personally not a fan of tricked-out 10/22s.  Even with the best triggers on the Rugers, I find the Kimber and other premium .22 bolt actions to have a better trigger pull.  I also think that the knowledge that you cannot make up for poor shooting with firepower to be a calming influence on most hunters... it forces us to slow down, aim a little more carefully, and make the shot count.

My recommendation is to look for a quality bolt-action (Kimber, Anshutz, etc.), spend the extra money, and have a precision tool that will hold its value, last a lifetime, and provide you with lots of fun and NO excuses... if you miss with one of these rifles you have only yourself to blame.  

Good luck and good hunting regardless of which way you go.

[Stock02]

Tough to go wrong with the Winchester 9422 as far as lever actions are concerned. Everyone has their flavor though.

[BRL]

A lot of great posts here. Thank you for your responses! Some have made me take a step back and broaden my outlook. Thanks again.

[David Owens]

The gun I used the last time I went squirrel was not a Papoose, but the model 15YN.  Age tells at the most embarrassing times. :oops:

Several years ago I bought one of Marlins little 15YN's to teach my two daughters with.  It shot quite well out of the box, with decent ammo.  Recently I started a search for a project that a buddy and I devised for a rifle that could be used by the Home Owner who lived in Urban America.  Since my children are grown now, and have no interest in this fine little rifle. I turned to it as the base to build my "Urban Varminter."  I re-worked the trigger, Bedded the action and floated the barrel.  I installed an over travel stop, set the 4X Tasco Wide Angle into a set of Steel rings and came out with a rifle that will shoot sub 1/2" groups at 50 yards using CCI CB Longs.  Since re-working this rifle I have found that I pick it up a lot of times also when I head for the squirrel woods.  Using Eley Tenex I can take a squirrle with it as far as one dares to shoot at these little bushy tails.  It is light and handy and very useful little rifle.  I have began using it as well to teach my two nephews gun safety with.   A kid sized rifle, tuned by an adult for an adults useage.   Try it in the woods.  You will find that you like it.  Plus you have the challenge of again using the single shot...just like when you were a kid.

[257AI]

Squirrel hunting, one of mans greatest sports.  I started many, many years ago with a Stevens 15 single shot, moved up to a Winchester 06 pump and then up through the levers, a 39A and a Mountie.  The levers were good for minute of squirrel head up to 50 yards.  Then I moved up to a Remington 541-S with a Leupold Compact 6XAO.  Now I am working on a new project one of the new Taurus 63's(Copy of the old Winchester 63).  They all worked good and gave me many hours of pleasure.  Each person has to go with what pleases them.  I have even been know to go after them with a pistol or my Savage 24C with a peep sight.

[44 Man]

Hey, my most accurate rifle is a $100 Marlin semi-auto with the bull barrel.  This gun will shoot dime sized groups at 40 yards with ammo it likes.  This is the gun I get out if I want to impress someone with my shooting.  BUT, when I want to go squirel hunting or just go for a relaxing walk in the woods, I always pick up a lever action, usually the 9422.  A lever action just feels right, more relaxed and not as aukward as a bolt gun.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate an accurate rifle, and it's nice to show off those tiny groups on a piece of paper.  But I shoot mostly for enjoyment and if the one I have hits what I aim at, what's the point of wanting more?  I love those lever actions!  44 Man

[Keith L]

I have a Ruger 10/22 all juced up (Green Mountain barrel with target chamber, lots of action and trigger work, composite stock, Leupold base and rings, Tasco 3-9 scope)  that is a tack driver.  That is fun.

And I also have an old Remington  581 that I bought at a farm acution for $10 all covered with paint and cow crap.  It cleaned up pretty good and after replacing an ejector (the farmer included an icepick to remove the spent shells you shoud see the inside of the action!) I put a Tasco 4-12 scope.  It doesn't do an exceptional job on paper, but for some reason my son and I have always hit what we were shooting at with that gun. That also is fun.

But when the cabin fever is kicking up in January and I want an afternoon in the woods I take my .32 flintlock long gun.  It is a poor boy, is a gas to shoot, and once in a while I even get one.  The smell of the sulpher (I use real BP) and the sparks in my face remind me that I am alive.  Nothing like it.

[Dwarfmiester]

BRL,

     I use a TC Classic 22, it is very accurate.  I also use it as a sporter class rifle for Rimfire Benchrest.  I don't win much but have fun anyway.
The autoloader allows for quick followup shots with a minimum of movement.  Get the best scope you can afford, test ammo for groups, try and find a High velocity load that will shoot in your gun, and enjoy.  With a Bushnell Trophy 4x12x40 variable, CCI SGB ammo the first shot at 68 paces mailed a Grey squirrel.  I tried some expensive subsonic ammo from a good mfg. and lost 3 of 4 I hit.  What I use after the SGB is gone is a bridge I will have to cross one day.

Len

[dpastor]

BRL

Everyone seems to have an idea how to have a good time in the woods.  Couple of years ago, I bought a $50 dollar "consignment" sale from my local shop (plus trigger lock, DROS fees, background check fees, sales tax and 10 day wait) here in CA.  An old inexpensive Remington bolt .22.  I steamed out the stock dents, sanded and refinished with Red Mahagony MinWax (this is really great stuff).  Cold Blued the receiver, and started shooting.  No scope or peep since I do not want the sights to be more expensive than the rifle.  1" fifty yard groups with standard velocity.  Who needs more?

[PAndy]

I think the original question was about lever actions.  I don't care what you use, but make sure you take a look at the Ruger 96/22.  Some have decent triggers (try before you buy unless you know a gunsmith), they have that nice rotary magazine, and you can rebarrel it yourself if it does not shoot to your liking; barrels are now available.