20, 28, or .410 ga?

[mentalbreakdown00]

I am wanting me a squirrel gun, besides my .22's and a 12 ga. Was thinking of the 28 gauge, but haven't ever shot one. Any opinions on this?

 

[Doom's Day Custom]

20ga its a good shooting and doesn't have the kick like a 12ga unless you let your grandfather reload some shells for you and he doesn't have a clue!!!!!

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

My 12 is a remington 1100, it doesn't kick. I can shoot 500 rounds at trap and not have a problem. Just maybe quieter is what i'm after.

 

[dennis461]

Which ammo is easiest to get, I'm thinking it's NOT 28.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I love my .410 to death... It's like the .22 of shotguns, fun to plink around with all day long...

 

[99RangerKrazy]

.410 shells are expensive, at least here anyways. But a very fun gun to shoot. And as for a 12 gauge vs 20 gauge and how much they kick, it depends on the action. My 20 gauge pump kicks 100X worse that my 12 gauge semi-auto. I can shoot the 12 gauge all day long, but the 20 gauge whoops my ass, and I'm not a small guy.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

.410 shells are expensive, at least here anyways. But a very fun gun to shoot. And as for a 12 gauge vs 20 gauge and how much they kick, it depends on the action. My 20 gauge pump kicks 100X worse that my 12 gauge semi-auto. I can shoot the 12 gauge all day long, but the 20 gauge whoops my ass, and I'm not a small guy.

Try finding 16ga shells...

 

[willievhook]

Get a .17 HMR, they're funner than shit to plink around with, look up some videos on youtube....they pack a punch

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Around here 12 gauge and 20 gauge are about the same price for ammo, 20 gauge being slightly cheaper. Both make a decent amount of noise.

16 and 28 gauge are nearly impossible to find pre-made ammo in the store around here, and it's difficult to find empty hulls anywhere to do your own reloading. Neither of those would really be any quieter.

.410 would likely be the quietest. It is possible to find hulls, reloading equipment, and store bought ammo, although it's not as common as 12 and 20 gauge.


I had thought about getting something else for when I go small game hunting, but then I came across a sweet deal on an Ithaca 37 in 12 gauge. So I'm getting a 1 oz shot bushing to load some lighter field loads so I'm not throwing a heavy game load at everything I shoot at. Save a lil bit of powder and lead.

I've also been thinking about getting a good air gun and use that for squirrel an such.

 

[milje]

Get a .17 HMR, they're funner than shit to plink around with, look up some videos on youtube....they pack a punch

Those things DOMINATE squirrels. I almost blow red squirrels in half with mine, and I can pick which nut I want to shoot off a squirrel at 100 yards. Only problem is with a rifle you have to wait for the suckers to come down to the ground, I will NOT shoot in the air with one.


Personally, I'd just make light loads for my 12 gauge.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Well, 28 gauge I can find. They are a little pricier than 12 and 20's and .410's, but was wondering about the 28 gauge because a .410 is like a 72 gauge isn't it? I never thought of air rifles, is there one good enough to go small game hunting with?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, 28 gauge I can find. They are a little pricier than 12 and 20's and .410's, but was wondering about the 28 gauge because a .410 is like a 72 gauge isn't it? I never thought of air rifles, is there one good enough to go small game hunting with?

IIRC, .410 is like a 72 gauge, but don't quote me. I'll have to see if I can look it up again...

For air rifles you'd probably want one that shoots 1,000 fps or faster with regular ammo (most top velocities anymore are done with PBA ammo, regular ammo is slower). I've been looking at getting a Gamo Shadow Fox (http://www.gamousa.com/product.aspx?productID=287&product=Shadow%20Fox) or a Gamo Whisper. Still looking around though an haven't fully made up my mind. Downside is they're about as expensive as a real gun, but the up side is that ammo is hella cheaper. You can still get 500 pellets for like $5, for .22 ammo, 500 rounds on sale around here is $18.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Well, I caught a .410 on sale at gunbroker. It's an old Kmart single shot. I had one just like it when I was a teen, but was stolen along with my truck one night. I don't reckon $150 is bad.

 

[triumphrider-1]

You can't go wrong with an air rifle; I use mine for squirrels.

The best air rifle ever:
Clicky

 

[74duster318]

I was going to say, go with a .410. Anything more is pretty excessive for squirrels. You don't want to ruin a ton of the meat because you shot half a billion shot pellets through it. You only need so much.

For about $250 or so you can get a new mossberg 500 in .410. Not much more for a remington version.

$150 is OK for a 410 single shot I suppose.