Does anyone use .22 shorts for squirrel hunting? How far do they travel after being shot and and at what distance after being shot are they considered safe. I normally use a shotgun for squirrels so the shot doesn't travel far but next season I'd like to try a .22 but I've heard a .22 LR round can travel a very far distance after being shot.One last thing, can any .22 rifle shoot shorts?
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Does anyone use .22 shorts for squirrel hunting? How far do they travel after being shot and and at what distance after being sh
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.22 shorts are plenty powerful enough for squirrels. I've killed my fair share with them, and bullfrogs, too. I would consider that the modern .22 short will shoot almost the distance of a long rifle, and is just as dangerous if you do not know where the bullet will come to earth.
As to any rifle shooting shorts, yes, they can. Semi-automatics probably will not cycle them, nor will a lot of bolt actions feed the short cartridge. You are back to shooting a single shot weapon. Best to stay with a rifle marked for .22 S, L, & LR.
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I use a .22 for squirrels but I try to limit myself to shots with safe backstops (no aerials). Typically if your patient, the squirrels will come down to the ground to feed. But I am also hunting National Forest where the closest house is about 3 miles in any direction.
I have always heard a .22 long can travel as far as 1-1.5 miles. Its a safe bet that a .22 short will travel far enough that you don't want to forget basic safety course instruction and keep a safe backstop.
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You have to use the same cautions as with any other rifle round. That said, shorts will certainly work. Back when I hunted squirrels in my youth, some of the guys preferred using shorts, saying the lower velocity did a better job of knocking the squirrel out of the tree, while a .22lr would pass through too quickly, leaving a dead squirrel on a limb. I’m not sure it’s really that much of an issue, and as mentioned, you usually shouldn’t be taking high shots with a rifle anyway. But that was their theory.
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The rounds are light enough that most wont do damage when they come down
(20-30gr) also it takes very little to deflect, tumble, or stop a .22 short so thick tree cover helps. But always remember that it is a gun and can cause real damage. I will agree with DesertWalker my first gun was a Henery Lever Action and it still works great for squirrels.
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