Springer ?

[joek]

What's the old saying, beware the man with only one gun. 

[Bayman]

I've shot red squirrels with 177, 20, and 22.  But I only take head shots, and it makes no difference on the 60 or so that I've eliminated from my yard.  But you also have to have faith in the rifle and its ability to do the job.  So if you don't think the .177 will work, get a .22, or a .20 (love the 20 but don't have one).   Now I may get beaten up on for saying what I am about to say, but if you get a .22 you should sell the 177.  Every gun is a little bit different even in the same model, so having 1 gun, and having all your shooting with that 1 gun will make you better with that gun.  Once you've mastered that gun you can start a collection if you like.  I've got 2, but only use one, the other one is collecting dust, it hasn't been shot since I got my hw95 (in .177 by the way).  And somebody suggested getting a .22 barrel and replacing the barrel on your current gun, that might be best since you're already used to the feel of the stock, trigger, etc.  Just my opinion.

Love my Hw95 in 177! I've considered rebarreling it to 22 or 20. I've since collected a RX1 in 20 and have squashed the idea of rebarreling the 95. The Rx1 has much more power to drive the 20 caliber but its trajectory has nixed the idea of a lower powered 95 with the same or larger caliber.

[cpool]

Thanks

[Chouchin66]

Chuck, if in want of a nice, light+ mid powered hunter; give a HW50s a go in .22
 Mine w/vortex is smooth& assertive !  30yds .w/peeps, 45 scoped w/Hawke 2x7... Easy peasy.

[Mole2017]

I’m shooting 8.44 jsb. It really bothers me to cripple a animal and it get away. Ive had this gun for several years but would not take it hunting because I just didn’t think it would kill a squirrel . I’m starting to really enjoy shooting break barrels after I’ve finally figured out how to shoot them. 25 yards is about-my max hunting I shoot farther in the back yard

My R10 (a PCP) likes both the 8.44 and 10.34 JSB. But my .177 CFX loved the 8.4 and 9.3 grain RWS wadcutters, and they really did the job to 40 yards if needed. Me and a few others on the GTA will swear that wadcutters are awesome on squirrels. My impression is that for the same shot, the wadcutter has the higher likelihood of causing fatal bleeding because of its efficient cutting action. If you can shoot those well (or hopefully better than the JSB), then that might put the joy back into hunting the squirrels.

Accuracy is crucial. I've taken almost 1100 gray squirrels out of my yard and with the passing of time I'm only becoming more dangerous to the squirrels. Sometimes I flub a shot too, but it's becoming rare.

When I started eight years ago, I was barely doing 20 yards well. I had tested bunches of pellets to find what the CFX liked. Most of my kills were 15 and 20 yards. After a bit, 25 yards was a reliable shot, but I avoided 30 yards for just the reason you note--I couldn't depend on a reliable hit, even off a rest. Time passed and 30, 35, and 45 yards became new and then old limits. Now, 30 yards, standing with a shooting stick--no problem.

And .177 for hunting? I do ground hogs with the R10 too. It is shooting the 10.34 gr JSB at 915 FPS and has killed them at 56 yards. Head shots, of course. (Even the CFX got a wood chuck once--I was visiting a relative and went after one that showed up in the yard. Ambushed it at 20 yards and killed it with a .177 Crosman Ultra Magnum to the head.)

For any rifle, it comes down to what you and the rifle can shoot well. Find what it likes and keep practicing.

I mentioned I shoot with a shooting stick--actually is it just a piece of 1/2" EMT. It helps me a lot and is way more convenient and appropriate for me than bipod. I wouldn't be getting so many squirrels without it. Are you using anything to help with the shots?

[Arch_E]

I’m shooting 8.44 jsb. It really bothers me to cripple a animal and it get away. Ive had this gun for several years but would not take it hunting because I just didn’t think it would kill a squirrel . I’m starting to really enjoy shooting break barrels after I’ve finally figured out how to shoot them. 25 yards is about-my max hunting I shoot farther in the back yard

My R10 (a PCP) likes both the 8.44 and 10.34 JSB. But my .177 CFX loved the 8.4 and 9.3 grain RWS wadcutters, and they really did the job to 40 yards if needed. Me and a few others on the GTA will swear that wadcutters are awesome on squirrels. My impression is that for the same shot, the wadcutter has the higher likelihood of causing fatal bleeding because of its efficient cutting action. If you can shoot those well (or hopefully better than the JSB), then that might put the joy back into hunting the squirrels.

Accuracy is crucial. I've taken almost 1100 gray squirrels out of my yard and with the passing of time I'm only becoming more dangerous to the squirrels. Sometimes I flub a shot too, but it's becoming rare.

When I started eight years ago, I was barely doing 20 yards well. I had tested bunches of pellets to find what the CFX liked. Most of my kills were 15 and 20 yards. After a bit, 25 yards was a reliable shot, but I avoided 30 yards for just the reason you note--I couldn't depend on a reliable hit, even off a rest. Time passed and 30, 35, and 45 yards became new and then old limits. Now, 30 yards, standing with a shooting stick--no problem.

And .177 for hunting? I do ground hogs with the R10 too. It is shooting the 10.34 gr JSB at 915 FPS and has killed them at 56 yards. Head shots, of course. (Even the CFX got a wood chuck once--I was visiting a relative and went after one that showed up in the yard. Ambushed it at 20 yards and killed it with a .177 Crosman Ultra Magnum to the head.)

For any rifle, it comes down to what you and the rifle can shoot well. Find what it likes and keep practicing.

I mentioned I shoot with a shooting stick--actually is it just a piece of 1/2" EMT. It helps me a lot and is way more convenient and appropriate for me than bipod. I wouldn't be getting so many squirrels without it. Are you using anything to help with the shots?

That's incredible: approximately 125 kills per year!!!! I'm impressed, envious, and now committed to report something similar 7.25 years from now--seriously.

I thought my squirrel population was high; but since Jan 2, I've eradicated 68 and thought that was pretty good. Looks like I've got to up my game.

Awesome post,

Archie

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

I’m shooting 8.44 jsb. It really bothers me to cripple a animal and it get away. Ive had this gun for several years but would not take it hunting because I just didn’t think it would kill a squirrel . I’m starting to really enjoy shooting break barrels after I’ve finally figured out how to shoot them. 25 yards is about-my max hunting I shoot farther in the back yard

My R10 (a PCP) likes both the 8.44 and 10.34 JSB. But my .177 CFX loved the 8.4 and 9.3 grain RWS wadcutters, and they really did the job to 40 yards if needed. Me and a few others on the GTA will swear that wadcutters are awesome on squirrels. My impression is that for the same shot, the wadcutter has the higher likelihood of causing fatal bleeding because of its efficient cutting action. If you can shoot those well (or hopefully better than the JSB), then that might put the joy back into hunting the squirrels.

Accuracy is crucial. I've taken almost 1100 gray squirrels out of my yard and with the passing of time I'm only becoming more dangerous to the squirrels. Sometimes I flub a shot too, but it's becoming rare.

When I started eight years ago, I was barely doing 20 yards well. I had tested bunches of pellets to find what the CFX liked. Most of my kills were 15 and 20 yards. After a bit, 25 yards was a reliable shot, but I avoided 30 yards for just the reason you note--I couldn't depend on a reliable hit, even off a rest. Time passed and 30, 35, and 45 yards became new and then old limits. Now, 30 yards, standing with a shooting stick--no problem.

And .177 for hunting? I do ground hogs with the R10 too. It is shooting the 10.34 gr JSB at 915 FPS and has killed them at 56 yards. Head shots, of course. (Even the CFX got a wood chuck once--I was visiting a relative and went after one that showed up in the yard. Ambushed it at 20 yards and killed it with a .177 Crosman Ultra Magnum to the head.)

For any rifle, it comes down to what you and the rifle can shoot well. Find what it likes and keep practicing.

I mentioned I shoot with a shooting stick--actually is it just a piece of 1/2" EMT. It helps me a lot and is way more convenient and appropriate for me than bipod. I wouldn't be getting so many squirrels without it. Are you using anything to help with the shots?

That's incredible: approximately 125 kills per year!!!! I'm impressed, envious, and now committed to report something similar 7.25 years from now--seriously.

I thought my squirrel population was high; but since Jan 2, I've eradicated 68 and thought that was pretty good. Looks like I've got to up my game.

Awesome post,

Archie

Say..Archie......You and Mole2017... are ...BOTH ...Awesome in my book.

Very Good Shooting ...for Both of You Guys !

And To Chuck..The O.P. of this post  .....Springers-Are-Us....at my house 

I have got Springers with more than one barrel that will fit the same gun. 


Best Wishes My Friends  -  Tom

[Mole2017]

Yeah that's a shocking total. I would not have thought it would get that high when I started, but after about the first 60 I thought I might loose count or nobody would believe it, etc. So I started a spreadsheet. They're all in there...interesting data too. I can look at seasonal patterns and such.

As for the average, early on it wasn't as high as it has been the last three years. I think the R10 really improved my efficiency: the average of the last three years has been about 140, whereas the first five years with the CFX were closer to 105 on average.

But there is a catch of sorts: I collect mine all year round, per SC depredation law. Disco Dave (dk1677), on the other hand will get that many in one season.

Back to the thread, yes, the PCP has made it easier to get them, but that only happened after I (a) found what it liked and (b) learned how to shoot the R10. That is the same for any platform.

I can get the longer range ones more easily than I could with the CFX, but the CFX did a pretty tidy job too for about a fifth of what it has cost me to get the R10 to where it is at--and I'm using just a hand pump. Tank is more on top of that. For those of you that know the cost of either of those rifles, I'm glad to say I go both the R10 and CFX at better than half price by buying used or refurbished. I like to think I got lucky with both deals--each is a fine rifle in its own right.

By the way, the CFX is long gone unless you find one used. The CFR took its place and now the ACCU has taken its place, but the CFR is still around in a reincarnated state, I guess, new and refurbished.

[Madd Hatter]

First springer I had was a M34 in .177. I've killed a lot of ground squirrels with it. One I head shot at 90 paces.