Grey squirrels.

[Smellydog]

That is one heck of a big (I mean expensive) round for a squirrel! Have you not heard of the .17? I am trying to guess what it is: it has a rim, about 2 inches long, so not a .22 WMR, bullet is small and blunt looks like .22 something, does not look like .22-250 (especially as it is rimmed as in a rimfire). Can you fill me in? Have you just won an inheritance, or the pools?

On another note, after removing all the squirrels in the adjoining woodland, the explosion in bird life has been phenomenal. Just counted 16 different species this morning straight out of my kitchen window, many including the thrushes, woodpeckers, gold finches and nutcrackers with two or more young. Never seen that number of young with adults before when the squirrels were here. There were a lot of squirrels, and in spring young birds or eggs were a daily diet based on the goey mess in their stomachs when I checked them.

It's 3030 Winchester but my small game load of 100gn plinker bullet kindly sent by a member of SD and a pinch of Hercules unique.

Had a few more this morning with the 22.

 

["Nik"]

That is one heck of a big (I mean expensive) round for a squirrel! Have you not heard of the .17? I am trying to guess what it is: it has a rim, about 2 inches long, so not a .22 WMR, bullet is small and blunt looks like .22 something, does not look like .22-250 (especially as it is rimmed as in a rimfire). Can you fill me in? Have you just won an inheritance, or the pools?

On another note, after removing all the squirrels in the adjoining woodland, the explosion in bird life has been phenomenal. Just counted 16 different species this morning straight out of my kitchen window, many including the thrushes, woodpeckers, gold finches and nutcrackers with two or more young. Never seen that number of young with adults before when the squirrels were here. There were a lot of squirrels, and in spring young birds or eggs were a daily diet based on the goey mess in their stomachs when I checked them.

Hi Alex, I think you are thinking of the .17HMR or maybe I am totally off track..

 

[AlexD]

Hi Alex, I think you are thinking of the .17HMR or maybe I am totally off track..

Yes, the .17 rimfire is usually the HMR: Smellydog would have known that straight off, so I was being lazy in dropping the HMR.
I use a .17 HMR for all my squirrels, rabbits etc. Very effective out to 200 yards, and point blank aiming (i.e. negligible rise or drop) in the first 100 yards. There are some other useful .17 calibres though, Hornets being the next that springs to mind.
All the .17s I know of have pointed tips, as they go fast.

0.22 rounds though, usually have rounded tips, and those tips in Smellydog's pic looked like .22LR / WMR shape, but the casing was huge, and the bullet (head) looked like it is on steroids, hence my wondering what it was. He has a nice rifle.

I am asking myself still, am I reading him right: a .30 WCF cartridge is £1 a squirrel? A 100gn is a Creedmore sized round. I would not use a .22-250 on squirrels as cost would nibble my mind away (.22-250 is more or less, a .308 necked down for a .224 bullet), and .22-250 is usually only 50 to 55gns. 100gns .30 WCF cartridge.

On Smellydog's signature line, it is good, all ammo used today contains lead, and all ammo used in 10 years time will also contain lead. The primer.

 

[Smellydog]

I am asking myself still, am I reading him right: a .30 WCF cartridge is £1 a squirrel? A 100gn is a Creedmore sized round. I would not use a .22-250 on squirrels as cost would nibble my mind away (.22-250 is more or less, a .308 necked down for a .224 bullet), and .22-250 is usually only 50 to 55gns. 100gns .30 WCF cartridge.

A few years ago I asked members on here for unwanted 308" bullets.
Many stepped up and all sorts came to me.
So the bullet cost is very low due to kind supporters.
The powder charge for these speed of sound or subsonic loads is less than 10gns usually of shotgun speed powders.
Usually I hunt rabbits and hares with them but these squirrels got in the way. They are good for pheasant too and of course fox.

 

[Cyffylog Coch]

Grey Squirrels have disappeared overnight in the 40 acre woodland next to my house in Mid/West Wales. Over winter and spring I was shooting/trapping around a dozen a week. Haven’t seen it yet but from the scat I’ve found in the woods I suspect a Pine Marten has moved in.

 

["Nik"]

Grey Squirrels have disappeared overnight in the 40 acre woodland next to my house in Mid/West Wales. Over winter and spring I was shooting/trapping around a dozen a week. Haven’t seen it yet but from the scat I’ve found in the woods I suspect a Pine Marten has moved in.

 

["Nik"]

A few years ago I asked members on here for unwanted 308" bullets.
Many stepped up and all sorts came to me.
So the bullet cost is very low due to kind supporters.
The powder charge for these speed of sound or subsonic loads is less than 10gns usually of shotgun speed powders.
Usually I hunt rabbits and hares with them but these squirrels got in the way. They are good for pheasant too and of course fox.
View attachment 429501View attachment 429502View attachment 429503

 

["Nik"]

Your 3030 is a very versatile rifle
Squirrel update, I saw one in the woods about a week ago so that is two squirrels I have seen this year in the woods. Something has drastically reduced the numbers.
But plenty in the garden taunting me...
One thing that there is no shortage of in the woods is fallow

 

[Bavarianbrit]

As food? The Americans eat them.

 

[AlexD]

As food? The Americans eat them.

A significant number of people from the USA have unusual ideas. Below are some samples taken on a university campus. I hesitated to use the word Americans, as that could cast Canadians, Mexicans, Brazilians etc in the same mould, even though most of the time we use the phrase to mean Americans from the USA. The education system in the USA is quite unique.