During the early part of the squirrel season, I like to use a light NEF 12 bore with a 32" full choke barrel and 1 1/8 ounce #4 shot handloads.
This is the easiest load to assemble, just put "magnum" grade #4 shot in the hopper instead of your usual skeet or trap shot. The pellets are large enough to pass all the way through small game which is a bonus for the culinary results of the hunt.

Speaking of the culinary results, with today's exploding feral hog population, an early fall squirrel hunt can easily turn into an opportunity to bring home some serious pork for the freezer! For those moments, I like to keep a few rounds of Dixie Tri-Ball buckshot in my pocket. This load of three .60 caliber, 315 grain pellets shoots to the point of aim for me with just the bead. This buckshot load is choke friendly, doesn't lead the bore and has the penetration to take on any boar.

I wonder how many reading this have encountered hogs when afield after small game - and had the right ammo along for the opportunity?

If they get close enough, the 22 lr will knock them flat if shot just under the ear in the soft tissue. Most of the time they will not be dead but basically paralyzed. A follow up shot between the front legs or a good knife stuck behind the front leg will get the heart and they will bleed out quickly. Merg

Back in FL, if I was gonna squirrel hunt and thought I might see a pig, I always carried my 22 magnum. Its killed as many hogs as any of my other guns.The old Savage is a 22 Mag over 410, and its kinda handie too.