I'm looking for a barrel for my Encore that I can hunt squirrels with out to one hundred yards. I first thought of the 223 or the Ruger 204. Probable to much speed, to much damage to the squirrel. I got out the Sierra reloading book and checked on some rounds. I think I will go with the 221 Fireball and use 45 grain SPT and move it around 2700 FPS. I will use a 24" barrel with a 4X16 Burris. What do you guys think? Thanks for your thoughts.

.22 long rifle subsonic, hollow point ammo from Ely or Lapua.
No point in a centerfire for this.
Brent

The squirrels around here are in trees most of the time. I don't shoot centerfires, unless they are shotguns, into the air without a backstop.

I have a bunch of .22's like others. I am thinking of getting a .17 RF as the bullet is smaller and therefore safer. Right now I prefer an air rifle, or shotgun for shooting stuff in trees.

shooter,

I tried hunting squirrels with both a 22 mag and a 22 centerfire. Both were too loud. I solved the safety issue mentioned by Savage99 by hunting from tree stands and shooting into the ground. But one shot from a centerfire and the squirrels were gone for a couple of hours. I went back to a rimfire.

knobmtn

The Squirrels around here spend most of their time on the ground hunting for food. We have 9" of snow on the ground now. They are Fox Squirrels, adults go about 3lbs. The noise isn't a problem, after you fire most of them don't even run away. They don't like people in their area. That is why I need some thing that will take them out from 100 yards. You can't get close to them with a shot gun. I have hunted Gray Squirrels in trees wiht a shot gun. I have shot Fox Squirrels in the past with a Ruger Mark 22 with a Burris 2X7 from around 60 yards. I think I'm just getting to old to hunt Squirrels with a hand gun any more. My luck this year is O. That is why I am looking for a center fire rifle barrel for the Encore. The thought is that a center fire will take their little heads off and not do to much damage to the meat. I tried my 308 with 110 grain H P, just to much damage, and the 3X9 Burris doesn't have enough power to zero in on their heads.

Look at either the .32-20 or the .32 H&R barrel. You'll get about 1300-1400 fps with a 115 grain RNFP. Really hammers them and doesn't cause too much bloodshot meat.

Rem40x,
You really sure about that? I have used a .25-20 SS at 1400 fps (bp) and a rnfp bullet - it is VERY hard on squirrels.

Brent

Brent:

I either head shoot them or put the bullet in the ribs behind the foreleg. If I can't get one of those two shots, I pass. The head shots are messy, but the shot behind the ribs just punches through. I'm estimating velocity, but my loads are similar to those Ross Seyfried used in his custom .32 H&R he had built on a Ruger No. 3 action and wrote about in Shooting Times about 15 years ago.

rem40x,
In my experience, it makes a mess wherever you hit them. The .22 subsonic hps are just the cat's meow for head or body shots.

Brent

I have a "Squib" load for .223 Remmington and one for .22 Hornet that lowers the velocity to an estimated 1850 fps.
223---[55grain PSP bullet] 5.6 grains of UNIQUE.
22 Hornet---[55grain PSP] 4.1 grains of UNIQUE.
I use them in "The City" at 25 yards.

Madison, you really should try a subsonic - you don't know the meaning of "squib"

Launching those things skywards would be a little worrisome as well as the damage they would do at that velocity if you hit them anywhere other than the end of the nose.

Brent