Seriously taking squirrels with 12ft lb?!
- Thread starter jt-outta-cali
- Start date
With a proper brain shot 5.5 FPE is plenty! Their skin is tougher than the skull, the skull is really thin. My backyard squirrel gun is 10 FPE and plenty for out to 35 yards. The reason I cranked up my gun to 10 FPE from 8 is to have a flatter trajectory and a bit more power for vital shots, 90% of vital shots the pellets were recovered just under the skin. Depending on size I have had full pass through even on vital shots so I generally prefer shots with backstop still.
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According to this site, it takes one joule to kill a squirrel: https://www.squirrelarena.com/how-much-energy-to-kill-squirrel/
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I dont think one comment here was bragging about anything.... a 12ftlb .177 is pretty dang flat out to 40yds and with a proper zero just about minute of squirrel brain from 20-35yds with some very slight holdover. It doesn't take "Chris Kyle" levels of accuracy to make that shot. Yes, if there is substantial wind there are better options. This is not what the thread is talking about though. Is 12ftlbs capable of hunting squirrels? You're darn right it is.
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I've never lost a squirrel well hit with a 12 fpe .177. I've lost squirrels poorly hit with a 30 fpe .22. You make the shot, the squirrel is dead. If more power gives you confidence, you should use it, but the percentage of marginal hits saved by it will be meaningless. I should add a qualifier, it depends on distance. If you routinely take shots over 35 yards, I think you would benefit from a standard power rifle.
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I've no chronograph, but I know everything in my arsenal that is pushing any pellet over 550 fps[I go by the gun's manufacturer details bc I've not modded but 1 gun.]will put down any critters in my yard. I do have more kills with .177 though bc the ammo is cheaper
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A 100 pound squirrel would basically be a small mountain lion in serious need of a dental hygienist. I'll take those odds.
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I've NEVER had a squirrel run off from a proper shoulder shot with my 11 fpe .177. Obviously, your shot has to progress through the heart/lung cavity after passing through the shoulder. A poorly executed shot might enter at the shoulder, but progress either too high through the trachea, or too low into the guts, neither of which will kill cleanly.
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Please point out which post is bragging.
Then you start name calling, although Carlos was a true American hero, so that not a bad thing. Obviously you feel threatened by people who use lower power at reasonable range.
No one is bragging and no one wants tear you down, no matter how much power you need to kill a squirrel. Please, don’t feel threatened, it’s all ok.
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I think it is important to note how the guys in England are taking squirrels with their under 12 ft lb rifles. Most of the videos I've seen they are sitting in a hide within 25 yards of a feeder and waiting for just the right angle on a brain shot. Nothing at all wrong with that if baiting them is legal where you live but it is not what I do. It would be possible to wait for exactly the right angle for what I do but I would not get it in a lot of cases. The squirrel would just go away without giving it to me. At least that is what I think so I take a good enough angle on not always a brain shot. I also mostly take them in my yard which is only 75 feet wide. I do not want them running to my neighbors yard. Stopping them is important. So for what I do, I do not think 12 ft. lbs is enough. Stopping them is a given with a good brain shot and 12 fpe with a 177 I would think is consistently enough. It might be enough with a 22 but it will definitely penetrate less and have more drop making placement more challenging. I've proven to myself that even 19 fpe with a domed 177 pellet is not effective stopping squirrels with body shots. They die quickly but not without running some. I think it's a totally ethical shot but not great for my yard.
So I think it is critical for those wanting to use guns at the lower range of fpe to be more careful with shot placement. Not to think they will be more careful and then get anxious and blast away (like me) but to actually do it. I would also want to be using a 177 to get a flatter trajectory and deeper penetration.
For me, I like more fpe even in a 177 and prefer a 22 or 25 at 25 fpe or more for backyard duty. A bigger hole and more fpe will not make up for poor placement but it does seem to better limit running on body shots. Only about 25% of my 25 caliber body shots ran but so far 100% of my 177 caliber body shots ran, or tried to.
My comments are not intended to be in any way critical of those who get consistently good results with 12 or even 10 fpe airguns. I am just trying to point out there is a difference between you and those of us who are not always as patient waiting for just the right shot and/or less capable of putting our pellets into exactly the right place. I think the average airgunner is better off with a little more fpe.
So I think it is critical for those wanting to use guns at the lower range of fpe to be more careful with shot placement. Not to think they will be more careful and then get anxious and blast away (like me) but to actually do it. I would also want to be using a 177 to get a flatter trajectory and deeper penetration.
For me, I like more fpe even in a 177 and prefer a 22 or 25 at 25 fpe or more for backyard duty. A bigger hole and more fpe will not make up for poor placement but it does seem to better limit running on body shots. Only about 25% of my 25 caliber body shots ran but so far 100% of my 177 caliber body shots ran, or tried to.
My comments are not intended to be in any way critical of those who get consistently good results with 12 or even 10 fpe airguns. I am just trying to point out there is a difference between you and those of us who are not always as patient waiting for just the right shot and/or less capable of putting our pellets into exactly the right place. I think the average airgunner is better off with a little more fpe.
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Maybe I missed it, but I don't believe you mentioned the distance at which you need lethal accuracy. If you are shooting at 40 yards or more, then I agree with your preference for more power. A 12 fpe rifle will kill a squirrel at 50+ yards, but I can't get sufficiently reliable accuracy to attempt those shots. I realize that a lot of folks report good results with sub-12 rifles at greater distances, but I haven't achieved it. There could be differences in barrel specs, or maybe I haven't found the right pellet. But, I really don't need to shoot beyond 35 yards anyway for my home pesting. And, as with any forum discussion, sometimes folks are a bit flexible with the truth. My rifle gives sub MOA groups out to about 35-40 yards, but then things fall off rapidly. My 50 yard groups would cover most of a squirrel's whole body, so not nearly good enough for ethical shots. My 30 fpe .22 rifles will produce squirrel head accuracy at 50 yards, so that would be my choice for general woods hunting.
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Sometimes people like to make the argument of "I need more power for longer range". Which is fair I think.
But, in the context of high power spring guns, the accuracy usually doesn't hold up for the distance they are trying to reach anyway. So often times it's a moot point to begin with.
The only reliable way to improve your odds?
.....get closer.
But, in the context of high power spring guns, the accuracy usually doesn't hold up for the distance they are trying to reach anyway. So often times it's a moot point to begin with.
The only reliable way to improve your odds?
.....get closer.
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The point that is getting missed here is that this here is Murica and here in the US of A, we like power and the more the better. A true Murican don’t care one wit what some fella across the pond does with his pea shooter
I see sub 12 air gunning like the fly fisherman who uses a sub 4 weight rod who carefully wades into their casting range and precisely places his size 22 fly in just the right place to entice a rise.
It ain’t my cup of tea, but then again, they may view me as a barbarian because I don‘t have a gun that shoots less than 44 fpe, but we all share the same water. We just have different ways to fish it.
Have fun out there.
I see sub 12 air gunning like the fly fisherman who uses a sub 4 weight rod who carefully wades into their casting range and precisely places his size 22 fly in just the right place to entice a rise.
It ain’t my cup of tea, but then again, they may view me as a barbarian because I don‘t have a gun that shoots less than 44 fpe, but we all share the same water. We just have different ways to fish it.
Have fun out there.
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Ted Bier did a great video years ago discussing the theory that the only reason we have airguns that are so finely crafted and well built is because of the UK power limit. We would be wise to be grateful for the quality of airguns that our UK family has brought to the community.
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Been Anchoring squirrels with 12 fpe spring or pcp rifles for over 40 years .... head or heart/lung is generally DRT or a short yet fatal sprint a few feet.
Gut or Ass shots DO NOT work !!! as least for retrieval sake
Gut or Ass shots DO NOT work !!! as least for retrieval sake
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Decades of experience certainly needs to be respected. I also think you qualify as a much better than average shooter, Motorhead.
I also have found evidence of the lack of effectiveness of Ass shots. I haven't taken any but I cleaned a couple kills and found 177 pellets under the skin on the ass. One of the squirrels was missing it's tail. Don't know if that's related. Both squirrels were all healed up when I killed them. Regardless of power I think even a squirrel deserves better than a Gut or Ass shot.
I also have found evidence of the lack of effectiveness of Ass shots. I haven't taken any but I cleaned a couple kills and found 177 pellets under the skin on the ass. One of the squirrels was missing it's tail. Don't know if that's related. Both squirrels were all healed up when I killed them. Regardless of power I think even a squirrel deserves better than a Gut or Ass shot.
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