Dedicated pest control shotgun?

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PaladinX13

New member
If you live in a semi-rural area with homes about 300 yards around with fairly dense trees between (can't see from one home to another) what shotgun and load would you select for exterminating squirrels (not interested in eating anymore, just trying to keep them out of my attic or dying in my walls and stinking up the house)?

Up until now I've been using an airgun (Talon SS in .22) but that requires more precision than I care for just plain pest control (but it is fun sport)... and the lack of repeatability results in escaping targets when there's a bunch of them.
 
Whatever shotgun you have will do fine loaded with 6s.Even a 410 will work in these parameters.

Most folks like full choke for Squirrels.

Or. you can buy a used poilce turnin 870, send it off to Vang or ST for the full bore WIHTF conversion, spend about $1K and end up with something quite capable of collecting 25 cents worth of meat time after time. I call that the Government approach(G)...

HTH....
 
How close can you get to the rodents?

Marlin makes a .22mag rimfire smoothebore that fires shotshells, using #12 shot. Works on rats and large birds (Pigeons), might be usefull at close range on squirls.

As much as I hate to recommend that abomination of a gauge the 410, a cheap single might be the best bet. Be sure to shoot them when they are sitting still.
 
I actually don't have any shotguns so killing squirrels would be the only thing it would ever do. I'm concerned about safety but quick/sure kills so I was attracted towards getting a shotgun. I'm also concerned about noise... which guage is the most quiet?

I can get fairly close- most shots with in 25 yards (just trying to keep them from the house)... if I'm expecting shorter ranges should I use some short of reduced load/charge shells for more safety and more quiet report?

This is a half practical and half impulse purchase so I'd tend to stay lower end in price, but I am looking at the Win 9410 because I don't have any lever action guns. For taking squirrels, do I need a shotgun with sights/scope or is it easy to learn how to hit with just the front bead?
 
I agree with a 20 gauge single, full choke.
The maximum range of a No 6 shot pellet is 242 yards according to Journee's Formula. Smaller shot, shorter range.
 
I used to use .410 under same conditions as you but now have switched to 20 gauge full choke 7.5 shot. With longer barrelled gun is just about as quiet as 410 if you use light(cheap) loads and is a quantum leap in performance. I rips ground squirrels out of ground if they show their heads within 20 yards.:)
 
Pal,no bad reports on the 94/410, but that's a lot of money to spend controlling tree rats. It's a fun toy, so if you really want one....

Sights are not needed for squirrels, just perch the squirrel's head above the bead and squeeze.

For lower noise, get a reloading friend to make up some subsonic loads, say 3/4 oz at 900 FPS. They'll still whack a squirrel nicely inside 25 yards, and are very quiet if shot in a long bbl.

Also, squirrels are very tasty, don't waste those pests...
 
Thanks for all the tips... to summarize:

A single long barrel 20 ga. w/ subsonic 3/4th oz #6 shot shells, right?

The 870 seemed to be the answer to all shotgun questions so I'm kinda surprised a single shot was recommended. Why? Cost, weight, or perhaps shooter discipline? :D I'm not about to go Rambo on the squirrels! I like squirrel occasionally, but since I only kill them one at a time it seems like too much work for too little meat... and I'm a bad cook, heh. If I get a repeating shotgun and get good enough to kill multiple squirrels w/o spoiling the meat, then I'll surely eat 'em!
 
The 870 IS the answer to all questions shotgun, except for "What's the cheapest reliable tool for this mission?".

Much as I've used 870s, my squirrel shotgun of choice for decades was an H&R single bbl 16 gauge, and yes, it was Full Choke and stoked with 6s.

As for squirrels, it takes two greys to feed a hungry man. As you take them one at a time, dress and skin. Salt/borax the hides and tails, fly tyers can do marvelous things with them.Pop the squirrels into the freezer in a big ziplock. Once you have enough, thaw and try this....

Quarter the dressed squirrels and soak in cold water for maybe 5 minutes. Drain, dredge in seasoned flour, and brown in a deep frying pan with a little olive oil to keep them from sticking. When brown on most sides,add some sliced onion,celery and mushrooms and saute(turn heat down).

Add enough water or beef stock to cover,a bay leaf and a little chopped garlic. Let simmer until the meat can be pulled from the bones. Do so, discard the bones, and return the meat to the pan.

Add about 1 Tsp of good sherry and a dollop of sour cream before serving over rice and with green beans and a salad.

Enjoy....
 
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