308 for Squirrels?

[jimlongley]

If you reload, a .30-06 can easily be used for squirrels. Lee has a .311" round ball mold that drops at around 45.16 grains. Load it on top of 2 or 3 grains of a fast shotgun powder (Red Dot, etc) and you are ready to go. If you want a bit more weight, there's also some 113 grain .309" bullets and you could use some of the .32 S&W Long and such that could work in a .308 bore with resizing. I probably wouldn't bother resizing the .311" round ball since it's going to resize on its own as it is being seated or shot. If you have a chrono, just try to keep the velocity subsonic for the round balls.

A whole bunch of years ago I tried to work up a load for Woodchuck in my .30-06 using single 0 buckshot (not legal to possess in NY State at the time) with very mixed results. The soft lead made a mess of my bore and I kind of gave up and went back to underloaded jacketed bullets.

[NavyVet1959]

A whole bunch of years ago I tried to work up a load for Woodchuck in my .30-06 using single 0 buckshot (not legal to possess in NY State at the time) with very mixed results. The soft lead made a mess of my bore and I kind of gave up and went back to underloaded jacketed bullets.

Did you try it with a harder alloy like wheelweights?

[jimlongley]

A whole bunch of years ago I tried to work up a load for Woodchuck in my .30-06 using single 0 buckshot (not legal to possess in NY State at the time) with very mixed results. The soft lead made a mess of my bore and I kind of gave up and went back to underloaded jacketed bullets.

Did you try it with a harder alloy like wheelweights?

No, I wasn't casting, just trying something out. Later I tried paper patching for soft lead projectiles, ZigZag papers were pretty good, but in the 70s buying them did draw a raised eyebrow or two. Kind of fun to fire a shot and have confetti blowing around just past the muzzle.

I did work up a load, once, that used some the projectiles out of some .30-40 ammo I "inherited." The ammo was green with age, so I gently pulled the projectiles and loaded them in my .30-06. I estimated them at around 110 grains and dissected one to see why such a large bullet weighed so little. Almost a third of the copper jacket was virtually empty, with a little hole, almost the size of a .22LR hollow point, out at the tip. I was told, back in the 60s by some "old timers" that these were "mushroom tip" ammo that was intended for use on thin skinned, smaller, varmints. I shot a Woodchuck with one of these loads and there was pretty much nothing left except skin and legs.

[Jim Beaux]

Years ago I met an old man in the Big Thicket.

He didnt use a gun for squirrels but rather "uglied" them to death. He would sit under a tree and when a limb rat showed, he would jump up and make the most hideous and ugly face possible. I was amazed as he got several within a few minutes without a sound other than the agonizing chittering of the dying rodents.

He told me his family had passed this technique down from father to son for generations. I then asked if he had taught his son and he replied he didnt have a son, but rather a daughter. He said though he had taught her, he wouldnt let her use it. I asked him why and he said, "cuz she tears em up too bad!"

[WildBill]

Years ago I met an old man in the Big Thicket.

He didnt use a gun for squirrels but rather "uglied" them to death. He would sit under a tree and when a limb rat showed, he would jump up and make the most hideous and ugly face possible. I was amazed as he got several within a few minutes without a sound other than the agonizing chittering of the dying rodents.

He told me his family had passed this technique down from father to son for generations. I then asked if he had taught his son and he replied he didnt have a son, but rather a daughter. He said though he had taught her, he wouldnt let her use it. I asked him why and he said, "cuz she tears em up too bad!"

Is this a true story?

[n5wmk]

Years ago I met an old man in the Big Thicket.

So where's the smilie/emoticon with one leg longer than the other?

[Jim Beaux]

Years ago I met an old man in the Big Thicket.

He didnt use a gun for squirrels but rather "uglied" them to death. He would sit under a tree and when a limb rat showed, he would jump up and make the most hideous and ugly face possible. I was amazed as he got several within a few minutes without a sound other than the agonizing chittering of the dying rodents.

He told me his family had passed this technique down from father to son for generations. I then asked if he had taught his son and he replied he didnt have a son, but rather a daughter. He said though he had taught her, he wouldnt let her use it. I asked him why and he said, "cuz she tears em up too bad!"

Is this a true story?

Well Bill, Im really hurt that you doubt my word considering you havent caught me in a lie in the last 5 or 10 minutes.....

[Pawpaw]

[WildBill]

[ Image ]

I don't know if this would kill them or turn them into a pillar of salt.

[BLG]

Pawpaw, that was exactly what I thought of when I read the story!


btw, I just tried that in my backyard. I guess I just couldn't make my face ugly enough.

[Pawpaw]

I guess I just couldn't make my face ugly enough.

And I have to live with it every day.

[BLG]

[TEA]

410 with birdshot?

I shot a squirrel with a .30-06 once at the end of an unsuccessful deer hunt. I was on the way back to the cabin and this squirrel started chattering at me as if he was mocking me. Pretty much vaporized the squirrel.

[mlawler]

Does Remington still make it's "Accelerator" line of ammo? 22 cal 55gn in plastic sabot. If memory serves, they made 30-06, 308 and 30-30.

[Jim Beaux]

Pawpaw, that was exactly what I thought of when I read the story!


btw, I just tried that in my backyard. I guess I just couldn't make my face ugly enough.

If you cant make an adequate ugly face use a picture of Nancy Pelosi .....