"best" 22LR load for squirrels?

What are your recommendations for 22LR loads for squirrels and why? Solid point vs. hollow points? Brands you suggest? I'm shooting a Ruger 10/22. Thanks.

If I use a shotgun, it's when the leaves are still up and it's simple to aim forward and only catch the head. Normally, it's my .22 and the brand would be CCS because they're cheap.

IMHO, I feel any shotgun is no challenge at all and not much fun. I myself and my hunting partner use high powered air rifles in either 22 or 25 cal.they are very effective and are a lot safer shooting than a 22 rimfire, especially if you are shooting up into the trees. If you get a good quality gun and scope you can easily head shoot squirrels at 50 to 70 yards.and they don't make much noise incase you miss you may get a 2nd shot or be able to shoot his friend in the bext tree over.If anyone wants any info on what rifle to look at message me and I can give you some ideas. Dean

Just wondering what your guys favorite squirrel loads and guns are. Looking for something to talk about. Personally, I like to use a 410 with 6 shot

If I could shoot squirrels at 25 yds or less, I'd just shoot an airgun. Much cheaper. The times I've hunted squirrels, most shots were 50+ yards, try to get any closer and they run to a nearby hole.

Another interesting topic for the younger hunter but its not rocket science gentleman. I've hunted squirrels for almost 60 years. Grandpa always said the best .22 shells to hunt squirrels with is whatever you can fine, in your coat pocket or on work bench. For years I shot a Stevens Favorite using shorts never took a shot over 20 yards, always a head shot. In the 70's I bought a Winchester slide with 3 power scope went to long rifles increased range to 25 yards was almost like cheating still making head shots. It all comes down to how you hunt, shot selection and how good a shot you are, quality of guns and ammo are not that great of factor. Loved watching the bushy tails this past deer season had several come within 10 feet of me trying to figure out what that orange thing was.

17hm2 is nice but it's getting harder and harder to find ammo. With a .22, nothing gets the job done better than CCI Velocitors. I've seen the CCI Stingers split apart squirrels before.

first off i use a old marlin single shot dad gave me as a kid or a henry lever that is scoped. the single shot aint scoped. I shoot remington sub sonic hollow points through these 2 guns. I also found out they dont like to get shot out of my 1911 22 that I dont use for hunting. That gun shoots CCI only. I think it has something to do with the amount of powder. I didnt get out alot this year but I did get a few rats. 3 with the old single shot and 10 with henry. It is alot of fun to go with the old gun and is a challange. I just rediscovered squirrel hunting about 10 or 12 years ago. Its alot of fun and brings back very fond memories of hunting with my uncle as a kid. He always squirrel hunted pretty much thats all he hunted. He loved them and made them so many different ways. awsome eating when he would make it.

17hmach2 is the ultimate

It doesn't matter if you use hollow points or solids, the problems happen when you switch between the two or between different ammo brands. Once you are sighted in with a certain style and brand, stick with it. If you have a lot of different brands, re-sight in your gun when switching over to the next brand. And you should always be aiming for the head, what the hell good is it to gut shoot squirrels that can easily scamper back to their nest or hole to die a slow agonizing death, on top of that it makes one hell of a mess skinning with guts popping out of the holes. Some people's kids.

I shot these with Lapua high velocity solids. I was down to my last box of Green Tags and couldn't find anymore so I had to quick sight in with what I had and found out that my Kimber likes the Lapua's better than the Green Tags.

Most of my 22's shoot winchester super X the best.I have a Weatherby auto that just loves them.As far as solid or hollow points when I was much younger,before I got into bow deer hunting I was vary serious about squirrel hunting we always used hollow points and shot for the head.

CCI Green label + S&W 15-22 = Tree rats, feral cats and yard vermin BEWARE!!!!

The one that's most accurate in YOUR rifle is what I would use. I've found CCI Green Tag about the best out of most rifles for a moderatly priced ammo.

CCI Mini Mags work well in both of my Rugers the MKII and 10/22. I use HP's.

This year it looks like I will be using bird shot!