POST YOUR HUNTING PICS THREAD

[Wi_sweetguy]

squirrel looks bigger than your foot. Cool.

[Roc]

First squirrel of the season, first squirrel with this gun. Headshot! Ended up with 3 (1 shy of limit) but I hit 2 more that got away. I need to practice headshots or vitals more. Sometimes you hit them in the body and they go down but dont die and run away into holes.

[yajmafia]

Out of curiosity, do local squirrels taste the same as those in the wild?

[focker]

I need to practice headshots or vitals more. Sometimes you hit them in the body and they go down but dont die and run away into holes.

No head shots for me.  I like eating the head and brains.  I always take neck/shoulder shots.....anch ors them.  Here's an example....als o my first for this year.






Typical terrain...




Tools of the trade...Ruger 10/22magnum shooting 40gr CCI GAME POINTS




Total for the day......5 ---3 for me and 2 for my 11yr old son...

[Roc]

Hey that's great you got your son on them. I bet he was pretty stoked. Thanks for the advice on the shot placement, all I could find online was headshot, headshot, headshot. Meeka don't eat the head like us haha. Our spot was pretty fished out this year, my friend and his buddies cleaned house last year with shotguns. I had to go to an old reliable place to find them, squirrel soup tonight!

[Roc]

BTW lovely gun. Maybe if one day I pick up the hobby I'll look into a 10/22.

[yajkuza]

Roc, what caliber?

[Wi_sweetguy]

Sept. 15 2012. Wiconsin's small game is on. Can't wait. FYI. I hunt till the last day of small game season.

[Roc]

Roc, what caliber?

Mine is in 22 LR. I found it really likes CCI Mini-Mags Hollow Points. I tried a couple Hyper Velocity rounds (although you're not supposed to) but they seem to group all over the place. CCI Stingers jam due to the longer cases. I still want to try some Aquila SSS 60 grain subsonics, but may just stick to Mini-Mags.

[focker]

Roc, If that Marlin likes the CCI mini-mags, you should order up a few boxes of CCI standard velocity, SK Standard Plus or Wolf Match Target (re-branded SK).  These 3 are a step up from the normal bulk or 'high velocity' 22LR ammo.  Velocities are around 1040-1070fps and you'll eliminate cold bore first shot fliers.  They're all I shoot if out hunting...you WILL be surprised by the one hole accuracy!

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1301143578/cci-standard-velocity-ammunition-22-long-rifle-40-grain-lead-round-nose

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1679162820/wolf-match-target-ammunition-22-long-rifle-40-grain-lead-round-nose

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2577141120/sk-standard-plus-ammunition-22-long-rifle-40-grain-lead-round-nose

[Roc]

Thanks for the ammo recommendation shooter. Do you regularly shoot round nose loads? I was always under the impression that hollowpoints were necessary. Guess I can't argue with your results though, I assume round noses are more accurate than hollowpoints correct?

Also, do you prefer lead ammo vs copper plated?

[focker]

For hunting yes,  but if out plinking any of the bulk varieties will do.  Any type of bullet will do, depends on your preference and what your particular gun likes.   

What matters to me is cold bore first shot.  It needs to be consistent and if you can't place the bullet where you aim, then likely it will result in a miss or a gut shot quarry.  All higher end semi-match and match bullets are Round noses and these bullets' velocity are in the 1040-1080fps range, slightly above or below the sound barrier, which makes them accurate.  Most  high velocity rounds fall around 1200fps and the hyper velocity are at 1500fps and higher. 

In the end, the faster round has more energy, but if can't hit your quarry, then what's the point?

[Roc]

I'll try those standard velocities to see how the gun likes them. I know I can pick up a pack of the CCI standards here in town but the Wolf may be harder to find. Owning a rifle is so interesting, I've never been met with so much to tinker with. I've been a hunter most of my life but was never really into guns. My Marlin has changed that I think. I've put in about an hour into taking it apart and cleaning it and also tuning the trigger.

[Im a Guy]

The best ammo for the 22LR are the CCi mini-mag High velocity... Shoot clean and not alot of duds shot... Don't buy them winchester super X. They have duds shot. Half of the super x either shoot but is weak shot... I miss my 22lr lol... Think of getting the Marlin 60 series again. The one u load into the tube... U can carry hundreds of ammo in your shack...     

[Roc]

You should get the Marlin 60 man, that's what mine is. Look up how to replace the trigger return spring with a floppy disk spring and it'll cut you atleast half a pound of trigger pull. The other easy mod is to reshape your sear spring, that'll take off another half a pound. After that you'll have a very happy hunting trigger. It's pretty easy stuff, great gun for the money.

Like I was saying earlier my Marlin 60 really likes the mini-mags also. I would not mind testing out other ammunition though, just to see how the gun likes them.