If squirrels are like

[CFX Marauder]

wet newspaper ohhh boy.....Just need my scope and a foolish nutter..

[gamo2hammerli]

Those red points look nasty.  They're going to put out some pain when they connect....

[bugshotgta]

Speaking of pellets...those are wicked by the way.  I have taken my share and then some of red squirrels.  Until recently with my gamo shadow .177.  I usually use Crossman Prem hollows (7.9g).  This combo has done quite well even up to 50 yards (ya I cant believe it either).  A couple of weeks ago I got an RWS 52 .177 and a bucket of heavy domes (10.5 g) pellets.  My observation has been that the RWS knocks those sqs right out of the trees but doesnt penetrate???  The little rat like critter last a little to long for my taste.  The hollows impart a mortal wound and they go off to squ heaven quickly.  What is going on?  I know the RWS is a lot more powerful than my old shadow (richmich tuned by the by).  Should I use hollows or pointed pellets?  Listening  Bugshot

[only1harry]

With squirrels it's all about shot placement.  Domed or hollow points should work fine.  It only takes 4ft-lbs on impact to kill a squirrel.  The Predators would probably work best on them, but if hit in the head it doesn't matter what pellet you use.  Even flat/wadcutter pellets would work.  I 've taken a few with Crosman flat & pointed pellets using my 5.7-5.8fpe 760 pumper 25+yrs ago (~15yds) and that was with all 3:  neck, head, and upper chest shots.  Squirrels are tough.  They 'll fight and do the death dance but they won't run away, especially if hit in the head or neck.  If one is hanging on too long, just follow up with another shot to end it.

Hey Brent, did you measure the expansion?  I 'm curious.  
Check out these .22 Crow Magnums I recovered.  0.31" diameter!  But these are heavier (18.2gr) so I would expect them to be a little wider than the Predators since they have more mass.  But I liked the fact that even the skirt was flattened with the CM's!  I got a box of Predators that I haven't opened because this Condor is just too powerful to shoot them sub-sonic.  I would like to keep the velocity around 1,000fps or less, but even at the lowest setting JSB Exact 15.9gr were going over 1,100fps and the shroud wasn't working too well consealing the sonic boom.  So I haven't tried the Predators yet.  I 'll start using them on some of my other .22's.  That's an impressive expansion so this tells me they are true HP's, not like the Premier HP's (CPHP's).. but the CPHP is still a very good pellet and hits hard and is accurate in most guns.  

[CFX Marauder]

Harry......

The Predators are gonna run close to your .31 but like you I predict a lil smaller than the CM...I'll have to geta pic later as the wife took the cam today cuz she's getting new ink work.......You are also correct on the CPHP,my guns love them and prolly 90% of the squirrels ive posted are CPHP kills but they do not open like a true hollow point...I shot several into the wet paper and they did nothing...I also bought some RWS Super H-Point pells and the expansion is there but the front edge peels away and allows the rest to plow along.......I want the next tree weasle to belive he got hit by a 900FPS dinner plate......

Bug...

As Harry said the JSB Predatore and Beeman CrowMag are the hard hitters....Go for head shot....Find the most accurate pellet for your gun and then apply it to the squirrels fuzebox...They'll dance a bit but it's just the evil spirits leaving the body...

[gamo2hammerli]

Wow, the expansion on those Crow Mags are impressive. They'll transfer alot of energy into the prey. And yes, the 14.? gr .22 CPHP do not expand as much as that. I currently have not tested the Crow Mags since no shops around here sells them.

[CFX Marauder]

Here ya go Harry CPHP / JSB-JSB / RWS Super H-Point rule is in MM...

Gamo2 in one of my videos the squirrel gets spun a180 from a Crow Mag to the noggin..They hit hard !!! You wanting to test .177 Crow Mag? If so I'll send ya some to play with.....I Have 75 left out of 500 !!! Yours in the mail if ya say ok. I wasent able to score any in .22from Pyramid air when I ordered....

[gamo2hammerli]

Thanks Marauder, but that's ok. I'll order some the next time I order an airgun from a merchant. The finger's getting itchy and the "button" is feeling ignored for 3 months or so. heh heh Thanks very much for the offer.

Yeah, I think I saw that video....talk about a serious dance of death....

[shadow]

Love dem Predator's.:) Ed

[Progun]

Hey Ransom, No penetration with the model 52 and 10.5 gr cp heavies? Maybe you are just "barking" the squirrel and not making a direct hit? Have you chronied your 52 to see what the velocity truly is with  the 10.5 gr pellet? Unless your gun is seriously underpowered,you should be blasting HOLES thru the small red squirrels with that rig and pellet. As for using hollows or pointed?? Lot's of shooters report poor accuracy with pointed pellets. The exception would be Predators with the polymer tip. CPhp's are not a true hollow point. (It's just a dimple which won't give any more expansion than a domed) but they are accurate in a lot of guns..177 crow mags will expand at impact but they may or may not be accurate in your gun.The 10.5 gr.CP is in my experience an insurace policy that what gets shot stays shot and is dead quick.Welcome to the GTA forums by the way. Hope to see you here often. Don't give up on those CP heavy's just yet.

[bugshotgta]

Thanx for your suggestions guys.  I have really enjoyed reading this forum.  You all really cover the spectrum.  I took some shots this morning at a very stout "tin" can at 40 yds and the JSB dome heavies went right thru no problem.  Then took some shots at a plastic gatorade jug full of water at 50 yds and they went right thru  that.  I have just been amazed the RWS knocks the sqs right out of the tree with a solid hit sound but no apparent hole?  I am resolved to going for a solid head shot which this gun is very capable of (usually me too).
Thanx for you comments.  Ran

[WesCombs]

My .177 B30 really likes CPHP and JSB Exacts..it does decently with Crow Mags. I've been wondering what kinda performance I'd get out of those predators. I saw them at Bass Pro just a few weeks ago and I was really tempted..I think I just may have to pick some up the next time I go out to the range. I haven't had much of a problem taking out game with the B30..even a raccoon once..but I do wish I had something that put the lights out immediately. AKA..more expansion. All the CPHPs I've retrieved from game looked pretty much exactly like the pictures you all have shown. At first I was wondering if the gun was losing power but now I know the power is there, I just need the right pellet. However, I  bought a MAC 1 392 today (Air Gun Gate)..I bet that'll do the trick real well.

[bugshotgta]

I took a little more careful aim this morn and put the little bugger down quick.

[CFX Marauder]

That Sir is the way ya get it done!! Nice gun...Nice shot...

[TexasShooter72]

Last squirrel I nailed was with a .22 Polymag.  I've used the Predators in .177 but not in .22.  I am quite impresssed with the "mushroom" action of the JSB's upon impact.  They're DEVASTATING!  ...as should be!