In Arkansas we can legally hunt deer and small game with a 40 cal. It may be a little light for deer but shot placement and not shooting much past 50 yrds will help. Too big for squirrels? Man I plan on barking those dudes out of trees. :wink: :grin: Shot that rifle yesterday and the first shot cut the x-ring on a 5 1/2" shoot-n-see target at 50 yrds. Four others were right in there too with another in the x-ring. The next 25 shots were spent plinking soda cans at 50 to 60 yrds. This is one accurate rifle. The 7/8" barrel is a little heavy but it is dead steady off of a rest.