Squirrel Rifles?

[Cpl.Parker]

Greetings Fellow Front Stuffers,

Could someone tell me what calibre and ignition type classifies as a Squirrel rifle? I believe it is 40 cal and under, either flint or percussion. correct?

Thanks
P

 

[mikelange]

That'd be about right.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yeah. It's a pretty broad category. Whitetail were pretty heavily hit in some regions by the 1810's and 20's and bear were gone, so rifle bores got littler. .30 to .40 cal.

 

[MikeChapin]

That's what is used for the definition of a squirrel gun for paper matches around here.

 

Please keep in mind that we are placing our modern definitions on "proper use" of a firearm and proper caliber for a species. We are influnced by laws and opinions, rules and regularions that did not exist for them.

The sport of "barking squirrels" originated from the need to save as much meat as possible when using the oversized rifle calibers of colonial times on small game.

The popularity of "smoothrifles" is another verification of a desire to use a large bore gun with shot on small game when necessary but retain the ability to use large ball when needed.

There is also a growing amount of evidence that many of the early guns were smaller in bore size than was previously thought. This could be the result of reduction of caliber earlier than we had imagined (the big game was shot out very early in some areas), or the demand for less expensive shooting(more shots per pound of lead).

Apparently William Clark carried a Squirrel rifle to Oregon and used it on everything from rabbits to griz, not aslways successfully. We could not legally use a rifle of 100 balls to the pound (.36 cal) on deer, but they did not hesitate to attempt taking elk with this rifle. Is 1803 considered early or late?

 

[Cherokee]

Ghost,
You speak the truth. I think its often overlooked how people are just trying to live and survive and scrape by and not live by any standard. Now those people are studied and put into groups. I dont think we really grasp how diverse everything was in those times.

 

[CrackStock]

You need to check with your area wildlife authorities to see what the laws are in your area.

In many states, .36 is legally considered the maximum small game caliber. In others, there is no limit.

I personally think that a .40 is a fine caliber for small game and have used a lightly loaded .50 on squirrel without losing much meat.

As to lock type, percussion, flint, match or wheel would all do nicely.

Of course, we have all omitted the smoothbores from this discussion thus far... :haha:

CS