Epic Squirrel Thread / Modified Ammo Test

This post contains three topics: The first squirrel of the season, a trigger job on an Accutrigger, and an analysis of a Mini-Mag bullet that had been hollowpointed using D Rock’s tool, as some have asked for a report on a live animal.

This post is extremely graphic. While I do eat what I kill, this post contains a detailed dissection of the squirrel so that the wounding effects may be observed. If blood, guts, etc bother you, please close the window now. This is most definitely not for children.

Hello,

I was reading on Rimfire Central a way to do a trigger job on an AccuTrigger. I had only been searching for a schematic so that I could stone the parts, but when I saw that a very light but safe trigger could be had simply by swapping springs, I gave it a go. I will not go into detail here, but what I did is very similar to procedure outlined in this link: Savage Rimfire AccuTrigger Tuning - RimfireCentral.com Forums

The main difference is that I used new springs and saved the stock ones so that I can return the rifle to its original state at any time. The trigger now measures just a bit less than a pound, and this is how I like it: I don’t really have to think about trigger control beyond the basics; I just exhale and send the bullet.

I would not do this on a hunting rifle without an AccuTrigger.

After I concluded the safety and live fire tests, I saw a squirrel scooting up a tree bordering my range. I had not yet taken a squirrel – they seem to disappear around here this time of year until the foliage is off the trees – and I’ve been wanting some fried squirrel.

As well, it was requested that I report back about D Rock’s hollowpointer tool after I had taken live game with a bullet modified with it. It did stellar in water tests, expanding to .36” diameter, but water is not flesh and I totally understand the request.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/9c0b2781.jpg
The resizer tool…

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/7cb4f7e2.jpg
… and a hollowpointed and resized CCI Mini-Mag.

I hurriedly loaded a magazine of hollowpointed/resized rounds, and proceeded to stalk the critter, which had disappeared behind the tree. She popped out a couple times, but I didn’t have a shot either time, so I held off.

Eventually she showed herself well enough for a decent shot, and I took it. The distance was a bit less than 50 yards according to the parallax settings of my ‘scope, which seem to be dead on.

Because I was in a sitting position using a Hasty sling position, bipod up, I aimed for center of mass of what I could see. I didn’t want to try a head shot and possibly take the animal’s nose off.

When I touched off, the squirrel just dropped about 100 feet, like a rock. It hit the ground and did not thrash at all.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/b345baac.jpg
My first squirrel of the season, and the rifle I used to take it.

The following is what I found after the shoot, upon initial exam and a post-mortem prior to dressing.

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The bullet impacted high in the right shoulder.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/30811711.jpg
The exit wound was the biggest I have seen using a .22LR. The only other exit wound this size that I have observed was caused by a .22WRM HP.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/cd29209e.jpg
The bullet path was about 20°, starting behind the left shoulder and exiting at the front of the right shoulder. It did break both shoulders.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/05627935.jpg
Impact was high and took out the spine.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/c9a96913.jpg
The exit wound with the probe…

I found this all very impressive, and I couldn’t wait to open the animal up to see what sort of damage was done to the insides.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/e513b29f.jpg
The entrance wound shows more clearly…

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/5421b43d.jpg
… as does the exit.

Despite the trauma, there was precious little bloodshot meat. By 50 yards, this bullet has dropped to around 1050fps, and I was almost at that range. Additionally, I was shooting about 45° upwards, so I’m sure the bullet had slowed significantly from its advertised 1230fps MV.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/13495a75.jpg
In addition to the spine being severed, I found a nice gash in the chest meat.

This probably means that the bullet had quickly expanded, and at this point was wide enough to both touch the spine and tear chest muscle. I would very much liked to have seen the bullet!

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/ce45e140.jpg
Upon opening the chest cavity and observing the organs, I could not find any damage.

The heart, lungs, etc were intact, as were all other major organs. I had missed them and struck closer to the neck, severing the trachea and the arteries and veins serving the brain. My hunting dog got a treat of the squirrel head and the viscera as none of this was damaged and did not contain lead particles, showing that the bullet held together.

Tested around 75 yards in milk jugs, these bullets penetrate into the fourth jug (about 20” of water). They show extreme expansion and penetration is on par with a .380acp from a handgun.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...t/3d3364b2.jpg
Expanded rounds recovered from the fourth milk jug after the water test.

I am extremely pleased with the performance of these modified rounds. My rifle “likes” 40gn fodder best, and most hollowpoint ammunition I can find locally is 32gn to 36gn. I stumble across the odd box of Velocitors, but supply is not dependable.

Being able to hollowpoint and resize fairly consistent ammunition – in effect, making it quasi-target hunting ammo – is a very nice option to have. This is especially true given that it hits the exact POI as does the non-modified ammo, so I do not have to run it through the tool if I do not wish to do so.

There have also been questions about the flat pointed round, ala the CCI Small Game Bullet.

I took another, but with these flat points, sized at .125" as are the CCI SGBs. One shot, waited for a duplicate angle to the first one, and made the duplicate shot at a duplicate range (or almost, about 70 yards vs 75 for the first.)

The only real difference is that the wound path is a mirror image and the entrance was on the other side.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ndsquirrel.jpg
The Savage and the squirrel...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...bulletpath.jpg
... the wound path...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tranceside.jpg
... the entrance side...

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... and the exit side.

When I fired, the squirrel fell off the log and didn't twitch. I chambered the next round, which was a hollowpoint, and watched. After about five seconds the squirrel began to move, and in about 30 seconds it had moved itself about 10 feet from where it initially fell.

I almost sent the hollowpoint as it was heading into some dense brush, but it rolled over and started kicking at that point, so I waited for it to stop. When was sure it wasn't going any further, I made my rifle safe and retrieved a fillet knife and my camera.

The bullet was a CCI Mini-Mag 40gn flatpointed to .125".

I think maybe I have different expectations: I expect a squirrel to go "bang, flop, and (maybe) twitch," even given a relatively poor hit. OTOH, many folks expect the critter to die within a minute or so if shot through the boiler room, but strive for head shots.

I'm pushing the .22LR envelope with this rifle, and I need ammo that will perform well out to 100+ yards.

Regardless, this is three down and in the freezer with only one lost this year.

Josh <><

Interesting!!!

I have gone to a 17m2 for squirrels. This year I have only killed 3 with 3 shots, the first 1 was in the top of a tree about 50 to 60 feet up and I was 50 yards from the tree. When I shot he fell out of the tree and when I looked I had hit right between the eyes where I aimed. The next one was in the same tree and I had to look awhile for it when I shot it I hit it in the right eye and the bullet went into the right shoulder, where I found peices of it. The last 1 was on the ground and I worked in as close as I could while he was feeding, he was digging in the leaves and I took a shot for the ribs, I tried to pace the distance and it was 110 paces and he had not moved when I hit him. I am well satisfied with the little M2 in my New England single shot as I like single shots and do most of my hunting with TC&#39;s, I like them almost as much as my Savages.

If the Mach II were more available and a bit cheaper around here, I would go to it.

I&#39;m not so sure I won&#39;t anyway - I have a 10/22 I could switch the barrel on easily enough.

However, I really like the .17 HMR - and if I could get a Mk II BTVS in that caliber, I could use my current setup - a MK II BTVS in .22LR - as a practice rifle and not have to spend all that much on .17.

Josh <><

I also have a 17HMR in a 7717 Ruger, but it is too much for game the size of squirrels for me . It blows them up . I like to use my 22 some times too but the main tree rat gun is the M2 for me.

Great write up Josh!

I couldn&#39;t resist after seeing dead squirrel pictures. Most of my .22 LR shooting is done suppressed, so I naturally gravitate toward subsonic & standard velocity rounds. Lately, I&#39;ve had great success against critters with the CCI subsonic segmented HP&#39;s. These are the same rated velocity (1050 fps) and weight (40 gr.) as their standard subsonic HP except they are segmented into 3 pieces and also copper washed.

These rats were taken with a Mk II BV that was cut to 16" and threaded, Mueller Eraticator scope with Burris Sig Zee rings and AAC Aviator suppressor with quick attach adapter. The one shown w/the box of ammo was taken at 50 yards, the one with his heart blown out at just under 25 yards. There were no exit wounds in either case.

[img width=600 height=450]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x119/KingTiger_photo/Thanksgiving2008003.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x119/KingTiger_photo/Camp4_8_09003.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x119/KingTiger_photo/CampSpring09006.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x119/KingTiger_photo/Camp4_8_09008.jpg[/img]

Nice!

I wish we could use suppressors for hunting in Indiana. I&#39;m playing with the idea of getting the tax stamp, but I&#39;d have no real use for it!

Josh

I leave for a couple of years and I come back to 8th grage science class? Oh dear. I like the work you have done there.

Phil