When I was a boy, I lived on squirrel meat. The more squirrels I killed, the more leg quarters and saddles went into the pot. And in those days, the best way for me to make that happen was with a shotgun. But, I soon learned that rimfire rifles allowed me to salvage more meat—so long as I made a precise headshot—and increased the range at which I could kill a squirrel. The best squirrel hunting rifles, coupled with a properly zeroed riflescope, are particularly beneficial in the early season, when leaves are still on the trees and squirrels are cutting on nuts high in the hardwoods
The rimfire is an addictive tool for hunting squirrels because it’s such a challenge. You are trying to hit a target—the squirrel’s head—that is the size of a silver dollar at distances of 25 to 100 yards (or more depending on your ability). But you also have to quietly move into a position where you can take a clear shot and get a solid rest, which is difficult when the leaves have yet to fall.
There are a variety of rimfire rifle models and cartridge options for hunters to choose from. And opinions on which rimfire is best for hunters to tote into the squirrel woods are abundant. But there are a handful of bolt guns and semi-autos ideal for hunting foxtails and grays. Here are some of the best rifles for squirrel hunting.
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- Best Overall: Ruger American Rimfire Target .22 LR
- Best for Long Range: CZ 457 American Varmint .17 HMR
- Best Bolt-Action: Savage MK II BV .22 LR
- Best Semi-Auto: Ruger 10/22 Carbine
- Best Lightweight: Winchester Wildcat .22 LR
- Best Youth Model: Savage Rascal .22 LR
- Best Premium: Bergara BMR Carbon .17 HMR
- Best Budget: Savage MK II FV-SR .22 LR
Best Squirrel Hunting Rifles: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: Ruger American Rimfire Target .22 LR
Key Features
- Bolt action
- Weight: 6.7 lbs.
- Barrel Length: 18”
- Overall Length: 37”
- Capacity: 10+1
- Laminate stock
Pros
- Lighter weight in a target barrel design
- 10-round magazine
- Great accuracy
Cons
- MSRP is $350
I like the 416 stainless steel barrel, bolt, and receiver option on this gun for easy care and maintenance. While some may think it’s too flashy, it stands up better to the abuse dished out while beating through the woods. The gun accepts a variety of magazine options, including the Ruger 10/22 magazine, allowing me to easily switch between my semi-auto and the bolt gun. The Ruger American has an extended magazine release for simple removal of the flush-mounted magazine. It’s a convenient concept that you won’t appreciate until you put it to work.
Deadly accuracy comes standard with this gun thanks to the free-floating barrel built on the Power Bedding integral bedding block system. Combine this with the Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger that allows the shooter to adjust trigger weight from 3 to 5 pounds, and you’ll find one of the most dependable and accurate rimfire rifles on the market. The bull barrel with factory installed knurled thread protector also adds to the precision with which this gun was built.
Best Long Range: CZ 457 American Varmint .17 HMR
Key Features
- Bolt action
- Weight: 7.08 lbs.
- Barrel Length: 24.8”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Turkish Walnut Stock, Varmint Style
Pros
- Long-range accuracy
- Offered in a combo .22 LR/.17 HMR barrel set
- Heavy barrel makes it easier to shoot
Cons
- 5-round magazine
- It’s louder and has more recoil than a .22 LR
If you don’t headtap squirrels with the faster .17 HMR, you’ll damage meat. The CZ 457 American extremely accurate, making it the ideal platform for hunting with the .17, which is the go-to cartridge for accomplished squirrel hunter and writer, Will Brantley.
“The flat trajectory is a huge advantage,” says Brantley. “It’s a great gun for later in the season when shot opportunities and distances tend to get stretched out a bit.”
The CZ 457 American is a beautiful rifle with all the performance you’d ever want in a rimfire. The Varmint model has a heavy barrel that allows you to have better control of the gun thus be more accurate. The trade-off of course is you have to carry a 7-pound rifle. The Turkish walnut stock has a high, flat comb so your eye can find the target quickly once a scope is mounted. An adjustable trigger allows you to customize the trigger for weight, creep, and travel.The 24.8-inch barrel has a 1:9 twist, and the magazine is detachable.
Best Bolt Action: Savage MK II BV .22 LR
Key Features
- Bolt action
- Weight: 6.74 lbs.
- Barrel length: 21”
- Overall length: 39.75”
- Capacity: 5+1
- AccuTrigger
Pros
- Accuracy
- Less expensive than most guns in its class
- Easy handling (particularly with thumbhole stock version)
Cons
- Only five-round magazine capacity
- Detachable box magazine flawed
When precision shooting is required, this is the gun my kids and I go to. It’s affordably priced, yet offers the function, feel, and performance of a more costly rimfire. You can easily dial in the Savage MK II BV with a quality scope and expect it to shoot flat. Savage rifles draw much of their accuracy from the AccuTrigger system that allows the shooter to adjust the trigger weight and helps eliminate creep, so you make a clean pull.
It has a beefy 21-inch, heavy steel barrel. And while some may shy away from the weight of a heavier target barrel, I like the balance and steadiness that comes with a hefty rimfire. The detachable box magazine is a little hitchy though. It can drop out of the gun easier than most if you graze the release with your finger or set the stock on a tree limb to steady the shot. I typically carry the magazine in my pocket until I am ready to shoot so it doesn’t fall out while I am hunting. You can always keep a round in the chamber and the gun on safe if you need to shoot quickly.
Best Semi-Auto: Ruger 10/22 Carbine .22 LR
Key Features
- Semi-Auto
- Weight: 5 lbs.
- Barrel length: 18.5”
- Overall length: 37”
- Capacity: 10+1
Pros
- Light, easy carry
- Compact
- 10-round magazine
- Accurate
- Reliable
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t come with swivel/studs for sling
I received the Ruger 10/22 as a Christmas gift from my wife 25 years ago. It’s killed countless squirrels and small critters over the years. And never failed once, which is impressive since semi-autos are more likely to have cycling issues than a bolt gun. But Ruger engineered the action to perform flawlessly, which is one of the reasons this gun has been in production for 50 years.
The flush-mounted rotary magazine allows you to load up to 10 rounds. You’ll also find a cold hammer-forged barrel out front that is locked into the receiver by a unique, two-screw, V-block system. The push-button, cross-bolt safety is perfectly placed for easy access when a shot presents itself. Weaver-style and .22 tip-off scope mounts are included.
Best Lightweight: Winchester Wildcat .22 LR
Key Features
- Semi-Auto
- Weight: 4 lbs.
- Barrel length: 16½”
- Overall length: 34¾”
- Capacity: 10+1
Pros
- Light
- Pistol grip design for added steadiness
- 10-round magazine
- Affordable
Cons
- Could be considered too light for some shooters
- It’s stock is unconventional
Aside from a youth rifle, the Winchester Wildcat is probably the lightest .22 LR option you’ll find. It’s built with a unique stock for better shot placement. The Wildcat has a pistol grip that’s perfectly suited for shooters of most any size, and since it’s only 4 pounds, young shooters won’t struggle to carry or aim the rifle. The Picatinny rail accommodates optics of your choice, and you can customize the length of pull with a clip-on comb riser or length of pull spacer. There is also a rail on the underside of the forearm to attach a bipod or sling mount. The gun has an easy-to load rotary 10-round magazine and includes a bolt stop that locks the action open after the last round has been fired.The lower receiver drops out of the Wildcat with the press of a button, a handy innovation that allows you to quickly clean the bore. If you’re searching for a squirrel gun that can double as a truck or survival rifle, this rimfire is a fine choice.
Best Youth Model:Savage Rascal .22 LR
Key Features
- Bolt Action
- Weight: 2.71 lbs.
- Barrel length: 16”
- Overall length: 30”
- Single Shot
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fits the smallest shooters
- Unloads while on safe
- Adjustable trigger
- Cocks by lifting bolt
Cons
- Lightweight design can be hard to steady
- Kids quickly outgrow the gun
The Savage Rascal was built to address the safety concerns commonly found in youth rimfire rifles. Many models require the shooter to pull the trigger and ease the bolt down, much like a hammer, to unload the gun if it has not been fired. With the Rascal, the shooter can open the bolt and unload the gun on safe. The action is also oversized, so you can drop a round in and chamber it with ease. There is a rear peep sight with windage and elevation adjustment, but Savage also drilled and tapped the receiver to add a scope. The synthetic version of the Rascal comes in eight different colors—there is a wood variant as well—almost all of which can be had in right- or left-handed models.
Best Premium: Bergara BMR Carbon .17 HMR
Key Features
- Carbon-fiber barrel
- Threaded for suppressor
- 1:9 twist rate
- Five- and 10-round magazines included
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
- Barrel length: 18” or 20”
- Overall length: 36” or 38”
Pros
- Similar action to the centerfire Bergara B-14 rifles
- Available in multiple chamberings: .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR
- Threaded carbon-fiber barrel
Cons
- Price
Bergara first launched its rimfire line with the B-14R, a precision rifle built for rimfire competitions. They crossed into hunting with the BMR (Bergara Micro Rifle), though this rimfire is also a capable competition gun as it comes with a five (hunting) or 10 (competition) detachable magazine. The carbon fiber barrel is available in 18- or 20-inch offerings. It’s also threaded for a suppressor, which is a nice feature for hunting and target shooting. The pull weight of the Remington 700-style trigger can be adjusted with an Allen wrench, plus the action is simply a micro version of Bergara’s B14 centerfire platform, which has already proven itself to be reliable in the field. There is also a single-piece top rail for mounting an optic. All of these options do come at a cost: the BMR is the most expensive rimfire on this list at $700.
Best Budget Rimfire: Savage Mark II FV-SR .22 LR
Key Features
- Bolt action
- Weight: 5.5 lbs.
- Barrel length: 16.5”
- Overall length: 35.25”
- Capacity: 5+1
Pros
- Light
- Compact
- Heavy barrel
- Budget priced
Cons
- Five-round magazine capacity
- Magazine is fairly easy to accidentally eject
Despite its light price tag, the Savage Mark II FV-SR offers just about everything you need in a .22 squirrel rifle. The heavy fluted barrel is a short 16.5 inches (threaded for a suppressor) and built into a black synthetic stock. The gun features Savage’s popular user-adjustable Accu-Trigger for a customized trigger pull. There is a top rail to accommodate your favorite riflescope. At times the five-round detachable magazine can be a bit quirky and easily dropped from the gun if you accidentally bump the release.
FAQs
Read Next: The Best Hunting Rifles
Final Thoughts
The rifles I’ve listed here are the best squirrel hunting rifles available. Do a quick search, and you’ll discover there are some more affordable options, as well as guns that’ll cost you more than all the guns on this list combined. But the rimfires on this list get the job done—I know because I have hunted with most of them or alongside a friend who has. They have been put to the test on squirrel hunts during spring, fall, and the dead of winter. They are the best combination of hunting accuracy, performance, dependability and affordability.
