What is the best 12 gauge round for squirrel? Is the .410 caliber a better choice for squirrel than 12 gauge? Thanks!

I always used 6’s or 7 1/2s in my 12 gauge. I think I used 6’s in my 410. Using a 410 will force you to be a better stalker/hunter.

If you've got the patience to pick out all those pellets, I'd say 6 or 7,1/2s. I use a glassed 22.

.410 #6 full choke is my choice when I'm in the mood for shot gunning them.

I find anything smaller than #6 leaves more pellets in them and they're harder to find.

4s or 6s

I have some 5s that are ideal

6 or 71/2 . You will appreciate the 12 ga. if your in tall timber.

I like #4, and have even used #2, less pellets in the meat, and sometimes the bigger shot will pass all the way through. I prefer a .22, though, but some areas you can't rifle hunt.

I use #6 or #4 depending on the time of year. But what I really enjoy is using my 22.

No. 8's for me in 12 ga. The BB's USUALLY stay in the skin, not the meat

I use #4 or #5 shot in both a 12gauge and .410.

I have had the best results using a 12 gauge, with full choke, and #6 shells--especially during the early season when there are still leaves on the trees.

I use #6 with an IC Choke. Good up to 50 foot oak tree. It doesn't damage the meat. Sometimes they hang on for a minute then i hear the thump when they hit the ground.

Remington Pheasant Loads - #5's

Sorry I am late to the thread. I love squirrel hunting, and it is about the only hunting I do. I normally use a mossberg 835 with full choke. I prefer #4’s. A full choke and pretty much any load of #4’s that patterns well will knock the biggest fox squirrel out of the tallest pine. My personal favorite is Remington Express XLR, #4 shot. I also like Federal Heavy Game Loads, #4 shot, and they are a little cheaper and slightly more common.

If you are sensitive to recoil Remington’s one ounce game loads, #6, are great shells too and they are dirt cheap. I have killed a lot of squirrels with them and my youngest boy killed his first squirrel with them. Fine for grey squirrels but they lack the terminal performance on big fox squirrels high in pines.

Since I moved to Missouri I have been limited to steel loads on conservation areas near my home. No larger than #4 steel during gun deer season. Pretty much any high velocity waterfowl shell you can find cheap will work. I have killed greys out to a little over 50 yards with just some old federal speed shock #4’s 2 3/4”.

Lead should outperform steel but I have had no problem using the cheap high velocity steel in #4 and #2. Winchester xperts and federal speed shocks.

I forgot to add, at close range try to edge them with the pattern or get a shot with the head peeking around the tree. Full choke up close they might look fine but insides will be mush if you center the pattern. Especially with a full choke

I just got back from my first hunt ever. 12guage full choke. I took 4 squirrel with #6. The last 2 in a row were a little farther, maybe 20 -30 yards. Both ended up not being a quick kill. They fell out of the tree, but I had to finish them with a blow to the base of the head. I switched to #4, unfortunately the next squirrel was closer, less than 10yards, I hit center pattern right in the arm/chest. It was an instant kill but it was also a mess. I should have aimed in front of the head. I was at Caddo National Grasslands WMA at Coffee Mill Lake.