The 20 Best Squirrel Guns for the Treetops
Squirrel hunting rewards the hunter who matches the firearm to the terrain. Shots usually come at close to moderate range, commonly inside 100 yards, in wooded cover where small, fast targets dart from limb to limb. That pushes the choice toward three categories: rifles for precise head shots, shotguns for close brushy work, and handguns for the hunter who wants a real challenge. The wrong tool leads to ruined meat, blown shots, or careless handling, so the goal is a gun that delivers a humane kill without destroying the edible portions.
The list below runs through rifles, shotguns, and handguns that have earned their place in the squirrel woods. Chambering matters as much as the platform. The .22 Long Rifle outranks every other caliber in popularity and has accounted for more small game than any round out there, offering low recoil, cheap ammunition, and enough power at typical distances. The .17 HMR shoots flatter for treetop reach but does more damage to meat on body shots, so it demands careful placement.
1. Ruger 10/22
The 10/22 is the default choice for most squirrel hunters, a semi-automatic .22 LR in production since 1964. It runs a 10-round magazine, weighs 5 pounds, and sells for $379. The number in hunters’ hands today runs into the millions, and it draws more aftermarket customizing than any other rimfire anywhere. The factory carbine barrel is accurate enough for squirrels; fit a heavy aftermarket barrel and it becomes a tack-driver. A takedown variant suits backpack hunts.
2. Marlin 39A
The lever-action .22 carried by Annie Oakley, the 39A has the strongest claim to all-time squirrel-rifle status, earning its reputation with a Micro Groove barrel famous for cloverleaf groups. The trade-off is availability and heft: it is no longer manufactured, it carries real bulk with a wide forend, and good used examples run $700 to $1,200.
3. Browning SA-22
John Browning’s design reached the market as the first semi-auto .22 ever to go into production. This bottom-ejecting, take-down autoloader carries walnut furniture and a tube magazine that feeds through the buttstock, and it remains in production. Note that the scope holes are drilled and tapped into the barrel, not the receiver. It suits the hunter who wants craftsmanship and heritage.
4. Savage Mark II BTV
A bolt-action .22 LR with a heavier varmint barrel and user-adjustable AccuTrigger, the BTV favors precision. It holds 5 rounds, weighs 6.5 pounds, wears a wood-laminated stock, and runs $439.99. The weight and five-shot capacity make it a deliberate shooter rather than a fast one.
5. Winchester Wildcat
One of the lightest .22 rifles available at 4 pounds, the Wildcat is a semi-automatic with a 10-round capacity and a Picatinny rail for optics. It offers a snap-on riser for the comb and a spacer to tune length of pull for fit, a bolt stop that locks open on the last round, and a price of $309.99.
6. CZ 457 American
CZ’s American line includes bolt-action rimfires in .17 HMR, .22 LR, and .22 WMR, with Turkish walnut stocks. The 457 family runs deep: a Pro Varmint whose threaded barrel takes a suppressor, a Scout model shortened in the pull for smaller hunters, and a Varmint Precision Trainer. The .17 HMR chambering buys reach at the cost of meat on body shots.
7. Browning T-Bolt
The straight-pull bolt-action .22 LR is recognizable by its straight bolt handle and uses flush-sitting 10-round magazines. Early Belgian-made T1 and T2 models draw collectors, while the current Composite Sporter covers hard-use duty.
8. Henry Magnum Express
Chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, this lever gun wears an American walnut stock with a Monte Carlo comb, feeds from an 11-round tube, and includes a Picatinny top rail. Lever actions give quick follow-ups and smooth handling for fast-moving squirrels.
9. Henry Frontier
For hunters who want quiet, the Frontier adds a threaded barrel for suppressor-ready use to Henry’s lever-action rimfire lineup.
10. Savage A-Series
The A-Series semi-autos come in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, and .17 HM2, run the adjustable AccuTrigger, and use a delayed blowback action that reliably cycles hot rounds like .17 HMR.
11. Remington 552 Speedmaster
A tube-fed autoloader with a walnut stock and brass deflector, the 552 is among the rare autoloaders that handle Short and Long cartridges alongside .22 Long Rifle.
12. Crickett .22
A single-shot, manually cocking bolt action at 3 pounds and $269, the Crickett is a great starter gun for the youngest shooters. It comes in walnut, laminate, or Mossy Oak camo.
13. Traditions Crockett
A .32-caliber percussion sidelock muzzleloader in current production, the Crockett rewards traditionalists. Small-bore muzzleloaders can be finicky but are amazingly accurate once the load is dialed in; one example shot best with 12 grains of FFFG and a patched .310 round ball, lethal on 25-yard squirrels.
14. Marlin Model 60
Quite similar to the 10/22, the Model 60 performs adequately for squirrel hunting and makes a budget-minded autoloading alternative.
15. Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam
This shotgun fits younger or smaller-framed hunters with a stock scaled down to them, and it belongs in the squirrel woods. Shotguns increase the odds of hitting a fast target jumping between branches.
16. Winchester Model 37
A single-shot shotgun of steel and walnut built after WWI and discontinued in the early 1960s, the Model 37 came in nearly every bore. The .410 bore suits squirrels, and red-letter guns carry collector value. The 20 gauge and .410 limit meat damage with lighter recoil and pellet density.
17. Ruger Mark IV Hunter
The best Mark IV for small game, this pistol carries a 6.88-inch heavy-fluted bull barrel fitted with fully adjustable fiber-optic sights, a 10-round magazine, and a one-button takedown. It is a purpose-built handgun option for hunters who want a tougher shot.
18. Smith & Wesson 617
Paired with the Mark IV as a purpose-built handgun for squirrel hunters, the 617 serves those who prefer a revolver.
19. Browning Buck Mark
The Buck Mark gives hunters an accurate rimfire pistol for close, challenging small-game work.
20. Savage Impulse
Savage’s straight-pull, bolt-action hunting rifle brings fast cycling to the bolt-gun crowd, appealing to hunters who want the accuracy of a bolt action with quicker follow-ups.
How to Choose
Start with where you hunt. In dense woods and thick brush with limited visibility, a highly maneuverable shotgun with a shorter effective range that reduces stray-shot risk wins. For precise shots at 25 to 100 yards, pick a rifle: a semi-auto for rapid follow-ups, a bolt action for deliberate precision, or a lever gun for quick handling. Then match the caliber. The .22 LR covers most hunters with cheap, available ammunition, while the .17 HMR trades meat for reach in the treetops. Handguns and muzzleloaders raise the challenge for those who have mastered the basics.
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