Steel shot size for squirrel?

Brackish

FNG
Joined
Feb 9, 2026
Messages
16
Location
Mississippi
Planning a squirrel hunt in a wildlife refuge that's in a swamp with a non-toxic shot shell requirement. I'm shooting 12ga and my girl is shooting 20ga. What steel shot size and choke do you folks hunt squirrel with? Hard to find info on the topic since most people are able to shoot lead. I'm going to try and pattern #4 and #6. I also plan on bringing a 22lr bolt gun, but I'm just being prepared to be disappointed in my shooting abilities lol.
 
I always head shoot them with a 22. No wasted meat and no pellets to bite into. Especially steel pellets which mean broken teeth.
 
I've killed 'em with #5. Like others have said, I much prefer a .22 to the brain. I've found steel shot to often require a coup de grace even shooting from the base of the tree its in.
 
Sounds like #4-#6 is the ticket. I'm shooting an O/U so I can set the barrels up for different ranges. Had to go to a few stores, but I finally found #4 and #6, no #5.
 
Back
Top