My first handgun kill of a squirrel. The time, patience, and discipline it took to take this squirrel makes it one of my best memories.
I finally shot a squirrel with a handgun.
In fact, I shot it at eight yards, with open sights, from the most blue-collared single-action revolver made today - the Ruger Single-Six. It was the hardest thing Ive ever done with a firearm, and the most fun. That's why I wanted to do this in the first place. I wasn’t looking for a better way to kill squirrels because a scoped .22 rifle solved that problem a long time ago. I wanted to get good enough with a handgun to hunt squirrels responsibly, and then figure out whether I could actually get close enough to make it work. It took a lot of practice, a good piece of squirrel woods, and, as it turned out, about ten minutes of doing absolutely nothing.
The Ruger Single-Six feels like a revolver built for generations, not seasons. Solid lockup, a substantial frame, simple mechanics, and that unmistakable single-action feel give it the kind of build quality that inspires confidence every time you cock the hammer. It’s not fancy. It’s just solid.
The primary handgun for this project is a Ruger Single-Six chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. The Single-Six dates back to 1953 and is essentially Ruger’s rimfire take on the traditional single-action six-gun. Ruger introduced the New Model Single-Six in 1973 with its transfer-bar safety system, and over the years the revolver has been offered in several barrel lengths and configurations.
Many Single-Sixes are convertible revolvers with separate cylinders for .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum. Mine was wearing the Magnum cylinder for this hunt. Why? Mostly because all of my rimfire rifles are .22 Magnum and I wanted to keep things simple. It certainly wasn’t because I thought the extra few yards of effective range the Magnum might give me would matter here. At the distances I’m hunting squirrels with an open-sighted revolver, the limiting factor isn’t whether the cartridge can kill a squirrel. The limiting factor is whether I can put the bullet exactly where it needs to go.
Back to the Single-Six.
The Single-Six makes me work harder than a scoped rimfire pistol or rifle would. I have to manually cock the hammer for every shot, establish my grip, find the sights, and pull the trigger well. The sight radius is short compared with a rifle, and a small error in sight alignment gets considerably less small by the time the bullet reaches the squirrel. There isn’t much technology helping me along, and that is a big part of why I enjoy it, and why this sort of old-school hunting resets your habits, thoughts, and processes as a hunter.
Why ten yards for a range limit?
Before I started carrying the Ruger for hunting, I needed to figure out how far I was actually willing to shoot it at a squirrel. That distance has nothing to do with how far a .22 Magnum can kill a squirrel, because the cartridge has more capability than I currently do. It also doesn’t matter how accurately somebody else can shoot a Single-Six. When there is a squirrel in front of me, the only groups that matter are mine.
After practicing with the Ruger, I settled on ten yards from a supported position as my current maximum hunting distance. That is where I can consistently maintain what I’ve started calling MOS, or Minute of Squirrel. I’m not sure the shooting world was waiting for another unit of angular measurement, but now it has one.
Minute of Squirrel is pretty simple. I need to be able to put my shots where they need to go consistently enough that I’m comfortable using that ability on a squirrel. If I can do it at ten yards but my groups start opening up at 15, then my hunting range is ten yards. That isn’t a limitation of the Single-Six, and it certainly isn’t a limitation of the .22 Magnum. It’s my limitation. Pretending otherwise wouldn’t make me a better handgun hunter. It would make me irresponsible at best and an ass at worst.
Virginia hardwoods are about as close to perfect squirrel habitat as it gets. Mature oaks and hickories provide the mast, while creek bottoms, fallen timber, and a layered canopy give squirrels food, cover, and plenty of places to disappear. Find fresh-cut acorns and squirrel sign under big hardwoods, and chances are you’ve found a good place to sit down and wait.
I was hunting a private farm in Virginia and started working my way along a dry creek bed. It was exactly the sort of place I had been looking for earlier in this series. Mature hardwoods surrounded the creek, acorns covered the ground, squirrel sign was easy to find, and the creek bed offered plenty of cover for squirrels moving between feeding areas.
I moved slowly and tried to pick apart the woods, but eventually I realized I might be trying too hard to make something happen. Fred Bear gave hunters some pretty useful advice about situations like this: sit down and shut up. I found a place where I could settle in, got comfortable enough to stay still, and gave the woods a chance to forget I was there.
The mighty acorn might not look like much, but to a squirrel it’s one of the most important foods in the woods. When the oaks start dropping mast, squirrels spend much of their time on the ground feeding, gathering, and caching acorns for later. For squirrel hunters, a good crop of acorns is basically a dinner bell.
It took about ten minutes before a squirrel started working the ground near me. That's also when carrying the handgun changed the hunt. Had I been carrying a rifle, I probably would have already had a perfectly reasonable opportunity. With the Single-Six, seeing the squirrel wasn’t enough because I still needed him to close the distance.
This might be the part of handgun hunting I underestimated the most. Getting within rifle range of a squirrel isn’t terribly difficult in good habitat, but sitting still while a squirrel is almost within handgun range requires a different kind of patience. The temptation is to start negotiating with myself about what constitutes close enough.
I had already decided that ten yards was my limit, though, and changing that number because there happened to be a squirrel standing a few yards beyond it would have made the limit meaningless. The revolver hadn’t suddenly become more accurate because there was fur in front of the sights, and I hadn’t suddenly become a better handgun shooter because I wanted the squirrel.
So I waited and let him keep working toward me. Eventually he moved inside my ten-yard limit and climbed onto a fallen tree. Then he did something squirrels aren’t particularly famous for doing when I need them to: he stopped moving long enough to give me the shot I wanted.
I had a solid position, the squirrel was stationary, and he was within the distance I had established through practice. I cocked the Single-Six, settled the open sights where I wanted them, and squeezed the trigger. The .22 Magnum cracked, and the squirrel was gone.
I thought I missed.
There's no recoil from a 22 magnum in a Single-Six, but there's certainly some pop (that's muzzle blast in the rimfire world), and I didnt watch the squirrel react after I shot. I just knew he wasnt where he was, and he didnt seem to run off.
I got up, walked over to the fallen tree and looked on the other side. Sure enough, there laid one dead squirrel.
That was my first squirrel with a handgun.
I was pretty damn proud of that squirrel, but not because I had made some spectacular handgun shot. Actually, I was proud because I had done exactly the opposite. I practiced enough to understand what I could reliably do with the Ruger, established a conservative limit based on that practice, and waited until the squirrel gave me a shot comfortably inside it.
All of the .22 Magnum ammunition I tested functioned and shot well through the Ruger Single-Six, but ultimately the CCI GamePoint .22 WMR 40-grain Jacketed Soft Point grouped the best. With a handgun, open sights and a squirrel-sized target, I figured I needed all the help I could get. The CCI load gave me that little extra bit of confidence, so it earned the job for this hunt.
Handgun hunting is forcing me to become more disciplined about the difference between what a firearm is capable of doing and what I am capable of doing with it. Those aren’t always the same thing.
So what's next? The obvious next step would be to make 15 yards my new limit, but killing one squirrel at ten yards hasn’t earned me another five. That will happen on the range. I’ll keep shooting the Single-Six from supported positions and spend more time practicing from the positions I actually encounter in the woods instead of doing all my shooting from a comfortable bench. Knees are remarkably steady rests for handguns, just FYI.
When I started this project, I thought handgun hunting would mostly be about learning to shoot a handgun better. I’m beginning to realize that shooting is only half of it. The other half is learning to hunt well enough that I don’t need the squirrel to be 30 yards away because I can figure out how to get him inside ten.
On this Virginia farm, along a dry creek bed covered in acorns, I finally did.
The Hunting Wire will not distribute services on Monday, October 12 in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day. Normal distribution resumes Tuesday, October 13, with The Hunting Wire returning Monday, October 19.
PRADCO Outdoor Brands has acquired Kent Outdoors, a portfolio of watersports and marine safety brands established in 1959, including HO Sports, Hyperlite, BOTE, O'Brien, Connelly, Liquid Force, Onyx, and others. Kent's leadership team, including President CJ Vlahovich, will remain in place as PRADCO supports product development and future acquisitions.
Whitewater Fishing introduced the upgraded TORQUE 7.4V Heated Vest, featuring a 7.4V platform with two additional lower-back heating elements, 80g Sorona® Aura insulation, and three adjustable heat settings. The vest is now officially in stock and shipping at an MSRP of $229.99.
ScentLok introduces Silentude, a new hunting apparel line featuring ultra-quiet fabric engineered to minimize noise during deer hunts. The jacket, bib, and pant incorporate Carbon Alloy® odor control, Precip-X™ water resistance, and articulated design for mobility, with Marketing Director Steve Allie calling it "the quietest suit we've ever developed."
NOMAD's Ambush collection features a camo button-down and pants designed for early whitetail season with 4-way stretch, laser perforated venting, and moisture-wicking technology. The lightweight, breathable gear provides comfort and mobility for hunters in challenging terrain and all-day stand sits.
Muddy announced expansions to its DV8, Timber Recon Xtreme (TRX), and MTX hunting apparel lineups, introducing new jackets, vests, and pants designed for varying temperatures and terrain. The brand also plans to launch female-specific DV8 and TRX apparel lines in mid-September, engineered around women's biomechanics.
Blocker Outdoors introduces its Shield Drencher Insulated Jacket and Bib in Realtree AB1 camouflage, featuring RainBlocker® waterproof membranes, thermal-mapped insulation, and S3® antimicrobial technology for late-season hunting. The new colorway joins existing options including Realtree APX and Mossy Oak patterns, with MSRPs of $119.99 each for jacket and bib.
ALPS OutdoorZ introduces two new pieces to its Evolution Merino Wool series: the 150 Hoodie and 250 Bottoms. Both garments feature Woolmark-certified merino wool designed for superior breathability, moisture management, and odor elimination for outdoor adventures.
Barnett offers five value-priced crossbows for hunters with $350–$500 budgets: the XP370, Wildcat Ultralite, Whitetail Hunter STR, XP385, and XP390. Each features TriggerTech triggers, anti-dry-fire safety, and hunting-ready accessories, proving budget-friendly crossbows don't sacrifice performance.
Jeff Rawlinson, President of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®), recognized fish and wildlife agency leaders at the 2026 AFWA Annual Meeting for their role in bringing archery to schools. During the 2025-2026 school year, NASP® reached over 1.32 million student archers through state and provincial agency partnerships.
Silencer Central made a second $25,000 contribution to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC, bringing its 2026 total to $50,000. Founded by Brandon Maddox, the company has also contributed over $2 million to conservation partners including Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever.
Steiner Optics announced that Clyde Armory in Athens, Georgia, is now an authorized dealer for the Steiner Overwatch Program, offering special pricing on select Steiner optics products to qualified military, law enforcement, and first responders. Founded in 1991, Clyde Armory operates locations in Athens and Warner Robbins, Georgia.
Dallas Safari Club President Rick Warren and Life Member J.D. Yates participated in Angola's first sanctioned safari hunt in 18 years, marking a significant milestone in the country's wildlife management recovery. The hunt, initiated through a DSC auction that benefited the Angola Hunters Association, demonstrates how legal, regulated hunting can support sustainable wildlife management and local communities.
Bleecker Street Publications' October Free Gun Friday giveaway features a $6,230.99 hunting package including a Ruger American Rifle Generation II Predator, Meprolight MVO 3-18x44 riflescope, Precision Armament TiTrex 300Ti suppressor, 500 rounds of Black Hills ammunition, Streamlight Wedge XT flashlight, and CCW Safe Ultimate Plan membership.
MidwayUSA is hiring three Product Specialists in Columbia, Missouri for Sporting Optics & Scopes, Guns, and Clothing, Footwear & Marketplaces categories. The position offers a salary range of $55,000-$71,500 with comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work for a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-winning company.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's will host a National Hiring Event on October 7-8 at retail locations throughout North America, offering competitive wages, industry-leading benefits including up to 50 percent merchandise discounts, and health insurance programs for eligible team members.
Sightmark has launched two new Solitude HD spotting scope models: the 9-27x56 Micro designed for portability at 21.6 ounces, and the 15-45x65 Compact offering greater magnification and light-gathering capability. Both feature fully multi-coated glass, digiscoping-optimized eyepieces, and field-ready construction with nitrogen-purged, fogproof systems.
Aegis Optics officially launches its flagship product catalog featuring red dot sights and precision scopes, including the Sentinel and Vanguard red dot lines and Pathfinder scopes. The optics are exclusively available on RETAY's RXP22 and RA1522 rifle and pistol platforms.
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation appointed Aaron Nickson as Arkansas State Chairman, Richard English for California, and Alan Jones for Washington state. These State Chairmen will work with local game and fish professionals to provide IBEP/ICEP bowhunter education courses and serve as liaisons with local bowhunters.
Field & Stream TV announced a partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Music Gives to St. Jude Kids to create outdoor and music experiences for patients and families. The network will run daily awareness and donation spots while collaborating on outdoor adventures and music showcases.
HeadHunters NW released the "Fake Recruiter Podcast" episode featuring Mike Petronella and Aaron Hutsell, creator of GhostJob, a Chrome extension that helps job seekers identify fraudulent LinkedIn job postings. The episode discusses sophisticated recruitment scams and verification strategies for job seekers.
Franklin Armory announced Rabbit Rounds™, a patent-pending multi-projectile cartridge featuring four spin-stabilized projectiles designed for AR-style rifles. Available in 5.56x45mm, the ammunition achieves 3,150 feet-per-second muzzle velocity and maintains effective patterns beyond 40 yards for hunting smaller game.
Real Avid introduces professional-grade optic mounting tools including the Master Grade® Scope Mounting & Bore Sighting Kit, Smart-Torq® Adjustable Limiter and X3™ Driver Kit, Level-Right® Pro, and Accu-Grip™ Picks & Brushes to help shooters achieve precise rifle setup and repeatable accuracy before heading to the range.
WOOX, an Italian-American maker of premium outdoor gear, announces the M-LOK Leather Cartridge Quiver, handcrafted in Naples from premium Tuscan leather. The quiver holds six cartridges and securely attaches to firearms with M-LOK slots, featuring soft suede lining and compatibility with common rifle calibers.
Remington Ammunition announced a partnership with Lexington Resources to launch Remington-branded pet products, now available in approximately 275 Walmart stores and on Chewy.com. The new lineup includes coated dog harnesses, crate mats, fleece hoodies, collars, leads, boots, and bowls designed with durable materials and outdoor-inspired styling.
Summit Treestands released a new 72" Climber Armpad in Mossy Oak® Original Bottomland® featuring full-length coverage, one-piece construction, and durable 50D Brushed Tricot fabric. Available now for $44.99 at Summitstands.com, the armpad offers hunters improved comfort and concealment for all-day sits.
Derya Arms, an international firearms manufacturer with operations in Jacksonville, Florida and Konya, Türkiye, has launched the EX1500 lever-action .410 shotgun in three configurations: an 18-inch Ironwolf tactical model, a 20-inch walnut-and-nickel field model, and a 24-inch engraved hard-chrome heirloom model, all now shipping through authorized dealers nationwide.
Zanders, a national firearms distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, is now stocking the Winchester SXR2 MG4 DBM in .300 Win. Magnum, .30-06, .308 Win, and 9.3x62 calibers. The semi-automatic hunting rifle features a classic blued finish and walnut stock with detachable box magazine capability.
HuntStand is offering hunters five days to enter its Whitetail Adventure Sweepstakes for a chance to win a fully guided rifle hunt in Oklahoma with Rut N Strut Guide Service. The winner receives premium gear from Savage, Vortex Optics, Barnes, Muddy Outdoors, and Walker's, with support from Mossy Oak and Waypoint TV. Entries close October 10.
Athlon Untamed announces Ballistic's Best 2026: Hunting Edition, a hands-on testing program evaluating hunting firearms and gear across seven categories including rifles, shotguns, rangefinders, suppressors, crossbows, and handguns. Led by Editorial Lead Megan Plete Postol, the program emphasizes real-world performance over specifications.
Bleecker Street Publications announced Karen Hunter as Editorial Lead for Gun University and Contributing Editor for Athlon Outdoors. Hunter brings over a decade of firearms industry experience, extensive instructional expertise through The Hunter Academy, and hundreds of published articles to the role.
Bleecker Street Publications launched a self-service advertising portal offering advertisers 24/7 access to digital display, native advertising, programmatic solutions, and other marketing opportunities. The platform streamlines campaign management across the company's portfolio including Athlon Untamed, RottenGunReviews.com, Ballistic, Tactical Life, and GAT Daily.
Kent Cartridge is recalling specific lots of Ultimate® Turkey, Fasteel®+, Ultimate® FastLead, Steel Dove®, and TealSteel® shotshell ammunition due to potential excessive chamber pressure during firing. Consumers should immediately discontinue use of affected products and contact Kent Cartridge at 844-951-6098 for return and replacement instructions.
Beretta USA will serve as platinum sponsor of the 2026 Green Top Outdoor Expo on October 3-4 in Ashland, Virginia, featuring displays of the AX800 Suprema, B22 Jaguar, and A400 Solo firearms. Ward and Jeb Burton of Crossroads with the Burtons will join for a meet and greet on Sunday, with consumer rebates up to $300 available on select models.
Boyt Harness Company and Mud River have become national sponsors of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in a three-year partnership supporting upland habitat conservation. The collaboration includes gold sponsorship at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, video projects, and chapter banquet programs reaching over 350,000 people annually.
Whitewater Fishing, a performance fishing apparel maker, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. WTU President Jeff Schinkten welcomed the partnership, noting that Whitewater's high-performance gear aligns with the outdoor interests of WTU's 120,000-plus members.
Ballista, a crossbow manufacturer, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. WTU President Jeff Schinkten announced the partnership, noting Ballista's advanced crossbows for hunting, bowfishing, and recreational use. The sponsorship strengthens WTU's mission of wildlife conservation and hunting tradition preservation.
Henry Repeating Arms donated serial number 1 of all three models from its America's 250th Anniversary Tribute Edition collection through a GunBroker auction that raised $23,526 for Gun Owners Foundation. The proceeds will fund legal work for Gun Owners of America, with Federal Premium Ammunition contributing 5,400 rounds of commemorative ammunition to the lot.
Outdoor Channel dedicates Friday prime time to conservation officers through "Wardens" and "Wardens: Case Files," produced by Wolf Creek Productions in partnership with Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The programs showcase the action-packed lives of game wardens and DNR employees protecting wildlife and enforcing outdoor recreation laws.
Pursuit Channel announced its Q4 programming lineup featuring popular series including Doug Koenig's Championship Season, Target Rich Environment, Viejo Creek Outdoors, The Choice hosted by Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, MOJO Untamed with Terry Denmon, Open Season TV, and Higdon Outdoors. The network reaches over 20 million linear television homes and 120 million streaming users across multiple platforms.
Sportsman Channel launches "Big Game Wednesday" programming block featuring hunting shows including Legends of the Fall, Whitetail Properties, The Woodsman, North American Whitetail with Host Haynes Shelton and Dr. James C. Kroll, and Adrenaline with Host Kyle Wieter, airing Wednesdays 8:00-10:30 p.m. ET.
Pursuit Media, in partnership with Careco Multimedia Entertainment, announced an expanded Q4 lineup on Pursuit UP featuring diverse outdoor programming including George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing, Uncharted Waters with Peter Miller, and Saltwater Underground with Nick Honachefsky, available free across major streaming platforms.
MyOutdoorTV launches WhitetailStream, an ad-free live streaming channel presented by Umarex featuring premium whitetail hunting content including Bone Collector, Whitetail Freaks, and North American Whitetail with Dr. James C. Kroll. The exclusive channel offers 24/7 on-demand access to top hunting series across multiple streaming platforms.
CZ announces the availability of the CZ 600+ Carbine in the United States, a compact, lightweight bolt-action rifle chambered in .300 Blackout. The rifle features a cold-hammer-forged barrel, beechwood stock, adjustable trigger, and CZ's patented S.E.A. safety system, designed for hunters and recreational shooters.
