If your family is staving and waiting on your nice bunch of squirrels for dinner, a shotgun will serve you better. You can get them running from limb to limb and fill your game bag quickly. If you like the sport of sneaking around to get a shot as they continuously hide on the opposite side of a tree or run for cover, you will have much more fun with your .22. Once you get really good at shooting it and sneaking up on squirrels, you family should get enough to eat too.

I prefer to use the .22 because it presents a greater challenge and damages less meat than a shotgun. However, much of my squirrel hunting is done in fairly close proximity to houses, and in those areas, I just can't justify the risk of shooting a .22 up into the air, and opt for the shotgun instead. I would say I use a shotgun 80% of the time.

If you are choosing a gun, I would start with the shotgun. It is really versatile for other game, makes squirrel hunting easier, and is safer than shooting a rifle up in the air. If the time comes that you find yourself in some really remote areas and want a greater challenge, you can always get a .22 then.

I use a .22 typically but I refrain from taking aerial shots if possible. Supposedly, a round from a .22L can travel 1 1/2 miles.

I have also used shotguns. .410, 20ga, and 12 ga. are all effective.

If you are in a rural area and the proximity to houses, roads, etc. is not as big of a concern, .22 head shots are challenging and very effective. Otherwise, a shotgun maybe a better option.

For Columbia or Belding ground squirrels, known locally as "sage rats", I rely on .22 rimfire and centerfire rifles, depending on the distance. The same area has a healthy population of jackrabbits, and I prefer a shotgun for jacks.

.22, because it has more range and the shotgun makes it harder to prepare/eat.

i like a 22 more inthe fall and winer because there are no leaves and they are typically looking for food on the ground so im not having to shoot in the air