I have no love for squirrels but I want a humane kill. I have a .22 air rifle that has worked well until recent. Shot one 4 times before it died. The last I hit twice. I swear one went all the way through its head and the second through the chest, I saw him cough blood. He fell out of the tree and I broke his neck with a brick. Those aren't the kills I want. I currently use Crossman 14.3 hollowpoints. Is there a better ammo for quicker kills? Call me a softy but I don't want them to suffer.

I use the ones that have the pointed head. No problem killing with one shot

Check your hunting regs for your county. Some have seasons. Be a shame if a Karen turns you and and gets you cited.

He didn't say when he shot it

You wont have a squirrel within a 1/4 mile

Karens aside, I'm wondering about grains and shapes for small game.

With air rifles the key is to use the heavier grain pellets. Most standard .22 pellets are 11 or 12 grains but bumping up to 14 or even 18 will deliver a lot more energy and shock value. I have no problems with one shot kills of jack rabbits, Squirrels, etc. but that is dependent on head shots. A big tree squirrel is tough and body shots will not provide good results.

Wait until they start chewing on the wood trim of your house. Then you won't care if the little bastards suffer.

Exactly what I want to prevent...and wiring...and attic occupations. I didn't know they made 18 grain. If I can find it, may try it.

I have posted this many times. You have .22 LR, .22 shorts, and .22 CB shorts
You can put the CB shorts in a .22 rifle and it is as quiet as a BB gun
Just try it and you will see. They don’t even have gun powder in them. More like the packing you would find in a black cat firecracker

My pellets are going through the squirrel. . Power isn't the problem. Ai
m....maybe.

What kind of rifle do you have ?

Benjamin break barrel. I'm grouping within the size of a ping-pong ball. But think their brain is the size of a green pea.

I had one get under my house and start a family . The little bastards chewed wiring and A/C condenser line . Cost me $1500 to repair what they did .
During the gardening season , they chew and dig up some of my plants --especially my cucumbers . They bring in tons of fleas to my yard --- then the fleas get on my dog .
I use a .177 single pump ---works clean most of the time .