Ask around the Piedmont and half the squirrel hunters carry a Ruger 10/22. This one is chambered in .22 LR, has a 16.1 inch barrel, takes a ten-round rotary magazine and comes in a grey finish.

The 10/22 has been a go-to for decades because it is simple and it works. It is accurate enough to put a squirrel in the pot at fifty yards and light enough to carry through a hardwood stand all morning. Recoil is nothing, so it is the right rifle to teach a young hunter or to keep up your own practice. Wipe it down after wet weather and store it dry, because North Carolina humidity is hard on steel.

Aftermarket parts for the 10/22 are everywhere. You can swap stocks, barrels, triggers and sights to make it your own, and many owners do. A grey finish adds a modern look over the usual black or wood.

Use it for squirrels, rabbits, cans and the occasional pest around the barn. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where the background check is completed when you pick it up.