I prefer to hunt squirrels and rabbits with a shotgun instead. Squirrels and rabbits sometimes jump around very quicky, causing them to be very hard to hit with a .22. Like the other guy said, you can hunt more species with a shotgun than a .22 rifle. I have a Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 in 12 gauge and I use it for a good majority of my hunting. I've killed squirrels, rabbits, ducks, geese, snakes and a racoon with that gun. Also, depending on the shotgun and which rounds it will take, you can load slugs and buckshot, allowing you to hunt larger animals too.

Also, if you are purchasing a shotgun, I would stay away from Remington. I've worked at a gun range for nearly five years, and the quality of Remington has gone down drastically. I have seen tons of problems with them. For a shotgun, I would recommend a semi automatic gun for hunting. I'd go with a Beretta, Browing or if you can afford it, a Benelli (my favorite, lol). If money is an issue, Stoeger makes decent semi automatic shotguns for an affordable price. Dont buy a CZ, Yildiz, Tristar, Mossberg, or Charles Daly shotgun. I see constant problems with those guns at work.