Expected Accuracy for 32 squirrel rifles?

[hazmt]

Hello all-

I know this is somewhat subjective, but what kind of accuracy should I expect out of my 32 Squirrel Rifle? I have owned and shot BP rifles (45's and 50's) for about 15 years. I know what to expect out of the larger caliber stuff. The rifle in question is a CVA that I've owned several years. I plinked with it a little when I first I got it, but nothing really serious. I got it out this past week to work up a load again, since it has been so long since I shot it. I started with 15 grains of FFF behind a .310 Hornady RB with .015 Ox-yoke patch. This load produced a great group to start with - 3 holes touching at 25yds! I was shooting from a solid rest - no pressure on the barrel. Temp was mid 60's with little to no wind.

However, when I backed out to 50 yards, it would't put three on the same sheet of (11.5" x 8") paper. I rolled back up to about 40 yards and the groups tighened up a bit, but still not well enough to hit a squirrel! That's when I started experimenting with patches and loads. I tried some cast round balls, .005 patches, and changed the powder from 15 to 30 grains in 5 grain increments. The .310 balls and .005 patches didn't help. Increasing the charge weight up to 30 helped a little and I settled on about 25 grains with the original hornady's and .015 patches. Cleaning the barrel every other shot, the groups were still about 4-5 inches at a measured 39 yards. I could shoot 2 into about 2 inches, then clean the barrel and the next shot would blow the group to 4 or 5 inches! Seems to me that the first shot from a clean and cool barrel should go just about the same place?

I then thought that maybe I had something loose, so I tightened up all the screws and tried again - same results. Next I thought that maybe the cleaning rod was putting tension on barrel. Tried both with and without cleaning rod - same results. After over 50 shots, I finally gave up and got out the trusty 22 and went hunting. I have never hunted with this rifle seriously and want to take a few squirrels with it. Since I've never hunted with the smaller BP calibers, I'm not sure what I should expect. Am I expecting too much to make shot's over 25 yards? I can make this work with 25 yards or less but I thought I could expect a little better. It seems strange that 15 yards would make that much difference. Any suggestions?

Thanks! Hazmt

[Birddog6]

If it will cut three together at 25 yards, it will shoot a 1.5" to 2"group at 50 yards.  There is no majic bullet theory & it is what it is. Most likely it ismostly  shooter error.  Maybe some load proceedure errors and /or combinations of both.

1:  Use sand bags & a solid bench & eliminate shooter error.  This is definately the ONLY way to work loads & save allot or time & trouble.  Solid bench, sand bags on Both ends (front sandbak where you Hand would hold the rifle offhand, Not at the muzzle end)
Get the shooter out of the equation & you have got a good start right there.  You can learn to hold it & shoot it After you get a load for it, have to get the gun accurate first.

2:  Work a load for the rifle.  On a .32 I would shoot Swiss 3F as it is by far the cleanest thing you will ever shoot in BP and simply awesome in a small bore.  About 20 grains of Swiss would be a good starting poing & not over 30. Try 20, 25, 30.  I always shot 25 in my .32's.  A can of Swiss lasts forever using  a .32 cal.  If no Swiss avail I would shoot 3F Goex.  I would not waste my time on BP subs in it.

3:  Try some dif lubes & I would definately try some Lehigh Lube.  It has worked well in my rifles.  Lubes in ML's make ALLOT of difference & it seems even more critical in a smallbore rifle.

4:  Be consistant in your loading. If you swab, just swab down & back One Time with a very thin damp patch (Not sloppy wet). You are not cleaning the bore, you are swabbing to keep the bore consistant......  If you clean the barrel, you have changed the barrel condition & thus the POI will change. Keep it the same.

5:  I would start out with a Hornady ball, better consistancy & etc. then after ya get a load try the cast balls & etc.  Make sure you lube is the same on Every shot, not more lube or less, exactly the same.  If you use a liquid lube use a pump/spray 2 oz bottle so you don't waste it & also you can determine how many squirts per patch.  On Lehigh I used 1 squirt per patch at 3" away for the .32 cal & that was more than adequate for that small patch.

 

[longcaribiner]

as said above, swab between every shot.  It is extremely important that the amount of the fouling stay consistent. 

I have a little 32 cal inline that will put 5 shots on a postage stamp at 25 yards.  I haven't tried it out to 50.  I use an empty 38 S&W case for a powder measure, 3f and a patched hornady round ball.   

A small ball like that gets blown around very easily. 

My 1980 CVA catalogue indicates that the Squirrel rifle had a 1 in 48 twist.  I would think that it is possible to load too much powder and have the ball strip through the rifling. 

Most small bore rifles have tighter rifling, more like for muzzleloading pistols   My inline has what appears to be 1 in 28.   

[gustmouse]

I know my CVA 36 caliber Bobcat shoots good out to 60 yards using 45grain of 3F 777 and patched round ball with the primitive sights.
But even at that distance it hits pretty hard and would be too much for squirrels. I read somewhere that the smaller caliber rifles shoot better with more powder. I don’t know I’m going have to shoot the 36 caliber with a milder load and see how she shoots. I hope to use it within the next couple of weeks on rabbit and squirrels.

[Rum River]

I have two of the Pedersoli Frontier .32's, a flint and a percussion. Both like the load of a Hornady .310" ball, .015" Ox-Yoke (or whatever their new name is) pre-lubed patch, and 30grs. Goex FFFg. From a rest at 50 yards, the rifles average a 1" to 2" group.

The biggest factor (at least in my case) is the shooter ability.
This is closely followed by: Amount of fouling, wind, rain, snow, taxes, death, taxes, license, dealer prep, taxes, delivery charges, assembly fees, taxes, gas mileage, time between oil changes, and......oh yeah, taxes.

[fffffg]

( i redid this later, sorry about the poor writing skills)   this is what i see is happening..  similar to my .62 until it stopped cutting pathces from sharp rifling....  your using light loads for that twist and its fine at close range..  when you shoot further and  step up to more power, that will keep the spin fast enought to stabilize for the average speed of the flight.. then your getting blow by..  so you will need a tighter patch, and or bigger ball, and or fiber wad.. or any combination there of.  a little and i say little corn meal will do the same thing, (but cornmeal will hold moisture and increase pressure,) but  it can tell you what is going on if you understand what it is telling you.. some guys will put a patch  behind the ball (over the powder) if  they are getting blow by.. may work may not... ..  if you want great accuracy you will need to clean very clean each shot..  my 54 to get under 2 inches at 100 yards had to have 6 wet patches both sides and two dry patches both sides to get it clean enought to shoot really well.  what is happening is with a slightly dirty bore is your geting a fair seal makeing it shoot better a little dirty.. but that can never be done consistnently..   here is what i found on a very calm day at 100 yards with my .54..  with   no cleaning  between rounds 100 yards  7 1/2 to 8 inch group..  ...... one wet and one dry  at 100 yards 4 shot group  4 1/2-5 inch group..  clean both sides 6 wet patches then both sides two pathces,,, 80 gr 3f goex, .020 tight weave patch with napa water soluable  oil for lube,,   the group with open sights, quite a bit  under 2 inches..  ,.. .  dave...   

[olduvai george]

From your description of using the 15/.310/.015  load combination and also the .310/.005 load combination without great accuracy, you are having real problems. A .32 with the right combination should touch 5 shots at 25 yards and nearly so out to 60. It sounds as if your comcbination is too loose. I assume your barrel is smooth and not pitted, and your triggers and lock privide quick reliable ignition. Get out your set of numbered drills and gently insert the shank of a drill about the right diameter(measure) into the muzzle till you get a good snug fit with one. That drill's diameter will represent your bore diameter(add or subtract a little for the degree of fit). You are using a plug gauge in doing this. Try to find a standard ball size in a catalog that is roughlly .005-.008 smaller in diameter. The grooves, of course are deeper. My rifle will accept  single "0" buck @ .320 diameter and a .010 patch but it is tight. I use a .005 for hunting. Get one to try from a shotgun shell if that is your case. or buy some that fit better than .310. Mine shoots extraordinarily well with 15  or 30 grains of fffg. Start with 12 and go up by 2 or 3 grains in 5-shot groups with your new ball/patch combo till you fing the sweet spot. 5 grains is just too much jump in powder a .32 to test. Shoot, patch out once with a slightly damp patch, follow with a dry then shoot again. You want a hunting load to do squirrel headshots to 60 yards but still load reasonably. Target can be a little harder to load for a bit better accuracy. I don't know if any of my old posts on the .32 survive, its been a while. I don't get here often. Good luck . The .32 is super! for small game.

[hazmt]

After a little more work and inspection, I discovered the problem. The rear sight base was loose! After tightening and a small dab of locktite, I am in business! Just a few days ago, I took it back to the shooting bench and worked up from 15 grns of FFFg with a .310 ball and .010 wonderwad. Cleaning between shots, it promptly cut holes at 25 and remained 'minute-of squirrel' out to 50 yards. Later that evening, I took my first 'blackpowder' grey squirrel at a distance of 35 yds with a headshot - no less!! I can honestly say, I'm hooked! Hope to get back out this week and terrorize the local squirrel population! Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

Best regards!

Haz

[Birddog6]

Well, that definately makes sense !     If it was dead on at 25 there is not way it should be off that much at 50 without something reall strange going on.
Glad ya found the problem & it was a minor one !   

[olduvai george]

Now .32 fans, make your speedloaders for faster reloads. Get a 38 special or 357 case that has been fired. Measure in your charge and press by thumb  a patched  ball gently into the case mouth. VOILA! Of course you already have your leather or brass capper or prime horn on a string on a button on your coat. Good squirrelin' !

[coyotejoe]

And just how do you propose to get the patched ball back out of that .38 case?

[olduvai george]

Grasp the protruding patch with ball within by your thumb and forefinger and pull it out of the case. I can do it easily. Practice, its not so hard. Master yoda said quite some time ago, "Do or not do, there is no try".