Author Topic: probably stupid ? but...  (Read 711 times)

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Offline mosparky

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probably stupid ? but...
« on: January 02, 2010, 05:49:47 PM »
 At risk of showing my brain damage so early in my posting career here, let me run this hair brain idea past you guys.
 To start with, I have a CVA 50 cal Staghorn 209 Mag that I never even shot or cleaned for that matter. I'm not sure I ever will. After recieving this gun as a gift, I discovered it ain't cheap to shoot. For the most part, I like cheap to shoot. I currently work in the grocery biz and deer season comes at the worst time of the year to be asking off.
 Now I dearly love to squirrel hunt, especially being we have a very long season that works much better with the demands of work. I looked into 32 cal ML's and them things are way over priced for me. Nobody makes an inexpensive entry level 32 as they do with the 50's.
 Down to brass tacks, I got this idea that just maybe I could re-line the barrel to 32 cal. useing a 32-20 liner. I'd have the only in-line 32 I ever heard of. If the original barrel would handle 50 cal x 150 gr pressure levels, surely it could handle 32 cal levels (whatever they are).
 I looked on Brownells site, and they recommend a 13mm drill for the liner. Man, that's really close to 50 cal. Close enough ?? The brand is Redman. I looked on Redmans site as well. One site says it had 1:18 twist, the other says a 1:20 twist. I honestly don't know if that is too fast or will require something other than a round ball (which is just fine by me).
 Any way you cut it, a barrel liner, dab of acra-glas and possibly a drill bit is alot chaeper that even a used 32 muzzleloader. Except for the rare find on a 32, I think you could even buy a cheap 50 and still come out ahead of the game.
 Surely I'm not the first to have such an idea. What is my addle mind over-looking here ??

Offline bilmac

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Re: probably stupid ? but...
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2010, 06:53:11 PM »
I think you probably have the technical side pretty well figgured out. My question would be why. To me there are two kinds of muzzle loader hunters. There are traditionalists who like the nostalgia of the thing. They want at least traditional looking guns.

Then there are those who want to take advantage of muzzle loading hunting seasons. They will use the most advanced guns they can get that will meet their States laws. As far as I know, special muzzle loading seasons apply only to big game hunting. I may be wrong, but I don't know of any special seasons for small game. 

So, I can see the traditionalist sneaking around in the woods with his 32 cal replica and coon skin cap. To each his own. But I can't see why you would want to hunt with an inline if it only offered disadvantages, the types of guys that are using them are looking to take advantage of particular laws.

Offline bubba.50

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Re: probably stupid ? but...
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2010, 07:17:41 PM »
use your 50 with a patched round ball and about 40 or 50 grains of powder for a reduced power load suitable for squirrels and such. my opinion and worth what you paid for it. good luck and good shootin' neighbor, bubba.        or you could see if that 13mm drill would take the riflin' out and load it like a 28 gauge shotgun. just a thought, bubba.
fetch the hammer maggie-they's a bee on the baby's head!

Offline FredWT

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Re: probably stupid ? but...
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2010, 07:24:35 PM »
CVA and Traditions offered traditional style side locks, some were in .36 cal, which I prefer. If you can pick up a used T/C Hawken or Renegade cheap, look for a rusted out barrel, Green Mountain makes beautiful drop in .32 and .36 cal barrels.

In the pic is a T/C PA Hunter, flint, with a GM drop in .36 and the lower one is a Traditions factory .36 with adjustable trigger.

 

Offline mosparky

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Re: probably stupid ? but...
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2010, 07:43:18 PM »
The only reason for the in-line is I got one that may never get used. The novelty of it is a plus, but not important. I hadn't considered the drop in barrel before now. I'll look into it.
 My mind isn't set yet, so further replies and input are welcome.

 As to down loading the 50 for squirrel, that may set me up for an ethics charge. While it's not specifically illegal, we recently had a deer hunter brought up on "ethics" charges after it was found that he had shot a pesky squirrel with a 7mm Mag. I really don't want to have that arguement with the nice officer.

Offline DennyRoark

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Re: probably stupid ? but...
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2010, 02:24:59 AM »
You should be OK as long as your not hunting squirrels with a deer rifle during deer season.  Head shot (quite challenging), or bark 'em (even more so).  Here in Ohio, everything but coy's and hogs are closed during deer gun season.
Denny Roark
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The Second Amendment...the one that makes all the others possible
I have no problems with vegetarians...I eat them regularly-Ted Nugent
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Offline lefty41

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Re: probably stupid ? but...
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2010, 02:08:11 PM »
mosparky,
I will offer another option / opinion. T/C did make an inline in .32 caliber. The T/C system 1. Some show up on the auction sites. Right now Auction Arms has several, but don't remember if any of them had a .32 barrel available. The barrels are interchangable and the .32 is going for somewhere between $150 - $175 (from what I have seen). T/C made .32; .50; .54; .58 & 12 ga barrels for the system 1. Removable breech plug and the striker could  be changed to enable you to use 209 primers if you would so choose. If a scope is mounted, it stays with the receiver and not the barrel.
Good luck!
Jerry Miller (lefty41)
"In God we trust"