Author Topic: Wanting sqwirl rifle 32 or 36 (Read 1851 times)

rem700 · « **on:** September 16, 2012, 05:14:47 AM »

Wanting to try squirrel hunting again last time was about 30-35yrs ago and with a 22.
Cabelas no longer has there blue ridge in 36 cal.
New to this but think I want a 36cal except the price whats my choices?
All I have found thus far is a 36cal Cub in the low/mid $700s and a 32cal Crocket in the low $400.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2012, 08:34:55 AM »

i have the pedersoli frontier .36 , which
i believe is the same thing cabelas had
as the blue ridge. if you can, you ought
to hold out and try to find one of those
in .36 cal.
it's one of the best shooters i've ever
had. groups really well. i use 00 buck
shot which makes for economical shooting.

you should be able to find one somewhere
used or new from a dealer through pedersoli.
there are a gazzilion around, so i would think
one would show up eventually.

keep looking and good luck

rem700 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2012, 10:33:04 AM »

Thanks
The Frontiers I have found are in the low $7s for new havnt run across a used one yet.
Hard to drop that much coin to shoot a few tree rats once or twice ayear.

Now if they offered a crocket in 36 I could be happy.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2012, 11:58:44 AM »

well. . . .
i didn't realize they'd gone up so
much, but what hasn't?
i got mine quite a long time ago only
after checking the price for the components
to build what i wanted in a squirrel rifle.
the parts were roughly 100.00 more not
including the many hours of labor i didn't
have to spare. it was that, or buy a ready-to-hunt
pedersoli for less.
i'll bet one will come along at the right price, but
right now as hunting seasons are commencing is
for sure not the right time. sellers market
right now. i've learned the lesson again and
again to be ready to jump on deals when
they come, but at times i drag my feet
and lose. you'll just have to be ready when
it races by.
good luck

rem700 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2012, 04:25:25 PM »

Been watching various boards and auction sights hoping for something to pop notta.
Maybe I will check some of the pawn shops.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2012, 04:31:45 PM »

if you can manage, hold in place 'till
late january. that's when i find my best
deals. hunting is done, and folks are
short after christmas.

(unless something good comes along
of course! )
good luck again

bubba.50 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2012, 05:12:06 PM »

how much length-of-pull do ya need? there's a guy on traditionalmuzzleloadingcheap username mongrel who makes what he calls rugrat rifles. he has about 1/2 a dozen for sale now in 36 & 45 cal priced from about $350 to $400 but the l-o-p is about 11&1/2 to 12 inches. some pretty nice lookin' guns for not too much money if they'll work for ya. luck & have a good'en friend, bubba.

rem700 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2012, 11:53:16 PM »

Thanks for the heads up.
I might get away with a short lop as most guns are to long for me.
Awaiting verifacation before I can access that portion of there website perhaps by the time I get from work.

Mike in Virginia · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2012, 05:32:47 AM »

Can't you buy drop-in barrels of .36 caliber for T/C and Lyman guns? I know you could in years past.
The best squirrel gun I ever had was a T/C Seneca in .36. A .32 is plenty of gun for a squirrel, but lordy are they ever hard to clean what with that tiny bore.
One other point. A hunter with only one muzzleloader can have it all. Most .50 and .54 caliber roundball guns will shoot to the same point of impact with 1/2 of the normal load. If your deer load is 80 grains, try 40. Squirrels with a .50 calibrer? Yep. Just shoot toward the front and you get the hams and back. Ain't that much to eat on the front end of a squirrel.

Ladobe · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2012, 05:57:37 AM »

Sold my mid 80's CVA 36 Squirrel 1-2 years ago for $300, double what I also sold my CVA 32 Squirrel for before it. 36 was mint, hard to find - 32 not as rare and had been drilled for scope mounts that lowered the price. Point is, if you can find a mid 80's CVA Squirrel you won't have to pay too high a dollar for one, and they are excellent rifles for the money. Won't say that for the last of them they made though.

You might find a TC Cherokee 36, but it will be high, very high if mint, or a 32 for a little less. I got around $450 for my 32 when I sold it 2-3 years ago, but it was mint... have seen 36's as high as $650 with issues. Remember one for something like $800 and the barrel had been chromed, ugly as sin.

You might also find a Seneca 36, hard to find though, price would be up.

Another possibility is a TC Hawken with a 36 barrel. They were out there years ago, GM and others offered barrels. I still have one, and with a Navy Arms 32.5" brass scope that would be an excellent squirrel rifle (although I bought mine for predators).

FWIW

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2012, 10:43:12 AM »

I have the same itch. This is the best price I have found. $299.

http://www.possibleshop.com/rifle-deerhunter.html

rem700 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2012, 12:43:26 PM »

Found a couple of 36s in my price range $400, But they are 1-66" is this ok or does one want 1-48" ?

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2012, 02:58:53 PM »

I believe the longer twist rates are for round ball's only. What kind of rifles are you looking at? I would really like a rifle with a double set trigger. I really like the Traditions Shenandoah rifle but it is out of my budget. The Crockett is next on my list. I may settle for the Deerhunter in .32 caliber.

Ladobe · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2012, 02:59:36 PM »

They'll be great for round balls, not for maxi's.

rem700 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2012, 10:50:27 AM »

Thanks for the replies. I am going with one of mongrels rugrats mentioned on the other site thanks for the tip bubba.
Couldnt ask for a easier guy to work with as he is takeing the #3 flinter and converting it to percussion and lowering the price to boot.
Now I have to get some 36cal RB so I am ready for the range when my rifle gets here.

keith44 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2012, 08:36:45 PM »

I was looking for the same thing a few years ago, I finally went with a Pedersoli .32 Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle. Price is way beyond what I paid then.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_186_190&products_id=5903

Quote from: rem700 on September 18, 2012, 10:50:27 AM

Thanks for the replies. I am going with one of mongrels rugrats mentioned on the other site thanks for the tip bubba.
Couldnt ask for a easier guy to work with as he is takeing the #3 flinter and converting it to percussion and lowering the price to boot.
Now I have to get some 36cal RB so I am ready for the range when my rifle gets here.

and you'll want it to have its own possibles bag, with a cal specific starter, a powder horn or flask, a bullet bag, etc. Rifle and ball are just the beginning

Rock Home Isle · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2012, 05:15:22 AM »

Quote from: keith44 on September 19, 2012, 08:36:45 PM

I was looking for the same thing a few years ago, I finally went with a Pedersoli .32 Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle. Price is way beyond what I paid then.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_186_190&products_id=5903

Quote from: rem700 on September 18, 2012, 10:50:27 AM
Thanks for the replies. I am going with one of mongrels rugrats mentioned on the other site thanks for the tip bubba.
Couldnt ask for a easier guy to work with as he is takeing the #3 flinter and converting it to percussion and lowering the price to boot.
Now I have to get some 36cal RB so I am ready for the range when my rifle gets here.

and you'll want it to have its own possibles bag, with a cal specific starter, a powder horn or flask, a bullet bag, etc. Rifle and ball are just the beginning

Great firearm...I have the .32 precussion and my dad has the .32 Flintlock. He learned how to shoot a flinter with that gun. Years later I broke down and bought a Brown Bess carbine and have been primarily a flintlock ever since.

The .32 can be a bit finicky as compared to the .36 calibre.

keith44 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2012, 05:53:01 AM »

yes it can, more sensitive to humidity, more finicky with ramrod pressure, bullet lube, powder in the pan etc.

Still since I am not hunting for my survival, I find it relaxing, and enjoyable to have to pay attention to the details to get the gun to shoot like I want it to.

How ya been RHI?

rem700 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:17:58 PM »

Just back from Track Of The Wolf they sure had some pretty rifle hanging on the walls, I bought some 36cal ball they was out of Rem 11s glad I still have some to get me by. Now I have to wait for my rifle to show up hopefully next week..

keith44 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:45:27 PM »

waiting is the hardest part, but I think you will find the wait worth it.

Getting a load to shoot to the sights will be the first step. I had read many articles about what load was best for what game. I ignored the load recommended by the manufacturer, until I could not get the ball to hit center of target, even with maximum sight elevation, it shot 8" low at 30 yards. My point is, start out with a load the builder recommends, and tweak that load for accuracy, don't pick a load and try to make the gun like it. Big waste of powder.

rem700 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:58:03 PM »

Figured I would start in the 30ish grain area and see what happens.
I have 3 different powders in 3F
3 different patch thickness's and a couple of different caps, Hope I can atleast get on paper as I only bought two boxes of ball.

keith44 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 20, 2012, 04:50:21 PM »

I would say about 30-40 grains would be a good start

Bubber · « **Reply #22 on:** September 20, 2012, 06:01:29 PM »

I bought a .32 last spring. I have been shooting muzzloaders for about 15 years now and thought I had a pretty good grasp on the finer technical aspects. All I had to do was change the sights and develop a load. It has been an incredibly frustrating 9 months full of me being wrong. I am not married so I am not use to being wrong about so many things for so long. I have finally won and it is consistently shooting little groups. I do love the thing but I would recommend a .36 to anyone over a .32.

keith44 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 20, 2012, 06:53:36 PM »

Hey Bubber,
What load does yours like?

I can touch holes at 30 yards IF I carefully load 25 grains of 3F Goex, seat a felt wad, then load a patched .310 ball with a greased .010 patch. The care comes in seating the ball fully without compressing the powder.

Bubber · « **Reply #24 on:** September 22, 2012, 10:04:40 AM »

I can't usually touch holes at 30 yards but I am not sure if it is me or the rifle. I lean twords me as I got new glasses about a year ago and they just don't fit right and none of my stuff shoots as good as it use to all of a sudden.

I shoot 30gr of 3f black under a moose milk soaked patch and .310 ball.
Yea ramrod pressure was another one for me, I have to push on the ramrod compressing the powder but only slightly.

keith44 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 22, 2012, 04:25:09 PM »

as long as the gun is consistently shooting groups to your satisfaction, shoot it!!!!

I understand now why the larger bore rifles were preferred for target shooting, not only do you have the advantage in "best edge scoring", but the larger bores seem to be more forgiving in load development.