I'm looking for a small bore woods gun

[CA Longhunter]

I'm looking for a small bore (.32 or .36) rifle to carry in the woods. Something lightweight and handy for plinking and filling the stew pot. I found a Traditions Deer Hunter .32 today for what seemed a reasonable price. Does anyone have experience with these, or have another suggestion? I'd love to have a Seneca or Cherokee, but those don't come cheap these days. Thanks in advance. ~ Longhunter

[Ranger99]

whatever you get, get one that you
can feed it for a reasonable price.
when i got my .36, the first box of
balls i got were just that, roundballs
made for m.l. rifles and i was unhappy
that they weren't much less than a box
for my .54
after that i wised up and started buying
a 5 lb box of buckshot for those small
projectiles. cost evens out and i dont
have to take any time casting any.
big box of precision swaged bullets
ready to go.


good luck

[Saloon slug]

I  have one of the Traditions Crockett rifles in .32cal. Fun gun to shoot as said buckshot is the easy way to feed the small bores.

[spooked]

I'm looking for a small bore (.32 or .36) rifle to carry in the woods. Something lightweight and handy for plinking and filling the stew pot. I found a Traditions Deer Hunter .32 today for what seemed a reasonable price. Does anyone have experience with these, or have another suggestion? I'd love to have a Seneca or Cherokee, but those don't come cheap these days. Thanks in advance. ~ Longhunter

Had one, liked it but it was heavier..shot good ,but lost it in the wreck of'97(divorce)

[Ladobe]

32/36 bore carbines/rifles... most recent ones I've owned: TC Seneca 36, Cherokee 32, CVA Squirrels in both... still have a TC Hawken 36.
 
Best bang for the buck is the mid 80's CVA Squirrels, that come for sale in about the $125-$350 range (the 36's much higher than the 32's condition being equal).
 
 
TC Hawken 36 is a squirrel to predator getter in spades.
 

 

[CA Longhunter]

Thank you all! Ranger, I do love hours at the casting bench, but that is good to know! Ladobe, That is a sweet set up. I can only hope to find one so pretty. I'm really excied about it, I plan to replace my .22 lr with this.

[theratdog]

my cva is a tack driver like shooting a 22 lr nice light little gun if you can find one you will like it.

[Ladobe]

All it takes is patience to find what you want for sale, and the cash to buy it when it does.   The 32's will come up far more often than the 36's will.  For my uses a 36 was worth both the wait and higher cost.

[Cuts Crooked]

I would hold out for a .36 because all the .32s I've dealt with are far too "load sensitive" and they foul out quickly.

[Bugflipper]

I would also try to find a 36. It is more versatile. You can hunt bigger little critters. The 32 is fine for squirrels and rabbits. The 36 does an equal job on them and adds fox, bobcat and raccoon size critters to the mix. Kind of like a 22 and a 22 magnum.
I like a 40 better than both because it will take care of coyote size on down. But the problem is they are expensive unless you get a barrel only to put on another rifle.

[sharps4590]

Sumpin' like this, 36 cal.  $300.00 if you shop.  Siler lock, Davis triggers and I'm not certain about the barrel.  Old Douglas maybe?
 

 

[CA Longhunter]

So I think the .36 sounds like the way to go. Nice rifle, sharps4590! I'll give ya $275 fer it    But seriously, If anyone has a .36 you wouldn't mind parting with, let me know.
 In the meantime, anyone have a good small bore hunting story or pics to share?

[sharps4590]

I'm in the Missouri Ozarks and have spent 54 of my 60 years here.  Dad started me squirrel hunting at age 5....if I started telling squirrel hunting stories we'd all be here a lot longer than we want...lol!!  Here's one pic with those same squirrels.  It was a very hurried, early morning hunt.
 
 
 
I prefer to dress like this when hunting.
 

 
CA, thank you for the offer for my rifle but there are two young men, aged 38 and 40, who want that rifle and I really don't care to get into an argument with them at this stage of my life.  It's been a long time since I had my butt whipped and I'd like to keep it that way....lol!

[Ladobe]

So I think the .36 sounds like the way to go. Nice rifle, sharps4590! I'll give ya $275 fer it    But seriously, If anyone has a .36 you wouldn't mind parting with, let me know.
 In the meantime, anyone have a good small bore hunting story or pics to share?

I have a nice BP smith customized TC Hawken 36... like I said above all it takes is money (and not asking/discussing on this forum per GBO rules). 

[CA Longhunter]

Great pics, Sharps! I totally understand. I'll be 40 this year (my brother is 44) and We'd be quite upset if Pa started sellin off the guns we grew up with.
 Ladobe, understood. I'll shoot you a PM when I've got a minute.