Recomendations, squirrel rifle.

Getting the bug real bad now, I'm getting bored hunting squirrels with a .22 and scatter guns. Need a new challenge, seeking recomendations on a quality .32 flinter. I have a very lengthy season here in MO, and boo-koo brushy's...

:grin: >32 flinter will make you smile, go for it. Bob

You can get a .25 or 30 caliber barrel from Ed Rayl and make a fine squirrel rifle. I have a fine 25 caliber flint.

Olie

depends on you budget...if you can find a used TC Cherokee in .32 they were good...Traditions makes a .32 Crockett rifle that has got decent reviews...most .32s are custom jobs and you may find a local maker of poor boys or plain southern rifles that'll make you a .32 or .36 rifle. Personally, I wouldn't go lower than .32 for small game MLer. I sold my .36 and kept the .32 (a custom Tenn style rifle).

I haven't seen any flint, off the shelf, 32s. I have heard good things about the ones that Mike mentioned.

I couldn't find one myself when I wanted one so I built my own with a 3/4" across the flats, 36" GM barrel. It made a nice little flinter I dubbed Swee'Pea because it is so sweet to shoot.

You've got your Pedersoli Pennsylvania in .32


Pedersoli's Kentucky



Pedersoli's Frontier



I don't know the full history, but the Frontier looks too similar to a Hatfield from the 1970's & 80's to be coincedence (and is a Cabela's Blue Ridge, though there may be some quality/finish alterations). I had a friend who owned a Hatfield in .36 and shot his and it was a dandy rifle. Very accurate.

I keep hoping Dixie will come back with their .32 cal Tennessee Rifle in flint, but it ain't happened. I am a fool and sold mine back when it wasn't much used. Sure wish I still had it. They've got a bunch of used flintlocks on their site (a bunch of Roy Southgate of various calibers) and may be worth a look.
[url] http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=21_24_64[/url]

You might look at Dixie Gun Works stock. They sell small caliber flintlocks like Pedersoli and other brands. Track of the Wolf has various rifles and smoothbores.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

I'd gather up the parts and build a poor boy in .32 caliber. Anybody can put together a poor boy for hunting. :thumbsup:

I'm not familiar with the term "Poor-boy", I've only built a kit gun, .50 CVA Hawken, how can a guy go about this endeavor?

First off welcome to the Forum. I enjoyed your profile. A poor boy, is a southern mountian style fairly plain rifle, and a perfect choice for a tree rat eliminator. If you go to the links section, check out some of the kit/ parts suppliers. TOTW, the TVM's (both of them), and you can contact Tip Curtis for guns in the white, which are complete except for finish. Most of the custom kits are some what more complicated than what you put together, but still quite doable with hand tools. The Forum can help you get it built, with tips and advice as you go through a build.
Bill

Welcome stacks ! I have two books on building muzzleloaders I will reccomend . Recreating The American Longrifle , and The Art of Building The Pennsylvania Longrifle . I got mine from Track of The Wolf , but other suppliers probably have them too . These books will give you two different perspectives on gun building , and are good to read even if you don't want to build your own .

My squirrel rifle is a .75 caliber longrifle. I just set the rifle against the tree and drop a couple of acorns down the barrel. When the squirrel goes down the barrel for the acorns I plug the barrel with a cork and take the squirrel home. :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Randy Hedden

This is my 1st year for squirrels with a 32.I have a TC'S IN 32 & 36 but haven't taken the 36 in the woods yet.Saturday was the 1st time out and I got 6 out of 11 shots.Went tonite and got 2 for 2.All head shots and range from 43 yds to 20 yds.Plan on using it on rabbits in late season with my beagle.I too thought of getting a flinter and wondered about a drop in 32 barrel for my Lyman Great Plains flint lock.
ANY IDEAS ?

Harddog, good one....I once heard tell of an old woodsman that used that very same tactic, "man!" some communities have strict hunting regulations dont they. Do you serve them with the acorn in their mouths like a boar with the apple, just kiddin, like the humor....

410-r, Don't know anything about switching parts on the guns. I'm still learing. I did take some advise and went to TOTW and found some interesting kits, anyone any experience with these, quality, service etc....

Oh yah, checked my dictionary, it's spelled ADVICE. I still think I build a gun though...

Olie said:

You can get a .25 or 30 caliber barrel from Ed Rayl and make a fine squirrel rifle. I have a fine 25 caliber flint.

Olie

Click to expand...

Hey Olie!

Sorry for jumping in, but what is the twist rate on that .25 cal that Rayl makes? Does it have the round bottom rifling also? What is a typical load for that .25? I must assume it's #4 (.24cal) buck shot and what--maybe 10gr of FFFg powder?

Thanks for your help. Oh and BTW, how many "shekels" does that Rayl barrel cost?

THANKS GREATLY! I've been wanting to do a really true small bore muzzleloader, now maybe I can!

Regards,
WV_Hillbilly

I have a Tradition Crockett 32 cal, it is a percussion, and really love the gun. Have not been hunting to hot and all the leaves are still on the trees. Expect a good crop of Acorn's this year and should creat a great squirrel crop. It should also help fat deer.

Don Jackson Remington Magnum/Ultramag

stacks said:

Getting the bug real bad now, I'm getting bored hunting squirrels with a .22 and scatter guns. Need a new challenge, seeking recomendations on a quality .32 flinter. I have a very lengthy season here in MO, and boo-koo brushy's...

Click to expand...

I've not had too many small caliber muzzleloaders over the years, but the CVA .32cal Squirrel Rifle (with Double Triggers) was a very impressive little gun. It will shoot as good as I can hold out to 100yds (yeah, that's about twice as far as the furthest shot I'd take while squirrel hunting).

I never had the financial latitude to check out any of the more expensive plinkers, or the custom built guns. I wouldn't mind building one myself someday though. I assume you are strictly using PRB as projectiles? There are some .32 Maxi bullets out there, IF you have the T/C mould or know someone. It didn't take many shots with Mzxi's to tell me that the PRB is the ONLY way to go. The only thing was my gun was a caplock. I thought of converting her to flint, but never got around to it. Maybe someday, I'll build that .25cal rock-lock...

Regards, and good luck on your search/decision,
WV_Hillbilly

I stand corrected. Didn't know about the Pedersoli .32s. I do agree with you about the Frontier. A friend of mine got one about six months back in .45. When he showed it to me my first thought was "The Hadfield is back."