Squirrel Gun Questions

Im guessing ash?

I've owned three squirrel rifles and the current two left are flintlock. First was a Traditions Crockett. I admit being a little astonished at the percussion .32s great accuracy. I killed more squirrels with that fine rifle than with any other. Now I have a .32 and .36 and both are flint. The .36 comes in at 6 lbs 4 oz, with the .32 only 6 oz heavier. Both are 38", my favorite barrel length, and I'd even go longer but not shorter.

Accuracy is paramount with "fit" a close second. Any squirrel rifle should fit your build and lop. For it's purpose weight really doesn't matter that much. And the lock must be ultra reliable. I don't anything over .36 makes a particularly good squirrel rifle even though I've used calibers up to .58 on them with at least some success. Just me but I like a squirrel rifle to be plain.

My first squirrel rifle was a TC Hawken 50 cal. That was my first muzzleloader. I loaded it down and was careful with shot placement. Now I shoot a 2o ga. smoothbore, They don't have to be sitting still.

This is my favorite .32 squirrel gun. It has taken more squirrels than I can count. 20 grains of 3f, a .311 cast round ball in a .015 mink oil lubed patch will shoot dime sized groups off the bench at 25 yards. Off hand i can keep all my shots in a 50 cent piece at 25 yards.

My two favorite squirrel guns 15 grains 3F goex

OP: As other responders have shown, squirrel rifles are typically lighter in caliber and weight. I have a couple of 32's (a flint & a percussion, can't play favorites after all) so that's what I like. Happened upon them at an auction so I have 32's. If I had tripped over 36's I'd like those.

Other than the caliber and weight of a given squirrel rifle - all other features seem to be a Ford-Chevy-or-Dodge kinda question. Meaning it's up to the shooter's taste in rifles.

Once upon a time I thought about competing in benchrest with unmentionables. When I asked a group of benchresters what caliber might be best to start with they all said "whichever one you start with".

Loving my Kibler.36

My other favorite squirrel rifle for later in the season when shots are sometimes longer is a .36

Two Elks said:

What is the wood on your rifle ?? I like the grain.

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Redlemur60 said:

Im guessing ash?

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It is ash...

DIDN'T DANIEL BOON have his sights altered on his gun? rear one moved foreword I beleave?

Here are a few pictures of our .32

FWIW, I have three "squirrel" rifles - .32, .36, and a .40. The .32 and .36 are heavy, comparatively. If I am out all day, and if it is legal, I will hunt with the .40. The smaller calibers are really fun to shoot. All have 42" barrels.

SDSmlf said:

Accuracy is number one criteria. I prefer a 32 caliber roundball gun using 12-15 grains of powder. Then there is flint vs percussion, but you asked in the flint forum, so guess you have crossed that bridge. Budget is whatever you want to spend. Comes down to what you like.

Are you currently shooting a traditional muzzleloader? You may already have a ‘squirrel’ gun.

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AGREED
Accuracy for me, AND... reliability. Sometimes the squirrels are active, but..., sometimes they are not, and if it's almost time to go home, and I have one shot on the only squirrel that I've been able to get close to..., I don't want a misfire. Mine is a .40 as where I live it's a multi-role flinter..., squirrels, targets, and deer. I download for the squirrels...

"Only accurate rifles are interesting." - Townsend Whelen

LD

How about a .40 caliber for squirrel, rabbit and deer? Thinking about building.

Oops just saw the last two posts. Didn’t mean to be redundant!

Squirrel trail walks are an interesting happening on all of the local Rhondys. On our normal trails of swinging steel you need a minimum of 45 swing them. In the last three years squirrel trails have been added for 40cal. and under they are lighter smaller targets at a shorter distance. Mostly 35 to 50 yards.
Doc,

Grenadier1758 said:

As we age, the front sight of a long-barreled rifle will still be in focus. The rear sight will become more out of focus, but the longer barrel will allow us to move the rear sight closer to the front sight and maintain squirrel head acccuracy.

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As a soon to be 70 year old I highly recommend surgery to remove Cataracts and Eye Lens replacement, it gives you the young guys Eyes back, and eases the aging saga just a little more.

@Coinneach, the surgery will restore one's eyesight to the vision of a much younger guy. However, in my case I found that it took about two relocations of the rear sight were needed before I really needed to make the decision to have the cataract replacement lenses. If one does not have the cataracts, then the replacement surgery will not be recommended as glasses will the preferred vision correction and sight movement is the necessary fix for our old eyes.

Murphinator said:

Well I figured I would start with my first of three questions I am going to ask the forum. What makes a good squirrel gun. More specifically a squirrel/ small game rifle. Caliber, barrel length etc. What does everyone on here prefer ? What has everyone here found success with ? What is the better caliber .32 or .36 ? What is better a long barrel around 37" to 42" ? Or a shorter barrel of 36" and under ? Also what is too much to pay for a squirrel/game rifle in the eyes of some ? ( If no one wants to answer that last question that is fine I know some of you here on the forum believe that a price is a price and that is between buyer and seller). Thank you to all who reply and for all of your help that I've recieved in the past.

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I have a .32 calibre that will print 1/2”-3/4” day in and day out at 50 yards. The .32 can be finicky to wring accuracy out of the firearm, the key to shooting the .32 is “consistency”. This calibre is unforgiving; requiring consistent powder charge, consistent pressure when seating the ball. If you want to learn how to accurately shoot a muzzleloader, the .32 will do that for you, if you are willing to learn.

My favorite squirrel rifle is the .40 calibre. I can load it up with a .390 or .395 PRB and hunt deer sized big game. I can use heavy denim patching and shoot a .375 PRB…for small game, ie squirrels, rabbits etc.

It’s the best of both worlds.

Rock Home Isle said:

I have a .32 calibre that will print 1/2”-3/4” day in and day out at 50 yards. The .32 can be finicky to wring accuracy out of the firearm, the key to shooting the .32 is “consistency”. This calibre is unforgiving; requiring consistent powder charge, consistent pressure when seating the ball. If you want to learn how to accurately shoot a muzzleloader, the .32 will do that for you, if you are willing to learn.

My favorite squirrel rifle is the .40 calibre. I can load it up with a .490 or .495 PRB and hunt deer sized big game. I can use heavy denim patching and shoot a .375 PRB…for small game, ie squirrels, rabbits etc.

It’s the best of both worlds.

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I think you miss typed the size balls you are using in a .40 caliber, or you typed .40 caliber when you meant .50 caliber.