Squirrel guns

Rodneystiffler said:

I’m thinking about getting a flintlock squirrel gun and I’d like so ideas on cal. and gun style.

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Loaded correctly, most any rifle is good to go on squirrels. I have had a number of 32 caliber guns, and am currently using a flintlock Pedersoli Scout in 32 caliber that works great with the light charges I typically use. With 12 grains of Swiss fff and a patched 1-1/2 buckshot it is deadly on squirrels and targets out to the 30 or so yards that I shoot it. Not quite an inch high at 25 yards, about inch low at 50. Squirrels aren’t that big, tough or aggressive around here so I stick with lighter charges.

Plenty of squirrels in the neighborhood, with closest house maybe 3/4 of a mile behind the back door. Will only shoot squirrels and other critters that are on the ground, unless I’m using one of my 177 caliber target air rifles. The 7 grain pellet at a little over 500 FPS doesn’t travel that far, but will dispatch squirrels at 30 yards plus. Just not interested in launching a 32 caliber 44 grain roundball into the air and then waiting to hear from neighbors, not to mention sending larger caliber roundballs or slugs through the treetops no matter the velocity. All comes down to where you shoot and hunt.

On one of the BP forums several years ago a shooter detailed his conversion of a "Crockett" .32 from cap to flint. It did require major alteration of the bolster but turned out to be a very nice little flintlock .32.

hanshi said:

On one of the BP forums several years ago a shooter detailed his conversion of a "Crockett" .32 from cap to flint. It did require major alteration of the bolster but turned out to be a very nice little flintlock .32.

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Interesting. Sounds like something to do on a winter eve when I get bored with the cap guns.

Snydly said:

It can be converted to flint for just a shade over $100. I converted my Blue Ridge from cap to flint years ago. it is extremely accurate. Looks great too.

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Okay…so I’m getting ready to convert my Blue Ridge from percussion to flint. I have a Pedersoli BlueRidge flintlock, not the L&R replacement, an original Pedersoli Lock.

Am I correct in assuming that I pull the bolster, and then insert a flash hole liner? The flintlock and the percussion lock should just be interchangeable, no inletting required?

Was there anything special? I’m hoping it’s not like trying to do an old CVA?

Rock Home Isle said:

Okay…so I’m getting ready to convert my Blue Ridge from percussion to flint. I have a Pedersoli BlueRidge flintlock, not the L&R replacement, an original Pedersoli Lock.

Am I correct in assuming that I pull the bolster, and then insert a flash hole liner? The flintlock and the percussion lock should just be interchangeable, no inletting required?

Was there anything special? I’m hoping it’s not like trying to do an old CVA?

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Sounds like you have it right. I have done a few including a CVA which is hanging on my wall and shoots very well thank you. The main thing to insure is that the touch hole is going to be in the proper location.

On my Great Plains, the locks switched out fine and the touch hole was centered just above the pan. On another Great Plains, I had to weld up the original hole and then make a new hole. That was a gripe as the welding metal was quite a bit harder than the original barrel.

It is worth the effort though.

John

I done a dixie .32 no problem. worked just fine and easy to interchange back and forth, the best of both worlds.

I once did the reverse which required help. But cap to flint, easy peasy.

I’ll take pictures and post images when I do this…

Rock Home Isle said:

Okay…so I’m getting ready to convert my Blue Ridge from percussion to flint. I have a Pedersoli BlueRidge flintlock, not the L&R replacement, an original Pedersoli Lock.

Am I correct in assuming that I pull the bolster, and then insert a flash hole liner? The flintlock and the percussion lock should just be interchangeable, no inletting required?

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Should be doable with your Pedersoli, just need to check that the lock plates are interchangeable and the bolster and touchhole locations are the same for both. I have a Pedersoli Scout in 32 caliber, and I have both the flint and percussion lock for it. Changeover takes but a few minutes, and I have had no issues shooting either configuration.

Rock Home Isle said:

Okay…so I’m getting ready to convert my Blue Ridge from percussion to flint. I have a Pedersoli BlueRidge flintlock, not the L&R replacement, an original Pedersoli Lock.

Am I correct in assuming that I pull the bolster, and then insert a flash hole liner? The flintlock and the percussion lock should just be interchangeable, no inletting required?

Was there anything special? I’m hoping it’s not like trying to do an old CVA?

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When I got ready to change mine out. I called Dixie. Told me which vent liner to buy, then informed me that the lock will fit perfectly. Everything they told me to buy ,,, fit exactly like they said. You would think it came from the factory.

Snydly said:

When I got ready to change mine out. I called Dixie. Told me which vent liner to buy, then informed me that the lock will fit perfectly. Everything they told me to buy ,,, fit exactly like they said. You would think it came from the factory.

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Awesome…this is the information that I’m looking for, to make sure I do this right. I’ll be making phone calls this afternoon.

My chores are done for today, so I’m headed to my dad’s house to help him get his workroom arranged…He’s starting a build this week; he’s making a 1792 Lewis & Clark Contract Rifle…I have a 1792 .50 calibre…his will be .54 calibre, 36” strait barrel.

I want my gun back so I can start working up a load for it. And get my BlueRidge converted to Flintlock

SOLANCO said:

In my limited experience smaller caliber rifles have been heavier rifles. It seemed as if the barrel blanks were all the same and boring out a .32 removed less weight of metal than a .40 or .54.
Again, limited experience. Are some small caliber rifles available with smaller diameter, lighter barrels?

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There could be exceptions to the rule (I've seen a 45 cal with a 1" barrel) but the usual measurements I've noticed are 45s: 13/16", 7/8" or 15/16" across the flats. The 50s are 15/16", 1" or 1 1/8". The smaller calibers seem to be 3/4", 13/16" and 7/8". And then there are the swamped barrels.

Just my two cents!

Walt

i use my 40 for about everything. the group was shot at 50yds, the squirrel a good bit closer,,,,,,,,,,,

When I was a little kid and we would visit my grandmother's farm squirel and groundhog were ordinary table meat.

SOLANCO said:

When I was a little kid and we would visit my grandmother's farm squirel and groundhog were ordinary table meat.

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No ground hogs in my neck of the woods. Mostly, it was rabbit, a hen that was ready for pressure cooked dumplings, and sometimes squirrel. A neighbor raised hogs, and we occasionally had true pit BBQ. A hole was dug, the hog buried on top on coals, and then dug back up about 24 hours later. We also ate fish often. Sometimes, it was vegetables, no meat. If you didn't like what was on the table, you went hungry.

olskool said:

i use my 40 for about everything. the group was shot at 50yds, the squirrel a good bit closer,,,,,,,,,,,View attachment 148996View attachment 148995

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Beautiful gun…nice squirrel.

BP Addict said:

There could be exceptions to the rule (I've seen a 45 cal with a 1" barrel) but the usual measurements I've noticed are 45s: 13/16", 7/8" or 15/16" across the flats. The 50s are 15/16", 1" or 1 1/8". The smaller calibers seem to be 3/4", 13/16" and 7/8". And then there are the swamped barrels.

Just my two cents!

Walt

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One of my .45s has a nice 13/16" barrel and another one is 15/16".

smoothshooter said:

The 58 was probably traveling at a lower velocity.

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Actually I shot the big fox squirrel with the deer load in the bore because it was supposed to be a deer hunt plus it was a round ball and not a minie. I've always had to go squirrel hunting in order to see deer.

SOLANCO said:

When I was a little kid and we would visit my grandmother's farm squirel and groundhog were ordinary table meat.

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Ever since I moved from my Deep South native land I have yet to find a northerner that knows what a "possum on the half shell" is! A food of the Deep South.

hanshi said:

Ever since I moved from my Deep South native land I have yet to find a northerner that knows what a "possum on the half shell" is! A food of the Deep South.

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Only a food of the Cajuns. Rest of us know how to hunt and fish.