Looking at getting ahold of a squirrel rifle

[PotomacRanger]

I want to get a rifle for small game preferrably flintlock. That being said I see their are mainly two calibers people are using that being .32 and .36 caliber. Does anyone prefer one over the other ?
Local gunshop by me has a .32 Caliber Dixie Gun Works Tennessee Mountain Flintlock Rifle and a .36 caliber Green Mountain Flintlock barrel made for a Thompson Center Hawken (just the barrel and ramrod). I dont have a Thompson Center so I would have to get a stock, action and other various parts unless I just buy a flintlock Hawken Thompson Center rifle. Anyone got any opinions to share on which one would be better. The DGW TN rifle has a 41" barrel and the .36 is a 28" barrel.

 

[Gtrubicon]

what do they want for the Dixie? I would jump on that rifle personally

 

[oldwood]

Don't turn down a .40. It can be loaded down w/ less powder and makes a fine squirrel cal.. My favorite for small game.

 

[PotomacRanger]

what do they want for the Dixie? I would jump on that rifle personally

$900 cash price $1200 CC the store owner says its unfired the T/C barrel is only $350 also unfired in original Green Mountain box.

 

[Gtrubicon]

If you can swing it, that Dixie is a great rifle. Have you looked at the Investarm Santa Fe rifle? It’s a 36.

 

[PotomacRanger]

If you can swing it, that Dixie is a great rifle. Have you looked at the Investarm Santa Fe rifle? It’s a 36.

Is it better quality than a Thompson Center ? I was figuring on buying a Hawken Flintlock and just swapping barrels. However the rifle is only $300 more than just the one barrel I am lookin at. Also is there any benefit to that long barrel on the Dixie compared to a short one ? I would think the shorter barrel would be better.

 

[Gtrubicon]

I have TC and Investarm rifles, they are good guns. The TC do have better fit and finish. They all shoot great. I think the barrel length is personal preference. I just finished building my flintlock, it has a 36” barrel and I don’t mind it. All my other ML are 32” and under. For me it’s how the gun fits me.

 

[deerstalkert]

not sure but a Thompson fitted with that green mountain barrel may out weigh the dixie. most of the GM barrels i have are full 15/16th's and are pretty heavy with the tiny hole in them

 

[brushblind]

The Dixie is going to carry better in the woods but that price seems a little high unless there's a lot of accoutrements that goes with it!

 

[1971fx]

CVA .36 Squirrel rifle 24" barrel

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

I like .32’s which I consider the muzzlleloading equivalent of the .22 rimfire. Some people complain that they foul faster or that the small balls are difficult to hold but those things are easily managed with occasional swabbing and a loading block. I had a .36 Cherokee and have a .36 Seneca but I didn’t/don’t use them.

 

[PotomacRanger]

CVA .36 Squirrel rifle 24" barrel

Do they still produce that rifle or is it out of production ?

 

[PotomacRanger]

The Dixie is going to carry better in the woods but that price seems a little high unless there's a lot of accoutrements that goes with it!

What is a good price for a Dixie Rifle like that ? The price is negotiable with the store.

 

[Tradbow]

I’d offer $650. Then I’d walk. Just me but the price is up to you. Don’t let your desire to own one put you in a bind. For $1200 I’d put a couple hundred dollars more with that price and get a SMR .32 from Kibler

 

[1971fx]

Do they still produce that rifle or is it out of production ?

I don't think so. the date on the barrel is 1991

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I have had both a .29 and a .32 They were both very accurate rifles for hunting squirrels. No matter what you use you'll want to hit them in the head or neck, otherwise the waste a lot of meat.

 

[azmntman]

Ket the kibler. You can thank us later

 

[French Colonial]

Dixie gun works Tennessee Mountain rifles in flintlock have two negatives.

One, the frizzens on some of them do not spark very well, this can be fixed if you know how or know someone who knows how.

Two, they are muzzle heavy especially in .32 caliber, to muzzle heavy for me, I would shorten it.

I am not a Thompson Center fan, the DGW TMR is a better looking gun, I would get the Kibler SMR.

 

[Jaeger73]

By no means am a master at muzzleloaders and have mostly shot a 3 band Enfield most of my life. But if you are mechanically inclined, or a wood worker and have a little patience you can get a Kibler SMR and you'll have a fine squirrel gun. It only takes about 2-3 days to put one together. I have 3 32 caliber rifles, 1 percussion and 2 flintlocks and I enjoy shooting them all.

 

[smokepolehall]

$900 cash price $1200 CC the store owner says its unfired the T/C barrel is only $350 also unfired in original Green Mountain box.

Lordy have mercy, for that price you had best run. They sold new around $290 back when they came out. For a touch more you can get a quality kit from Kibler