Small caliber shooting?

[user 49399]

The smallest caliber muzzleloader I have is .45 and I usually shoot at less than 50 yards.

At what distances do you folks typically shoot .32, .36 and .40 caliber muzzleloaders? I’m only interested in these three calibers.

Thanks

 

[Loyalist Dave]

.40 out to 75.

LD

 

[1sgt]

I shoot my .32 out to 50 yds. My .36 I shoot out to 100 yds. with good accuracy. My .40 is also good to out to 100 yds.. Fouling can be a bigger problem in the .32 and .36. I shoot 28 gr. of T7 in the .32 to keep the fouling to a minimum. I use Goex 3f in the other calibers. My .40 and .45 shoots good with 3f black powder, T7 or Pyrodex RS. They all have Green Mountian barrels. I have .50 and .54 calibers and never shoot them. I have peep sights on the .36 and open sights on the .32 and .40.

 

[user 49399]

1sgt, (I haven’t addressed anyone with that title in a long time), do you prefer the peep sighs?

 

[Grimord]

I shoot my .32's out to around 50 yards, my .36's to 75 yards or slightly more.

 

[Sidney Smith]

So far with my .32 Ive only had it to the range once. I stuck with 25 yards. Im going to get a good zero with it at that distance, as it is going to be used mainly for squirrel hunting. That said, I will try some 50 yard shooting with it at some point. I wouldnt mind trying it out on fall turkeys. We are allowed to use rifles for turkeys in the fall.

 

[painter]

I shoot my 36 at 50 yds.

 

[Bob McBride]

.25, .29, .32, .36 all sighted in at 25y but accurate to 50y. The .40 is a 50-75y flat shooter. I love the small stuff. Heaven is shooting old shotgun shells or golf balls off 4x4x8’s at 25y with a RB the size of a green pea.

 

[user 49399]

Does the point of impact change much between 25 and 75 yards for the .40 caliber?

 

[1sgt]

1sgt, (I haven’t addressed anyone with that title in a long time), do you prefer the peep sighs?

Peep sights, if set up correctly, make it easier to see the front sight and target more clearly. I can change the front sight depending on the target. Some matches are any metallic sight and allow peeps. Other matches are open sight only matches. Bench shooting the peeps are preferred. Offhand is harder to hold steady with peeps but still make it easier to see the front sight and target.

 

[rdane]

I’ve killed ground hogs at 100 yds with my 36. One shot and done.

 

[user 49399]

Wow! What was the gun and load?

 

[SDSmlf]

At what distances do you folks typically shoot .32, .36 and .40 caliber muzzleloaders?

I typically sight my 32s in at 25 yards to be an inch high (think chin hold on a squirrel) using 12 grains of 3F Swiss under a patched 1-1/2 buck. Find this load about an inch low at 50 yards.

 

[theDuck]

I use my .32's for 25 yard matches though I did have to use one out to 100 yards for a couple of days at one match due to my usual .50 being out of commission. The .32 worked at that distance as in it wasn't random all over the target but it didn't win anything either.

 

[Crow-Feather]

I gave up on the 32's that I owned, but my wife shoots a 36 and I have a 40. It's hard to hear a 36 hit metal up close due to the speed and weight of the ball. The 40 is the minimum that I will shoot. Accurate, powerful enough to drop a small deer, and it comes in a nice looking package.

 

[Kansas Kid]

I shoot 36 and 40 out to 100 yards at monthly matches and win my fair share. Only use 25-35 gr of 3f. Haven’t really shot my 32 much past 50 yards. This is paper targets so not concerned about ringing steel, just 10 ring and tight groups is where it’s at. The 36 and 40 will do fine.

 

[swamperkk]

I’ve killed ground hogs at 100 yds with my 36. One shot and done.

i've been looking for a 36 cal a long time,,cannot find them at all

 

[mooman76]

I generally shot 25 or 50 but could probably shoot farther, just haven't had the need. I don't have a 40 though.

 

[Bassdog1]

32s and 36s 50 yards and under but most hunting is done 30 yards or less.

 

[troy2000]

i've been looking for a 36 cal a long time,,cannot find them at all

Jim Kibler at kiblerlongrifles.com sells a southern mountain flintlock kit in .32, .36, .40 and .45 calibers, if you're willing to put a little time into building your own. If his kits were any easier to put together, they'd hop out of the crate and assemble themselves...