32 cal round ball load

[ike]

Will a 15 grain BP load give a .319 round ball enough killing power for squirrels and rabbits. I can group this load in one inch at 25 yds. I have searched forums for 32 cal loads but did not find what I needed. I would appreciate your advise on powder loads to clean kills small game. Thanks.

 

[SDSmlf]

Will a 15 grain BP load give a .319 round ball enough killing power for squirrels and rabbits. I can group this load in one inch at 25 yds. I have searched forums for 32 cal loads but did not find what I needed. I would appreciate your advise on powder loads to clean kills small game. Thanks.

I believe a .319” roundball would be a bit too large for my .32 caliber muzzleloaders, but if it loads and is accurate in yours, nothing to change.

I typically sight my 32s in at 25 yards to be an inch high (think chin hold on a squirrel) using 12 to 15 grains of 4F or 3F Swiss under a patched 1-1/2 buck. Find this load about an inch low at 50 yards. Plenty for well placed shots on small game.

 

[deerstalkert]

i'd use it all day long. i load 15g for grouse and the refer is full.

 

[Bassdog1]

I load my Seneca down to 10 grains and would have no problem killing a squirrel with it. 15 grains is as heavy a charge that I load in it or my Cherokee. I do think that .319 ball may be tight but try it with some .010 or .005 patching and it might work.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I would think a 0.310" ball would be easier to load in the squirrel woods than a very tight fitting 0.319" ball. Typo maybe?

You will be taking more than one shot, hopefully, at those tree rats and the fouling buildup after a couple of shots would make it nearly impossible to load a 0.319" ball, even with no patching.

 

[hanshi]

I generally load 20 grains in my .32. I use a .311" ball and a .024" patch lubed with Hoppes. This load is accurate to at least 25 yards. I have yet to test some shots in the 10 grns to 15 grns range. Anywhere from 20 grns to 30 grns has always done the trick on squirrels as well as being very accurate.

 

[Bassdog1]

My 10-15 grain loads are shot through a 1 in 30 twist TC barrel so may need to up your charge a bit.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I had a chance to test my old 32 load with a chronograph. My .319 ball and 20 grs. 3F Goex was doing a little over 1800 fps. No wonder it blew up rabbits if I didn't head shoot them!

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My load in my .32 calibre: .311 calibre RB, 32 grains fffg, blue pillow ticking patch, moose milk lube.

Gun sighted in at 50 yrds.

 

[ike]

Thanks for your help. Went to the range yesterday. Tried 311 RB with a thicker patch. No grouping The 319 RG with .011 patch groups nice and is not hard to load. the barrel has shallow rifling so need a tight fit. It is not hard to push the load down. I get about a one inch group at 25 yds. but at 50 yds I could not be sure of hitting. Still good at 35 yds. Squirrels be ware. Ike