32 caliber T/C Cherokees?

[Skychief]

I may have an opportunity to own one of these. Earlier one with double set triggers.

If you've owned one, please tell me about it. Loads, accuracy, etc.

Anybody know the going rate for 32 caliber Cherokees? :hmm:

Thanks much, Skychief

 

[bubba.50]

they go for far more than they're worth 'cause there ain't many of them around. commonly see them anywhere from 5 or 6 hundred to close to a thou.

 

[curator]

I have had a .32 Cherokee since the late 80s. I don't shoot it a lot but it does get a work out about 2 or 3 times a year. Often this is with Boy Scouts or youth hunter training classes. Nonetheless, the little Cherokee is a fine rifle. It took a while for me to get the hang of shooting it accurately. Apparently the samller calibers are really fussy about the quality of the projectile and patch. Ultimately, I got a Lee .310 round ball mould and began to cast my own. Accuracy improved dramatically over store bought balls and #O buckshot. A load of 20 to 25 grains of FFFg Goex, the .310 round ball and a .016" pillow ticking patch is the best load for mine. Wiping the bore between shots with a slightly damp patch is also required for consistent accuracy. How accurate? 50 foot head shots on grey squirrels, no problem. Clay pigeons or soda cans at 50 yards somewhat more difficult. Forget it if you have a strong cross wind. Those 50 grain round balls do not buck wind very well. In all, the Cherokee is a super-nice rifle (I have a .36 and a.45 too) But the .32 caliber is kind of limited to small game or 25 yard targets. I hope to pass it on to one of my grandsons if they develop the interest.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Been a few years since I was stupid enough to let mine go...now they usually come with a $600 price tag, when you can find one for sale. They are fun little guns and their faster twist stabilizes RB at normal powder level ranges. Used GOEX exclusively and the small 10 grain load will give you 700 shots per pound. Those are surprisingly accurate...in fact 10 through 40 grains did well with 30 being it's favorite accuracy wise. A 50 grain charge worked but accuracy fell off above 40.

Did try a few of those little 103 grain T/C Maxis with up to 40 grains, with 30-40 grains being virtually identical. The Maxis would bring the .32 up to 'yote and javelina level, but the RB over 30 grains seemed to do the trick when required with it's accuracy. That little 10 grain load with patched ball was about like a .22 LR I suppose and I probably filled a pickup bed with hassenpfeffer makings over several years! :wink: :haha:

 

[Cpl. Ashencheeks]

I think I read somewhere that the rate of twist on this rifle was supposed to be pretty close to the ideal rate for that caliber.

One of Sam Fadala's books has the twist listed at 1" in 30", where most accurate load for RB was about 20g of 3f, but it could run 103gr maxis with more powder at about 40g 3f optimum for turkey hunting.

50 grain powder loads overall and plinking or small game loads with maxis were not recommended.

It seems like a pretty neat little rifle and if I could have found one at an affordable price I would have jumped on it.

Still, I am pretty pleased with my .32 Deerhunter which was much more agreeable to my wallet.

If it's a good price jump on it.

 

[Don Steele]

Great little rifles.
$600.00 is about the current neighborhood for one in nice shape.
They are lightweight,short barrel, not "longrifles"...and that shows up when shooting them offhand. The have a pretty short L.O.P. so some folks find them easier to shoot well with some sort of slip-on device on the buttstock to give them a little longer reach. They also have the typical crappy T/C iron sights...easy enough to replace.
All that said, once you get one setup to suit you...they shoot GREAT within the limitations of the 32 caliber round.

 

[don hepler]

I found one a couple years ago, but the bore was in pretty sad shape. But, because they are so hard to come by, I bought it anyway. I have less than $300. in mine but traded a TC Hawken and some cash.

I was just about to give up on it, and have it rebored to .36, when I discovered that Black MZ powder leaves very little fouling. That helped the situation and now it shoots as good as my .36 Seneca, which has a perfect bore.

I may wind up refinishing the entire gun. The stock is pretty dinged up and the bluing is fair but could use a redo. But the good news is, that it is a terrific little gun and I'm going to hold on to it.

I shoot 15 grains, packed tight, with a round ball. I limit it to 25-30 yards. The wind can play havoc on a round ball.

The Black MZ powder is accurate, very little fouling, and very easy to clean.

 

[dave61965]

I was lucky enough to pick one up at a gun show about a year ago for 280$ off a dealer table, but I purchased four guns in a package deal from an estate he was clearing out, 1:30 twist, .310 ball,wonder wad over 10 grains of 3f goex will cloverleaf all day long with a wipe now and then, it's a sweet handy little rifle, my part of Texas is not a popular area for black powder so I run across some deals now and then, given the price of a new traditions Crockett .32 is 469$ at midway 500$ and under would be within reason if it's in good shape, they are scarce and probably only go up in value, my 2¢.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Those small bores do have a 1:30 twist which seems very fast for larger bores but has worked well in the .32 and .36 calibers. T/C felt it a compromise but it was a good one for them and the rest of the shooting world. As mentioned, both small calibers are subject to cross winds but that's not too limiting a factor.. They are fun to shoot and that small 10 grain 'plinking' load will work where any .22 LR will.

 

[snubnose57]

20 grains of 3F in mine has given many a squirrel a headache. bought mine in the early 80s.

 

[nessmuk]

The Cherokee was also sold as a set with two barrels one for small game and one for deer with barrels in 32 & 45.

Before you buy the gun you should pull the lock and check for a crack near the lock bolt and through the wrist area under the lock area. The stock was too thin for the stout loads used for deer with the 45 barrel and many are cracked.

This is not a deal breaker for the 32 with light loads but it could effect the price paid.

 

[Skychief]

Thanks for all the replies.

A Cherokee followed me home from an auction today. Nicely figured walnut, a great bore with only a few safe dings. This one didn't see the field much if at all. :thumbsup:

A second one sold as well. It had planned wood and had been drilled and tapped for scope use. And boy, was it drilled DEEP :shocked2: . It sold for ten dollars less than the one I bought minutes before. :youcrazy:

I stripped it down once home and gave it a good cleaning. The only wart I found is the clean out screw is a bit buggered up. Anybody know what screw (dimension/threads) Thompson/Center used on these? I plan to replace it.

Life is good, Skychief

 

[Wes/Tex]

DGW has a lot of T/C parts and with the lock parts makes the comment "Standard for all T/C rifles except for their in-lines". They or TOTW would probably be good places to start.

 

[bubba.50]

dress up the slot on that highly mis-named "clean-out screw" to get it the best lookin' shape you can then FORGET IT'S THERE.

but if you ABSOLUTELY MUST mess with it I believe they are 8x32

 

[Skychief]

I'm with you bubba. I don't mess with them either.

Wes/Tex, thanks for the DGW and TOTW ideas :thumbsup:

Skychief.

 

[mooman76]

I take them out when I clean. Not every time but occasionally when I remove the nipple. That way I can clean and oil it to keep it easy to remove. All mine come out except one that I bought used. I probably will tackle it some day just because it bugs me but it isn't necessary.

 

[Skychief]

:thumbsup: Mooman.

I find it a crying shame that an American company can no longer mass produce guns like these and turn a profit. Back "then", these quality, reliable guns could fit many budgets and provide a lifetime or two of shooting with good care.

These young guys don't have near the options for entering this endeavor as those of us, a little longer in the tooth had back "then".

Yeah, it's a shame.

Skychief.

 

[Prairieofthedog]

Plus 1 on the bolster screw.If they are buggered,I clean them up and fill the screw slot with JB Weld,so nobody down the line gets the bright idea to fart with it LOL!!

 

[mooman76]

They can make them and turn a profit. If they can make a 50 and turn a profit, they can make other(smaller) calibers, they just choose not to. Hopefully some day they do it again.

 

[don hepler]

I think most of the so-called clean out holes were actually used in the machining process, to drill the channel going from the nipple hole, into the bore or chamber. Later models did not have that hole, at all, instead....the hole was drilled from the opposite side and then welded closed. So many were rounded off and returned to TC, that that got tired of doing repairs and settled on the later version.

Seeing, as many never had it, I would be more inclined to leave it alone. You might get lucky, but then again, it could turn bad.

Mine is the later model, with no visible screw. It can be seen where it was welded, but not when the barrel is in the stock.