I finished a .32 Crockett kit but Tradition this passed winter,and took it to the range this passed weekend. A few things came up that I need some input on. It has the worst sights I've ever seen. My eye are getting old and I need more adjustable and better viewing sights. I'm guessing they're metric. I was shooting 20 grains of 2F at 35 yard, hard to tell if this is a good load do to me not making friends with the sights. One last thing I'm using a ramrod with 8-32 threaded rod ends. I'm having a hard time cleaning the barrel. My patches keep sticking. This gun seems to be hard to load after a few shots, and needs to be cleaned. Is there a better way to range clean a small barrel gun ? All are other guns are .45 or .50 and we don't have this bad of fouling.
.32 Crockett
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I don't have a Crockett (yet, anyhow!) but do have a Traditions Deerhunter in 32 caliber. I have Williams "fire sights" on mine. The fiber optic sights, while maybe not "traditional looking", sure help my eyes with the sights.
I have found my 32 barrel, while a lot shorter than the Crockett barrel, doesn't foul that bad. I'm using Goex FFFg, 20 grains, and run a patch damp with rubbing alcohol down the barrel between each shot, and the next round loads easy.
I have found my 32 barrel, while a lot shorter than the Crockett barrel, doesn't foul that bad. I'm using Goex FFFg, 20 grains, and run a patch damp with rubbing alcohol down the barrel between each shot, and the next round loads easy.
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The patch sticking is chronic with the Crockett because there's a gap between the back of the barrel and the face of the breech plug. Just loves to grab standard small 32 caliber cleaning patches. The solution is fortunately easy: Use a bigger patch. If your patch is too small/short and the edge gets out into that gap, you're screwed/blued/tattooed in worst cases as it jams up tight and you just about have to dissolve the patch to break it free. Also helps to give a little clockwise twist to the cleaning rod just as you start to withdraw the patch/jag, both to make sure the jag is still tight to the rod, but also to help tighten the patch around the jag so it pulls free easier.
Fun little guns, but a little warty without some tuning such as that. Here's some more:
The barrel key rides right in your hand while carrying. Meanwhile the key is a little long and the sharp corners just love to dig flesh. Round the corners on the key and even shorten it slightly if necessary, and your hand will be lots happier.
You're right about the sights, and the fix will vary with individual eyes. For my eyes the fix was simple. I just used a point file to open the gap in the rear sight about 25%.
The lock on my Crockett and those of both my neighbors who own them proved a little tender, eventually starting to eat mainsprings. We did 14 extra laps around the email course with Traditions back them (a few years ago) trying to get fixes and never could get them to respond. We finally learned that they never looked at their email or some such excuse, but I understand they're better now. Back then the only solution for dealing with them was to pick up the phone. If you have any trouble at all, I'd still call first before expecting them to answer an email.
Fun little guns, but a little warty without some tuning such as that. Here's some more:
The barrel key rides right in your hand while carrying. Meanwhile the key is a little long and the sharp corners just love to dig flesh. Round the corners on the key and even shorten it slightly if necessary, and your hand will be lots happier.
You're right about the sights, and the fix will vary with individual eyes. For my eyes the fix was simple. I just used a point file to open the gap in the rear sight about 25%.
The lock on my Crockett and those of both my neighbors who own them proved a little tender, eventually starting to eat mainsprings. We did 14 extra laps around the email course with Traditions back them (a few years ago) trying to get fixes and never could get them to respond. We finally learned that they never looked at their email or some such excuse, but I understand they're better now. Back then the only solution for dealing with them was to pick up the phone. If you have any trouble at all, I'd still call first before expecting them to answer an email.
Billnpatti
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I don't own a Crockett but I have owned a couple of .32 and .36 caliber rifles. I have found that both of those small caliber rifles have a problem with fouling. It seems to just be a characteristic of small bore rifles. My solution was to wipe my bore after every shot. I kept a small jar of moist patches to wipe the bore with. I moistened them with a mix of 1 part Ballistol and 10 parts water. You could use something like windshield washer fluid if you don't have Ballistol. The patch should be just moist, not wet. Run it down the bore once, flip it over and run it down again. Then you are ready to reload.
As far as sights, there are several replacements that you could use. I think the best choice would be one of the peep sights. An alternative is to use a device such as the Merit Device. They are great at clearing up your sight picture but can be a pain in the butt to get properly located on your shooting glasses. I have one and it is great at the range but not worth a crap for hunting. I think the ideal sights for you would be a fiber optic front sight and a peep rear sight. That would a hard to beat combination. Those tang peep sights can be a bit costly but they are mighty fine sights.
As far as sights, there are several replacements that you could use. I think the best choice would be one of the peep sights. An alternative is to use a device such as the Merit Device. They are great at clearing up your sight picture but can be a pain in the butt to get properly located on your shooting glasses. I have one and it is great at the range but not worth a crap for hunting. I think the ideal sights for you would be a fiber optic front sight and a peep rear sight. That would a hard to beat combination. Those tang peep sights can be a bit costly but they are mighty fine sights.
My daughter has an Allen tang sight on her T/C Hawken that I really like, but the Crocketts tang is past of the barrel. So I'm not sure if I want to stick it under water when I clean the barrel after shooting. Dose anyone know the size of the dovetails on the Crockett?
Have you tried using some low power reading glasses when your shooting your rifle?
For many, buying and using some low cost reading glasses at their local drug store has greatly improved their shooting scores.
As you know, you need to see the sights clearly but many think you also need to see the target clearly at the same time.
This is an old wives tale and anyone who has done any target shooting with open sight firearms know it. It is impossible for the human eye to focus on two things that are a far distance apart, at the same time.
Knowing this, focusing on the sights becomes the thing that is most important. They tell you where the gun is pointed.
Focusing on the target only says it is there and you can see it clearly.
For many, buying and using some low cost reading glasses at their local drug store has greatly improved their shooting scores.
As you know, you need to see the sights clearly but many think you also need to see the target clearly at the same time.
This is an old wives tale and anyone who has done any target shooting with open sight firearms know it. It is impossible for the human eye to focus on two things that are a far distance apart, at the same time.
Knowing this, focusing on the sights becomes the thing that is most important. They tell you where the gun is pointed.
Focusing on the target only says it is there and you can see it clearly.
I agree that a peep is fantastic, especially for target shooting. However I took the rear peep off my Williams sight on my 32 rifle because on a moving target like a squirrel, I couldn't track the moving target well through the peep. I replaced the peep with a fiber optic rear dots .. which allows me to keep tracking a moving target much better.
Micah Clark
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I had a Crockett for several years . . . my first ML rifle in fact . . . that was a mistake. It's a miracle I am still shooting.
The gun had great aesthetics . . . fit, finish and feel. . and many other great features. I liked it quite a bit for a while.
But there was a troll in the barrel that grabbed patches and jags and drove me nuts. Getting the rod out at times was a total bear.
I also could not get it ever to group well enough for squirrel hunting and finally sold it to buy a custom 32 from TVM.
That was disappointing because the Crocket has a great reputation for accuracy. I tried everything with very little luck . . . but it was a unique rifle that is loved by many . . . I bought mine used, so I may have gotten a lemon or my inexperience prohibited my ability to shoot well with it.
The gun had great aesthetics . . . fit, finish and feel. . and many other great features. I liked it quite a bit for a while.
But there was a troll in the barrel that grabbed patches and jags and drove me nuts. Getting the rod out at times was a total bear.
I also could not get it ever to group well enough for squirrel hunting and finally sold it to buy a custom 32 from TVM.
That was disappointing because the Crocket has a great reputation for accuracy. I tried everything with very little luck . . . but it was a unique rifle that is loved by many . . . I bought mine used, so I may have gotten a lemon or my inexperience prohibited my ability to shoot well with it.
hanshi
Cannon
I had a Crockett for many years and collected squirrels with it. The accuracy was phenomenal with 3/4" 5 shot groups at 45 yards. I finally sold it to get another rifle I had my eye on; I think I made a mistake.
Mine came with a wood underbarrel rod that went with the rifle when I sold it. The sights were decent fixed steel sights in dovetails. I never had any problems with that nice rifle. And unlike some report, I could shoot for hours without having to wipe the bore; I lubed with Hoppes BP lube or DGW Black Solve. It was easy to clean with plain water. The most accurate load was 30 grains of 3F and a .311" ball; 20 grains actually did as well. I never had stuck patches, either.
Maybe some corners were cut it recent productions; I don't know. But the one I had was excellent.
Mine came with a wood underbarrel rod that went with the rifle when I sold it. The sights were decent fixed steel sights in dovetails. I never had any problems with that nice rifle. And unlike some report, I could shoot for hours without having to wipe the bore; I lubed with Hoppes BP lube or DGW Black Solve. It was easy to clean with plain water. The most accurate load was 30 grains of 3F and a .311" ball; 20 grains actually did as well. I never had stuck patches, either.
Maybe some corners were cut it recent productions; I don't know. But the one I had was excellent.
I have several .32's, and love them all. I generally use 3f in these guns not the 2f that the OP cited. 20-30 grains has given me quarter sized groups with these guns out to 35 yards or so, which is good for squirrels in my neck of the woods. I generally swab with an alcohol patch after the third shot. With the Crockett, I would suggest using a slotted patch puller to clean your bore of .30 caliber size. This would keep the patch from getting stuck. You don't want to push the fouling into the breech area, you want to pull it out. By using a slightly smaller caliber jag or slotted patch holder, the cleaning patch bunches up on the withdrawal stroke and pulls out the fouling, but goes down easy and doesn't push the fouling into the breech area.
hanshi
Cannon
Here is a photo I found on my computer of a 5 shot group fired at 36 yards with the Crockett; I can't find any of the other pics. Counting the flyer (my fault) it measures 1-1/16". The other 4 shots group into only 5/16". That little .32 was phenomenal.
Billnpatti
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savagedan said:
The peep sight mounts on the tang and is not removed with the barrel when the barrel is cleaned. There is a cheap way to make a tang sight and that is to have your tang drilled and tapped by a gunsmith. The hole has to be drilled so that the sight sits straight up and down. For the sight, you get a thumb screw like this from your local hardware store. https://www.fastenersuperstore.com/products/330275/thumb-screws?pid=17443
and drill a 1/16 or smaller hole in it. Take it to the gunsmith so he will know what threads to put in the hole that he drills for you. You can then adjust for elevation simply by screwing the sight up and down in the hole. It has been done by many folks and it works.
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With the thumbscrew type of peep sight or lollipop sight, you want the finest thread you can get. The 6-32 thread is okay. Adjustment of elevation is half or full turn. Windage is done by moving the front sight or drilling a new hole in the thumbscrew. However if the rear hole is moved from the center of the barrel, then adjustment is full turn only. However the thumbscrews are cheap so quite a bit of experimentation can be done.
