.32 sighting in

[Mike Spaulding]

Hi all,

New here, and new to muzzleloading! I just bought a .32 crockett rifle and am getting ready to sight in this weekend (very excited)! I'm trying to figure out what range to zero the rifle at. I'm going to be hunting squirrels and rabbits with it if that helps. I'm guessing 50 yards, but would like to hear what you all sight in for with a .32. Thanks all!
-Mike

 

[BrownBear]

It depends on "how low you go." I've kept cutting back on my charges, in order to cut back on meat damage. I'm down to 15 grains of 3f now. I originally sighted in at 50 yards with 25 grains of 3f, which put me slightly high at 25 yards. I'm inclined now to re-sight at 35 yards with the new load. Plenty high at 50 I'm betting while a little closer to POI inside 35 where most of the shooting happens.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I sight mine in at 25 yards. I found that I can hit anything like grouse or rabbits in a comfortable range that way. (I don't use a range, I just shoot in the field.)
I use 20 grs. FFFg, mink oil, .010 patch and a .315 ball.
Have fun, they are a hoot! :thumbsup:

 

[Mike Spaulding]

That makes a lot of sense.. I was actually considering 25 yards as well just because that's probably a much more common range on small game for me.. 35 would split the difference nicely. thanks for the advice!

 

[biliff]

I'm in the 25 yd camp. Puts me an inch low at 50 should the need arise.

 

[vern faulkner]

I sighted mine in at 35 yards (my .36cal at 50 yards). Use 17grs. of fff with .315 ball and .010 spit patch. One damp patch and two dry patches between shots. I ain't never in a hurry, besides, the rats and bunny's don't shoot back. It's been working just fine for me for many years on tree rats and bunnies. When you get her sighted in, get out there and have the time of your life. Let us know how you make out.

Vern

 

[Mike Spaulding]

I can't believe all the quick responses! This forum is awesome! thanks to all of you, I'm glad I asked!

-Mike

 

[BrownBear]

I see you're from NY, and I've heard reports that it can get cold there.... :wink:

If you're wearing gloves or not, handling those little tiny balls and patches is a booger in the field. Do yourself a favor and buy or build a loading block or two. If you decide to build your own (dirt easy), there's a handy chart of drill bit sizes here on the site.

First time you spray half a dozen balls into the snow or tall grass while loading, you'll be coming back to this bit of advice! :rotf:

 

[jsn]

Loading blocks are verry useful. I made one for my .40 works great!

 

[Trench]

I sighted my .36 at 25 yards. I'm slightly low at 50yds. I've only ever taken a shot longer than 20 yards squirrel hunting once and that was a raccoon at between 40-50 yards.

 

[John Wasmuth]

I'd sight it in at the average yards that you will be shooting at, maybe start with 20 or 25 grains of FFg, a .310 hornady ball and a .010 lubed patch and see how it does. If the FFg doesnt work for you, works great in mine, try the FFFg. But above all, have fun with it! :thumbsup:

 

[shmrck1]

Mike,
Myself,personally zero my .32 & .36 at 30yds.
They are both used on squirrels only.I prefer
the .32,but take the .36 maybe a 1/4 of the time
so it don't get lonely and mad at me. :hmm:

 

[Mike Spaulding]

Thank you all! We had a pretty good snow storm up here this week and my new crockett got diverted to syracuse and won't get here until Monday now! Gives me time to think about what you have all said.. just pains me to think my new baby is sitting in some cold warehouse all weekend! :wink:

 

[rawhide]

hi I got the same gun. your goning to love it when you get it! I haven't hunted with mine yet, but I won 3 squil gun championships with it. shoots realy well. my load is 15 of goex or 777 FFFg a .012 cotten patch lubed with olive oil, and a cast .311 ball I get sub moa off the bench at 25 yards off hand on a good day (no wiggling) I shoot groups the size of a quarter.

 

[buford87]

I have a Pedersoli cub rifle in .32 with a 15 grain load I sight in at 25 yards . Don't think I would be able to see a tree rat so well at 50. Anyway it will force me to concentrate on hunting and not just shooting. Thinking of dropping down to a 10 grain load to see how that shoots..............watch yer top knot.............

 

[BrownBear]

Two mods are worth passing along for turning the Crockett into a fer sure hunting rifle.

It turns out that the balance point is in just the "wrong" spot in relation to the rear sight and the barrel wedge. Both have sharp edges that will cut the dickens out of you in one-hand field carry.

The solution is easy. Is a file to slightly round and smooth the end of the barrel wedge and to knock the sharp corners off the rear sight. Touch-up blue the filed spots on both and no one will ever notice. But you will!

 

[hoochiepapa]

Don't fret, Mike, you can warm her up good when she arrives! From inside the barrel out.

 

[hanshi]

IMHO the thing to do is to find the most accurate - a squirrel head is tiny - load and go with that even if it gives more speed than you really need. The most accurate load in my Crockett is 30grns of 3f, .311 ball and .015 patch lubed with Hoppes. I've been lead to understand velocity is in the 1600fps to 1700 fps range. To be honest 20grns shoots well enough that I generally can't tell much difference. Unlike a lot of shooters I have not found 30grns to be any more destructive than .22LR hollow points on body shots. I sight in at 25 yards and that holds up well to nearly 50yds.

The Crockett is a fine little rifle for an OTC gun. I just wish it had come in flint persuasion.

 

[hoochiepapa]

That's the great thing about these smallbores-You can load them up and hardly notice a difference when you shoot.
I'm trying to get this toe plate inletted (ready to drill the screw holes), and when done, I'm going to reward myself to some huntin' and maybe load up to 40 grs. for coyote. :grin:

 

[ffnh243]

Ive got 3 loads for mine. all use a .310 ball and .015 borebuttered patch. they all hit the same POI at 25 yards.
1) 15 grains 3F for squirrels and rabbits at 5-30 yards.
2) 20 grains 3F for same as above on very windy days.
3)32 grains 3F for anything with fur out to 50 yards POI for this load is within an inch of 25 yard zero from 5-50 yards and puts meat hogs in the freezer.

a little side info.
I replaced the factory rear sight with a tall full buckhorn from TOW. lining the post with the top of the horns on a calm windless day puts that little ball dead on at 125 and it still has enough whomp to knock over a bowling pin