.32 vs .36

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Just wondering what y'all think...
Which would be THE BEST small game rifle a .32 or a .36?
( SQUIRRELS, RABBITS AND Woodchucks )
What do you think and why? all pros and con....
or....would a .45 even be better yet????
all replies appreceiated...

*** WEST VIRGINIA SCROUNGER ***

 

[boar]

I say 32.cal 45 tears squirrel leg off.If you use a 36. use a light load like 25 or 30 grs.3fff I started with 54. on groundhogs the went to 45. then to 36. now use 32. the ball usely dont go alway through. They get lot of shock from bullet. I use 54. for deer and 32. for small game. Little bit powder, little bit lead, shots far kills dead Dilly

 

I prefer the 36 and own two of them. One flint and one cap lock. I've had 3 or 4 32's over the years and sold or traded them all. Obviously the 36 will win out in retained energy at any distance and that may well be why I prefer it. Also, locally, 36 cal. stuff is available but you have to order almost everything for a 32. Of course, once you have the "stuff" you have it. The 36 is so close to being just as economical as a 32 that the point is really moot.

At close ranges the 36 will settle any coyotes hash but I suppose given proper shot placement so will a 32. I've shot yodel dogs with a 36 but never a 32. For your stated use either would be perfectly adequate.

For squirrels and rabbits head shots are pretty much a must for either caliber as both are quite destructive on body shots. I've shot a few rabbits and squirrels in the body with both calibers and didn't like the mess they made. Everything was something of a pain to clean with 1/3 to 1/2 of the chest cavity or abdomen turned into fine red mist. Now it's head shots only.

Mostly I just prefer the 36. Same as I prefer 45 Colt in my Freedom Arms to a 44 Mag. in anything else. Ain't nuthin' wrong with any of 'em!

Vic

 

[BrownBear]

I've got both, and the size of the hole isn't near as important to me as the handling and accuracy of the whole getup. If a gun is easier to hit with, the .04 inch difference in bore diameter isn't going to be that noticeable. If you mess up and land one in the wrong place, then the bigger the better. I whacked a fox in the lungs with the 32, and it didn't seem to suffer in comparison to a similar shot with my 54 and reduced loads last year.

Of all the smallbores I've shot, the Crocket is the easiest for me to shoot well. Still looking for just the right 36, but that's part of the fun. When it comes along that doesn't mean I will shoot the 32 any less or have any less confidence in it as a small game gun.

 

[Stumpkiller]

It doesn't seem like much difference in hole size, but the 65 gr ball of the .36 is 40% heavier than the 45 gr ball of the .32 That makes a difference at the longer ranges. And 75 yards can be long range for a .32

In the past I had a Dixie Tennessee .32 and a T/C Seneca .36, but not at the same time so I couldn't compare them side-by-side. If someone were to hold each up and say "take one back" I'd grab the .32. It's just a fun little caliber to use. I did pop some woodchucks that made it into the burrow, but that was more likely shot placement problems. The fellow I used to hunt with and I always tried for the longest possible shot (so we could laugh at the other guy, mostly). The .36 with maxi-balls ( :redface: I was young and niave) was effective about three times farther out; though it did have better sights.

For squirrel and bunny the .32 is the ultimate. Currently I'm using light loads in a .54 and that means I either wait to be presented a head shot or destroy a lot of meat.

 

[irishjim]

I've got a Green Mountain drop in .32 for a TC Hawkin. I use it for squirrel, rabbit, groundhog, and even killed a turkey with it once. I've always kept shots under 50 yards the ball doesn't carry much impact beyond that distance. A little difficult to load initially but once you get use to it it is a snap. Really fun to shoot.

 

[vinnynj]

i oned a crocket 32 grate gun cheep on ball and powder and no recoil a truly fun gun but it was a cap gun and i really love flint so it is gone now just ordered my new 36 filnter 37 in strait 3/4 rayl bbl 1-60 twist manton lock singel set triger mounted in iorn left in french gray think this should tip the scale at maby 6# now if i can just learn to shoot the rats will be in trouble

 

[spaethjm]

Were can you find a .36 cal I can't find any resonablly priced

 

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Hey Odin.....I am lookin at the Mowrey .36 squirrel rifle......just type union creek muzzleloader in yer searchbar...$340......aint too bad for a non-typical .36

 

[vinnynj]

odin cabela hav blue ridge 32-36 cal rat guns flint and cap think around 400

 

[wilded]

$459.00

 

One of my 36's is an Ethan Allen Mowery. I got the Iron mounted one. Superbly accurate, simple and obviously not in the mold of full or half stock longrifles. I would recommend one.

Vic

 

[[email protected]]

Yes....I like the Mowrey. I have emailed UNION CREEK who sells them and he has not answered in 3 days....HMMMMM.
Where did you purchase your Mowrey?

**** WEST VIRGINIA SCROUNGER ****

 

[RussB]

I was just reading that the majority of rifles made by the Gunsmiths of the "Mississippi Valley" during the fur trade era, were of .36 caliber, or "90 to the pound".

It seems the accuracy of these small bore rifles was all that was needed to fill the larders of both small game, and deer, with an occasional fowl thrown in.
Accuracy, ease of shooting, and economy is said to have been all great selling points.

It also appears these rifles were great trading material to the Indians... when that person left Mississippi, headed for the Mountains of the Fur Trade, and even later to the Gold Rush.
One of the biggest reasons for it's appeal is thought to have been the many embellishments often found on these old rifles of that era.

Apparently the Indians viewed the small rifle as a light, well balanced, and economic means to harvest game while keeping the white man at bay.

Russ

 

WV....I bought mine after Mowrey either moved or sold out to that outfit in Indiana and I can't remember the name of the outfit. I believe at the time it was still called Mowrey Gun Works but I distinctly remember the return address NOT being Mowrey and it was in Indiana. I've had the rifle 8-10 years and I've slept since then. Sorry I can't give you any more info.

There is one thing that takes a bit of getting used to with any of the Mowreys, or it did for me. They all have considerable drop at the wrist.

 

I really like my .32 for small game, but since you threw in groundhogs, I'd go with the .36. The .32 will kill a groundhog, but the .36 will be more effective at longer ranges. I don't presently have a .36, but my first ML rifle was a .36 underhammer that would shoot bullseyes at 100 yds. I even worked up a heavy load with some homemade conicals for it. Still shot great. My current .32 squirrel rifle is a Tenn style longrifle and a roundball shooter and with about 12 grs is equal to a .22 squirrel rifle; with 24 grs (fffg) is equal to a .22 magnum for larger small game. The little +/-40 gr ball does its job at reasonable ranges and I would not hesitate to shoot a groundhog at 50 yds with it even with the lighter load (I have made clean one shot kills on animals up to 50 lbs with the lowly .22LR at 50 yds).

 

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wow....alot to consider....still can't make my mind up...
on which rifle to purchase....
style,looks,performance, availibility and last but not
least " PRICE". I lean toward the MOWREY because it is an oddity and shy away from an underhammer because it is
"so different" or should I say "weird?". I also lean toward a half stock cuz it will swing up quicker than a fullstock,although I love fullstock rifles..
The crockett is more afordable than a Mowrey, but they are out of stock at the present time....unless I want to pay $50 more at CAINS Muzzloader in WEST VIRGINIA (MY HOME STATE).
All in all I guess this descision is hard to make because it will be my first small bore. I seem to sense that I will have to have " more than just one"....
" kaint never have enough" and "What my wife dont find out
wont hurt me"....concerning my rifle collection that is..
This thread is sure getting some GREAT INPUT!!!
AND it is much appreceiated!!!....but I am still undecided.
I am getting the feeling that most shooters have more than just one smallbore....CORRECT??

**** WEST VIRGINIA SCROUNGER ***

 

[Rebel]

Hers another option for ya to dwell on. Why not get a .20 ga. smoothbore? Then you can hunt small stuff with shot, and load it with a ball for large stuff. Decisions, decisions. ::

 

[RussB]

Hers another option for ya to dwell on. Why not get a .20 ga. smoothbore? Then you can hunt small stuff with shot, and load it with a ball for large stuff. Decisions, decisions. ::

Or a .66cal, 16bore, then ya can give yerself a blackeye with yore own thumb! :crackup:

Just kidding, (but not about the blackeye) I have always "yearned' for one of them little fellers. I think a .36 in squirrel Country would just be "hog heaven" to this old boy. The whole concept of Squirrel Hunting is a marvelous thing, seemingly designed for old farts such as myself.
I'm told that time spent hunting squirrels with a .36 don't count against a mans longevity...something we should all do a bit more of.

Russ

 

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Rebel...allready got that aspect covered...when I feel like scattergunning I use a 12 ga. double frontstuffer....it does really good with slugs too......nope....I am in the mood fer a little small bore,,,will be my first one.
RUSS B....I THINK i will go with a .36 too!
*** HOG HEAVEN ***.....a .36 will thump those ground hogs quite a bit harder and I can reach out and touch em farther too!
I REALLY think I a gonna call Indiana today and inquire 'bout a .36 Mowrey even though they are $25 more than at Union Creek. They only charge $12 shipping and the shipping from Union Creek ( washington state) to WEST VIRGINA is bound to bee a hole lot more. So I will probably pay less in the long run...
I think I will make that call before the MISSUS comes home from work jest to be on the safe side....
**WV SCROUNGER **