I'm looking at acquiring a smaller cal. flinter for bunnies, squirrels, plinking, targets,etc. I have, and use, .50s and .54s for big game and I didn't have much luck keeping a .32 shooting well after 3-4 shots. (I don't like cleaning guns that often). So. . . trying to decide between good, readily available, affordable, .36 or .40. Any good information about the pro/cons of each?
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
.36 or .40 ?
- Thread starter greysmoke
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
.36 all the way!
I currently own two and am planning a third...
I currently own two and am planning a third...
Stringbean
40 Cal.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2014
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 1
I have a .40 right now that I built for squirrels, turkey, woodchucks, rabbits and things in that size range. It is one accurate little rifle. 42 inch barrel that has shot 3/4" groups at 50 yards. It will shoot a good group out to 100 yards. I went with the .40 because I think it will reach out a little farther for things like woodchucks. I have shot some squirrels and bunnies and it will leave quite a hole so I am limited to head shots. I am building a .36 cal. right now so we will see how that does as far as meat damage but I've been told that one still has to head shoot a squirrel with a .36 to save excessive damage. A .36 is a little cheaper to shoot and you can also use 000 buck shot for round balls which are around $25 for 5 pounds of them. Either caliber will take a 3/8 ramrod. If I were going strictly squirrel and rabbit I would go with the .36 but if I thought I would shoot the occasional coyote or turkey I would recommend the .40.
String
String
I agree! .36 is the way to go especially if you plan to eat the small game you shoot. I currently have two caplocks and a flinter in .36. Loaded with 20 gr of FFF it is a ideal small game load out to 30 yds. Loaded with 36-40 grains equals a great varmint and turkey load.
Fyrstyk
Fyrstyk
Either one should do what you want and you don't run across them very often so I'd just pick up whichever of the two you run across that is in decent shape.
hanshi
Cannon
I'm puzzled about your comment about not being able to keep a .32 shooting after 3-4 shots. There's never been a problem going 30 to 40 shot strings with either of my .32s and not wiping. Use a tight, but not pounding, fit with the prb and the right lube. I use Hoppes BP lube but spit does as well.
Of the two you've mentioned I highly recommend the .36. 20 grains of 3F will give fine accuracy and kill squirrels up to 80 yards, maybe farther. Pushing the load up to 30-40 grains will take anything a .40 can take. With a .36 the occasional accidental mid body shot won't cause much damage. Just try for head shots and stay away from shoulders and hindquarters and you'll be fine.
Of the two you've mentioned I highly recommend the .36. 20 grains of 3F will give fine accuracy and kill squirrels up to 80 yards, maybe farther. Pushing the load up to 30-40 grains will take anything a .40 can take. With a .36 the occasional accidental mid body shot won't cause much damage. Just try for head shots and stay away from shoulders and hindquarters and you'll be fine.
Tom Compton
54 Cal.
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2008
- Messages
- 1,893
- Reaction score
- 193
.40. No doubt.
Stringbean
40 Cal.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2014
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 1
Got to thinking about my earlier post and realized I made a mistake. A .36 caliber will not take a 3/8 ramrod. 3/8 is .375, had my decimals mixed up. Sorrystringbean said:
String
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
Get the .40 for the 3/8" ramrod. Used a .36 for several years and enjoyed it. Have a .40 on order from Tip Curtis. Never had a .40 before, but expect to like it a lot. I can " compare and contrast " it with the .45 I got from Tip last year.
greysmoke 30 to 40 cal will work just fine for small game but each has its own little differences .The forty seems to be my favorite now ,(bigger ramrod)and tappered as well.If economy is important the smaller is better but this is the cheapist shootin you can do I think ,I know its the funnest.Curt
Don Steele
45 Cal.
I just went through the same decision process.
I've never had a small caliber rifle. Only 50's. I have always liked the idea of the .36, and failed to understand why there are not more of them around.
I'm much more of a target shooter than small game hunter. That difference is what made the decision for me to order a Rice 40 cal. 42" for my next rifle.
I've never had a small caliber rifle. Only 50's. I have always liked the idea of the .36, and failed to understand why there are not more of them around.
I'm much more of a target shooter than small game hunter. That difference is what made the decision for me to order a Rice 40 cal. 42" for my next rifle.
Hi,
Asking which is better a .36 or a .40 is like asking which is nicer the left shoe or the right shoe.
I've had both, either are great for light hunting and target shooting.
The forty is a little easier handling and loading.
You would be best off to try both guns.
Better still get both!
Fred
Asking which is better a .36 or a .40 is like asking which is nicer the left shoe or the right shoe.
I've had both, either are great for light hunting and target shooting.
The forty is a little easier handling and loading.
You would be best off to try both guns.
Better still get both!
Fred
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 14,767
- Reaction score
- 319
Based on my experience with 32 and 36 caliber (and 30 caliber), there's not all that much difference between a 32 and a 36, if you're already having cleaning unhappiness. Sure you can clean up your experience with that 32 via some load changes, but when it comes to game performance, I can't really tell them apart (I'm shooting inside 50 yards).
Though I don't own a 40, I'd sure be inclined to go with it if I already owned a 32. In my experience, there's not all that much of a performance jump when going up a single caliber, as in say going from a 50 to a 54. But there's a whale of a difference in going from 50 to 58. I'd expect the same in jumping from a 32 to a 40, rather than from a 32 to a 36. I'm afraid you'll wonder why you bothered if you only jump to a 36, but there will be no doubt in your mind going from a 32 to a 40.
Though I don't own a 40, I'd sure be inclined to go with it if I already owned a 32. In my experience, there's not all that much of a performance jump when going up a single caliber, as in say going from a 50 to a 54. But there's a whale of a difference in going from 50 to 58. I'd expect the same in jumping from a 32 to a 40, rather than from a 32 to a 36. I'm afraid you'll wonder why you bothered if you only jump to a 36, but there will be no doubt in your mind going from a 32 to a 40.
kopfjaeger
40 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2012
- Messages
- 369
- Reaction score
- 4
I own both .36 and a .40 caliber and I like them both. Both are good shooters. My .36 caliber has a 42" long x 3/4" wide straight barrel. My .40 caliber has a 42" x 13/16" wide straight barrel. The only thing I think ( hindsight ) I would of done different is to have the .40 caliber made with a A-Weight swamped barrel. :thumbsup:
As a follow up to my previous post, it is surprising how close two .40 balls both patched individually will group at 50 yds.
Which makes for awesome killing power on deer.
Just think two .40 cal. balls travelling at 2000+ fps. hitting a deer. :shocked2: less than 2" apart.
That translates into good deer steaks.
Fred
Which makes for awesome killing power on deer.
Just think two .40 cal. balls travelling at 2000+ fps. hitting a deer. :shocked2: less than 2" apart.
That translates into good deer steaks.
Fred
"I'm looking at acquiring a smaller cal. flinter for bunnies, squirrels, plinking, targets,etc. I have, and use, .50s and .54s for big game and I didn't have much luck keeping a .32 shooting well after 3-4 shots. (I don't like cleaning guns that often). So. . . trying to decide between good, readily available, affordable, .36 or .40. Any good information about the pro/cons of each?"
The OP asked about, bunnies, squirrels, plinking and targets, where did deer come from???????
How about reading ability and the process to answer a question?????
The OP asked about, bunnies, squirrels, plinking and targets, where did deer come from???????
How about reading ability and the process to answer a question?????
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
Correction . Make that 40/1000" , not 4 / 1000"
