.36 small game rifle

[JJohnson2023]

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50yds off hand with .36cal T/C HAWKEN with Rice barrel. 30grFFFg, .360RB, 0.014" pillow ticking dampened with 50/50 alcohol/ Simple-Green.

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100yds off the bench using same patch/ ball with 60gr FFFg

good shooting. .36 looks like an accurate caliber

 

[JJohnson2023]

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Got one for the wife and she loves it.
Shoots very nice at 50 yards with 30 grains and a .35 patched ball.
A couple minor finish issues but functions perfectly.

ever hunt with it?

 

[JJohnson2023]

I have two .36s a flint Frontier and a Tradition percussion and have no complaints about either. The Pedersoli Frontier likes 25grs of 3F, a .345 prb with mink oil. The Tradition likes 30grs of 3F, a .350 prb with TOTW mink oil.

Any experiences hunting with them?

 

[AlexB]

ever hunt with it?

No

 

[ETipp]

Is is because of the shape/fit of the rifle that its difficult to shoot?

Actually, the Crockett is not all that difficult to shoot once one gets familiar with it. I attribute that to the stock design. The Crockett rifle, with the design of the crescent drop stock, cannot be shot accurately when using the same hold as any other typical rifle.

The Crockett rifle is very accurate out to at least 25 yards, but only as long as one uses the proper shooting form when doing so. It is not tolerable with less than the proper holding style. In short, it’s not very forgiving. This makes taking shots on uneven, steep, often rocky terrain here in the mountains much more challenging.

I have not really done much testing out past 25 yards with my Crockett rifles. I hope to do so soon.

 

[Des52]

Any experiences hunting with them?

Yes, been using the Tradition for 40 years or so was my go to squirrel and varmint shooter. Bought the Pedersoli flint and it became my squirrel gun 15 years or so ago. The Tradition shoots maxis better and I like what it does to woodchucks and bigger game. The Pedersoli has a tighter bore and shoots .345s instead of .350s. Both good hunting rifles.

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

I have been shooting only flintlock rifles .50 and .36 since a teenager in the late '50s hunting in S. Texas. I presently still have a couple of '.50s since that time with no name or markings hand-me-downs as they are age worn off many decades ago. I have a .50 purchased new from Ted Hatfield personally in the late '60s that I still shoot semi-regularly. I have 4 .36 flintlocks (by far my favorites)...3 from the 50s, with markings worn off and one, 3 year old Pedersoli Frontier which I really enjoy shooting. All my flintlocks are open sight off-hand 6" paper plate shooters with my eye sight; .50s easy up to 45-50 yards and the .36 cals all off hand are easy 6" plate 30-35 yard rifles. I don't shoot bench with any of these rifles. I have not hunted anything in 40+ years except for year round feral hogs. I woods shoot with old friends competing w/a bag full of cans and plastic bottles; or sit and wait by hog sign water. All my .50s all use the same charge, .490 ball/patch and 65grs 3F., all the .36cal use the same charge .350 ball/patch and .25 grains 3F. I like to keep shooting simple. I never enjoyed shooting cap and ball....in my opinion only, not even close to a real sport compared to flintlocks. I don't dress like back in the day. I am also an old retired pilot....I use Corrosion Technology "Bore Cleaner" to clean barrels and use as patch solvent. There are a lot of folks that I shoot with that shoot better than me, and an equal amount of times, the reverse is fact. Just plain FUN, even though I have slowed down a lot lately and now a fair weather shooter.

EDIT: Forgot to mention...no bore cleaning between shots....only clean with plain water and followup "Bore Cleaner" at the end of the day. No bore rust or corrosion in any of my rifles.

 

[Coinneach]

Because, as I have said in two different locations (once here and I made a thread in the percussion sub forum) I'm not finding information. I have searched the net for days trying to find range and target information on the Investarms .36 Santa Fe Hawken. I have not been able to find any more. Its kind of difficult for me to let go of $649.00 without more credible information.

The only site I know of is Muzzlel-loaders.com and they do not show any range or target information. One would think that unless sales are booming, why would they not advertise this ML more? Why the lack of information? Why no credible videos of range time and targets to be found?

Valid points sir.

 

[longcruise]

The percentage of .36cal Hawkens sold may be the reason. I have no idea of the market demand, but it’s seldom I saw a small caliber Hawken

I think that's a big part of it. Hawken says big game to most. I would not care for the weight.

 

[JDBraddy]

I think that's a big part of it. Hawken says big game to most. I would not care for the weight.

True, my .36cal Hawken is much heavier than my .50cal Hawken, even my .36cal Senica though much lighter than either Hawken, is noticeably heavier than the. 45cal Seneca.

Have been thinking about Maybe eventually getting a higher end Kibler kit or having a custom full stock flintlock made, but don't really have enough experience with them to know what features I would want. Am unsure about even basic stuff like choice of caliber and barrel length.

 

[ETipp]

True, my .36cal Hawken is much heavier than my .50cal Hawken, even my .36cal Senica though much lighter than either Hawken, is noticeably heavier than the. 45cal Seneca.

Have been thinking about Maybe eventually getting a higher end Kibler kit or having a custom full stock flintlock made, but don't really have enough experience with them to know what features I would want. Am unsure about even basic stuff like choice of caliber and barrel length.

The weight is a good point, JD. Thanks for mentioning that.

I think Investarms states the weight of the .36 Santa Fe to be a little over 7 pounds.

That’s another great attribute of the Crockett rifle. I find the 6 pounds to be user friendly for carrying around in these steep mountains. Mass weight is of concern for this ole boy.

 

[JDBraddy]

Just out of curiosity, drug out a scale, my .36cal Hawken was 8.8lb, and my .50cal Hawken was 7.6lb for a difference of 1.2lbs.

My .36cal Senica was 6.0lb and my .45cal Seneca was 4.8lb also for a difference of 1.2lbs.

(1.2/8.8)×100=13.6%
(1.2/6.0)×100=20.0%

I think that's a pretty significant difference in weight. More so in the lighter rifles.

 

[longcruise]

I think Investarms states the weight of the .36 Santa Fe to be a little over 7 pounds.

I'm not sure what to make of that. I just weighed my TC Hawken with 15/16" X 28" X 54 caliber and it comes in at 7.87#. It seems like the two should have similar weight characteristics in terms of wood, etc.

Edited: JD Posted while I was typing.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Wait…isn’t there one of the states that allows the .36 for hunting deer?

 

[JDBraddy]

I'm not sure what to make of that. I just weighed my TC Hawken with 15/16" X 28" X 54 caliber and it comes in at 7.87#. It seems like the two should have similar weight characteristics in terms of wood, etc.

Edited: JD Posted while I was typing. :}

My Hawkens are T/C's but the .36cal is a 32", 15/16" Rice barrel and the .50cal is a 32", 15/16" GM barrel. Oh, and both have brass ramrods, that would affect the weight also.

My .45cal T/C Hawken with 28",15/16ths Thompson Center barrel comes in at 7.2lbs. Perhaps our scales are not calibrated the same. I was using a household bathroom scale, and am not very confident in it's accuracy.

 

[longcruise]

My Hawkens are T/C's but the .36cal is a 32", 15/16" Rice barrel and the .50cal is a 32", 15/16" GM barrel.

That would make a bit of difference for sure. I have a 28" 45 TC barrel that I'll weigh later.

 

[longcruise]

@Rock Home Isle Haven't seen you here for a while. Nice to see you posting again.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

@Rock Home Isle Haven't seen you here for a while. Nice to see you posting again.

Feels good to be back…spent most of last night reading up on all doins that people have goin on. You guys are so fun…

 

[Des52]

My Tradition Frontier has a .50 and a .36 barrel and the difference in weight is 1.4 lbs. I've never felt the difference when carrying it.

 

[yellowhammer]

True, my .36cal Hawken is much heavier than my .50cal Hawken, even my .36cal Senica though much lighter than either Hawken, is noticeably heavier than the. 45cal Seneca.

Have been thinking about Maybe eventually getting a higher end Kibler kit or having a custom full stock flintlock made, but don't really have enough experience with them to know what features I would want. Am unsure about even basic stuff like choice of caliber and barrel length.

Data points FYI:

My .45 Kibler SMR: 6 lb 2 oz

My Kibler .36 SMR: 6 lb 15 oz