Caliber for a non-collector

[TDM]

My oldest Son has a .36 SMR. It’s a great shooter. I plan to build one for my grandson down the road.

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

Thanks to all who offered your opinions. I see (as also pointed out above) that the Kibler carving is only offered on the Woodsman. That certainly lands me on a .45…. But I’m guessing that once Jim gets these out the door and builds up a track record, he may decide to expand into the SMR too.

Dang it guys. Y’all raised excellent points, with emphasis on ALL of ya.

I think I can rule out the .32 though, based mainly on my eyes and hand dexterity. I’m only 56years young, but already I’m seeing that I can’t tie flies as well as I used to, and my vision for the distances of muzzle stuffing is right there at the in-between where my failing near vision intersects with my mediocre distance vision. I could solve that if I go back to progressive glasses again .. but probably wouldn’t hurt to go .36 or .40 too. But.. only if Kibler starts carving the SMR.

I enjoy this thread and will re-read it several times. Thanks folks.

 

[smokepolehall]

Thanks to all who offered your opinions. I see (as also pointed out above) that the Kibler carving is only offered on the Woodsman. That certainly lands me on a .45…. But I’m guessing that once Jim gets these out the door and builds up a track record, he may decide to expand into the SMR too.

Dang it guys. Y’all raised excellent points, with emphasis on ALL of ya.

I think I can rule out the .32 though, based mainly on my eyes and hand dexterity. I’m only 56years young, but already I’m seeing that I can’t tie flies as well as I used to, and my vision for the distances of muzzle stuffing is right there at the in-between where my failing near vision intersects with my mediocre distance vision. I could solve that if I go back to progressive glasses again .. but probably wouldn’t hurt to go .36 or .40 too. But.. only if Kibler starts carving the SMR.

I enjoy this thread and will re-read it several times. Thanks folks.

To each his/her own on the style of rifles they like. The Woods Runner has a shorter barrel length n i really like the drop in the stock vs the SMR. Calibers are a personal choice. I fell into the eyesight problem for past 15 years. Now anything past 75 yards & a tight group is wishful thinking for me.

 

[Rob M.]

Yep ....smoothbore . You can hunt anything from squirrel to buffalo ... and anything in between

 

[Pete G]

You’re safe. SMRs don’t have carving beyond lock panels.

 

[bronko220002]

I had a .32 and didn't care a whole lot for it. I just recently got my paws on a .36 cal and absolutely love it. It's a tc Seneca and it's a good little shooter. Recoil on par with a 22WMR when using balls and 30 gr charge

 

[user 31232]

for turning Bambi into little white packages, i would go with a .54, but if you can only have one, go with a .62 smooth.

One guy's opinion... free and well worth the price

White packages

 

[wiscoaster]

...

What are your thoughts on a .45 as an in-between caliber? ...

I think your thoughts are "on target" for what you want to do with your rifle. I'm building a Kibler SMR in .45, but I don't hunt, so that wasn't a decision point for choosing that rifle. I decided on the SMR mainly because I wanted a rifle with iron hardware, not brass, and I got it in .45 because it's the largest caliber for that rifle.

 

[Mike in FL]

My next will be a 36. I got deer calibers but none for turkey and squirrel.

 

[brazosland]

I have a half dozen rifles and smoothbores in .62 and .58, several more in .54. And a couple of .40’s that I can literally use to do anything I want to do in Texas. Plus one Pedersoli .50.

…But I really want a .36

My interests are moving towards shooting original guns. One thing to remember is that historically East of the Mississippi, with a few exceptions, the .45 was considered perfect and large for civilian use and the .50 was required for “military” duty. We don’t think of the .50 as a Big Bore, but the folks back then that bet their lives and their family’s lives on their guns figured a .36/.40/.45 was just fine.

Many a .45 and .50 got dropped on the plains and in the mountains by the man carrying it so he could try to out run the bear he just pi$$ed off with it! So the bigger calibers have a decided place.

A .36 pistol was considered perfectly adequate for armed conflict among men, it will certainly kill a deer with a well placed shot.

I say get the .36.

And an .45!