Crockett ?

[Boomerang]

Has anybody had Bobby Hoyt turn their .32 Crockett into a .40? I have one and am thinking about having him do that.

 

[dh9]

That sounds interesting!

 

[Grimord]

I do not think that Mr. Hoyt will work on Traditions guns due to the type of breach plug they use. I may be wrong, so hopefully someone else on this forum will correct me if I am.

 

[SDSmlf]

Or maybe just call Mr. Hoyt and ask him.

 

[hanshi]

Just me, but I'd have to think twice before opening that skinny 3/4" barrel to a .40.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Nothing a .40 can do that a .32 can’t do equally well.

Keep it as is.

 

[DaveC]

Nothing a .40 can do that a .32 can’t do equally well.

Keep it as is.

Some think that the .40 is a might too large for small game, and a bit too small for medium game, so it is ill-suited for either role. On the other hand, in the State of Arkansas, it is my understanding that it is the minimum legal caliber for use on deer. So for some states, it might offer a nice option for use.

That said, I think that in West Virginia a .36 is technically legal for use on deer, although I wonder how many people actually do use that caliber for that purpose?

I just saw a nice Crockett .32 for sale for about 500 bucks in Denton, Texas. Looked like a nice, trim little .32!

I've got an old Navy Arms mule-ear side lock .32 and a new-to-me Tennessee Mountain Rifle from Miroku/Dixie in flintlock in .32. Hope to go shooting tomorrow!

 

[Kansas Jake]

Boomerang, I hesitated to chime in on taking a good 32 barrel and taking it out to 40, but here goes. Keep the 32 as they are real popular and then look for a 45 barrel for the Crockett. Then you have a two barrel gun. Of course the bottom line is, it is your gun and if you really want the 40, have Mr. Hoyt ream it out. He will do a good job if he works on Traditions guns. I've read here in the past that he won't work on barrels with the funky breach on Traditions guns.

 

[Rat]

I think it would make a very nice .40 caliber. I don't see how it would be "too big" for small game. I have an original rifle in .40" that has shot everything from small game, to people, to deer very well. My Remington Navy revolver, which shoots a .375" ball, very close to what a .40" rifle would shoot, does not damage much meat when I shoot a grouse or rabbit with it.

 

[Tanglefoot]

Boomerang -- Is yr .32 a flinter or a percussion? If it's a flintlock, the 3/4 inch barrel ought to be okay to convert. If it's percussion, and if it has a drum-and-nipple breech then making the barrel walls thinner might not be safe. The concern would be chamber pressure and wall thickness. In either case, I believe I'd proof test it in a fixture after any conversion before I fired it close to my one-and-only face. (It ain't new and it ain't purty, but it's the only face I've got.)
You might ask a ML gunsmith before making up your mind.
I learned a while back that just because I can do something it doesn't always mean I should.
There floats my stick,
Tanglefoot

 

[toot]

roger that!

 

[Griz44Mag]

I have an original rifle in .40" that has shot everything from small game, to people, to deer very well.

there's a tale that I would like to hear........ Had one of those a few decades back, but not with a smoke pole.

 

[Rat]

This rifle was used to chase the Cayuse around after the Whitman "massacre" in Idaho/Oregon Territories. Was in the militia that was formed for that purpose. Referred to as the "Indian wars" of that period, although, again, they mostly just chased the Indians around for a year or so, with a number of small skirmishes. Also was in the Joe Meeks party when he went to Washington, escorted him from Idaho to St.Louis. Then back to the "wars". Was also with the Donner party up until the party split, some going to their doom, and some the other way. Our ancestor Issac Lebo traded an ox for it. It has many tales to tell. And she still speaks, the family gets together and shoots it every two-three years or so, we all take a shot at a paper plate.

I also have the original powder horn and measure that goes with it.