Deer Creek Squirrel gun opinions sought

[Pork Chop]

I am considering getting one of the Deer Creek squirrel guns in .32 caliber. It would likely be the kit version. I was wondering if anyone here has one, and what you think about it? Don't hold back, give me the good and the bad.

 

[MikeChapin]

I got one for my wife when CVA first brought them out. I'm pretty sure the deer creek models are pretty close to the same. She really liked it. I do remember that it was real cranky about the load. It was a tack driver with the right load but sprayed when you moved off it very much.

How much are the Deer Creek kits?

 

[Pork Chop]

I have a two year old catalog, so the price in it is likely off. It shows $139. There is a guy selling them on Auction Arms for $179. Looks like a nice weapon. I will have to shoot the TC that I have before I decide what to do.

 

[Runner]

Depends on which one it is. There was a Squirrel rifle that was a .32 and had set triggers. Then there is a single trigger gun. What is sold by most folks these days as the squirrel rifle is a small caliber bobcat. Mine is a 36 single trigger Bobcat. Accurate as heck. Cheap to shoot. Decide on your patches early tho. Once you settle in on a load and get it sighted in, changing the patch can change everything. The smaller bores seem prone to this. Midsouth, 13x$ two years back. THe old Squirrel rifle was a much nicer gun with the set triggers and all, but I doubt it will out shoot the one I have.

 

[peashooterJoe]

Just got the Deer Creek 2005 Catalog, Squirrel Kit 32 cal. $149.00 single trigger, $169.00 Double trigger. I ordered replacement parts (trigger guard broke while polishing)and Rcvd them 2 days later. The kit has a lot of polishing brass and fitting parts. The lock and triggers are finished and everthing else is in white (rough). I've put other kits together and this one is a lot tougher. Like shortening sight screws, fitting barrel, tang, lock redrilling screw holes etc. Beautiful wood and rifle will be a looker( browned barrel). But for the money can't be beat.. :imo:

 

[Pork Chop]

Can you post pics or send some to me at [email protected]? Thanks for the news!

 

[GregC]

Does Deer Creek have a website?

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

Nope...
There is no website for Deer Creek Products, but their phone number is 1-765-525-6181 They have always went "the extra mile" to take care of any problems that I've had--which were few and small. I have one of the CVA squirrel rifles in .36, they are basically a wooden stocked, single trigger, CVA Bobcat in .36 caliber.

The "other" squirrel rifle kit is the equivalent of a CVA if not identical to it. Both rifles will shoot very well. My shooting buddy bought the .32, when I got the .36, and they do seem to have a sort of finicky appetite and don't tolerate load variations as well as a large bore gun. But I'd recommend either gun if you want a decent inexpensive way to shoot a small bore.

The nice thing about the .36 is that I don't need to buy expensive 100 piece boxes of .350 diameter swaged round balls. I just buy a 5lb bag of Hornady #000 Buck Shot which is also .350 diameter and works out to about $11.00 for about 540 round balls that are very smooth and round. The .36 does "eat" a little more powder, but it has more power as well. There are buckshot sizes that will work in the .32 but one is a little too tight and the other is a bit too loose, so you might end up having to cast for it or buy factory made balls.

These inexpensive sidelock guns really are disappearing fast. Don't piddle around if you're thinking seriously about getting one before they are all gone. And putting a small bore swap out barrel on a bigger size larger caliber gun just isn't the same as having a lightweight, slender little squirrel rifle.

Shoot Safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[GregC]

WV Hillbilly....

What do you mean they are dissappearing fast?

Greg

 

Gav'em a call to order the catalog, loved the accent, can tell she's from southern(read way south) Indiana. She's sending me a Free catalog? I know it's gonnja cost me. I got the the squirell rifle from one of the other sites. Found 1985 dates on some of the CVA parts. Stock will need a lot of work, but not that hard, just gotta remove the wood that does'nt belong. Should take less than two weeks to finish, will be just in time for squirrel season, But I'm on third base heading for home on my .40 cal., and gotta finish it first Bill

 

[Runner]

I also have the 36 bobcat gun. It is not that finicky, but changing patch material is a no no. It really likes 30 grains of the 3f 777 under a .350 buckshot using the Basspro pre lubed patches. It does not like Moose Milk at all. I shoot nothing but black these days, so it gets thirty grains of 3f Goex under .350 buckshot with the pre-lubed patches. At 50 yards it still completely splats the balls on the plates. No problem yote gun. Accurate enough for bench work. Sitting at the line BS'ing, a bunch of us shot the gun for hours each weekend all summer the year I bought it. With 777, it has been fired over 30 times without swabbing using the pre-lubed patches.

 

[big bore 75]

Hey guys with the catalogs, does Deer Creek make the brass
frame buggie rifle still, not sure it was them but they had a steel frame vesion as well, if memory serves right they were right handed and had expose hammers, thanks for th info, trying to order a catalog been trying for about an hour might be closed today or will have to have my wife call for me tonight. bb75

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

WV Hillbilly....

What do you mean they are dissappearing fast?

Greg

CVA and Traditions are (were) probably the two largest suppliers of inexpensive sidehammer flintlock and percussion "traditionally styled" muzzleloading guns. CVA has permanently discontinued carrying these kinds of guns and also any handguns (revolver or single shot) as well. Traditions is still supposed to be continuing to supply the "traditional" guns, but I wonder how long they will do so...?

The cost of buying from European suppliers/manufacturers has increased considerably due to the poor exchange rate of the US Dollar versus the EURO. So the prices are going up on ALL of these import guns.

The remaining CVA guns that are "new, old stock" left in stores' inventories has to be down to almost "nothing" now. I suspect that you probably couldn't find a CVA Bobcat muzzleloader at your local Wal-Mart store anymore... or can you? So unless you buy a Traditions brand gun, which have gone up in price, you end up having to buy an even more expensive import gun.

Supposedly too, CVA's marketing analysis people have determined that the "I" word style of rifles have the largest demand and they are only going to sell that type of gun. I think you know what I mean with "I" followed by "NLINE" means... it makes me sick even saying or typing it. I think CVA has "shot themselves in the foot" with this thinking, but I guess we'll wait and see. The other companies out there make as good or better products and the prices...

I think CVA has the "wrong" thinking... They think that people who are going out to buy their first (and probably ONLY) muzzleloading rifle are going to buy a CVA -- 'cause that's the brand of sidelock gun that was cheapest. BUT I think that people who are ONLY going to buy ONE(1) muzzleloading rifle are going to spend more for it, and want to have a better product to begin with--after all how many .50cal muzzeloading rifles does one need? CVA is going to extinguish what little life they still have left.

This other stuff is conjecture and just my opinion, but CVA's dropping of the sidehammer guns IS a factual reality.

just wanting to have more options available,
WV_Hillbilly

 

[faw3]

never seen a brass buggy rifle(underhammer) think you mean the mowrey rifle. i got the iron years ago and it still shoots true. also got a 36 cal that was made here in texas way back before they moved shot it 3 times at around 25 yds and it made 1 hole and im not that good at about 350 this is a great buy. :front:

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

I once had one of the older Texas Mowrey rifles in .50cal, a heavy target style gun with brass receiver and that heavy curved brass buttplate that weighed about 2 lbs just by itself. I think that rifle must have weighed 11 or 12 lbs.

It did shoot very nicely though but I bought it used for a ridiculously low price. The bore wasn't the smoothest, there was some minor pitting, but I don't think it affected accuracy all that much. Back when me eyes were better, but it would still shoot 2"groups as 100yds with the very plain and simple open sights on it.

It qualified as one of "those guns", that I never should have thought of selling... but I made a few dollars on it that were needed for something I "wanted more" at the time. Now, I wish I had it back... live and learn...hopefully...

Shoot Safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[faw3]

i plan on keeping this one, leave it for my kid, the texas made ones are hard to find, but my deercreek shoots as good the texas has better wood ect i did change how the hammer works with a coil spring and this 50 cal has that big brass butt plate heavy!