flintlock squirrel rifle recommendation

[cowpoke1955]

I have a .45 Blue Ridge flinter that is also a tack driver. Never had a problem with it. The lock is big and a sure sparker. But, at the high prices of a Pedersoli now, I would look hard at some of these custom/semi-custom rifles. You can get some in kit form at a great price. Check out Fitting Fox: http://www.sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com/SittingFox.html and TVM: http://www.avsia.com/tvm/ . Both offer rifles in .32 caliber. Good luck on your search :thumbsup: .

 

[thewho66]

the problem with there site is that you have to use the drop down menu then click on come see the guns tab below. The first time I visited the site I thought the thing wasnt working.

 

[paulvallandigham]

You obviously are that skilled shooter I noted in my comment. I therefore don't understand the purpose of your comment. Now, just how many squirrels have you missed at over 50 yards for the ones you have hit? And just how many squirrels can you actually see to shoot beyond 25 yards( 75 feet? in folage? I hunt river bottoms, because that is where the trees are here in Central Illinois. Seeing a White tail deer in the woods after the first frost has killed 90 % of the brush, and trees leave is hard enough. Seeing a squirrel at more than 25 yard, much less being able to get a clean shot at one is in the realm of " Great Expectations?" I might see movement in treetops WAY OVER THERE, but getting a shot at those distances is next to impossible, even with a scope sighted rifle. With the right rifle on a range, using a rest, I can shoot one hole- basic one inch diameter groups at 50 yards, but that is way different than shooting at squirrels up in trees.

I did not make my comment to challenge the manhood of any members here when it comes to shooting. I was trying to give an honest and fair appraisal of the real world where squirrels are shot in trees, and not in one's dreams. All of us who have hunted long enough have that one "miracle " shot we will never forget. But, if we are honest, we will admit that they are Far from the typical shot, or conditions in which ANY shot can usually be made.

Thanks for the comment. Its always nice to hear about those " great shots ". :thumbsup:

 

[caionneach]

Many thanks for the sittingfox web site. Those are great kits at reasonable prices, and I think I've found the squirrel gun kit I can obtain for a summer project in preparation for squirrel season. --Kenneth

 

[caionneach]

On a side note, and for those who shoot .36 cal, do any of you shoot the .36 maxi ball, especially the Thompson Center design? I obtained a bullet dye for casting my own as I would like to shoot them in a .36 some day. I would imagine they would do great damage to a squirrel in anything other than a head shot. --Kenneth

 

[29caliber]

Sitting Fox is currently putting together a .25 caliber flintlock which I plan to use for squirrels here in Southern Illinois starting in August. I have .29 flintlock and .30 caliber percussion rifles and use .285 roundballs in both, adjusting for patch thickness. Like previously stated, head shots are necessary to reduce waste of edible portions. While I've taken squirrels at 40+ yards when I couldn't get any closer, I prefer to get as close as possible as part of the hunt. That's almost always 15 yards or less. If I could give just one point of advice when shooting upward, it would to be sure that your flint is sharp because a "klatch" of 4F in the eye will cause you to loose your concentration!!

With hickory nuts in abundance this year, I predict lots of shots at cutting squirrels, my favorite way to hunt them. Best of luck and fun for all of you squirrel hunters out there. There's nothing like a cool morning standing in the woods, listening to those high-pitched sounds of squirrels cutting on hickory nuts and planning a strategy to slip up on all of them. Tom

 

[fho]

I had a friend that shot a 25 caliber muzzle loader a 100 yards. He said it droped 4 inches.

 

[torn moc]

Chuckpa...maybe you are flinching !!
I have one in .32 percussion and with 47 grains FFF i shoot 1" groups at 50 yds all day long!

 

[peashooterJoe]

Now that caliber has me thinking..Who makes the Round balls for it? Any moulds available? Sources for both would help..PeashooterJoe..

 

[chuckpa]

hey Scalper
Please note I was answering JD about a flintlock which he also has trouble with and I was wondering if other folks were having the same problem with this model. I have shot other guns from this maker and as you say some were tack drivers. Yes sometimes I do flinch thats for sure but I had to give up on this model. I have plans to build a .32 in flinchlock LOL.

 

[dlpowell]

20 ga. fowler, #6 shot :thumbsup:

 

[buck1]

Yessir, Like I said most of my shots on squirrells are pretty close but when the leaves have all fell off and they are on the ground feeding you can get a good rest on a tree and soot them pretty far off! I did have a rest on the side of a tree when I shot that one at 54 yrds to by the way! I like to stalk up on them close too but sometimes when there aint many leaves its hard to get very close without em gittin in a holler. But ifin they do just sit right down against the roots of a big tree to break up your outline and starve em out! They will come back out and then you too can try your shootin skills!! :wink: :v I like the smooth bore and sixes too. Buck

 

[44-henry]

You might search around for one of the Dixie Tennessee Mountain rifles. As far as I know they are long out of production, but I have one of the really early ones in 50 caliber which is a good shooter and nice looking rifle. I believe they offered them in 32 caliber both flint and percussion.

 

[J.D.]

You obviously are that skilled shooter I noted in my comment. I therefore don't understand the purpose of your comment. Now, just how many squirrels have you missed at over 50 yards for the ones you have hit? And just how many squirrels can you actually see to shoot beyond 25 yards( 75 feet? in folage? I hunt river bottoms, because that is where the trees are here in Central Illinois. Seeing a White tail deer in the woods after the first frost has killed 90 % of the brush, and trees leave is hard enough. Seeing a squirrel at more than 25 yard, much less being able to get a clean shot at one is in the realm of " Great Expectations?" I might see movement in treetops WAY OVER THERE, but getting a shot at those distances is next to impossible, even with a scope sighted rifle. With the right rifle on a range, using a rest, I can shoot one hole- basic one inch diameter groups at 50 yards, but that is way different than shooting at squirrels up in trees.

I did not make my comment to challenge the manhood of any members here when it comes to shooting. I was trying to give an honest and fair appraisal of the real world where squirrels are shot in trees, and not in one's dreams. All of us who have hunted long enough have that one "miracle " shot we will never forget. But, if we are honest, we will admit that they are Far from the typical shot, or conditions in which ANY shot can usually be made.

Thanks for the comment. Its always nice to hear about those " great shots ". :thumbsup:

I'm not an especially good shot. I do, however, use a rest when possible. There is a relatively open area on my property with a large hickory that that is over 50 steps from a smaller one at the edge of thicker cover. I consistently kill squirrels out of the large tree by resting on the smaller one. Gotta pick the shots though.

The best shot I have made on a squirrel in that tree was when a young gray saw me sneaking up to the smaller hickory tree. He ran to the center of the big tree and I saw his head pop up in the fork of the main branch about 20 feet off the ground. The ball entered the front of his neck, just under his chin. I paced that one off at a little over 65 paces. I'm talking military paces, not wimpy little shuckin' and jivin' paces. :wink:

I miss a few, but not many. I don't take a shot unless I'm sure of hitting the mark.

 

[Zoar]

When I deer hunt from treestands I often have those squirrels come fairly close. Always wished I had something quiet to take them with so as not to disturb the main event.

However for dedicated squirrel hunting I like the smallest caliber I have. Not many monster squirrels in the fingerlakes.

 

[29caliber]

Peashooter...I found a Lee as well as a Lyman .235 single cavity round ball mold for the rifle after searching the internet for several weeks. I understand that #4 buckshot is what most .25 caliber shooters use. I've got a couple of beagles that I plan to use this winter to bring around some bunnies for this rifle as well. With both my .29 and .30 caliber rifles, there's no more recoil than with a .22 rifle. I expect that there will be even less with the .25 caliber. Tom

 

[29caliber]

Zoar...Squirrel hunting in Southern Illinois runs from August 1st to mid-February. I plan to hunt them until the October 1st opening of bow season for deer. Sometime in December after deer hunting is on the wane, I'll head for the woods again after squirrels, possible just sitting in a deer stand and letting them come to me as you noted. I've got a friend who did this last year and took several, always having the woods to himself. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together!! Tom

 

[J.D.]

I suggest testing those small bores with a wide variety of powder charges. Some small bores shoot best with 30-40 gr of powder. And some seem to like FFG instead of FFFG.

I have shot as much as 50 gr in the 32 and 45 in the 30 with generally good results, though the 32 seems to foul badly with hotter charges. A tighter patch/ball combo might cure that.