flintlock squirrel rifle recommendation

[caionneach]

Does anyone know of a .32 cal flintlock rifle?

I would prefer a kit, but will go for a completed rifle.

Just curious if any are out there. If necessary I will move up to .36 cal if only percussion rifles like the Traditions .32 is what can be purchased. Thanks.

Kenneth
Monroe, LA

 

[buck1]

You can get a rifle or kit for this from Jack Garner T.V.M. and some others. I have a .25cal. flinter that I built from scratch and I am fixin to start a .32cal. flinter.I also have a .36cal. from scratch and it works great but I like to eat the squirrels and it tears them up pretty bad! Buck

 

[Mr Woodchuck]

Hello Check out the kits from TVM ... Matt and Toni Avance's company ... the kits are very well made and priced low compared to today's factory offerings.
I have 2 of there poor boys in 36 cal flint...
Their website is not always up to date and a phone call would offer more info on what is available.
Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[cowpoke1955]

The only .32 caliber production flinter that comes to mind are the several models of Pedersoli. Check at Dixie Gun Works and Cabela's. Other then these, you'll have to go custom.

 

[J.D.]

The only .32 caliber production flinter that comes to mind are the several models of Pedersoli. Check at Dixie Gun Works and Cabela's. Other then these, you'll have to go custom.

I have a Pedersoli Frontier rifle in 32 and it ain't worth a hoot. IMHO,it is so inaccurate that I can't even sell it off to some poor unsuspecting slob with a clear conscious.

IMHO, I would go with TVM, or one of the American makers. With the prices of new guns made off shore, American made guns are a MUCH better value.

 

[Le Grand]

The website for Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading, for Matt & Toni's very good guns, is www.avsia.com/tvm/. It's up and running now, I just looked. Take a look at their Southern Rifle.

 

[caionneach]

Wow I didn't know Pedersoli had a bad rep. I've drooled over those I found at the Dixie Gun Works webs site, and The Possibles Shop carries them too. I currently use a Lyman GPR in .54 cal flint and I really like it. Too bad Lyman doesn't offer something in the smaller calibers. So I'll definitely check out the TVM site, and thanks for the suggestions. Kenneth

 

[renovato]

They generally have a good rep. I don't know what's wrong with J.D.'s gun, but it's certainly not the norm. I'd suggest taking a look at their kits, actually. A little high priced for a factory gun, but they turn out a nice rifle in the end, and are usually quite good shooters.

 

[Zoar]

I just typed--- 32 cal flintlock --- into Google and got a bunch of hits back here is one:
http://thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/p_kentucky_rifle.htm

There ceratinly are 32 cal flintlocks out there yet the 36's seem to have a better reputation.

 

[caionneach]

Hmmm, on that note, does .36 cal foul less than .32? I really don't know either way. I am familiar with my Lyman .54 GPR, and I would use that but that would punch a huge hole in a small squirrel, and it's too big my lad. --Kenneth

 

[paulvallandigham]

Most people take head shots on squirrels just to save the edible meat. It really doesn't matter if you shoot a .22, or .32 or .36 caliber MLer for Squirrels, as long as you don't take body shots. A friend is making a .28 caliber squirrel rifle right now. The .36 gives you range out to 35 yards, which is a long distance from a squirrel. The smaller calibers are basically 25 yard guns, not because they are inaccurate, but becase that small. 40-45 grain ball doesn't have the Ballistic's coefficient of a 40 grain .22 LR bullet, and it simply is not very reliable except in very skilled hands beyond 25 yards for taking that small sized target. Most squirrels are taken inside 25 FEET if the truth were told.

 

[flintlockmdj]

Where did you get a 25 cal barrel? Custom made?

 

[Trench]

The only .32 caliber production flinter that comes to mind are the several models of Pedersoli. Check at Dixie Gun Works and Cabela's. Other then these, you'll have to go custom.

I have a Pedersoli Frontier rifle in 32 and it ain't worth a hoot. IMHO,it is so inaccurate that I can't even sell it off to some poor unsuspecting slob with a clear conscious.

IMHO, I would go with TVM, or one of the American makers. With the prices of new guns made off shore, American made guns are a MUCH better value.

Wow. Well, on the flip side of JD recommendation, I have a Pedersoli Frontier in .36 and it's a tack driver. It'll group all shots in to the size of a dime at 25 yds. However, I agree that you should look at TVM. I just ordered their Early Virginia Rifle today and I'm really excited. Looking back, I should have started with them for my first rifle.

 

[shootemup]

They generally have a good rep. I don't know what's wrong with J.D.'s gun, but it's certainly not the norm. I'd suggest taking a look at their kits, actually. A little high priced for a factory gun, but they turn out a nice rifle in the end, and are usually quite good shooters.

I have to say I've seen good and bad in Frontier rifles. I'm not a fan of Pedersoli percussion locks in general, but their flintlocks can be okay (in my experience).

I think Plink nailed it in that the Frontier is rather high-priced for a factory gun, and that's the bottom line. For just a little more you could have a very nice TVM, and that's a sure thing as far as quality is concerned.

 

[buck1]

Most people take head shots on squirrels just to save the edible meat. It really doesn't matter if you shoot a .22, or .32 or .36 caliber MLer for Squirrels, as long as you don't take body shots. A friend is making a .28 caliber squirrel rifle right now. The .36 gives you range out to 35 yards, which is a long distance from a squirrel. The smaller calibers are basically 25 yard guns, not because they are inaccurate, but becase that small. 40-45 grain ball doesn't have the Ballistic's coefficient of a 40 grain .22 LR bullet, and it simply is not very reliable except in very skilled hands beyond 25 yards for taking that small sized target. Most squirrels are taken inside 25 FEET if the truth were told.

During spring season last month I shot one at 54 long steps [apprx.54yrds] with my .36 flinter and as I agree most of my squirrels are shot pretty close up [especialy since my eyes and nervs aint what they used to be] I still shoot alot of them at 30-40 yards even with my .25 flinter! I show do like-at sqwile huntin! :hatsoff:

 

[brubincam]

-----their sight ain't workin for me-----

 

[Jumpshot]

Dixie has the .32 flintlock Pedersoli Cub in kit form, should be a little easier for kids to handle, too. I think they also have it in .36.
http://davide-pedersoli.com/img/Arms/S.227.jpg

 

[chuckpa]

JD
I have a .32 pedersolie flint and it is not accurate at all. I would also go for a TVM kit or rifle from tony and Matt.

 

[chuckpa]

JD
I have a .32 pedersolie flint and it is not accurate at all. I would also go for a TVM kit or rifle from tony and Matt.

 

[J.D.]

The smaller calibers are basically 25 yard guns, not because they are inaccurate, but becase that small. 40-45 grain ball doesn't have the Ballistic's coefficient of a 40 grain .22 LR bullet, and it simply is not very reliable except in very skilled hands beyond 25 yards for taking that small sized target.

I gotta disagree with that statement. The first gun I built close to 40 years ago had a Numric 30 cal barrel that was sure death on squirrels nearly as far as one could see them. That little 30 would knock 'em dead at 50 plus yards with 30 gr FFFG and Remington caps. Sometimes ya just gotta stoke 'em up to get good velocity and range.

Ten-twenty grains of powder is nice to shoot, but it often isn't enough to get the job done.