Loads for Traditions Crockett

[CalebJonasson]

I'm just new here and was wanting to know what a recommened squirrel, possum, and coon load would be in my --new to me, but used-- .32 cal caplock rifle. Also what are some good loads for a Maxi ball in this rifle? Any thing you can tell me will help. This will be my first .32 cal muzzleloader. thanks in advance and until then, make good smoke

 

[stude 283]

If I buy a used gun I ask the previous owner for his best load.Should at least be a good starting point.Never bought one that wasn't a good shooter.AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE PO.

 

[bubba15301]

start at 10 grains 3fpowder .310 or .315 rb and go up from there

 

[CalebJonasson]

Thanks but have you never used the Maxi Balls? I think there about 100 grains. I've had a .50 hawken and a .45 Kentucky but I've never shot conicals out of either.

 

[Rat Trapper]

TC use to offer a maxi ball mold years ago. Today if you can find one, they will cost your dearly. Not sure if it is worth the effort as the 32 is just fine for small game with the round ball. If you want to eat the rabbits or squirrels you shoot with the 32 keep the powder charge as low as you can and still get good accuracy. I found 20 grains out of a TC Cherokee 32 cal damage to squirrels was about the same as that shot with 22 long rifle.

 

[CalebJonasson]

Okay. Actually the rifle comes with a mould for the conicals. Not sure if its a Lee or TC but It will do 6 at a time. I was thinking the conicals for long shots at coyotes or boars.

 

[robinsroost]

I agree that 20 grains of FFF is about right. That is what I shoot in my Crockett. It is a little disconcerning because it make less noise than a .22. The only noise I hear is the hammer striking the nipple. It will slap knock a squirrel out of a tree. It also works well for rabbits, raccoons, opossums and wild turkeys...........Robin

 

[bubba15301]

Okay. Actually the rifle comes with a mould for the conicals. Not sure if its a Lee or TC but It will do 6 at a time. I was thinking the conicals for long shots at coyotes or boars.

.32 would work for coyotes, i would not use a it for boar. you need a larger caliber for boar.

 

[BrownBear]

Long as you're dinking around with loads, try dropping down to 15 grains of 3f, and even 10 grains of 3f. I started at 20 grains, but saw no improvement going up to 30. Then I went the other way.

Mine is even more accurate down low, but with no apparent penalty in trajectory out to my 35 yard limit (or so) for head shooting snowshoe hare. And it just splatters rabbit heads with that little charge. Remember that a .310 ball is probably even bigger than the most expansion you'll ever get from a 22LR, so it hits with a lot more authority, even at lower velocities.

 

[bubba15301]

Thanks but have you never used the Maxi Balls? I think there about 100 grains. I've had a .50 hawken and a .45 Kentucky but I've never shot conicals out of either.

all i ever shot was rb out of my .32s

 

[CalebJonasson]

I Never thought about the RB size vs expansion of a 22LR. I think I'll start around 10-15 like everyone suggests. What would be the Max powder charge in this rifle, Not saying I want to reach it but I would like to know anyway.

 

[gearheart]

Not sure for Traditions but TC Arms gives 50 grains as max load for a 32 cal Seneca. There is no good reason for going that high as accuracy goes out the window with such a charge. The fun part of this game is that you have the ability to fiddle around with a lot of variables to get a "best" load for your rifle. Remember to make only one change at a time so you know what you did and what it caused.
Keeping a log book is good practice to keep a record of the stuff you've tried and how it worked.
Things to fiddle with are powder charge, patch thickness, patch lube, the powder itself and the caps. All will have some effect on your shooting. Have fun.

 

[torn moc]

Keep in mind that with 40 grain charg the lead is going to be zipping out the barl at around 2000 feet per second...
ALSO....any load that shoots over 1100 feet persecond ( speed of sound) will LEAD your barrel...this is why modern smokeless loads use copper jacketed bullets.....
SO...to save yerself from the time consuming chore of de leading your barrel I would keep powder charges down to around 10-11 grains
which will produce 1,063 feet per second and 125 foot pounds of energy....Plenty for small game.
Lord ! it is kind of counterproductive to try to make these smokepoles into modern magnums....
they are what they are...and will serve you best with moderate powder charges.

 

[Rev_William]

Well as others have said 10- 20 grains work fine. I personally use 15 gr 3f for just about everything unless I'm feeling lucky on seeing a coyote then I do 30 gr 3f. I built mine from a kit about 4-5 yrs ago and the manual said max of 30 gr 3f. I know some shooters here go higher but that's just wasting powder as far as the way I use the rifle. I don't see that much gain in hitting power at the ranges I shoot. If you want better ballistics for a hog go bigger in the caliber. I did see a post either here or another forum where an old gent had a .32 built he used for hogs and claimed he could put a rb clean thru but he was using an awful long barrel and had said if I remember right about 60 grains of 3f. by long barrel, I want to say, 5 foot or so? had a half stock on it too but it was kind of ugly looked like it was built on a dare to prove a point.

 

[BrownBear]

...
ALSO....any load that shoots over 1100 feet persecond ( speed of sound) will LEAD your barrel...this is why modern smokeless loads use copper jacketed bullets.....

Ummmmm. There's this little thing called a patch. :redface:

 

[torn moc]

YER RIGHT.....just reiterating sumthin I read somewhere...
learn sumthin new everyday!

 

[gard72977]

Im almost sure scalper is talking about using a conical but this has me thinking. I have been kicking around the idea of building a underhammer in 32 or 36 with a fast twist for conical. I wonder if I can even get the velocity high enough for this to work out. Just looking for something different to shoot coke cans with and longer distance that RB

Almost for forgot. I have only taken my crocket to the range one time. Not the best day to test. I was loading 25gr of swiss. It was almost too loud without hearing protection. I was kind of surprised. Im going to back down to 10-12gr and try again

 

[BrownBear]

It was almost too loud without hearing protection. I was kind of surprised. Im going to back down to 10-12gr and try again

Huh? Speak up, dangit! :rotf:

As a lifelong hunter and over 50 years of field shooting without hearing protection, I can say for sure that you're smart. I've been religious about hearing protection on the range, but hate it in the field. Now I'm deefer than a post.

 

[gard72977]

That's funny. Im just like you. I cant hear! I do wear hearing protection shooting cartridge guns but find that I do not want it when shooting ML. That dang Swiss just has a crack to it. I think I could use a lot less and do ok.

 

[gard72977]

I got to thinking about it and took the crocket out the field. I started with 15 gr of swiss and moved up to 17.5gr. I think I was using a patch the was too small. The crack was much better with lighter loads. Accuracy was not bad but not good enough. Will tighten up the load and try again