WANTED Looking for a .32 or .36 for my wife.........really

[Daniel Getz]

I have a pedersoli Dixie cub rifle in .36.

 

[Tinker]

It should not be a surprise to those of you out there that have gotten older and had to deal with bad shoulders and bad wrist that holding a heavy barreled long rifle on target is very difficult. I had to say goodby to my 32 and 36 caliber rifles and switched to 45 cal. My 45 cal. rifles are much lighter and easier to handle, plus they don't foul as fast as the smaller calibers tend to do. I would suggest you broaden your search to include the 45. and if you are thinking it is to big for squirrel hunting, then do like my dad taught me. You "bark" them squirrels. That is, you put your shot at the bark of the tree next to their little heads and knock them out of the tree. It really does work but uo got to move quick before the critter recovers.

 

[Hawkin’]

.32 Cherokee a couple ads down. Great little rifles

 

[ebsails]

It should not be a surprise to those of you out there that have gotten older and had to deal with bad shoulders and bad wrist that holding a heavy barreled long rifle on target is very difficult. I had to say goodby to my 32 and 36 caliber rifles and switched to 45 cal. My 45 cal. rifles are much lighter and easier to handle, plus they don't foul as fast as the smaller calibers tend to do. I would suggest you broaden your search to include the 45. and if you are thinking it is to big for squirrel hunting, then do like my dad taught me. You "bark" them squirrels. That is, you put your shot at the bark of the tree next to their little heads and knock them out of the tree. It really does work but uo got to move quick before the critter recovers.

Good advice. I hadn't thought about the 32 and smaller being heavier. Was mostly thinking of the lighter loads.

Got out yesterday, with my son and wife. It was his first time with a ML. We convinced my wife to try a few shots with an older Hawken style 50. @ 45 gr. She was surprised how light the kick was, and enjoyed the whole time.

I had picked up the Ardesa 50 from a member here to surprise my son with. He didn't know it was his till we were done shooting and having dinner.

Another gets hooked !!

 

[ebsails]

Thanks for everyone's advice here, and I have a .32 on the way. But now I think she will probably be shooting a 45 I have, or the Hawken style 50's.

Oh well, I'm sure I'll find a use for the 32........Haha

 

[rrebuck]

Swapping your wife for a gun? Not sure that follows the forum rules.