Well guys, it finally happened. Been wanting a .32 squirrel rifle for a long time and had all but given up. Had my mind set on a Traditions .32 caliber Crocket Squirrel Rifle but they have been as hard to find as hens teeth. A couple days ago another member on here contacted me to convey that Deer Creek had a very few in. So I ordered one online after hours. Received notification that it had been shipped yesterday and I’ll be dang if it didn’t arrive today. Not too darn shabby service IMO.
Now for the skinny.
Opened the box and was pleasantly surprised at the quality, especially for a lower end ML. Stock is nice, the blueing is deep and shiny, and the brass furniture is fair. Sights are nice and the wood is nice as well. Not bad at all.
Now for the not so good. I am disappointed that there is a lot of slop between the ramrod thimble and the ramrod. It is tight down in the front of the stock but the first thimble slop should not be. With a metallic ramrod clanging against a metallic thimble, not good. I’m going to try to sleeve the thimble some how, or at least put some kind of bushing in there if possible. This ole boy cannot stand rattling hunting gear. Worse case scenario would be to put a toothpick or something like that between the two while hunting.
The only other things I’m finding so far is there’s a couple of small scratches on the lock plate, but not really noticeable. Also, the wedge pin is a bit crude but its going to get some ware on it anyway over time. Everything else looks great.
Sadly, the rifle did not come with anything else but the owners manual. No cleaning jag, brush, no nothing. So it’s going to be a few days before I’ll be able to test shoot it. I have a kit ordered but it looks like I’m going to need a smaller diameter ball starter as well.
Ya know, I'm ugly but I'm gonna look pretty good shooting this little rifle.
Now for the skinny.
Opened the box and was pleasantly surprised at the quality, especially for a lower end ML. Stock is nice, the blueing is deep and shiny, and the brass furniture is fair. Sights are nice and the wood is nice as well. Not bad at all.
Now for the not so good. I am disappointed that there is a lot of slop between the ramrod thimble and the ramrod. It is tight down in the front of the stock but the first thimble slop should not be. With a metallic ramrod clanging against a metallic thimble, not good. I’m going to try to sleeve the thimble some how, or at least put some kind of bushing in there if possible. This ole boy cannot stand rattling hunting gear. Worse case scenario would be to put a toothpick or something like that between the two while hunting.
The only other things I’m finding so far is there’s a couple of small scratches on the lock plate, but not really noticeable. Also, the wedge pin is a bit crude but its going to get some ware on it anyway over time. Everything else looks great.
Sadly, the rifle did not come with anything else but the owners manual. No cleaning jag, brush, no nothing. So it’s going to be a few days before I’ll be able to test shoot it. I have a kit ordered but it looks like I’m going to need a smaller diameter ball starter as well.
Ya know, I'm ugly but I'm gonna look pretty good shooting this little rifle.
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