New Crockett rifle

[CoyoteJoe]

My friends new Crockett .32 arrived yesterday so here is my Out-of-the-box evaluation. The barrel measures 32" by .765" across the flats. I is polished and bright blued but not polished deep enough to remove scratches from previous operations. Measured at the muzzle it is .320" bore and .344" across the eight grooves. The under rib has some sharp and rough corners. It is attached to the barrel with three machine screws. Two forward ramrod pipes are steel and measure .320" ID, attached by screws through the back side of the rib and threading into the thimbles. The entry thimble is brass and larger, measuring .365" ID. It is attached to the stock by a screw from the barrel channel threading into the brass thimble. The nicely polished brass nose cap is similarly held by two screws.
The stock is of some light colored wood, very well sanded and stained a medium walnut color with no open pores. Wood to metal fit is not perfect but I've seen worse on more expensive guns. Length of pull is 13 1/2" to front trigger. With no cheek piece nor patchbox it is ambidextrous.
Lockplate is polished smooth and case colored. Lock and triggers are not "custom quality" but seem to function well except for a very hard pull to set the trigger.
All criticisms are of a cosmetic nature except for a very rough muzzle crown which pulled fibers from a cleaning patch! The ramrod seems to be aluminum anodized a sort of pink color. It measured .285" with both ends threaded 10x32. One end has a brass tip cupped for ball seating. No cleaning jag nor any other accessories were supplied. The instructions seem adequate and suggest 20 gr. 3f for accuracy and 35 gr. max with a .310" ball. The supplied nipple seems to take a #10 cap.
My first impression is that this is a nice little rifle and a bargin for the price. I'll provide shooting results when the wind allows decent roundball shooting. :imo:

 

[Dadof8]

CoyoteJoe,

I'm days away from getting a Crockett. This will be my first BP rifle. Where did your friend get his gun? Was it mail order or purchased from a store? If mail ordered, was it a good experience.

BTW, I will probably be doing a double purchase. A Crockett .32 caliber and a Lyman GPR in .54 caliber.

If you're wondering how I will pull this off with She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO), it is because the combined price of both of these rifles is still less than the very expensive keyboard I gave her for Christmas. YMMV.

Dadof8

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Well, I wish I could report tack driving accuracy but it was just too windy. I did run 30 shots in 5 shot groups at 25 yds. I normally don't consider 25 yards as rifle shooting distance but the wind made even that pretty useless. My "impression" of shooting the Crockett was quite favorable. It busted the CCI #10 caps without fail and they lit up the Goex 3f without hesitation. I think the design of the patten breech is very good, with flash channel between nipple and powder chamber being both shorter and larger diameter than most patten breech percussions. The brass front blade and U notch rear both measure .062". They are a good match to each other but not to my 63 year old eyes.
The Hornady "0" buck measures .324-.326" actually larger than the .320" bore of the Crockett. Buck was very hard to start even with my thinnest patch, .011" linen. Once past the muzzle the thin patch was easy to seat on down but with thicker patches it was a bit of a struggle. I tried 16 and 20 grains of Goex 3f only, and swabbed the bore after every five, but didn't have to, 20 grains of Goex don't leave much behind. Hornady .310 swaged balls loaded very easy with .024" spit patch, too easy in my opinion. I even tried five of the "0" buck bare ball. Tamped a cleaning patch down on 20 gr. 3f, then the ball lightly lubed with DGW "old zip" patch lube. That grouped about as well as anything else but with the wind and me shivering it waren't nothing to boast on, all loads went about 1 1/2"-2" @ 25.
After a few shots I noticed oil bleeding out of the barrel to breechplug joint. I wiped it off but it kept reappearing. Don't know that that is about but I don't recall that happening with other guns.
Shooting under todays conditions was really pretty much a waste of powder, ball, and caps but I couldn't wait. Oh yeah, I did notice that with patches cut on the muzzle, recovered patches are smaller than a dime! :m2c:

 

[Rebel]

I think once you get the barrel broke in and a day with no wind you will be surprised at the accuracy you get. The two Crocketts i had were both extremely accurate. They would shoot one hole groups at 25 yds. and 1"- 1 1/4" at 50 yds. I killed a coyote with my first one at 165 paces, which we figured was close to 150 yds. That little .32 cal ball has moore uuummmpphhh than you would think. I used Buffalo Bullet Company swaged balls, and i think they were .311. I think you will be happy with it once you get a load worked up. Good shooting.

 

[wilded]

You guys can also use the hornady #1 buckshot with thick patch. Rabbits and squirrels can't tell it from the # 0 but my target shows it is a little less accurate. If anyone finds a flashcup that will fit the crockett let me know. :m2c:

 

[[email protected]]

Hey! yer LUCKY ya got one.. I would buy one but
MIDSOUTH is out of stock...everybody else is charging
$50 plus more!
break her in and let us know how she does.
are 60 year old eyes realy an excuse? ha....
my 50 year ole eyes ARE my excuse...and coffee jitters. and windy days and being HUNGRY and BRIGHT light , lumbago, arthritis, cabin fever..sciatic nerve.etc.etc.etc ....jeez...I am lucky to be able to type if I really think about it...but I luv my muzzleloaders and shoot the HECK out of 'em. i wish I could post my picture jest ta show ya what an ole geezer I AM !!
i WILL SAY THAT when you describe a rifle you shore do a scientific job of it! I dont think ya missed 1 tiny point that way ... Great Job !!!!

*** WV SCROUNGER ***

 

[TexasMLer]

After a few shots I noticed oil bleeding out of the barrel to breechplug joint. I wiped it off but it kept reappearing. Don't know that that is about but I don't recall that happening with other guns.

Hi Coyote Joe,

My GPR also leaked oil at the same location when I first got it. It did stop after a while, though. I think it took about 200 shots, if I'm not mistaken.

Sounds like you had fun! Congrats on the new rifle!

:thumbsup:

 

[tcheek]

I recived a Crockett for Xmas and I can't tell you how much I love this gun.

I have been shooting 20 Gr with a round ball. I shot 5 rounds at targets and was dead on at 20 yards.
Took it squirrel hunting and was three for three I kept them inside of 20 yards.
Second time out 3 for 4 shots. again under 20 yards.
Third time out. "0" for 6 shots all over 20 yards. Looks like I'm pulling right after 20 yards. So it is back to the range, But I can't say enough about how this gun Feels and shoots for me.

:m2c:

 

[Barney]

Are your Crockett rifles shooting pretty good out of the box or are you haveig to file the front sight? I got mine right before christmas and haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.

Thanks

 

[finaddict]

Midsouth is out because I got one of the last ones just last Friday. Took it to the range on Sat. and was very pleased. I had to file the rear sight and went to far and had to touch it up with a file to the front sight. It is very accurate as long as I hold still. :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
All in all I love it. I'm taking it up rabbit hunting on Monday 21st. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[wilded]

I polished the bore with several flitz patches and the #0 buckshot loaded much easier.

 

[montanadan]

Barney - Mine shoots a little high out of the box, I am going to shoot it a little more before I fiddle with the sights. My prblem is, I starting shooting my Crockett, everyone else want's to shoot it. I really do not mind, but at some point I would like to get it dialed in a little better. Best monet I ever spent...and cheap fun..Respectfully Montanadan

 

[Old40Rod]

Re: hard loading, check the muzzle opening very carefully by running a wooden toothpick from inside the muzzle (an inch or so) along a land upward toward the muzzle opening. If its not a smooth transition, call CVA and send it back for replacement/repair. A .36 CVA barrel I recently purchased had a slight ring of excess material in this area... the toothpick will catch if its bad. The defect was hard to see. It made it next to impossible to load and tore patches like the dickens. I sent it back and they reworked the muzzle opening, no charge (other than I had to pay to ship it back). :m2c: