Next rifle--.32,36,40???

[sumoj275]

How goes the evening? I am here to take in some wisdom, advice, and thoughts on what direction I should be looking towards. What I am wanting is a rifle to hunt tree rats and bunnies with, and to plink on occasion. I am just in the beginning of the thought process so styles and caliber info is greatly appreciated. I do think that my .62, 54, and .50's are a bit much for the little critters.
Thanks
Sumo

 

[Wes/Tex]

Of the three calibers you mention, I'd try the middle one and go with the .36. This would allow you to step up to varmints and predators up to the coyote/fox body weight. Of course, the .32 would work but the .36 would give higher energy for this size animal. You will still have to cogitate over style, era, length, etc. but that's part of the fun. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Adui]

:stir: I say get one of each!

And if you arent sure if you want flinter or caplock, get one of each of each!! (OK so Im dreaming but hey :blah: )

 

[longrifle78]

I would go with the 36.

 

[BrownBear]

Dunno where you are (and whether it's legal for you or not), but in addition to getting a small caliber, I'd explore reduced charges in your big calibers for small game. A head shot is a head shot, no matter the size of the hole. Taking your large calibers out for small game sure gives you a lot of extra field time with the guns.

I do that all the time, even with small cals in the house, too. Never had a 40, but I have 30, 32, and 36 cals. All are great. My advice would be to put a lot more thought into the other design features/style that will make you happiest. The only big difference between them will be in weight. If the OD is the same, the smaller cals will have a lot more steel than the larger, resulting in quite a difference in carry.

Notice I didn't say which of my small cals I like best? :rotf:

That's cuzz it depends on my inclinations from one day to the next. Wouldn't part with any of them.

 

[Lonegun1894]

My small calibers are two .32s (one CVA Squirrel caplock and one FL that is a Sitting Fox kit but built by TVM), and a .38 I inherited froma friend. The CVA is obviously the lightest, but I prefer the TVM-built flinter. As to the .38, I don't remember the measurements, but it is very heavy so hangs on target by itself, but is horrible for a hunting rifle. The .38 is a very obvious step up from the .32, but if the small game you want is limited to squirrel and rabbit, I would go with the .32, or maybe .36 over the .40. If bigger, or varmints as has been mentioned, I would seriously start leaning towards the .36/.40.

 

[Birddog6]

I have owned & built several of each .32, .36, .38, .40, .45, and I would go with a .40 in a swamped or straight barrel. Lighter, little more umph of you want it, you can download it to whatever you want basically & still shoot accurately. I get more inquiries for .40 & .54 than all of the other calibers.

Keith Lisle

 

[Birddog6]

I have owned & built several of each .32, .36, .38, .40, .45, and I would go with a .40 in a swamped or straight barrel. Lighter, little more umph of you want it, you can download it to whatever you want basically & still shoot accurately. I get more inquiries for .40 & .54 than all of the other calibers.

And anyone that tells ya a .32 or .36 will do less meat damage than a .40 ? :grin: Hogwash....... A head shot is a head shot on a squirrel, be it a .32 or a .54.


Keith Lisle

 

[MSW]

i'd go with the .40, in flint.

one guy's opinion - free and well worth the price
:grin:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I bought a .40 when I had the choice between a .36 and a .40... but most of the small game rifles that I'd seen were .36 and I wanted to be different. Kinda also why I hunt with a flinter..., to be different.

LD

 

[Ft. Jefferson]

WesTex is right. A 36cal is the way to go!!!

 

[gard72977]

+1 on the 40cal

My next rifle is a 40 cal Tennessee. I just got on the waiting list. Had a hard time deciding which caliber. I really wanted a 32 or 36 but the turning point is the 40 will work in the woods walk. This is going to be a very nice rifle and I want to be able to use it in the monthly shoots and as my Rondy rifle. Maybe in about 18 months I will post some pics!

I have started to research what I want and It has been a lot of fun. I still have a long way to go.

 

[jamesthomas]

+2 on the .40 cal. the round balls will be easier to load, and you can down load it for squirrels or rabbits, plus it will be better for foxes, or other bigger animals if you decide to go that way.

 

[bpd303]

I have had my eye on a custom Southern Mountain (Tennessee style) one of our vendors that comes to our muzzle shoots has. The first time I saw it a couple years ago it wasn't for sale. It's a .36 caliber flintlock and fits me like it was made for me.

At the spring shoot he had decided to sell it The only problem was he is stuck on $1500 and I'm stuck on $1200. Hopefully he will be here this weekend for the fall shoot and we might be able to deal if he still has it.

 

[Billnpatti]

If you can find a T/C Cherokee in .32 caliber, that would serve you well. It is a light rifle and the .32 is a great small game caliber. it is like hunting with a .22. No recoil, small sound and it doesn't tear up small game like larger calibers. If you want to build a rifle that is light and a good shooting rifle, you can get the parts for a H&A underhammer buggy style rifle. I have one in .45 and am thinking of getting a .32 cal. "A" weight Long Hammock barrel for it. It would be light as a feather and beautifully accurate. The "Kentucky" style rifles are beautiful to look at but can get a bit heavy if you are having to carry one through the woods all day. One thing to keep in mind is to get the lightest weight barrel you can. The bore of a .32 is pretty small and requires less metal to be removed from a barrel blank. Consequently, a barrel of equal size and length that is .54 caliber will weigh noticeably less than the same barrel blank drilled for a .32 caliber. I recommend an "A" weight barrel for a .32 caliber.

 

[750k2]

Budget is everything.
Small budget = factory 32 or 36 Italian or TC and such
Larger = Pick a school and go A wgt 40
Even a swamped 44" is nice and light if made right.
Bucks Co. rifles are very trim if made right.
I'm partial to 40's and 54's they'll cover everthing I want to do.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've owned a .32 flint and a .36 percussion. The .32 was a Dixie Mt Rifle - long before the Internet existed - and it was a misery trying to get ignition . . . mostly because I had no idea what I was doing or how to correct spark problems, and there was nowhere locally to turn for help; at least that I was aware of at the time. Wish I had it back. When it did go off it was a sweetheart.

The .36 was a great woodchuck rifle for the type of hedgerow hunting a buddy and I did.

For squirrel and bunny I'd love a .32 flinter again. The .36 opens up the possibilities to medium sized game and is less wind sensitive for longer shots.

A .40 would be good as well, though not legal for large game in NY. Kind of a neither fish nor fowl for hunting but a great target caliber. If your local deer are under 120 lbs probably a good all around caliber.

I can also tell you I made do for many years with a .54 and 42 gr FFg as a small game load. Hits to the sights at 25 yards and klonked any small game dead without being horribly destructive . . . if you didn't hit meaty spots. Ain't much rib meat on a squirrel or bunny if a head shot isn't offerred. ;-)

 

[AZbpBurner]

Just to add to your confusion: My Dad built a .40 cal percussion over 43 years ago. Having fired it vs a .36 cal, the .40 retains just a little more energy out to 100 yards, and accuracy was better vs the .36 a shooting buddy of his had. Of course Dad's 42" barrel may have given it an edge for that distance shooting.

 

[hanshi]

Okay, let's get real, now. You're talking bunnies, squirrels and other small game and you already have deer rifles. The choice, as I see it, is between a .32 and a .36. I'd go with a .36 flinter with a straight 3/4" barrel about 36" to 42". I have such a rifle and it's a featherweight precision small game rifle if there ever was one. Plus a .36 put's you in the large varmint/predator category. A .40 is for those who are also allowed to hunt deer along with small game. A .36 stands on its own as a fine choice.

 

[sumoj275]

Thank you for all the suggestions, it has given me a lot of insight and things to think about. As Hanshi mentions I do have the guns for big game, so I am not needing a do all gun.

Here is a bit more specifics. I live in central OK, so we have a lot of wind, scrub oak, and tree rats. I do get to eastern OK and hunt some which is a lot more wooded with traditional oak, pine, black jack, etc. If I get lucky I may go out western OK and get a few jack rabbits but that would not be often.

Right now I am leaning to the .36 since the wind is a major factor here in OK. It is small enough, but big enough, and can buck the wind a bit better from what I can tell.

As to getting both, if the right Crockett or T/C in .32 comes along that may be an option down the road, but for now dreaming is fun LOL.

Lastly, figuring out what and style, that will be a lot of fun too...............Dreams!!!!!