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

[Hipshot]

Of the three I'd get a 40.

 

[sumoj275]

Thank you all for the insights and experiences. I have it narrowed down to a .40 and .36 cal. The next step will be determining the style I want it in, find a builder or do it myself with a kit, and lastly rock or cap.

Right now this is the way I am leaning:
.40 cal swamped brl, 38-40" long, Southern Mountain style, rock sparker, and a banana style patch box. This might change but I have been thinking about a Southern Style and the .40 seems right to me on it.

Thanks again

 

[Swamp Rat]

You might take a look at the Pecatonica river Beckboy kit. Sounds about what your looking for. I'm in the process of mine. But in a 37" straight 40. The larger bore makes it feel right to me. But that is just barrel inlet into the stock so far.

 

[MSW]

+1 for the Pecatonica ... their wood is tough to beat!! great folks - -fair dealing and an excellent product at a great price; you get much more that what you pay, IMHO ...

did I mention that i'm really happy with my Southern Mountain in 40, A weight barrel?

:grin:

 

[Greebe]

Can you post a picture of the .36cal round ball next to a .40 RB? I would be curious how much different they are side by side.

Thanks,
Greebe

 

[BrownBear]

There's only .04" difference (.350 vs .390). If a guy didn't have his glasses on and look real close, he'd have trouble sorting them in his hand, much less in a pic.

 

[hanshi]

Here ya' go. .32, .36, .40, .45, .50, .54, .62.

 

[Greebe]

I was set on a .36 but then everyone started suggesting a .40 to me in my thread about a .36 vs 62. Now I am not sure which one to get. Still leaning towards the .36, but the longer range and less wind drift of the .40 looks nice as well. Coin toss, right?

 

[BrownBear]

Sure depends on where you are, what, and how far you're shooting. In-field realities compared to on-range theory sezz you probably will never notice any performance difference between the 36 and 40. Keyboard windy days, and even paper target windy days, are not the same as muddy footing, short winded breathing, too much coffee and uncertain distances.

For my tastes I'd compare the weight of two rifles identical except in caliber. If the difference made any difference to you one way or the other, that would be as realistic a comparison as any holes in paper or fingers on keyboards.

 

[hanshi]

coin toss? Not on your life. A .40 overlaps deer hunting and you obviously don't really need that. The .36 will fill in for everything below deer and will do it with a trim, light, easy to feed rifle. I have a .40 that I love; so ask me why I always reach for mt .36 for smaller game.

 

[AWsaddles]

My experience is just the opposite. I have a 36 that I like but when I got my 40 the 36 started collecting dust. My 36 is slim and trim but i like the way the 40 balances much better. That isn't due to caliber but to the style in which both rifles are made. I like the 40 caliber for an all around gun for reasons previously stated and here in Arkansas it is legal to deer hunt with. I took it out this morning deer hunting but after a couple hours without sight of any I switched to my squirrel load and brought home dinner.

I'd handle both if I could and see what fits you the best.

 

[Greebe]

& hanshi--

I am thinking that the .36 might be the right caliber for me. Hehe, tomorrow I will probably have changed my mind to .40 again. :grin:

 

[Greebe]

That is a nice looking rifle. Perhaps if you have that .36 sitting around gathering dust you might want to help out a poor smuck like me and make me a deal on it. Hehe. :haha:

 

[user 13289]

One more option: split the difference. .38 caliber. barrels are available. :v

 

[gunmaker43]

I've often thought a .38 would be a good caliber, mainly because I'm lazy & .375 pistol balls are easy to get...Tom

 

[hanshi]

That is an exceptional rifle, ALW. It's beautiful, in fact. My .40 is wonderfully balanced due to a good swamped barrel and late Lancaster styling. I've done a lot of range and target work with that good .40 but have never taken any game with it.

My .36 SMR is just so delightful to carry around and spooky accurate. It has taken squirrel and coon. IMHO the .40 is solidly in the "all around" rifle category but gives up a bit to dedicated small game calibers such as the .32 and .36. In fact I'm chewing at the bit for a poor boy Tn .32 which will be a while. It will be built with a Chambers late Ketland and Rice "squirrel barrel". By the way, that's a nice brace of squirrels, too. :thumbsup:

.36 SMR


.40 late Lancaster.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

Here are a couple things, which have already been mentioned but I want to highlight, if you get a swamped barrel, it will be an A weight, a 40 will be slightly lighter than a 36. With a 40 you can use a 3/8 ramrod which is less susceptible to breakage.

 

[kaintuck]

I would want a: 40 B-weight swamped, 44" good lock of choice, Lancaster......

I may make one for myself and keep it.....nice PB and iron trimmed......just because :youcrazy:

I am beginning to want to quit work just to make rifles....the the wife said no......

 

[AWsaddles]

You have two mighty fine looking rifles yourself. In fact my 36 could very well be the mate to your southern rifle. It was built by TVM many years ago and is a nice rifle. I guess to be honest that is one reason I carry my 40 is because not only do i like the caliber but it is a rifle I built and there is just something about carrying a firearm you crafted with your own hands into the field. But that is another story. :grin:

 

[Walks with fire]

That's a nice bunch of squirrel there and a nice rifle. One thing that has me wondering is what load did you use on those. I never had a small game rifle and most of the pic's I have seen show quite a bit more damage to the squirrel than your pic shows. If it doesn't tear small game up a whole lot I might have to get one of those .40 calibers. What twist is yours as well?

I always thought that the head was pretty much gone with a .40 caliber hit but those don't look too bad at all.