Small Bore Flinter for Target / Squirrel ???

[HardBall]

Just day-dreaming here but...

What's your opinion on either a .32 or .36 for target shooting (mostly) and squirrel hunting (occasionally).

I'm looking at either the Pederosoli Frontier or Cabela's Blueridge Flinter. Is there really no difference between them, other than the name stamped on the barrel?

Since these rifles have a 1/48" twist with either .32 or .36 cal. would the .32 need to be driven so fast as to be too destructive on squirrel? Ex: "If" the .32 needed at least 20-25grs of 3F for head shot accuracy, with a 1/48" twist, on squirrels out to 40-50yds and the .36 shot it's best with the same 20-25gr charge of 3F, with the same 1/48" twist, would the .36 then be a better choice since it's ball will probably have a lower muzzle velocity for the same charge compared to the smaller .32? (I hope that makes sense :what: )

BTW, does anybody know how deep the grooves are for these barrels? I know both rifles have 7 lands and grooves, in .32 and .36 cal., compared to 8 lands and grooves for the larger calibers, but I can't find any mention of the groove depth?

 

[musketman]

I would think the .36 would do wonderful under these conditions, plus if you ever get the urge to hunt fox on horseback, the .36 will shine...

 

[roundball]

I pondered that myself a couple years ago but in the final analysis decided that the tiny calibers are so limited that they become almost dedicated calibers to something like squirrel hunting...couldn't be used for deer hunting, etc.

So I went with a throttled back .45cal using a light 40grn charge of Goex FFFg on the recommendation that we should get good enough to only make head shots on squirrels anyway.

An extra benefit with the .45cal is that if a deer does happen along while squirrel hunting, you've got something in your hands for that too...and just two weeks ago that happened...filled a doe tag with the .45cal squirrel load while sitting for squirrels...could just have easily been a boone & crockett buck...but if I'd been holding a .32/.36 (illegal for deer here) I couldn't have taken the shot.

Just some other considerations to weigh...
:m2c:

 

[HardBall]

Roundball,

I would very much like to be able to use a light .45 roundball load for squirrel hunting, but in Louisiana, .36 is the largest allowed.

And since paper targets don't seem to care what size hole I put in them, I'm leaning towards the 32...at least I am today- tomorrow I'll probably change my mind again

By the way- where did you hit the deer with your "squirrel" load? Was it a head shot or neck shot?

 

[roundball]

36cal is as LARGE as you can use? What's the rationale on that...high population density area or something?

She was facing me at 20-25 yds...put the ball low through her left front chest pocket into the heart...sprinted 25-35yds and piled up

 

[HardBall]

The only reason I can figure for not allowing anything larger than .36 (muzzleloaders) for squirrel or rabbit is not "dense" population, but frequently sparse? Or...I guess to ensure no one totes a .54 into the woods during squirrel/rabbit season (which opens before, and closes after deer season) claiming they were only "bark'n" squirrels.

Doesn

 

[Stumpkiller]

Or...I guess to ensure no one totes a .54 into the woods during squirrel/rabbit season (which opens before, and closes after deer season) claiming they were only "bark'n" squirrels.

Bark, nothing. I pop 'em in the head with light loads in my .54

But it does make a good excuse: "Oh Honey Snookums, the state says I need to buy another flintlock. Those rascally legislators, always spending our money." ::

 

[Ron LaClair]

A good mess of Squirrels is just about the best eatin there is. I've had a couple of .32 flinters and I liked them because they don't ruin as much meat on those little critters as the bigger balls.

I even won a 100yd off hand match one time with my .32 using 30gr 3FFF. That little pea ball doesn't drift as much in the wind as the bigger calibres.

 

[roundball]

Or...I guess to ensure no one totes a .54 into the woods during squirrel/rabbit season (which opens before, and closes after deer season) claiming they were only "bark'n" squirrels.

OK, that's it...they assume everyone is crooked...just like our laws which state:
"no handguns may be carried during Archery or ML seasons"

That implies everyone would carry a handgun, shoot a deer with it, then stick an arow in it??????????

Or shoot one with a handgun, and say you shot the deer with a ML??????????

Legislators... :curse: :shake:

 

[Dave K]

I think we all agree that a 22 rimfire is a good squirrel cal. A 22 rimfire shoots a 36-40gr. bullet at around 1300fps. Well a 32cal. rd. ball is right at 40gr. and you are shooting it at around 1500fps. So I think you can use a 32cal for anything that you can use a 22 rimfire for and I do. I am shooting my 32 perc. with 25gr. of 3F Goex or 20gr. of 3F Swiss. You will love the 32, heck you will love a 36. Buy what you like, you will like either. Oh, I don't worry about meat damage. I don't eat squirrel brains. I just shoot them in the head.

 

[KyFlintlock]

Hardball,

I chose the .32 frontier about 4 years ago and it has really made the squirrel hunting a complete JOY! If I had to do it over again though, I prob would have chosen the .36

GOOD LUCK! :thumbsup:

 

[Donny]

I vote .36. You will not regret it.

 

[HardBall]

If I had to do it over again though, I prob would have chosen the .36

And why would that be???

 

[berickson]

hardball-
i have a pedersoli 36 calibre. you were asking about depth of rifling? mine is supposed to be a .375 according to the barrel but a .375 rb sits on the top of the barrel so i use .36 rb (not .350) with a heavy patch- very accurate. so they must measure the size of opening before they put in button rifling?? with a 32 or 36 you may be getting up close to 22 mag velocity. my little flinter really wacks the bunnies and little critters unless i get a head shot.
32 or 36 ?? both are a hoot to play with and very cheap to shoot. took my 36 deer hunting in British Columbia cuz they have no restrictions on size. 60 grains of powder and i wasn't worried til i came across some grizzly tracks i was pushing... 350 rem mag from then on :>)

 

[HardBall]

i have a pedersoli 36 calibre. you were asking about depth of rifling? mine is supposed to be a .375 according to the barrel

I'm not following you... It has ".375" on the barrel :huh:

 

[berickson]

had to take a look. sorry wrong info- :redface: it has .38 on the barrel but a .375 round ball sits on the top of the rifling.
can't find a .370 rb in these parts.
used .350 rb with a REAL thick denim patch for a while. then i found a .360 mould (single cavity)- it works better. very slow process running ball tho. so all in all i am using .360 rb with .018 patch material. works fine. 30 grains is a little too hot for snowshoes but fine for jack rabbits/coyotes etc. i load down to 20 gr for snowshoes, and go for head shots. its a pedersoli - long gun of some type with the brass nose cap. nice piece. with 60 grains 3f
should be smoking out around 2000fps. 30 grains around 1500fps really impresses gophers & jack rabbits. very accurate out to 100 yards.

 

[CrackStock]

HardBall,

Louisiana DWF has a philosophy that you should be hunting either big game or small game and not doing what they term "Crossover Hunting."

You will notice that the smallest for big game is .44. This so that disabled can use a cap and ball revolver. The largest that you can use for small game is the .36. See a pattern here?

Pretty much leaves my .40 at home.

I do not support this concept, but had to live with it and I hunted deer with a .50 and small game with .36. I still think that a lightly loaded .40 is far superior for small game though.

BTW -- if you need some people (Bayou Muzzleloaders Club) to shoot with or help with powder or gun work, contact me through the PM and I will put you onto some good people in the state. One is listed in MuzzleBlasts in Boyce, LA.

CS

 

[KyFlintlock]

If I had to do it over again though, I prob would have chosen the .36

And why would that be???

Mainly because of it being so tight after 1 shot or 2! After talking with some guys about their .36, it appears to me that the .36 has less issue with fouling, as far as being so tight and needing swabbed after every shot. Now, I am NOT the expert at all, and I love to hunt more than shoot, but I have to swab it out after about 4 shots or I have trouble even loading it.

 

[HardBall]

Thanks CrackStock... PM coming at ya

 

[HardBall]

If I had to do it over again though, I prob would have chosen the .36

And why would that be???

Mainly because of it being so tight after 1 shot or 2!

That makes sense...