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I’m thinking about getting a flintlock squirrel gun and I’d like so ideas on cal. and gun style.
You might even consider a smooth bore in these small calibers. I have a cousin who introduced me to muzzle loading some 55 years ago now who swears that a properly tuned smooth bore will shoot as accurately as any rifle out to 50 -75 yards or so which is well withing squirrel shooting range even on long shots. I don't own a smooth bore so am only relating what he tells me and he usually is right about his opinions that are based on actual shooting both game and targets.I’m thinking about getting a flintlock squirrel gun and I’d like so ideas on cal. and gun style.
I decided on a .40 today that's the largest allowed here for squirrels and it sounds like it should be really good for targets.While I recommend and use the .32 and .36 a .40, where legal, can be made to work for squirrel up to deer. Smoothbores are nice and I like mine. But the only thing I'd use shot on would be turkey. I've never liked the results I've experienced using shot for squirrel hunting. First choice is the .32 and .36 with the .40 coming in third. For the one caliber hunter a .40 does make sense.
I can hunt deer in Arkansas with a .40, but squirrel is .36 max.I decided on a .40 today that's the largest allowed here for squirrels and it sounds like it should be really good for targets.
I’m thinking about getting a flintlock squirrel gun and I’d like so ideas on cal. and gun style.
If they aren’t on the ground I won’t be shooting at them, I spend too much time up in trees myself as do a lot of others where I hunt.Where I am there is a lot of good squirreling, but there are some houses near by no matter where I go. Shooting upwards into a tree at a squirrel with even a small round ball typically used for squirrels is not that good an idea. I do confess that I've taken four squirrels with my .54. One was head shot at a squirrel on the ground, and the other three were an experiment in "barking" the squirrel by shooting the branch just under the critter.
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My third barking of a squirrel was my last, as my hunting buddy asked me "Hey were does that ball go, after it goes through that small branch?"
So I only use shot from smoothbores these days.
My 20 gauge India origin trade gun works just fine,
View attachment 128847
BUT it is a good deal heavier than a Pedersoli 20 gauge flintlock trade musket. It's about 1/2 the price though...,
LD
Seriously? Davenport?Plenty of them in Butts Corner NY
I will shoot them on the groundIf they aren’t on the ground I won’t be shooting at them, I spend too much time up in trees myself as do a lot of others where I hunt.
Or you will be overrun!! ...I will shoot them on the ground
I will shoot them in the air
I will shoot them anywhere!
I will shoot them with a gun
I will shoot them on the run
I will shoot them just for fun!
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