squirrel hunting caliber?

[steve hill]

Does anyone hunt squirrel with a 50 cal and if so have you
had any success?I guess if not I'll have to buy a 32 cal
darn the luck

 

[Dave K]

I really don't think it really makes any difference what cal. you use as long as it is accurate enough to head shoot them. I think though you are right though, you do need a 32cal. and a 36cal. and a 38cal. plus a 40cal. Then you may need one of each in both perc. and flint. :winking:

 

[roundball]

Does anyone hunt squirrel with a 50 cal and if so have you
had any success?I guess if not I'll have to buy a 32 cal
darn the luck

Last year I set up a .45cal flinter with a reduced load of 40grns Goex 3F, zeroed at 25yds, shot my first squirrel with it last fall...have since tested 30grns...both loads are extremely accurate.

And I agree with DaveK's suggestion that any caliber ball will do...some even talk of using a reduced charge .54cal...so you might just take what you've got, maybe throttle it back some, practice shooting 1" dots at 25yds, and you should be in business...

 

[BS]

traddawg,
The first question that you should ask your self is, do I really want a new rifle. Cause if you do, then.....

 

[Stumpkiller]

Accuracy is more important than caliber. I use a .50 and a .54 for squirrel and bunny. One gun also lets you get totally familiar with it so you do better with all ranges and all game.

I generally download for small game, something around 40 or 50 gr FFg. I sight in for the main heavy deer charge at 50 yards (I like 2" high at that range) and then experiment with lighter loads at 25 yards until I find one that is on at that range with a center hold.

 

[Ron LaClair]

A squirrel hunter should have a squirrel gun, .32 or .36.

Before I got my first .32 flinter I hunted squirrels with a .54. It's a lot more fun with the smaller caliber plus you use less powder and lead, not to mention if you miss the head a .32 leaves more meat.

Here's a succesful mornings hunt with a .32 poorboy flintlock. I had a set of brass barrel shades that made head shots easier.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Before I got my first .32 flinter I hunted squirrels with a .54. It's a lot more fun with the smaller caliber plus you use less powder and lead, not to mention if you miss the head a .32 leaves more meat.

Oh I agree. I still kick myself for selling my Dixie .32 flinter. But, I can buy a lot of scrap lead and powder for my .54 for the price of replacing that .32.

No argument from me that a dedicated squirrel and bunny gun in .32 is a sweet number. Even with 50 grains my .54 wakes up the neighborhood when I hunt the back hill.

 

[KyFlintlock]

Yeah, what he said... The small .32 sure is a hoot.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Wess

 

[Bob J]

Here's a succesful mornings hunt with a .32 poorboy flintlock. I had a set of brass barrel shades that made head shots easier.

Thanks for posting that COOL photo :front: Makes me look forward to some post-deer season squirrel hunting with the .36 flinter.

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr. Longhunter,
Thanks for sharing the photo. Had forgotten squirrels could get that BIG!
Best Wishes

 

[arcticap]

Don't forget about smoothbores/shotguns and some #6 shot. ::

 

[hentird]

In some states,such as Ct., it is illeagle to use any caliber bigger than 36 for small game.Check your state laws.

 

[shmrck1]

I guess if not I'll have to buy a 32 cal
darn the luck

traddawg,
So, you want another B/P rifle ok
i would suggest the Traditions .32 Crockett. It's a
nail driver, cheap to shoot and affordable to buy. I
have taken most small game up to and and including fox
with a .32 but would suggest a .36 for small game
any bigger than coon. :imo:
snake-eyes :m2c:

 

[steve hill]

Well I found a cva squirrel rifle and bought it for 100.00
looks like new. Double triggers sweet looking little gun.

 

[Rebel]

So, ya went and bought it huh? Good deal. I think you willl really like it. Have fun.

 

[KyFlintlock]

show us a pic of her.... I may get my .32 out this week for a few rounds...


A good recipe from a PA hunter:
----------------

Here is a recipe I concocted myself just on a whim and it's some of the best eats I've ever had.
7-8 Squirrels (or more if you like), debone the meat and cube into small pieces, just a touch smaller than you would if using beef.
4 carrots peeled and sliced
4 potatoes peeled and cubed
1/2 large onion roughly diced
1/2 Jalepeno finely diced, use the whole thing if you like it spicy.
3/4 cup frozen corn
3/4 cup frozen peas
8 ounce tub of mushrooms, they come sliced. Not the canned ones, but the ones in the produce section.
1 packet of beef stew mix
Crock pot, and it's KEY.
Now what I do to prepare this is mix the stew mix and water in the crock pot, then add the prepped veggies. Cook on HIGH for roughly 30 minutes or so, give or take. Then add the squirrels and turn to LOW and slow cook it for 3-3.5 hours stirring periodically. Season with salt/pepper to taste. The squirrel meat comes out so unbelievably tender and tasty it's unreal.

 

[Runner]

The original "Squirrel Rifle" had set triggers and was finished to match the best they were making at that time. This is a highly desirable gun. One was for sale at 250$ at Old Mines. The current "Squirrel Rifle" is a Bobcat with a single trigger and no where near the quality of build. You can by it new from Midsouth for a little more than you paid for the older version. Nice purchase. Whatever you are going to use as a patch cloth, get a bunch. Once you get the gun sighted in properly, changing the patch will cause wildly differing points of aim. They are very particular about that. If you are a heretic, 20 grains of 3f 777 will shoot great and handle anything you would use a 32 for. It will also let you shoot all day with commercial lubed patches and never swab. 3f Goex requires swabbing in the small bores. I need to get out to the woods with mine!

 

[steve hill]

Thanks for the replies and the recipe I don't normaly
run into good buys but this is one for sure rifle is well
made shoots as good as any I have and is a real hoot with
the kids. this black powder stuff is addictive huh .Oh does anyone know a way to get an idea of how old this gun is?
thanks again

 

[Tahquamenon]

Squirrel with a 50 cal & PRB is the first thing I started hunting back in 1970.

Since, I've hunting the little tree rats with also 54 and 58 caliber. I picked up my first .45 caliber earier this year and it's a sweet small game caliber.

You need to try for head shots otherwise when shooting larger caliber's otherwise there just is not much left.

When I find the right deal, I'm on the scout for a light 32 or 36 caliber for small game and general plinking. Also going to get one for my daughter.

 

[Runner]

Small light 36 caliber cheap? Midsouth, the Bobcat in 36. A five pound box of buckshot, 200 pre-lubed patches, and a can of powder. The patches work well cut into smaller pieces so you get a lot of mileage out of one of the 100 patch packages. The balls are cheap and you can't tell me the difference between the Hornady buck and the muzzleloading balls they sell except for the price. 25 grains of 3f black gets you all you need, but the gun is rated for 60. If you play with the substitutes, 3f 777 was made for these little guns. 30 grains of it will completely splat balls into little pieces on the 50 yard plate and is accurate enough for head shots as far as you are able. The best part is with the pre-lubed patches, you can shoot all day and very very seldom swab. We sat one day shooting at the bench passing the little gun around. We lost count at 40 something shots since the last time it had been swabbed out. You need a short starter to fit the smaller balls and a pistol powder measure. I paid 9$ for my last five pounds of balls for it, and the muzzleloading balls packed 100 to a box are 8$ a hundred. I think mine was 147$, and that includes shipping. If there is a choice, buy the largest pre-lubed patches they have, since you can cut them in fourths and get four good shots out of each one. It isn't PC. It isn't fancy. Mine is very accurate and fun to hunt with for about the cost of the lock I on the gun I would like to have!