Which do you like better, 36 or 40 cal ?

[bushnell60]

I am thinking about making another rifle. I have had a 36 and liked it fine. Is there any advantage or much difference in a 40? Are various ball diameters more common for either one? I have looked on the TOW site and ball size choice looks about the same. 40 cal seems to be the new choice over 36 which has been more common for years. Which do you like?

 

[MSW]

I have one of each. my .36 has a straight Long Hammock 36 inch barrel. my .40 is a Colerain a-weight swamped 42' with radius groove rifling. although the .40 is a precarve (whereas the .36 is my own warts-and-all), I would pick the .40 over the .36 if I had to pick one over the other.

the .40 caliber will hold velocity a bit better, is a tad less susceptible to wind, and (if you hunt) has a little bit more 'whompability.' (much has been made of hunting white tail deer with a .40; I think that this is not really such a good idea) the .36 is cheaper to feed, if this is a big item of concern... I haven't done the arithmetic, but I suspect it's pennies a shot ... if I'm that poor, I should probably be doing something more profitable with my time ...

just one guy's opinion ... free and doubtless well worth the price ...

either way, make good smoke! :grin:

 

[longrifle78]

There is really no right answer to your question . you can't go wrong with either one, it all comes down to personal preference. Myself , I like the the 36 for small game / plinking and 50 or bigger for big game.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Build or buy both, then you have nothing to decide! :thumbsup:

 

[Curt]

Good answers to your question so far.They both work great on small game .Curt

 

[Don Steele]

When faced with the same decision recently, I went with .40 based on it's popularity in competition.

 

[azmntman]

I have a .36 traditions that I will be selling or having bored to .40 by Mr Hoyt. I cannot get a group out of it (bought new). Other than that its a toss. If a .40 will kill a deer so will a .36 (and you can get conicals for a .36 in the "market"). For deer I stick with .45 or larger (just bought a .45, used to be .50 or larger).

Best advise yet though was get both! :grin:

 

[Spikebuck]

I think it depends largely on what you want to do with it.

For me personally, I have found both to be of little value since my primary goal is hunting. I found that for things like squirrels and rabbits I would prefer a .32 (if going with a rifle) since it doesn't have the meat damage of the .36 and .40 on a non-head shot. For big game, I'm a .54 and up kind of guy. So the .36 and .40 are just that size that they're more than needed for small game or less flexible due to meat damage so head shots only, and less than I want for big game.

I do plan to use my current .40 on coyotes this winter, which I think will be a great choice. With a conical, it would also be effective on deer, but I'd still rather have a .54 or .58 for that.

For target shooting I think either would be fabulous...I'd probably choose the .40 to get a little more stability in wind.

 

[nkbj]

Well, I'd want to go for something that shot the same ball that I used in a revolver.
Been tempted to go down that path in more ways than one.

 

[Tom Compton]

I settled on the .40 over 30 years ago and have no remorse. Reasons were similar to those above. I've taken whitetail w .40 and would again if it were all I had. Now it's the .54 I put together. If I decided to go smaller it would be a .32.

I have some lead SWCs for a .41 Mag. .410 diameter and 210 gr that could work but my .40s have a 66 twist and .012" grooves. The .54 ball is 230 gr so why bother?
TC

 

[Chevythunderman]

I agree with the both answer! He who dies with the most guns wins..... I would go with a .32 over a .36 for small game. If I could shoot my guns as good as they can shoot the .40 would be an all around good gun. Just head shoot everything and all is good. I'm building a .32 right now and will be building a .40 as soon as I'm done with it. Give me about 2 years and I'll tell you what the difference in the 2 are. :rotf:

 

[hanshi]

I believe the answer to your question has been fairly well summed up. The real question is what will you do with the new rifle. I fortunately own all three, .32, .36, and .40. The hands down best for small game is the .32; that's what I've mostly used over the years. The .36 is just as accurate, cheap to feed and effective as the .32. The .40 is a wonderful caliber but edges into too much for small targets. If my goal was a dedicated small game rifle I'd go with a .32. If I didn't want a .32 I'd go with a .36 and still be as happy as a pig in mud. Both of these small bores can be easily revved up to amazing power and can take much larger game. The .40, on the other hand can be adequate for game up to the size of smaller deer (no 250 pounders from the North). But on small game it must be down loaded to .22 short velocities to be suited for squirrel; standard .22LR speeds are okay, too.

While roaming through the woods and if I didn't know what kinds of targets/game I'd be likely to encounter, I'd pick the .40 and not look back. Otherwise it would be a .32 or .36 for me.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

After discovering the accuracy of the E. TN rifle I built in .40 caliber, I am really falling in love with it.

I have shot an H&A underhammer in .36 and it was dreamy.

Because the above statements effectively cancel each other out, buy both. :surrender: :rotf:

 

[Dewey]

I have a 32 for small game. And a 50 for larger game.

That's all I really NEED.

'Course I couldn't resist a certain 54 Va rifle ....

Then there is my 62 smoothbore ... just for the shear fun of it !!!

:grin:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I like .40, because in my state it's legal for deer (haven't decided if I will try for deer with it, and I have conicals to try in it as well....), and because it's wierd in a you don't see that every day sort of way. I'm weird too...so the caliber and I sorta go together.

Much easier I think to find .350 ball, and for where I use my .40 a .36 would work just as well.

:idunno:

LD

 

[mooman76]

Like others have stated, it depends on what you want and can to do with it. I've never owned a 40 but I would go with a 36. Good enough for small game. I personally would want at least a 45 for deer and some states, it wouldn't be legal for a 40 anyway. With a 36 you can shoot buck shot.

 

[kopfjaeger]

Split the difference between the .32 and .40. Go with the .36 caliber. :thumbsup:

 

[nkbj]

Or .38 to use .375 ball.

 

[bushnell60]

Thanks for the replies. You guys are funny, I totally agree on having one of each. I have a 50 now and don't plan on doing anything very serious with any of them other than shooting targets and small game. I used to deer hunt and my 50 just piled up the last 240 lb corn fed Iowa buck I shot at 60 yards. You guys have me thinking 32 now for small game. But I keep hearing they are finicky to load and shoot accurately. Any opinions on 32's for ease of shooting and accuracy?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yes there is always the DIY evaluation, so you are going to need several rifles in several calibers..., .32/.36/.40/.45/.54/.58/.62 Better get started purchasing soon... :shocked2:

As for the .32..., durability of the small ramrods, and giving them a good wipe between shots seem to be the only standard concerns. They are the .22LR of the BP age.

Squirrels, rabbits, and feral cats....oh my!

LD