Too much for rabbits?

[RobertSubnet]

Greetings all. Its been a while since I have posted. But last weekend I got a nosefull of Goex smoke and now I want to do some more b/p shooting.

Iam looking for a flintlock rabbit gun. A .36 caliber would be ideal. But I am having trouble findinga carbine in that caliber.

Do you think a .50cal with a lighter charge would be too much? I was thinking a roundball getting pushed with about 50-60 grains of powder. The range would be anywhere between 20-70 yards.

Thanks,
~Robert

[Finaddict]

Hi Robert. I use a .32 cal Traditions Crockett to hunt rabbit. I use 20 gr. Pyrodex P with a roundball. That being said I have also used a CVA Bobcat .50 cal with a roundball and 25 gr. Goex 2F. You must hit them in the head with the .50. I caught one in the hind quarter and there was nothing left.
Have fun and enjoy.

[Sharp Shooter]

If you make head shots that will be just fine. What gun do you have? You might be able to get a drop in barrel for it.

[Johnmorris]

The Possible Shop sells CVA Bobcat .36 cal for 175.00 I bought one about 3 months ago. They are good to deal with. This a hooked breach percussion good quality.

[mauser06]

i shot a few groundhogs with my 50cal with my deer load. 90grs of 3fg and a .490 ball. i was surprised at the lack of damage...i mean it knocks them deader than dead...im sure internal damage and shock is worse than the 50cal holes it leave...i never skinned them but from the outside they didnt look too bad. head or vital shots id say you should have atleast back legs for dinner! even moving slow that 50cal ball is still gunna hit with a good punch...which will usually result in damaged meat..not sure how bad it looks on small game though..

[Pglasgow]

Robert,

For rabbit hunting I use 20 grains 3f goex and .490 PRB. Has a Muzzle velocity of around 930 fps and is very accurate in my T/C hawkento 30 yards. I shoot em in the head but from the damage, I would say that a body shot would notblow them to smithereens. Basically, this load is 1.5 times a 22 MAG so its really toned down. Good for small game with a .50 caliberrifle ML though.

Phil

[cayugad]

I use a .50 caliber when I hunt them nasty little red pinr squirrels. They like to get into buildings and tear everything up. I was shooting them with a Hawkins, using 70 grains and a round ball. I was not fussy where I hit them as long as I hit them. I knew with that load it was accurate. In my scoped .50 caliber Wolverine, I shoot 50 grains and a patched roundball and that is an excellent and accurate small game load.

With almost any black powder weapon, and rabbits, you still have to do a head or front end shot to save the meat on the hind legs at least. Or take them low in the belly and you can field dress them at the same time (done that with a .54 caliber once). They say that tradition's Crockett rifle is a nice rifle but I do not own one. I hunt rabbits with a black powder revolver now in .44 caliber. I don't hit many which is fine with me too...

Another option might be a black powder shotgun. Then you can hunt rabbits, squirrels, birds, even turkeys...

[RobertSubnet]

Gentlmen:

Thanks for your comments. If I am not mistaken the Bobcat and Crockett are both percussion rifles. I am looking for a flinter.

My current rifle is a Traditions Shenandoah. It is a full stock piece, so no drop in type barrels are available for that.

I am thinking of the Traditions "Tennessee." Being shorter it would be better suited for rabbits. I also like the double set triggers.

Pglasgow: I'll give your suggestion a try. I only have 2f/4f Goex so it may have to be tweaked a bit.

Cayugad: good to see you are still around here! If I was aiming for squirrels or chipmunks, I would load up with 100 grains and turn them in to vulture food (we have those here in Arizona)I hate those little critters.

The shotgun idea is a good one. In fact while on a firearm auction site last night, I saw an English blunderbuss that was very tempting. I guess that would be considered a shotgun of sorts

I like the idea of using a pistol. Rugers Old Army is something I have been looking at for a while.

~Robert

[Sharp Shooter]

Find a 1" Hawken or Renegade and you can put all kinds of barrels on that. 32cal, up to a 58cal and a 20ga smoothie.