Small Game w/muzzleloader?
12-14-2008, 04:59 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: 1st State, Delaware
Posts: 162
Small Game w/muzzleloader?
I know the with deer seasons in now the posts pretain to 45 and 50cal rifles. But how many hunt small game with a smokepole? Before moving to Maryland I hunted squirrel in New Jersey that had a special season. I used a 36cal Hatfield and it was a lot of fun!
12-14-2008, 06:02 PM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Comance county, OK
Posts: 11,408
RE: Small Game w/muzzleloader?
In the past i have huntedsmall game with two very old but well maintained guns. Gave it up because the sights on those guns are not very good. For several years i have hunted rabbits and squirrels withmy .50CVA StagHorn. The load is 70 grains of Pyrodex RS(soon to be 70 grains of 2F Goex Pinnacle) and either a .430 XTP or a lead .430 SWC in a Knight sabot.The gun has a real good scope and I do head shots only. If a hog comes by that load will dropit dead too.
i oftenhead shootsquirrels and rabbits while hog hunting with a full power load in that CVA gun.
i oftenhead shootsquirrels and rabbits while hog hunting with a full power load in that CVA gun.
12-14-2008, 06:31 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: Small Game w/muzzleloader?
I own two flintlocks, both custom made...One in .40 and one in .54...The .54 is for deer, the .40 handles the smaller stuff...There is something neat about loading that .40 up with 25grs of FFF and clipping a squirrel in the head with it...
12-14-2008, 09:09 PM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585
RE: Small Game w/muzzleloader?
I have 3 PRB rifles,twoTC a Hawken I won years ago in a shooting match a 45 and a renegade 54 also a Hawken I built myself from a set of plans from a Hawken in the ST Louis museum; there is also my system one [1 in 38 twist] which will shoot a very nice group with a PRB and 90 gr P.
For a lot of things I use PRB but for Grouse, dove and quail i use a 28 gage power piston and shot.
I also have a Ruger Black Powder which I have taken both big and small game with over the years.Lee
For a lot of things I use PRB but for Grouse, dove and quail i use a 28 gage power piston and shot.
I also have a Ruger Black Powder which I have taken both big and small game with over the years.Lee
12-15-2008, 08:45 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Peach Grove Kentucky
Posts: 106
RE: Small Game w/muzzleloader?
Popped a sitting cottontail with a prb from my .50 cal flintlock Saturday. Was still hunting for deer, but I'd never pass up a fried rabbit supper. 80 grains Goex is surely overkill, but that's what was in the tube, so... Didn't turn out too bad as it hit right at the head/neck junction. Just one less thing I had to cut off & discard when I dressed it. 
Would love to have a smoothbore flinter, but don't think there is a drop-in shotgun barrel on the market for my gun, and a new gun is out of the question for now. But it's first on my list when funds are available!
Would love to have a smoothbore flinter, but don't think there is a drop-in shotgun barrel on the market for my gun, and a new gun is out of the question for now. But it's first on my list when funds are available!
