32 Crokett

[Buck Hunter 1]

Anyone have or shoot one? Fun? I am looking at one to set up for my daughter and squirrel hunitng. Are ball readily availible, any pet loads etc. Thanks guys! I figure this would be perfect for her to learn on.

[arcticap]

I don't have a Crockett, but everyone who does seems to like it a lot. It does have a long 32 inch barrel and it does weigh 6 lbs. 7 ozs. though.

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/es...8Side+Locks%29

One of the issues with .32 barrels is that they are often heavier than a barrel of a larger caliber. Many .50 carbines are in the 5 -6 pound range and are easier for youth to hold for off hand shooting.
The fact that muzzle loaders can be down loaded means that there's virtually no recoil shooting a .50 caliber. Loading is easier with larger balls because they're easier to handle and they make more substantial holes in target paper. Plus kids really like a little extra power after they start shooting the big bore with the light loads.
My son started when he was about 9 with a .50 carbine loaded with 25 grains of powder at 25 yards, and shooting 30 grains of powder out to 50 yards. There's very mild recoil but still plenty of accuracy, smoke and big holes in the paper to let them know that they're shooting a rifle capable of taking any game including deer.
A .32 is great for hunting squirrels just like a .22lr is, except it's heavier and longer. They're all fun, but some guns are tougher to learn to learn to shoot off hand with than others.
The only common complaint that I've ever heard about the Crockett is that cleaning patches can get hung up somewhere down inside the breech where there's a lip where the excess breech plug threading ends or something like that. Anyway, not every Crockett rifle has that problem but many of them do.

[Mr.Flintlock]

I own two 32 caliber rifles. One is a custom made flint rifle that I built myself about 25 years ago. It has a 35 inch long barrel that is 3/4 inch across the flats. It is light weight and a pleasure to shoot and hunt with. I use .310 round balls and 25gr of GOEX 3-f. I try to get close enough to head shoot sqirrels to reduce meat damage.

My other rifle is a crockett 32 that was given to me as a retirement gift. I have not hunted with it but have shot it at the range quite a bit. It is a great little rifle and it is accurate with 35gr of GOEX 3-f and a 310 rb. I use pillow ticking for patching on both rifles.

Round balls for these rifles are readily available in .310 and .315. Also, if you have access to lead, lee makes a mould in .310. You will get many shots from a pound of powder and a pound of lead.

Some years ago CVA made a little 32 caliber rifle that had a short barrel that measured 11/16 inch across the flats. If you can locate one of these, it would make an ideal rifle for a child. They have been out of production for several years now but there must be a few around for sale.

At any rate a 32 caliber is a fun rifle for people of all ages.

Hope this information helps.

[Johnmorris]

There is another option CVA made a 36 cal in the Bobcat. The last I knew The Possible Shop had them left and were selling them around $200. They take a .350 ball or you can by 32 sabot and shoot 32 cal pistol bullets. I have one and it is very accurate weighs about 6 lbs. and you can even find 50 cal barrels that will fit it.