Squirrel Rifle

WCW · 09-05-2011, 07:01 AM

Our small game season starts on the 17th and I have been using a 36 cal cap-lock for squirrels for the past four seasons. Yesterday I was offered a 32 cal Traditions Crockett rifle for $150.00 that looks like it hadn’t been shot more than a dozen times. My thinking is that it would make a good squirrel gun so I bought it. No paper works came with the gun and the manual I downloaded from Traditions indicates that the most accurate load for a 32 cal is only 10 grains of powder and the max is 25. In that my 36 shoots best with 55 grains of 3F those loads seem a bit anemic to me. Any thoughts on where I should start to work up a load?

cayugad · 09-05-2011, 07:14 AM

I am sure that the manual is aimed towards the side of safety, but that does sound like a low charge. Now owning a small rifle, I have no idea what to tell you. So I would say ... follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. I am sure there are other shooters that might give you a more realistic powder charge.

nchawkeye · 09-05-2011, 08:24 AM

55grs in a .36 is a very stout load, of course if it groups with that much powder then it is what it is...

In my .40 my squirrel load is 25grs FFF...In a .32 I would start with 15-20grs and move up to 30-35...I'd hope it could group with the lower charge as higher charges will tear up the meat if head shots aren't taken...

Semisane · 09-05-2011, 08:46 AM

After shooting 20 and 25 grain loads of GOEX FFFg in my .32 Pedersoli with several different patch thicknesses and not getting the accuracy I thought I should get, I moved up to 35 grains GOEX FFFg and got this. You've just got to let the rifle tell you what it wants. I don't see how a load like this could be too much for a Traditions rifle.

lemoyne · 09-05-2011, 06:55 PM

The rule of thumb my Granddad taught me was to start at 1/2 the ball weight and expect to find the sweet load before you get to 3/4 the ball weight.

HEAD0001 · 09-05-2011, 07:10 PM

I shoot a 30 grain load of 3F in my 36 caliber rifle with PRB. And that is not a stout load by any means. But my rifle shoots 30 grains very well. I have shot up to 50 grains of powder in the rifle. But my rifle shot a pattern at 50 yards-not a group. My rifle will consistently hit a 2-1/2" gong every shot with a 30 grain load. I have yet to shoot a squirrel with the rifle. And I will probably be selling it since I ordered a new rifle. But 30 grains should work well for you.

Also you got a good deal on that rifle. I have seen them(in top condition) sell for $250 to even $300. So you did well!! Tom.

mountaineer magic · 09-06-2011, 06:00 AM

I shoot 30 gr in my .32 cal . That Crockett is a nice squirrel gun . I am sure you will like it. And you got it for a great price . congrats

rafsob · 09-06-2011, 06:35 AM

I also have the Traditions Crockett in .32 and love it. I am shooting 30 grs. of 3F and getting good results.

Enjoy!!!

bronko22000 · 09-06-2011, 07:39 AM

I started with 20 gr of FFFg and worked my way up in 5 gr increments and watched as the groups size shrank and then begin to enlarge. The optimum load for my T/C Cherokee .32 cal was 30 gr with RB and .018" pillow tick patch. Much like Semi, those 5 PRBs punched a nice ragged hole at 25 yds.