Bruce,

Great rifle, as a matter of fact I have two of them! My first was the .36 caliber for squirrels. I wanted the .32 but they were sold out of them. I shoot 15 grn of pyrodex and a patched round ball. Squirrels are not safe out to 50 yds.

I also have the .50cal. It will shoot conicals as well as round balls. 1in 48 twist. 70gn of pyrodex is a good starting point but, be warned, it kicks like a rented mule! With the long barrel and pushing a conical it builds a lot of umph! Better to start with 60gn and work from there. I prefer to shoot patched round balls, Hornady, and I can hit a clay pidgeon sized target out to 100yds! It's a shooter for sure!

You are correct about the filing of the sight. File the front blade only. They give you plenty of blade to work with so it will shoot very low without filing. Take a decent three corner file to the range with you as you'll be filing quite a bit. Better yet if you have a cordless dremel and sanding drums and coarse stones use them. I wrap masking tape around the bbl in front of and behind the blade so as not to mar the browning finish with the files.

I do take the bbl off for cleaning but be aware that the screws that hold the thimbles to the bbl are small, difficult to work with and delicate. I use the tube and bucket method as well but I still tear her apart at the end of the season for a thourough cleaning.

I then pour boiling water into the barrel, let it take the heat for a few minutes and then dump it out. Run a number of clean patches through it, with a jag, until they come out dry. It only takes three or four. This will dry her out faster than anything. The bbl will then be hot enough to take the lube quite well. I use strictly crisco, but Bore Butter is one of the best. Stay away from oils and petroleum products as that will foul the powder.

I've taken quite a number of squirrelys with the 36 and in the two seasons that I've had the 50 I've taken 4 deer with it..

Need more info...just ask...