.32 caliber muzzleloader
12-01-2020, 07:16 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 67
.32 caliber muzzleloader
I'm thinking of getting a 32 caliber muzzleloader for small game. I'm looking at the Traditions Crockett rifle. Does anyone have any experience with this specific rifle? If so what are the pros and cons of this rifle(other than cleaning) pretty much everything I've read about it has been good. Just want others opinions. I'll be using a .310 ball.and patch with whatever load is accurate in the gun (most people have had good results with about 20 grains of 3f powder) Also I've heard conflicting reviews about cap size do does it use #10 or #11 caps? Thanks
12-01-2020, 08:18 AM
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: SE CT
Posts: 145
Use the #11 caps on the Crockett. I don't have a Crockett, but I do have 4 .32 caliber rifles,(3 percussion and one flint). The .32 is a great small game round and inexpensive to shoot. In the early summer squirrel season I use only 10 grains of 3f for dime sized accuracy out to 25 yards. Can't see the squirrels much beyond that when the leaves are on the trees. The down side to the .32 is that the little balls are sometimes difficult to handle if you are all thumbs like me. I use a loading block to solve that problem. The little balls are also susceptible to wind drift if you try to stretch out your shots much beyond 40 yards. Many complain that the small bore is more susceptible to fouling, and that may be true, but it has always been my practice to swab the bore every 3 shots whether needed or not.
12-01-2020, 10:38 AM
#3
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 67
Use the #11 caps on the Crockett. I don't have a Crockett, but I do have 4 .32 caliber rifles,(3 percussion and one flint). The .32 is a great small game round and inexpensive to shoot. In the early summer squirrel season I use only 10 grains of 3f for dime sized accuracy out to 25 yards. Can't see the squirrels much beyond that when the leaves are on the trees. The down side to the .32 is that the little balls are sometimes difficult to handle if you are all thumbs like me. I use a loading block to solve that problem. The little balls are also susceptible to wind drift if you try to stretch out your shots much beyond 40 yards. Many complain that the small bore is more susceptible to fouling, and that may be true, but it has always been my practice to swab the bore every 3 shots whether needed or not.
12-01-2020, 02:18 PM
#5
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: SE CT
Posts: 145
The .32 with 20 grains of 3f powder and a patched round ball will give you .22 LR velocities of around 1500 FPS A 30 grain load with the same ball will bump up the velocities to the 22 magnum range. If legal in your state, the .32 will take squirrel and rabbits very easily. I would recommend head shots if you want something to eat. On turkeys out to 25 yards, head shots will do the job, or a shot in the pinion area (wing connection to the body) will drop a turkey in its place. I have dropped coyotes that average 35-40 pounds in my area with a single shot from my .32. I limit my shooting on coyotes to 35 yards.
12-02-2020, 06:58 AM
#6
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 67
Sound like the 32 is a pretty versatile caliber for small game turkey and the occasional varmint. Whats the difference between 32 and 36 caliber other than 32 being .310 and 36 being .350? I dont have the money for a 36 (TVM) I think a 32 will suit me just fine anyway. All I want to hunt is squirrels and the occasional "opportunity presents itself turkey".
12-02-2020, 07:54 AM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,605
The main issue is the twists are actually too slow if you want to replicate 22RF type energy. Speed up the twist just a tiny bit and you are golden. You can buy whatever one you wish and have the barrel lined. I know Hoyt does rebores but im not sure what else he offers. Rice or Oregon barrel offer some prefits for rifles like Renegades and Hawkens. Possibly Lymans too.
A guy on another board took a older Knight rifle. Then sent it off to have a 32cal or 36cal barrel installed. Very cool inline with i think a 1-38 or 1-32 twist. This allows you to drop back the powder charge quite a bit but maintain accuracy. In 36cal you could also get MMP sabots and shoot .31 cal bullets for slightly larger game.
That is part of the reason the 32cal Cherokee and Senacas are so highly prized now days and sell for top dollar. They are a 1-30 twist and shoot lighter loads excellent. You can take that same little squirrel rifle and load her up with one of the small maxis and flatten a turkey or yote.
A guy on another board took a older Knight rifle. Then sent it off to have a 32cal or 36cal barrel installed. Very cool inline with i think a 1-38 or 1-32 twist. This allows you to drop back the powder charge quite a bit but maintain accuracy. In 36cal you could also get MMP sabots and shoot .31 cal bullets for slightly larger game.
That is part of the reason the 32cal Cherokee and Senacas are so highly prized now days and sell for top dollar. They are a 1-30 twist and shoot lighter loads excellent. You can take that same little squirrel rifle and load her up with one of the small maxis and flatten a turkey or yote.
Last edited by Gm54-120; 12-02-2020 at 08:10 AM.
12-02-2020, 03:04 PM
#8
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 67
The main issue is the twists are actually too slow if you want to replicate 22RF type energy. Speed up the twist just a tiny bit and you are golden. You can buy whatever one you wish and have the barrel lined. I know Hoyt does rebores but im not sure what else he offers. Rice or Oregon barrel offer some prefits for rifles like Renegades and Hawkens. Possibly Lymans too.
A guy on another board took a older Knight rifle. Then sent it off to have a 32cal or 36cal barrel installed. Very cool inline with i think a 1-38 or 1-32 twist. This allows you to drop back the powder charge quite a bit but maintain accuracy. In 36cal you could also get MMP sabots and shoot .31 cal bullets for slightly larger game.
That is part of the reason the 32cal Cherokee and Senacas are so highly prized now days and sell for top dollar. They are a 1-30 twist and shoot lighter loads excellent. You can take that same little squirrel rifle and load her up with one of the small maxis and flatten a turkey or yote.
A guy on another board took a older Knight rifle. Then sent it off to have a 32cal or 36cal barrel installed. Very cool inline with i think a 1-38 or 1-32 twist. This allows you to drop back the powder charge quite a bit but maintain accuracy. In 36cal you could also get MMP sabots and shoot .31 cal bullets for slightly larger game.
That is part of the reason the 32cal Cherokee and Senacas are so highly prized now days and sell for top dollar. They are a 1-30 twist and shoot lighter loads excellent. You can take that same little squirrel rifle and load her up with one of the small maxis and flatten a turkey or yote.
12-04-2020, 01:33 PM
#9
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 67
Never mind about the extra barrel question. I'm pretty sure that the recoil would cause the stock to crack. So here's another question. Could I use .310 BUCKSHOT(#1.5 buck size) as round ball ammo? There's a 8 lb jar on Ballistic Products that has 1,280 lead buckshot for $40 vs Hornady .310 balls 100pk for $15. I'm trying to find a cost saving ammo as I am on an EXTREMELY tight budget. And would I need a .10 patch or .15 with .310 round balls.
12-05-2020, 07:05 AM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: SE CT
Posts: 145
Never mind about the extra barrel question. I'm pretty sure that the recoil would cause the stock to crack. So here's another question. Could I use .310 BUCKSHOT(#1.5 buck size) as round ball ammo? There's a 8 lb jar on Ballistic Products that has 1,280 lead buckshot for $40 vs Hornady .310 balls 100pk for $15. I'm trying to find a cost saving ammo as I am on an EXTREMELY tight budget. And would I need a .10 patch or .15 with .310 round balls.