.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

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.

How does the 32 preform on small game. do you think that a 32 could be effective on turkeys. My primary interest is small game(squirrels/rabbits) but was wondering if it could take turkey too if I had the chance. I don't plan on taking shots past 25 yards or so. Ive always liked muzzleloaders better than today's firearms(especially the smoke cloud that comes when you shoot :-) plus roundball ammo is easier to find than modern ammo. Muzzleloaders are prohibited in my county. However there's a bunch of public land within driving distance in counties that allow them.

I had a .32 and it was fun. But if I was going to get another small caliber muzzleloader it would probably be a .36 cal.
Keep in mind the 32 fouls quickly. I used to shoot 20-30 gr of FFFg in mine.

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.

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".

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.

What's the barrel thread on the crockett rifle. Looking at a 45 caliber barrel for it for deer(.45 caliber is the minimum legal caliber here in VA for deer) or would the stock be too narrow for the larger barrel.

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.

The 1.5 buck shot will work fine in your .32. It is a little harder than pure lead, but works fine. As for patch material, you gun will decide what it likes best. Start off with .015 to see how it loads and shoots, then work up or down from there to determine what is best.