What .32 cal hunting PB rifle?

[Fastleo]

I'm wanting to get into small game BP hunting. What rifles should I keep an eye out for? There is a guy with a t/c firehawk in .32 locally, what's your opinion on this?

Thanks for your advice

[Squeeze]

Its a good gun, small caliber, especially inline are in huge demand now. The .32 firehawk was 48 twist. I would recommend a .315 ball with a .010-.015 patch and ~ 22-25 grains powder

[rfd]

the only time i'd recommend a traditions, their .32 crockett is excellent. check youtube out.

[mooman76]

Not allot of 32s around to choose from.

[rfd]

Not allot of 32s around to choose from.


besides the crockett cap, pedersoli has a few in both flint and cap. that's all i know of for commercial production line guns. after that, it's maybe a used t/c cherokee or a used or new custom.

[Fastleo]

How much is the going price on a unifired Firehawk? The gun is perfect condition.

[54bore]

I know nothing about the Firehawk, but a Traditions Crockett is in my future!! I gotta have one! I would love to find a nice little TC Cherokee in .32 Cal, but they are out of my price range, I've seen .32 Cherokee barrels sell for 500 bucks alone!

[pietro]

How much is the going price on a unifired Firehawk? The gun is perfect condition.


IDK, but even though many owners are proud of them, I sure wouldn't pay more than $125-$150 for one.

YMMV, of course........


.

[Squeeze]

IDK, but even though many owners are proud of them, I sure wouldn't pay more than $125-$150 for one.

YMMV, of course........


For any other firehawk, I agree $125-150 But the .32 is a different animal, and highly sought after. ( anything small caliber is rare, inline more so) so the market is whatever someone is willing to pay, or how bad you want it. I would say new unfired, probably double that figure.

[fiberoptik]

.32 Dixie poor boy


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[fiberoptik]

Was one over at modermuzzloader.com


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[Fastleo]

This guy wants 300.00 it looks unfired, I might hold off

[Squeeze]

$300 for a .32, especially unfired is about as good as it gets. They dont pop up often. You will pay more for a new crockett, and be very lucky to find anything used for less these days

[mooman76]

$300 for a .32, especially unfired is about as good as it gets. They dont pop up often. You will pay more for a new crockett, and be very lucky to find anything used for less these days

That's the truth. I'm glad I got mine when they were still reasonable. Doubt if I would get one today at todays prices. I don't currently have a need for one except to plink with. I should have got a couple more when they were cheap.

[54bore]

That's the truth. I'm glad I got mine when they were still reasonable. Doubt if I would get one today at todays prices. I don't currently have a need for one except to plink with. I should have got a couple more when they were cheap.

I will 3rd this! Ive been looking at .32s and they are rather spendy! The little Traditions Crockett is a tad over 400 bucks new, and the TC Cherokee's in .32 start at about 600, ive seen them more in the 700-800 range.

[54bore]

Here's a firehawk on Armslist, .50 and a .32 barrel with lots of extras for 300 bucks, if this were a sidelock i wouldn't have posted this, it would already be mine! LOL

189657

[Fly]

I love squirrel hunting. The Traditions .32 crocket is hard to beat. I bought there kit rifle
& we eat lot,s of squirrel gravy at our home. It shoots where you point.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i384/Fly61/DSCN0220_zps396d9468.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/Fly61/media/DSCN0220_zps396d9468.jpg.html)
JMOHOP Fly

[Fastleo]

Here's a firehawk on Armslist, .50 and a .32 barrel with lots of extras for 300 bucks, if this were a sidelock i wouldn't have posted this, it would already be mine! LOL

189657

Wow, that's a deal. What's the story on the bore?

[54bore]

Wow, that's a deal. What's the story on the bore?

I dont know anything about it? I did a search on Firehawk and that turned up. I wanted to see what one looked like? I have little to no interest in inline type BP Rifles, although i would grab a Knight MK-85 Stainless in .54 Cal if the price was right. I have only dealt with Armslist one time and it wasn't a great experience, the guy i dealt with was a total flake.

[Fastleo]

I just got burnt on a deal as well. It's all risky these days. A wise old man once told me. Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see....I thought it was a joke but has been damn true

[Fastleo]

I tried to look that gun up, send me the link if you don't mind.

[54bore]

I tried to look that gun up, send me the link if you don't mind.

I just looked it back up and it shows expired, i missed that somehow when i posted it? Sorry about that! It was unfired brand new in the box, and a face to face only deal. I found it by a google search using 'Thompson center firehawk .32' i am not so sure about that Armslist outfit? Maybe i just had an oddball encounter with an oddball character? Never the less it wasn't good

[sharps4590]

Old, hard core traditionalist here....:D....only one way to hunt small game with a muzzleloader. 36 cal. Southern Mountain flinter. 32 cal. would be just as good.....


http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/sharps4070/P1010016_zpsrivokcu2.jpg?1488717665821&1488717687291&1488717707353&1488717740159

[54bore]

Old, hard core traditionalist here....:D....only one way to hunt small game with a muzzleloader. 36 cal. Southern Mountain flinter. 32 cal. would be just as good.....

And out of some folks budget! Beautiful rifle you have there!!

[Fly]

Man that is a sweet rifle.

Fly

[Beerd]

Old, hard core traditionalist here....:D....only one way to hunt small game with a muzzleloader. 36 cal. Southern Mountain flinter. 32 cal. would be just as good.....

fastleo
.36 is still a small bore in muzzle loading and easier to come by than a .32.
100 ball from a pound of lead and 100 shots in a pound of FFFg.

and that IS a nice rifle there sharps4590. Looks like a couple more in the background.
..

[sharps4590]

Thank you gentlemen. The stock is pretty amazing. Given that I paid a King's ransom for that rifle, $300, I was dumbstruck when I saw the wood.

Beerd, the one on the left is my Gun Works Hawken in 54. Great shooter, all correct for an 1840's Sam rifle. Wood is as plain as a 2 X 4. The one on the right has to be my German double rifle in 11.15 X 46R. I love it now but the year it took me to get it shooting good composite groups had me more than a little annoyed. I blame that rifle for me getting my Phd. in handloading. Man....did it give me an education and probably as many gray hairs as my kids.

[mooman76]

I'd say 32 to quite abit easier to find than a 36 but that is niether here nor there. I looked quite awhile for a 36 and all I found were 32's. A couple deals fell through until I found someone thatbought one and din't like they way it fit them. I think he had alternative reasons too but no matter, I finally got one. Took a little work to get it to shoot god but every time I took it out, it shot better and I'm happy with it. The 36 IMO is a better choice. Slightly larger and heavier ball carries a little farther with less wind drift. I wouldn't pass one up if a good deal.

[BPJONES]

Thank you gentlemen. The stock is pretty amazing. Given that I paid a King's ransom for that rifle, $300, I was dumbstruck when I saw the wood.


Boy, you did rather well on that deal. Very nice rifle.

[Newtire]

I would definitely recommend the Crockett. Only one glitch and that was that the back side of the hammer casting was stopping the hammer from striking the cap. It was hitting on the lock plate. A touch of metal removed from the back of the hammer fixed that problem. Someone on another board had the answer. Just thought I'd pass it on. The bores on those Traditions guns that I've seen are smooth as glass. If I said how accurate mine was first time out, people wouldn't believe me but it was good enough to hit any squirrel without even making one sight adjustment.

[Buckshot Bill]

Deleted

[Fastleo]

I'm interested in the 36. PM me a few pictures

[Fastleo]

I honestly haven't even considered a 36. Probably because I've never seen one.

[Squeeze]

There's a TC seneca .36 on gunbroker now thats already at $750 with 18 hrs left
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/626520084

[Fastleo]

Woah. 750is to rich for me lol

[BPJONES]

There's a TC seneca .36 on gunbroker now thats already at $750 with 18 hrs left
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/626520084

It says 0 bids at this point.

[John Allen]

Old, hard core traditionalist here....:D....only one way to hunt small game with a muzzleloader. 36 cal. Southern Mountain flinter. 32 cal. would be just as good.....


http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/sharps4070/P1010016_zpsrivokcu2.jpg?1488717665821&1488717687291&1488717707353&1488717740159

That is exactly what I am looking for once I love the full stock ones.

[54bore]

There's a TC seneca .36 on gunbroker now thats already at $750 with 18 hrs left
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/626520084

Ive seen this gun listed before, and relisted, you would think a guy asking 750 bucks for a blackpowder rifle would at least take a better picture of the bore than this guy did, it looks like he stuffed a mouse in it before he took the picture.

[OverMax]

Buy a currently made 32. Firestorms were discontinued long ago due to their poor sales. Replacement parts availability is near _0_ zero or cost prohibited. And 300.00 for a used one can get you close to a New purchase.

[stubshaft]

I have been looking for a .32 or .36 for a friend of mine for years and haven't found anything within reason. To put things in perspective, a Crockett KIT will set you back about $360.00.

[RU shooter]

You could always build it the way you want from a pre carved stock 125-150 lock 80-100 for cap 150-175 flint Barrel 150 ish make your own trigger and guard and other trim pieces or start looking for used parts and cut those prices down a good bit .

[sharps4590]

I've had a couple or three 32's over the years and my experience has been that if you're shooting small, edible game head shots are about a necessity. Either ball is quite destructive on squirrel sized critters if body shots are taken. Taking a rib cage shot on our small gray squirrels has always gotten into the front shoulders and often into the back and blood shot them considerably. Obviously not a lot of meat on the front legs but after the back the front legs are my favorite on squirrels. Works quite well at our house as the wife's favorite pieces are the ribs and back legs.

moonman, 32's are more common in your area? That's interesting, 36's appear to hold sway here in central Missouri. A fella can find about anything for a 36 but 32 cal. stuff is scarce as hens teeth. I have no idea what a "national trend" might be. Having used both I came to the conclusion that one is as good as the other, for all practical purposes. I settled on the 36 simply because I liked it better. Several years ago at an historical event where I volunteered I saw a 28 cal. flinter that was as svelte a rifle as I've ever seen, bar none. Except for the price I would have brought it home, what a squirrel killer that would have been....once you found stuff for it.

Jones, the guy I bought it from wanted enough out of the rifle to build a 40 cal. and he already had some parts. Granted that was 13 years ago also. He never mentioned what the stock was like but wow..one of the nicest pieces of maple I've seen. I don't remember who made the barrel but it is a small Siler lock and I think Davis triggers. The first year I had it I took 78 squirrels with it and 73 were head shots. I use a rest whenever possible....:smile:

[rfd]

with skwerls, it's accurate head shots that matter, so it's up to the shooter and the gun's inherent accuracy. don't much matter if the ball is a .32 or .54, as long as the eye and trigger finger can put it consistently in the right spot. "barking" skwerls is the mountain man's trick, and can still work well today with big bores.

[Fastleo]

What do your small caliber muzzleloaders weigh?

[54bore]

"barking" skwerls is the mountain man's trick, and can still work well today with big bores.

Yes sir, I've heard many a story of this, My Grandpa told me about his Grandfather coming home with a 'Bag of Squirrels' and rarely did one have the skin broken. Great Grandpa 'Bark Shot' them with his big bore deer hunting rifle, he didn't have anything else. Them old timers knew their business, how to survive, etc. Something that is long lost today! Drive thru Mcdonalds, Burger king, etc. etc. This world's gone to hell in a hand basket 'words of Famous Moonshiner, Marvin Popcorn Sutton'

[fiberoptik]

7 gun safe cleaning

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=65838&share_tid=29932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emodernmuzzleloader%2Ecom%2F forum%2Fviewtopic%2Ephp%3Ft%3D29932&share_type=t


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[fiberoptik]

Dixie .32 poor boy cap lock 40" barrel? $300. I like mine!


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[Fastleo]

What rate of twist should I look for?

[Squeeze]

Everything is 48 twist except the old TC cherokee/seneca were 1-30 twist, which I consider the benchmark for .32.

[KCSO]

189848In a 32 15 grains of [powde189849r will give you all you need for squirrels. 22-25 grains will be like a 22 mag or a little better and will just blow them apart if you miss the head. My 32 is a full stock poor boy rifle. Best season so far 14 head shots in a row out to 35 yards and a coyote at 50.

[Beerd]

you guys and your pretty flinters are killing me!
..

[Squeeze]

189848In a 32 15 grains of [powde189849r will give you all you need for squirrels. 22-25 grains will be like a 22 mag or a little better and will just blow them apart if you miss the head. My 32 is a full stock poor boy rifle. Best season so far 14 head shots in a row out to 35 yards and a coyote at 50.

All my 48 twist.32 wont group with a small charge. That's why I consider the 30 twist the benchmark, My cherokees will remain accurate through the load range. (10-30 grn all shoot well), but my 48 twist all seem to tighten up at ~22-25 grn

[Fastleo]

I'm thinking I'm going to hold out until I find a Cherokee. I've had good luck with the t/c guns anyways

[OverMax]

KCSO Nice touch inlaying a compass. Old school shooters never get lost.. (;

[Hanshi]

I can vouch for the little Traditions Crockett, as well. Mine was shooting sub 1" 5 shot groups at 40 yards when I had a good day. That's the extent of my experience with the .32 except for a SMR Tn style flint longrifle I now own. And the .32 fouls no worse than large bores. I can shoot mine for an afternoon of 30 -35 shots (ave) with no bore swabbing. Just use a fairly tight prb combo.

[rfd]

here's a very nice little .36 percussion i saw at ALR, with good price tag ...

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=43291.0