32 cal squirrel. rifle

[jim 44-40]

First 3 shots group under a inch at 30yds after that it opens up big time and gets harder to push rb down barrel. Guess I will have to swab barrel clean to shoot more tree rats. Just read old post,sounds like it is normal for 32 cal muzzleloader. I was using 22 gr of 3f powder and .310 ball

[rfd]

yep, those little bores typically need shot-to-shot fouling control.

while i can get by without fouling control for a few shots with a .40 flinter, accuracy suffers, as does ball stuffing ... so i do the deed 'tween shots.

[RU shooter]

First 3 shots group under a inch at 30yds after that it opens up big time and gets harder to push rb down barrel. Guess I will have to swab barrel clean to shoot more tree rats. Just read old post,sounds like it is normal for 32 cal muzzleloader. I was using 22 gr of 3f powder and .310 ball
What lube and thickness of patch are you using ? What rifle you shooting ? Never owned a 32 but know lots of guys that do or did and said the fouling was no better or worse than other calibers .

[bedbugbilly]

Are you wiping between shots - i.e. running a spit patch or similar down the bore between shots? That will help not only in keeping you shooting longer, bu keeping things consistent. In the field, you might take some prepackaged alcohol pages and with the correct size jag might have to turn down a 32 jag just a bit in the drill press using some emery cloth so pad is not too tight in the boor) - swab with one between shots to help clean fouling out.

I have had two .32 - a CVA Squirrel Rifle and a Crockett Rifle - both wee good tree rat guns but for a day's hunting I spit patched them between shots just as I do my other rifles.

And, they aren't any different than any other rifle - first shot in a clean bore will most likely be a flier - that's why a lot of folks take a fouling shot (just powder load in a safe direction or else one round in a safe direction) then run a wet patch down the bore - then between shots - it will keep it consistent and that's what it's all about.

Good luck with the tree rats . . . nothing like a good day in the woods chasing them!

[jim 44-40]

It is a CVA, only patches I could find are 32-36 TC brand. Did not use lube,they are prelubed.Lyman book shows 30gr 3f. With .010 patch and .310rb. I am going to try 15grs next time I go out

[DIRT Farmer]

I used a green mountain barrel for years, now working on building with a rice barrel. For the GM barrel, 30 grains of Olde Ensford, ticking patch lubed with olive oil/bees wax and a .319 ball. It would load fine for a limit of squirrels, in fact it shot fine for twenty or more shots

[arcticap]

Personally, I would try a .015 patch, it might help to push the fouling back down into the breech that accumulates in the rifling grooves.
There's also other patch lubes such as Hoppes #9 Plus Powder Solvent & Patch Lube.
But you would need to put it on dry patches.
That might also help to swab while you ram the next ball home.
Plus it's a good solvent to swab with that many users of real BP recommend.

I use 777 3F in my .36 without much of any need to swab for many shots although accuracy may suffer some during an extended range session.

However if loading with real BP, it's worth noting that most .31 revolver shooters use 4F powder as do some .36 revolver shooters.
It burns cleaner and even according to the Lyman Loading Manual, the pressures are only nominally greater, especially with loading such small amounts of powder.
Give either 4F or 777 3F a try.
It's said to load 777 about 10% less volume than Goex 3F and not to over-compress it.
And there's always Swiss powder which is probably also cleaner than Goex and denser.
Humidity can also greatly affect the amount of fouling when shooting black powder, especially if it's over 30%.
Summer shooting can produce different results than after the cooler fall temperatures begin and lower humidity.

[Mac118]

I agree with Arcticap. 3F 777 in my .36 squirrel rifle let's me shoot a dozen shots or more before I swab. I also lube my patches with spit. Works great.

[oldracer]

Do they still make squirrel calls? when I was in high school in the 1950's and 1960's I would hurt squirrels and rabbits and would generally get 4 dozen or more of each which my mother would freeze and couple time a week make squirrel/rabbit with flat dumplings! YUMMMMM!!! I got so I could call those little buggers from way aways and into the tree over me and some times they would come right down the trunk over my head then bang. Only wounded one once and put him into my game pouch of my hunting coat and the HE WOKE UO! Load amighty was he mad so I blasted my coat to finish him off. Mother patched everything pretty well for me.

Opps, just did a search and I guess there are a lot on the market now. Mine was made by a man in Blackbird Delaware.
John

[jim 44-40]

I never had a call,think they make them these day. I tie fishing line to small bush,go back to tree shake bush when I see squirrel and wait for them to look around tree to see what's going on. Then shoot em

[Huntsman]

I have the Pedersoli Frontier .32. A great small bore squirrel and rabbit gun. My problem was the ramrods. I went through 2 so far. I had a machinist buddy make me a solid brass rod with threaded tips. No breaking here.

[sharps4590]

Several different squirrel calls are still made...and I've tried most of them. Some it depends on the season, others the season doesn't seem to matter. I haven't used one in years as I do just as well without one.

I've used both 32's and 36's to include a few different rifles of each caliber. I settled on the 36 just because I liked it better. A 32 would do just as well. I'd happily go through whatever days the good Lord has allotted to me using either caliber. My experience with the 32's pretty much echoed yours. I would have to swab the bore after 3 or 4 shots. No biggy, just another thing I had to do to bring home the limb bacon. Never used T-7 in a muzzleloader because it doesn't work in flintlocks. I did have good results with it in 3 different BPC rifles I tried it in but, that's a different beast and, I've always been devoted to real BP.

[dagger dog]

I have the Pedersoli 32 flintlock and use TC bore butter,cut at muzzle .15 patch on top of 20 grains Goex 3ffg and have to use a wiper about every 3 to 4 shots.

[jim 44-40]

I like them Pedersoli.. May be my next blackpowder gun

[John Taylor]

I had trouble getting my 32 to shoot well then I found out that the 32 rimfire only has 9 grains of powder. Tried 10 and it started shooting great. I did not try it at long range but at 40 yards it had no problem punching a hole in a piece of paper.

[fiberoptik]

Do they still make squirrel calls? when I was in high school in the 1950's and 1960's I would hurt squirrels and rabbits and would generally get 4 dozen or more of each which my mother would freeze and couple time a week make squirrel/rabbit with flat dumplings! YUMMMMM!!! I got so I could call those little buggers from way aways and into the tree over me and some times they would come right down the trunk over my head then bang. Only wounded one once and put him into my game pouch of my hunting coat and the HE WOKE UO! Load amighty was he mad so I blasted my coat to finish him off. Mother patched everything pretty well for me.

Opps, just did a search and I guess there are a lot on the market now. Mine was made by a man in Blackbird Delaware.
John

I popped one in the head back in the day and it dropped. Picked it up, looking at brains 🧠 and it came alive & tried to bite me too! I just gave his neck a good twist like we did with rabbits. Ended his story.
Now what f ya can call em into your game bag without shooting... you must be a real good redneck!!


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[rbuck351]

I have a TC with two 32 GM barrels,a flint and a cap lock. I have never shot more than 8 or 10 shots at any one time but have never had to wipe between shots using moose milk for lube. It groups about 1 to 1 1/4" at 50yds with 20grs of GEOX and I have not shot it farther. It has a peep sight on the rear made from a thin piece of angle iron screwed to the tang. I also made a rammer from a solid brass rod. Been thinking on using it on a turkey this year but haven't shot it at anything live yet.

[mooman76]

I have a CVA 32 that the shots start to open up after 3 shots if I don't swab.

[roverboy]

I had trouble getting my 32 to shoot well then I found out that the 32 rimfire only has 9 grains of powder. Tried 10 and it started shooting great. I did not try it at long range but at 40 yards it had no problem punching a hole in a piece of paper.

I read an article by Sam Fadala years ago and he liked 10 gr. in his .32 cal. Said that a .32 really needs a fast twist. Most rifles have a slow twist for some reason.

[Drm50]

I have the Pedersoli Frontier .32. A great small bore squirrel and rabbit gun. My problem was the ramrods. I went through 2 so far. I had a machinist buddy make me a solid brass rod with threaded tips. No breaking here.

I had a early Cherokee TC 32. It was a accurate rifle. I too had ram rod problems and my old man
made me one of brass. Traded the rifle to a local who scoped it and it's his main squirrel piece. Kept
the brass rod. My old man was a brass freak. I have a TC Hawkin that he made a brass ram rod and
it has both ends threaded. Ball end screws off to reveal a stainless ball screw. A 3/8 brass rod for
Hawkins is a heavy piece of metal. I bought 3/8 aircraft alumilum rod stock in 8' lengths from a
industrial supply. The bought Uncle Mike's tip sets, turned rod and cross pinned the tips to rod. I have buddie's into MLs that don't think much of my rods but I only use ML for deer hunting and will
never shoot enough to damage Muzzel.

[flyingmonkey35]

I see people underlube third rifles all the time at shoots.

Pre lubed patxhs just arr not enough. Spit is not good enough

It should be damp enough that is slides down your barrel

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[Huntsman]

I had a early Cherokee TC 32. It was a accurate rifle. I too had ram rod problems and my old man
made me one of brass. Traded the rifle to a local who scoped it and it's his main squirrel piece. Kept
the brass rod. My old man was a brass freak. I have a TC Hawkin that he made a brass ram rod and
it has both ends threaded. Ball end screws off to reveal a stainless ball screw. A 3/8 brass rod for
Hawkins is a heavy piece of metal. I bought 3/8 aircraft alumilum rod stock in 8' lengths from a
industrial supply. The bought Uncle Mike's tip sets, turned rod and cross pinned the tips to rod. I have buddie's into MLs that don't think much of my rods but I only use ML for deer hunting and will
never shoot enough to damage Muzzel.

I got the idea from an older feller shooter who had an excellent older Lyman (Safari Arms) .50 cal full stock. He had a homemade brass ram-rod. Served him well.
The Pedersoli 32 came with a fibreglass ram rod but it gives tiny slivers. Junk IMO.

[KCSO]

For small game 15 grains of FFFg is plenty if your accuracy will hold up. I shot a ton of squirrels and 25 yard target with just 12 grains. I swabbed every 3 shots anyway as loading got stiff and I was never in tht much of a hurry.

[Kylongrifle32]

I have 2 percussion .32's a traditions Crockett and a Cabela's blue ridge I shot 20 grains of pistol pyrodex with a .310 ball and .010 patch that I lube with T/C wonder lube. I can probably take a limit of 6 squirrels with out swabing but I usual keep a unlubed patch in my cheek when stalking the woods and if I don't need a quick second shot I will go ahead and swab the bore after a shot. The ole 32s crack a lot louder than a 22 short and it make clearing 3 or 4 squirrels from a hickory a little harder.

[jim 44-40]

Hard to believe Lyman shows 32 cal, barrel 26 inch. With 1-66" twist and using .310 rb. Shows 70gr FFg for 2216 fps.

[roverboy]

Hard to believe Lyman shows 32 cal, barrel 26 inch. With 1-66" twist and using .310 rb. Shows 70gr FFg for 2216 fps.

That seems a little crazy. What are they hunting?

[KCSO]

Most of that powder is just blowing out the muzzle of the gun. Shoot that load over snow and the excess powder will be dotting the landscape.

[arcticap]

That seems a little crazy. What are they hunting?

There's a fellow on another forum who posted many times about how he shot a coyote at about 125 yards with a .32 Crockett rifle using a PRB.
Maybe the reason for the 70 grain powder charge is due to using 2F instead of 3F.
2F is not usually recommended for a .32, but Lyman wants to publish test results for comparison purposes, and they use special test barrels.