Traditions .32 cal

[Wolfdog91]

Shot in the dark here but looking into getting a little muzzle loader to modify and tinker with. Preferably want to go the used route to keep the cost down . And would like to do a little .32 cal for various reasons. Traditions has about the only style I'm liking and just wanted to know if anyone could give me a rough idea what I could be looking at as far price for a used one in half decent. Won't mind if it was beat up a bit as long as it was safely functional.
Thanks shape.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230210/cb063710c0966d9dd579a601c1325115.jpg

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[LAGS]

I bought a Crockett Kit to build for my wife.
I did some upgrades on it like,
I changed the ramrod thimbles from steel to brass.
I also changed the ramrod to one made from wood instead of the aluminium one that came with the Kit.
I also added a patch patch box to the right side of the stock and a brass lock plate to the left side of the stock to dress it up a bit.
Her family likes Dragonfly's
So , I bought some small cast brass Dragonfly's.
I soldered a rod to the back of one and glued it into the left side of the stock by the lock plate that I installed.
The second dragonfly was sweat soldered to the face of the patch box door.
It dressed up her rifle really nice.
I am sorry that I can't post pictures of the rifle.
But I am very happy with this rifle.
The Kit was very easy for me to build since , building rifles is my long time hobby.
But I would rate this kit as a Level one kit that is easy to build.
But if you bought a used rifle.
It would be simple to Dress it up if you want.
But IMO , not really needed.
Oh,
The rifle shoots great and is fun to shoot.

[pworley1]

I bought one years ago and have been very pleased with mine. The small bore tends to foul more quickly than larger muzzle loaders I have, but it is a hoot to shoot.

[Jackrabbit1957]

Saw a couple on gun broker last night, under black powder rifles.

[T-Bird]

I have a 32 T/C that I built from a kit in the '80's, makes a great squirrel rifle. You need to try to make head shots though.

[Sasquatch-1]

If you are not in a hurry, try looking at your local pawn shops. I have found the Traditions and the TC's for under $200.00. As explained by a friend who worked at one of the shops, most people came in looking for in-lines and stuck their nose up at the side-locks.

Also, go to one of the muzzleloading stores online and buy a drop in bore light. Make sure it will fit the 32 cal barrels. Or pick up a bore scope that will work with your phone.

[LAGS]

I pick up Used Muzzleloading rifles at local Pawn Shops.
I buy them in all kinds of conditions from like brand new to just for parts.
I do all my own work to restore them except for working on the barrel rifling.
If I buy one at a Good Price that has a bad bore, I send it to Bobby Hoyt to have the bore reworked to my liking.
I bought a TC .45 Hawken that I am thinking about having Hoyt Relined the bad bore to .32 or .36.
I can pick the rifles up really cheap in the Off Hunting Season.
So reworking some rifles costs less than a new Kit

[dondiego]

Don't over look a good deal on a .36 caliber either. Or an Underhammer.

[Wolfdog91]

Muzzleloading isn't very popular where I live so I NEVER see them in pawnshops and I'm a pretty frequent visitor to all the local ones

[Sasquatch-1]

Muzzleloading isn't very popular where I live so I NEVER see them in pawnshops and I'm a pretty frequent visitor to all the local ones

I think a lot of pawn shops avoid them because most people want inlines for hunting. As I said in the earlier post, if you are not in a hurry. After following several of your previous posts, you appear to have enough interest to keep you busy until you find one.

Also, do a little investigative searching on the internet and see if you have any living history or reenactment groups in your area.

[Loudenboomer]

Wolfdog that is one beautiful little rifle! Not a speck of plastic either!

[BadgerShooter]

I think if you looked around a bit, you could do a lot better. In the final analysis, a muzzle loader is a gaspipe on a stick, but there are nicer gaspipes and sticks to be had. If you want a really nice 32 a used Dixie 32 Mountain Rifle would be a great choice. The smallbores are fun and can be pretty accurate. As pointed out above, they do foul faster and regular cleaning is important. I have a 34 caliber percussion that uses patched OO Buck. It shoots about an inch at 50 yards. I also have a pair of 36 caliber guns, an underhammer that I just won a primitive biathlon with and a 36 cal Hatfield flintlock that I have killed any number of squirrels and other small game with. These small guns are fun to use. The Traditions will work, but there are lots nicer guns out there.

[LAGS]

You are correct BadgerShooter.
The Traditions is a good Starter Rifle.
I bought a Pedersoli "Cub" .32 flintlock Kit to go out shooting with my wife's Crockett Rifle.
I haven't had time to start in the Cub yet because I have so many other projects going on.
But I would only buy my wife a good functioning rifle that she can have uninterrupted fun.
The OP was avoiding high costs to get started.
The Traditions Brand New Kit , even with the upgrades that I did to it was 2/3 the cost of the Pedersoli flintlock Kit.

[T-Bird]

My thoughts are that in pawn shops/ sporting goods stores that sell used guns, 99% of the used muzzle loaders are gonna be larger cals for deer hunting, that's what most people buy one for. If you want a small cal, look online or locally for a club that the members shoot muzzle loaders. That's usually who is gonna have a small cal gun. I'd save my money up and and get the Traditions. These are entry level guns that are good quality and would satisfy my needs too. Plus, you will get to shoot quicker than if you wait on a small cal from a pawn shop in your area. I get it, ML isn't popular here either.

[Rich/WIS]

Never had a Traditions 32 but have had two 50's and my friends had them as well in 50 and 54. Mine were the Shenandoah and Pennsylvania models with a RB twist. Both were extremely accurate with any load from low end plinking to upper end deer hunting loads.

[Texas by God]

The CVA .32 caliber Squirrel Rifle is a good one if you can find one.
More of a mini Hawken in style though.


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[Pereira]

The CVA .32 caliber Squirrel Rifle is a good one if you can find one.
More of a mini Hawken in style though.


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I have one of those I picked a couple years ago.
Somewhere around $300 is what I gave.
It's a fun little thing, but like it's been mentioned it fouls much quicker than the .50 or .54.

RP

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Wolfdog91,

The small bores are fun. One can shoot them pretty much all day long without draining the pocket book.
I started with the CVA Squirrel Rifle, it was a bit short.
Then sold it and purchased a Pedersoli Pennsylvania Flint Lock. I didn't like the flint lock so I converted it to percussion.
Later I picked up a Tradition's Crockett for my son, but was a little disappointed that it didn't have a hooked breech.
Both rifles seem a little long for busting through the brush, so we picked up a couple CVA's again but kept the others.
One just can't have too many rifles.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Sasquatch-1]

One additional bit of advice, when you find a rifle pick up a GOOD one-piece brass t-rod range rod and a ball puller. You will need it for when you eventually dry ball the gun. :mrgreen: :veryconfu

[SSGOldfart]

One additional bit of advice, when you find a rifle pick up a GOOD one-piece brass t-rod range rod and a ball puller. You will need it for when you eventually dry ball the gun. :mrgreen: :veryconfu

very good point, it's going to happen

[HamGunner]

I have the little 24" barreled CVA Squirrel rifle that I built from a kit many years ago. Has a set trigger and actually is very accurate. Yes, maybe only two shots before it needs a good swabbing though.

With around 18 gr. of my home made 3FG, it really cracks and is dead on accurate if the bore is clean.

[T-Bird]

Or a CO2 ball "puller"

[LAGS]

Because you live in Az.
I must be the one finding all the ones in Pawn Shops.
I do find lots of good deals when I am out looking.
They don't show up at the pawn shops on a regular basis.
And 80% are in fair to poor shape.
But I am buying them to rebuild , so the condition only rates second to the price.

[dondiego]

I've yet to find a muzzleloader in a pawn shop here.

Wonder where you are?