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Anyone have any experience with small-game (.32-.36-.40) caplocks?
12/15/2010 1:09:45 PM
I'm thinkinghof either a) buying a Traditions .32 caplock, or b) buying a used T/C hawken and a replacement .32 barrel from Green Mountaain.
Anyone ever do this for small game hunting? If so, what advice would you give?
Anyone ever do this for small game hunting? If so, what advice would you give?
1/2/2011 2:25:01 PM
Dad used to hunt with a 32 flintlock, they can tear a squirrel up pretty bad.
3/9/2011 12:34:31 PM
Well, I ended up buying a .50 T/C renegade with a pitted barrel. The barrel is headed out to be rebored to 20-gauge. I guess this means the .36 project is off until I find a T/C Seneca. In the meantime, the 20-gauge barrel ought to be handy for squirrels.
3/12/2011 12:00:43 AM
Who is doing the barrel reborn and what are they charging?
I have a couple of .50's a buddy didn't take care of.
I have a couple of .50's a buddy didn't take care of.
3/12/2011 8:34:56 AM
Originally Posted By VaFish:
Who is doing the barrel reborn and what are they charging?
I have a couple of .50's a buddy didn't take care of.
Who is doing the barrel reborn and what are they charging?
I have a couple of .50's a buddy didn't take care of.
IM sent. I think the base rate - i.e just to rebore a barrel, no breech plug work, no re-rifling - is $90 plus return shipping.
3/21/2011 2:32:28 AM
If you would be so kind, could you send me the information as well?
4/21/2011 12:37:05 AM
Just some food for thought, Track sells a hook breech plug that will fit the renegade, you could put together a squirrel gun caliber barrel for it and swap back and forth. Although a 1" 32cal will be pretty heavy, but an octagon to tapered round would lighten it up, and be pretty neat as well.
5/28/2011 7:40:44 AM
Even though I drug my feet on sending the barrel off (it was several weeks after postng here before I got it sent) I just got a letter in the mail from the guy who did the rebore. It's ready. Hopefully today, a check to him goes in the mail, then in a couple of weeks I should have my barrel back.
Any advice on where to buy .600 round balls or any #5 lead shot?
I know DGW and TotW sell the balls, but it seems like the whole world (I've looked at midway, wideners, and TotW) is out of lead #5s.
Any advice on where to buy .600 round balls or any #5 lead shot?
I know DGW and TotW sell the balls, but it seems like the whole world (I've looked at midway, wideners, and TotW) is out of lead #5s.
6/19/2011 8:17:12 PM
Well, I shot the thing yesterday. 
I didn't ever buy any shot - I got sticker shock over the price of lead shot - but I did rob some old rusted shotgun shells for their shot.
I ended up shooting 1-1/8 ounce of #8 shot at 25 yards, and getting enough hits on target to be deadly on a squirrel or rabbit.
I tried 7/8th ounce at 30 yards, and the pattern was really thin. I think I'll stick to 1-1/8 ounce from now on, and may even look into whether it's safe to use 1-1/4 ounce. I'd like to be able to comfortably take 30-yard shots at squirrels; I may have to look into using conventional shotgun wads and/or copperplated shot for that.
I also shot some .600 round balls with .010" patches soaked in wonder-lube.
I honestly wasn't expecting much success with the balls in a smoothbore. The ball/patch combo I used was loose enough so as to be easy to load, even after several shots. With that in mind, I was surprised when my first shot (70 grains of FFg) landed almost dead-center at 25 yards. With 100 grains of powder, balls landed a couple inches high at 25 yards and maybe 3.5" high at 50 yards. 120 grains of powder made one ball land ~2.5 high at 30 yards.
In short, with from 70-120 grains of powder, all balls landed within a spot the size of a playing card, all centered and slightly high. I was very pleased with this; I had expected less, honestly.
In short, I was very pleased with my first experience with a .62 smoothbore. I now need to get a bag of #6 shot and find a load to squirrel hunt with.
I didn't ever buy any shot - I got sticker shock over the price of lead shot - but I did rob some old rusted shotgun shells for their shot.
I ended up shooting 1-1/8 ounce of #8 shot at 25 yards, and getting enough hits on target to be deadly on a squirrel or rabbit.
I tried 7/8th ounce at 30 yards, and the pattern was really thin. I think I'll stick to 1-1/8 ounce from now on, and may even look into whether it's safe to use 1-1/4 ounce. I'd like to be able to comfortably take 30-yard shots at squirrels; I may have to look into using conventional shotgun wads and/or copperplated shot for that.
I also shot some .600 round balls with .010" patches soaked in wonder-lube.
I honestly wasn't expecting much success with the balls in a smoothbore. The ball/patch combo I used was loose enough so as to be easy to load, even after several shots. With that in mind, I was surprised when my first shot (70 grains of FFg) landed almost dead-center at 25 yards. With 100 grains of powder, balls landed a couple inches high at 25 yards and maybe 3.5" high at 50 yards. 120 grains of powder made one ball land ~2.5 high at 30 yards.
In short, with from 70-120 grains of powder, all balls landed within a spot the size of a playing card, all centered and slightly high. I was very pleased with this; I had expected less, honestly.
In short, I was very pleased with my first experience with a .62 smoothbore. I now need to get a bag of #6 shot and find a load to squirrel hunt with.
7/5/2011 3:30:19 PM
Update: I shot some clay targets with the smoothbore yesterday and 80 grains of FFg, 1/2" over-powder fibre wad, 90 grains (roughly 1-1/4 ounce) of shot, and a 1/8" over-shot felt wad.
I soaked the top wad in Kroil (because it was the only oil I had handy). Not sure if that helps or hurts; I just wanted to keep the fouling as soft as possible. I then shot one round ball offhanded at ~75 yards and hit what I was aiming at. Some day I really need to get this thing on a bench and see what it will really do with round balls.
I soaked the top wad in Kroil (because it was the only oil I had handy). Not sure if that helps or hurts; I just wanted to keep the fouling as soft as possible. I then shot one round ball offhanded at ~75 yards and hit what I was aiming at. Some day I really need to get this thing on a bench and see what it will really do with round balls.
7/6/2011 1:22:50 PM
Originally Posted By arowneragain:
Update: I shot some clay targets with the smoothbore yesterday and 80 grains of FFg, 1/2" over-powder fibre wad, 90 grains (roughly 1-1/4 ounce) of shot, and a 1/8" over-shot felt wad.
I soaked the top wad in Kroil (because it was the only oil I had handy). Not sure if that helps or hurts; I just wanted to keep the fouling as soft as possible. I then shot one round ball offhanded at ~75 yards and hit what I was aiming at. Some day I really need to get this thing on a bench and see what it will really do with round balls.
Update: I shot some clay targets with the smoothbore yesterday and 80 grains of FFg, 1/2" over-powder fibre wad, 90 grains (roughly 1-1/4 ounce) of shot, and a 1/8" over-shot felt wad.
I soaked the top wad in Kroil (because it was the only oil I had handy). Not sure if that helps or hurts; I just wanted to keep the fouling as soft as possible. I then shot one round ball offhanded at ~75 yards and hit what I was aiming at. Some day I really need to get this thing on a bench and see what it will really do with round balls.
If you do your homework with load development and keep things consistent, I'm sure it will impress you.
