Traditional.40 shooters input

[Boerrancher]

From what I have shot the .40 so far it the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Hard to decide which rifle to take to the dance. Have antique to modern .36 to .58’s love em all equally. Does that make me a bigimist? lol

If you’re a bigamist than so am I. Squirrel season is set to open up in 9 days. I have a 62 cal smooth bore, a 50 cal, 36 and 32 cal, I’ve squirrel hunted with all of them, even the 50 cal By using a 38 spec case as a powder measure, it sure jerks them off a limb and sends them sailing. Most of the time I can recover and reuse the ball. My record for squirrels with the same ball is 9. I got 5 the first day and the next day I got 4 before I missed. I’ve also just barked them with full charges, but that seems like a waste of powder. I just can’t decide which one deserves the opening day glory. I am leaning towards the 32 Pennsylvania Frontier Rifle.

[Rockingkj]

If you’re a bigamist than so am I. Squirrel season is set to open up in 9 days. I have a 62 cal smooth bore, a 50 cal, 36 and 32 cal, I’ve squirrel hunted with all of them, even the 50 cal By using a 38 spec case as a powder measure, it sure jerks them off a limb and sends them sailing. Most of the time I can recover and reuse the ball. My record for squirrels with the same ball is 9. I got 5 the first day and the next day I got 4 before I missed. I’ve also just barked them with full charges, but that seems like a waste of powder. I just can’t decide which one deserves the opening day glory. I am leaning towards the 32 Pennsylvania Frontier Rifle.

I hear ya. Decisions decisions I would be better off if I only had one rifle but would not be as much fun. Recovering an shooting a shot ball has got to be a challenge.

[Rockingkj]

Red White and Blue is in the books. Certainly could have shot better but an enjoyable way to spend Memorial weekend. Probably a fluke but have to show this 25yd offhand target, decided to go for the eye on 5th shot.

[John Taylor]

.40 caliber = 40 grains BP.
.50 caliber = 50 grains BP.
Its is basic.

Might work OK for 40 and 50 but when I tried 30 grains in my 32 it was way to much. Found out the 32 rimfire only used 9 grains so went there and the gun started shooting great.

[HamGunner]

.40 caliber = 40 grains BP.
.50 caliber = 50 grains BP.
Its is basic.

Well, basic I suppose. Fine tuning from there is likely needed for most, but that could certainly be a good place to start.

My .45 cal. TC Hawken flinter at 50 yards. She is a 4 digit serial # made 52 years ago. She still shoots. Oh, and that .45 cal. likes 45 gr of my homemade TP (toilet paper) charcoal black powder. (I cheated) Five shots from a rest.

[HamGunner]

Might work OK for 40 and 50 but when I tried 30 grains in my 32 it was way to much. Found out the 32 rimfire only used 9 grains so went there and the gun started shooting great.

My CVA .32 cal. Squirrel rifle likes 18 gr. for a dead center shot at 25 yards.

[HamGunner]

Red White and Blue is in the books. Probably a fluke but have to show this 25yd offhand target, decided to go for the eye on 5th shot.

Nice offhand shooting. I used to be able to do that. I need a tree or a rest of some sort these days.

[Rockingkj]

Nice offhand shooting. I used to be able to do that. I need a tree or a rest of some sort these days.

Thanks. I prefer offhand. Shooting off cross sticks should be like shooting from a bench but for me it’s not. Reached the point in life it’s easy to get down but getting back up to reload is a bit more of a chore than I like. That was a dandy 5 shot bench target you did.

[LAGS]

I used a set of long cross sticks when I was hunting so I didn’t have to sit down.
I also had a long pole with a hook on the side that I used to steady the rifle.
That was pretty nice because I used it as a hiking pole when climbing around.

[Rockingkj]

I used a set of long cross sticks when I was hunting so I didn’t have to sit down.
I also had a long pole with a hook on the side that I used to steady the rifle.
That was pretty nice because I used it as a hiking pole when climbing around.

For sure a super portable rest in the field. My whine is the BP competition in which a person has to use the cross-sticks provided by the club. For some reason they offer these in classes for older shooters. Got to be some form of elder abuse. lol. I could pass on those but I just gotta shoot every class available to me. Takes a lotta balls to shoot like I do. Heck I got a musket and a in-line( the horror) to shoot even more classes.