Has anyone found an accurate 3fg black powder charge for the .32 caliber PRB rifle? (Crockett)
Thank You,
Swamp
mine seems to like 24gr 3F, a home cast .311 and a .015 olive oil lubed patch.
tight to about 40 yards and is doing about 11 rounds before it gets tight and needs a wipe.
BW what is your opinion between hunting with the .32 or the .36 I am going to buy one of these two and have no experience with either as to their effectiveness on small game.
Thanks Again,
Swamp
SwampHunter,
I know you didn't ask me, but if it's okay I'll butt in here. I've owned and shot both calibers and found that the .36 is usually more accurate, easier to clean, goes without swabbing the barrel longer, and of course has a stronger ramrod. This doesn't mean the .32 is inaccurate...in fact some are very accurate...but on the average the .36 works better.
Ned
Quote from: SwampHunter on September 30, 2008
BW what is your opinion between hunting with the .32 or the .36 I am going to buy one of these two and have no experience with either as to their effectiveness on small game.
Thanks Again,
Swamp
I'm going to Agree with Ned on his post whole heartedly!
I am somewhat bias'd as I also have a .40 and it is my go to gun for what I do. My .32 is an old cva squirell and it shots good, but not as accurate as the .40. I dont hunt much anymore but the 32 will put them where I want them to go. I keep in mind that it likes to stay under 50 yds for my liking and at25 to 40 yds, it is unreal!
That said...IF I were to go after tree rats, the 32 would be my choice. anything bigger, it would be a .40. Deer.....50 or bigger!
I am pretty much a paper puncher and trail walk fanatic. my TC with a .40 GM barrel is tripping my trigger these days. I came from a background of competitive trap shooting and varmint shooter while running 400 cows, so lots of song dogs, sage rats and rock chucks. sub moa got boring! Now its all for fun and I dont want to loose that focus!
.32 and head shots. That way, you dont spoil the meat!
I just wish I had a .32................gonna get one some day
I like 30 grains of 3f
Thank's Ned and everyone, gonna look closer at the .36
:-\
Swamp
25 grains of 3fg with a .010 patch worked good with my Pedersoli Frontier rifle. But the last time I had it out I couldn't hit the side of a barn with it. Got to do a little work on it. If I can ever get back to the range. Squirrel season opened 2 days ago!
Were you shooting at the side of a barn with it? That might be why you missed if you were not shooting at one.
lol........
I have a green mtn 32 cal barrel on my t/c hawken, it shoots great with .315 round ball .010 patch(ox-yoke lubed) 30grains of 3f. From the bench it shoots 3shots into a 3/4inch group at 50yards. It likes to be cleaned after about 3 shots. I have a couple of friends that have .32"s and their guns shoot better at 35 or 40 grains. Check the rifling on your gun, my friend had one that was sharp on the rifling it was cutting patches, he had it recrowned and it shot great then. hope this helps some. later slap happy
Quote from: Roaring Bull on September 30, 2008
I just wish I had a .32................gonna get one some day
Me too!
Bull... actually I was shooting at a small bullseye, but it was on the base of a big ol' oak tree that had been blown over in a past tornado. It is exactly 50 yards from my trailer down in the hunting lease.
I haven't been able to get down to my lease to see what Ike did. If it's anything like what Rita did the place will be a mess!
Hope its not too bad.............where is that lease?
Bull, My lease is in Polk County just NW of Corrigan, Texas. Piney Creek runs right through it. Lots of big hadwoods. Rita took a pretty heavy toll, but from what I saw on the way back home I'm sure a lot more are down. During the 39 years I've been in the lease we have had four tornadoes, and two hurricanes come though the lease. So far my trailer has come through without any damage. Just figure this time I won't be so lucky.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/Ironwood/Posted%20in%20the%20Past/Trailer.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/Ironwood/Posted%20in%20the%20Past/130AcreLeaseFenceLine.jpg)
looks like prime deer woods there!
SwampHunter, Sorry we drifted off topic here. Hope you have enough information to find a good load for your .32.
No Problem, I sure did and Thank You folks for the info.
Swamp
I think lots of people overload the little .32 It is a squirrel rifle and most shots are under 25 yards. I found I get excellent results with 10-15 grains using a tight ball and patch. It will kill any squirrel or cottontail I come across and it cheap to shoot. Just shoot some 25 yard targets and find out what small load your rifle prefers. hntr
30grns of 3f for my crockett shooting the heads off them tree rats out to 50yds
Remember the .32 is a small game rifle. Here are some loads and velocity from my .32 Cherokee
10 grains FFFg 1120 FPS equals standard .22 long rifle round
20 grains FFFg 1650 FPS
30 grains FFFg 1870 FPS
Try your rifle with small charges and see what kind of accuracy you get. Body shots with over 20 grains tear up a lot of meat on squirrels and rabbits. I have found that if I am not shooting predators or long range I can get a lot more shots per pound of powder with a 10 or 15 grain charge than the heavier loads. The shot is quieter and seems to foul the bore less. JMHO
For hogs I use 40 grains of FFg, or 35 grains of FFFg, for smaller stuyff it likes 25 to 30 grains of fffg.