Muzzleloaders for Squirrel and Rabbit

[PlaysInTheDirt]

With all of the quality .22 rifles and optics available to us for small game, does anybody still venture afield with a small caliber front loader? I found a CVA Sqirrel rifle at a local antique store (still loaded even) that cleaned up real nice. Seems to shoot a spit patched .310 ball over a small charge of pyrodex rs pretty well though i haven't had time to work up a best load of a rest yet. Would you all recommend a zero at 25yds for best use?
Thanks!

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

I'd start at 35 grains of 3f and try for 50 yards. Good luck!

 

[Mongo59]

Whatever you try, it will take all day to do it right with a front stuffer. No one wants to know where the 10th shot out of a hot dirty barrel lands. You want to know where the first shot out of a clean cool barrel hits with a certain charge, patch and projectile.

I can see a lot of shooting and cleaning, shooting and cleaning in your future...

 

[patience0830]

If you get it worked up to hit a walnut at 25 yds, you've got a pretty good chance to make it entertaining.

 

[Michigan Slim]

Always wanted a Thompson Center Cherokee in .36. I'd pay good money for one now!

 

[PlaysInTheDirt]

Mongo - I'll bring a .22 along to kill some time between shots. Your comment make perfect sense. A quick wipe or two of the bore is usually my standard between shot anyway.

Patience - A walnut is a pretty hard to see at 25 yards. We use a golfball or the 2" clay pots as a targets for the .22's but they are all scoped and dialed in pretty well. I will have to work on that with the little squirrel rifle.

 

[tcecil88]

I have a TC half stock in .32 my dad gave me. I have squirrel hunted a few times with it, but my eye sight is not good enough to hit such a small target now. My dad hunts with a Fowler flintlock.

 

[1nderbeard]

As it is I sometimes question whether a squirrel is worth all the work with a 22lr and scope.

Can't imagine how much you must like small game to attempt with muzzleloader.

 

[patience0830]

As it is I sometimes question whether a squirrel is worth all the work with a 22lr and scope.

Can't imagine how much you must like small game to attempt with muzzleloader.

Sometimes it's about the challenge. Rimfire and a scope isn't nearly the challenge the front stuffer would be.

 

[1nderbeard]

Sometimes it's about the challenge. Rimfire and a scope isn't nearly the challenge the front stuffer would be.

I hear that.

A good friend told me once "if you want something to eat, hunt with a .410. If you just want the challenge, use your .22." I need to add "if you REALLY want the challenge, grab your muzzleloader."

 

[Mongo59]

I use a shotgun when the leaves are still on the trees but switch to ,22 when the leaves fall...

 

[El Conquistador]

I was 3 for 3 this fall with a old marlin 60 In about 20 minutes
I made sure my grandson got a few before I showed him how its done.