.36 caliber muzzleloader for hunting deer?
highlands hunter
deer? If so, what is the effective range of this gun?
Thanks,
Scott
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers.com
news:99519d08-3286-4d50...@w40g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
> Does anyone out there use a .36 caliber muzzleloader for hunting
> deer? If so, what is the effective range of this gun?
I wouldn't use a .36 cal muzzleloader for any kind of whitetail hunting.
While it may, with a properly placed shot kill a deer within 50 yards, it's
certainly not an appropriate firearm for medium size game. The .36 cal. was
traditionally a pistol round and a "squirrel gun," and is more thought of as
a small game rifle. It would be akin to shooting deer with a .410 shotgun
slug. Yes, it can be done, but it is appropriate to do so?
Most traditional muzzleloaders used for whitetail deer are .50 and .54
caliber, although there is some use (especially in the hotter loaded inline
rifles) of .45 caliber. With a .36 cal. ball, you're not going to have a
lot of weight in the ball for deep penetration, there's not a whole lot of
speed on a muzzleloaded ball, so there isn't a whole lot of kinetic energy
and a .36 caliber hole isn't going to create much of a wound channel.
I wouldn't do it at all, the animals deserve a quick, clean and effective
kill.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service
http://www.herefishyfishy.com
highlands hunter
fish...@charter.net> wrote:
> "highlands hunter" <highlands_hun...@ROGERS.COM> wrote in message
>
> news:99519d08-3286-4d50...@w40g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Does anyone out there use a .36 caliber muzzleloader for hunting
> > deer? If so, what is the effective range of this gun?
>
> While it may, with a properly placed shot kill a deer within 50 yards, it's
> certainly not an appropriate firearm for medium size game. The .36 cal. was
> traditionally a pistol round and a "squirrel gun," and is more thought of as
> a small game rifle. It would be akin to shooting deer with a .410 shotgun
> slug. Yes, it can be done, but it is appropriate to do so?
>
> Most traditional muzzleloaders used for whitetail deer are .50 and .54
> caliber, although there is some use (especially in the hotter loaded inline
> rifles) of .45 caliber. With a .36 cal. ball, you're not going to have a
> lot of weight in the ball for deep penetration, there's not a whole lot of
> speed on a muzzleloaded ball, so there isn't a whole lot of kinetic energy
> and a .36 caliber hole isn't going to create much of a wound channel.
>
> I wouldn't do it at all, the animals deserve a quick, clean and effective
> kill.
> --
> G & S Guide Servicehttp://www.herefishyfishy.com
Thanks! I'm a blackpowder newbie and figured I'd better ask a dumb
question so I don't make a dumb mistake.
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers.com
Thanks! I'm a blackpowder newbie and figured I'd better ask a dumb
question so I don't make a dumb mistake.
No worries my friend, it's better to ask first than spend the money and find
out you've made the wrong choice.
If I were you, I'd get a .50 caliber muzzleloader. Whether it's an inline
or a traditional percussion cap is your decision, but a .36 caliber is a
specialty rifle and loading components aren't always easy to find. However,
..50 caliber equipment and components are readily available just about
everywhere.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
Larry Caldwell
(Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers.com) says...
> I wouldn't use a .36 cal muzzleloader for any kind of whitetail hunting.
> While it may, with a properly placed shot kill a deer within 50 yards, it's
> certainly not an appropriate firearm for medium size game. The .36 cal. was
> traditionally a pistol round and a "squirrel gun," and is more thought of as
> a small game rifle. It would be akin to shooting deer with a .410 shotgun
> slug. Yes, it can be done, but it is appropriate to do so?
It all depends on how long the barrel is. Muzzle loaders were large
bore until the invention of the Long Rifle in the 1700s. With a barrel
twice the length of a musket, it could spit a .36 caliber bullet fast
enough to make it a usable hunting rifle. It also had a much longer
effective range than other rifles of the day. If a tall man has to
reach up to load it, a medium bore muzzle loader can be an effective
hunting rifle, particularly if you load it with a 19th century Minie
ball instead of a round ball.
--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.
highlands hunter
fish...@charter.net> wrote:
> "highlands hunter" <highlands_hun...@ROGERS.COM> wrote in message <SNIP>
>
> Thanks! I'm a blackpowder newbie and figured I'd better ask a dumb
> question so I don't make a dumb mistake.
>
> No worries my friend, it's better to ask first than spend the money and find
> out you've made the wrong choice.
>
> If I were you, I'd get a .50 caliber muzzleloader. Whether it's an inline
> or a traditional percussion cap is your decision, but a .36 caliber is a
> specialty rifle and loading components aren't always easy to find. However,
> ..50 caliber equipment and components are readily available just about
> everywhere.
> --
> G & S Guide Servicehttp://www.herefishyfishy.com
More good advice. Thanks again!
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers.com
news:MPG.2465792f3...@news.peaksky.com...
Larry,
While you are right, the problem is it's not as easy to run down to your
local Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Dick's Sporting Good, or pretty
much any place and get your .36 caliber muzzleloader supplies. Heck, I have
a .54 caliber sidelock and have problems finding .54 caliber accessories and
supplies! I've never seen .36 caliber components in a store, and while they
can be ordered via mail-order and internet, it's a pain in the butt.
For someone that is simply looking to get a muzzleloader and take advantage
of the muzzleloader special season that many states offer, a .50 caliber
makes sense.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
highlands hunter
fish...@charter.net> wrote:
> "Larry Caldwell" <firstnamelastinit...@PEAKSKY.COM> wrote in message
>
> news:MPG.2465792f3...@news.peaksky.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > In article <Qh1Il.48353$Ji5.28...@newsfe21.iad>, go-fish...@charter.net
> > (Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers.com) says...
>
> >> I wouldn't use a .36 calmuzzleloaderfor any kind of whitetail hunting.
> >> While it may, with a properly placed shot kill a deer within 50 yards,
> >> it's
> >> certainly not an appropriate firearm for medium size game. The .36 cal.
> >> was
> >> traditionally a pistol round and a "squirrel gun," and is more thought of
> >> as
> >> a small game rifle. It would be akin to shooting deer with a .410
> >> shotgun
> >> slug. Yes, it can be done, but it is appropriate to do so?
>
> > It all depends on how long the barrel is. Muzzle loaders were large
> > bore until the invention of the Long Rifle in the 1700s. With a barrel
> > twice the length of a musket, it could spit a .36 caliber bullet fast
> > enough to make it a usable hunting rifle. It also had a much longer
> > effective range than other rifles of the day. If a tall man has to
> > reach up to load it, a medium bore muzzle loader can be an effective
> > hunting rifle, particularly if you load it with a 19th century Minie
> > ball instead of a round ball.
>
> Larry,
>
> While you are right, the problem is it's not as easy to run down to your
> local Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Dick's Sporting Good, or pretty
> a .54 caliber sidelock and have problems finding .54 caliber accessories and
> supplies! I've never seen .36 caliber components in a store, and while they
> can be ordered via mail-order and internet, it's a pain in the butt.
>
> For someone that is simply looking to get amuzzleloaderand take advantage
> makes sense.
> --
> Steve @ OutdoorFrontiershttp://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
> G & S Guide Servicehttp://www.herefishyfishy.com- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I'm hoping to find a muzzleloader that I could use for hunting hares
and deer. Traditions did sell the Deerhunter model that could switch
between a .32 and .50 caliber barrel, but they no longer supply the
smaller barrel for this model.
It seems that most manufacturers are going with .50 caliber and
above. In my opinion they are shooting themselves in the foot - what
better way to increase sales if hunters use the same rifle for
multiple game species?
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers.com
I'm hoping to find a muzzleloader that I could use for hunting hares
and deer. Traditions did sell the Deerhunter model that could switch
between a .32 and .50 caliber barrel, but they no longer supply the
smaller barrel for this model.
It seems that most manufacturers are going with .50 caliber and
above. In my opinion they are shooting themselves in the foot - what
better way to increase sales if hunters use the same rifle for
multiple game species?
I agree, firearms manufacturers often do "shoot themselves in the foot." My
first muzzleloader was a .54 caliber sidelock. When I first got the rifle,
..54 caliber supplies were readily available. Then the supply started to
dwindle. Then Tony Knight (of Knight Rifles) announced that they were
introducing a "BIG GAME" rifle, my first thought was, "all right, they're
going to be doing something with the .54 caliber!" Nope, they came out with
the morphodite .52 caliber!
I understand the desire to find a "do it all" rifle, but you might be
pushing the envelope a little, although I suppose a downloaded .45 cal.
probably wouldn't tear up a bunny too bad, and could be loaded hotter for
whitetail. Or simply get "real good" and head shoot rabbits with your .50
cal.
Markesbery Muzzleloaders makes a wide variety of calibers and you might be
able to contact them to see if you could purchase a .50 caliber muzzleloader
and get another barrel in .36 cal?
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
Ilif...@aol.com
<I'm hoping to find a muzzleloader that I could use for hunting hares
<and deer. Traditions did sell the Deerhunter model that could switch
<between a .32 and .50 caliber barrel, but they no longer supply the
<smaller barrel for this model.
FWIW,
Green Mountain Barrel Company makes drop in replacement barrels for TC
sidelocks. Calibers range from .32 on up. I know a lot of serious shooters
that use them. They are quite accurrate. Get a TC in an appropriate big
game caliber and then get a drop in GMB barrel for small game.
Here's a link
_http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/catalog.aspx?catid=hawkenrenegadestylerifles_ (http://
www.gmriflebarrel.com/catalog.aspx?catid=hawkenrenegadestylerifles)
**************Remember Mom this Mother's Day! Find a florist near you now.
(http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=florist&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000006)
highlands hunter
> highlands hunter wrote:
>
> <I'm hoping to find a muzzleloader that I could use for hunting hares
> <and deer. Traditions did sell the Deerhunter model that could switch
> <between a .32 and .50 caliber barrel, but they no longer supply the
> <smaller barrel for this model.
>
> FWIW,
> Green Mountain Barrel Company makes drop in replacement barrels for TC
> sidelocks. Calibers range from .32 on up. I know a lot of serious shooters
> that use them. They are quite accurrate. Get a TC in an appropriate big
> game caliber and then get a drop in GMB barrel for small game.
>
> Here's a link
> **************Remember Mom this Mother's Day! Find a florist near you now.
Thanks so much! I'll just have to figure how to get it across the
border with the right paperwork.
Del
wrote:
Im sure thousands of deer fell to the .36's over the years.
If you can hit a squirrel at 30yds, you can hit a deer head or heart
at the same distance.
I may be fostering romantic notions, but I cant help but think my
forefathers KNEW their guns, and KNEW how to
take meat for the table. Because their lives depended on it.
I do know that in the poor rural south, your typical sharecropper
didnt have a cabinet with 3 deer rifles, turkey gun, dove gun, quail
gun, squirrel rifle, assault rifle, target rifle, etc. He most likely
had 'A' gun, and learned to provide for his family with it.
Ive killed many deer myself with one pellet of 00 or 000 buck. Many
times several shot were in the animal, but it was obvious that only
one was fatal (some in haunch or lower leg, etc.). Others I looked
the entire skinned surface over, and could only find one buckshot
hole.
My very very first deer was a doe, I shot with one 2 3/4" 00 buckshot
at about 25yds, from a single shot stevens 12ga.
She crumpled on the spot with exactly one buckshot pellet in the head.
(I was aiming at the shoulder).
One 00 or 000 pellet would probably be less powerful than a typical .
36 cal rifle, depending on barrel length and powder charge.
All the above said, I shoot a .45 black powder, and wouldn't choose to
go below that personally.
Also you may have laws that dictate what you can hunt with.
Del