Does anyone here hunt squirrels with a flintlock? I have a .36 cal mountian rifle I have been after squirrles with it twice. First time I ran into a coon and it did a fine job. This morning was my second attempt I shot 3 times knocked one down but I was chasing him around the base of a big oak and then he just disappeared I imagine he made it back up the tree never saw him fall back down. They are cutting hickory nuts pretty heavy around here I might go back out when the rain stops. It's a challenge that's forsure. When it started raining I decided to try to shoot a walnut off a tree from about 20 yards to see if it was me or the gun. Turns out squirrel fever must be real!

I don’t hunt squirrels……but I love shooting my flintahs ! Keep that lock covered with a “Cow Knee” in the rain

I think I would love to do that, but I would opt for percussion cap. Been watching for a small caliber muzzy. Wonder if .45 is too big? It could be used for deer also.

I, like Feedinggrounds, have been looking for an old-timey squirrel gun. I do want a flinter, and because I'm a lefty, it's a bit harder to find. I hunt with a right handed TC hawken (.54 cal) without problems, but it's a percussion gun. Do any of you hunt flinters by shooting a right hand gun left handed?

Yes' Sir....Started out with a dixie gun works Tennessee Mtn. rifle.32 cal flinter......Hunted with that for a few years, then had Jack Garner of TVM manufacturing build me another .32 cal Tn. Mtn flinter longrifle with a curly maple stock, Jack Bean browned poor boy furniture, and a Durrs Egg lock.

It's the only way to hunt squirrels, outside of suppressed can hunting which is mighty fun too.

This one started life as a .36 cal…..But then in NH the minimum cal to hunt deer is .40. So I called Green Mountain Barrel company ,and now it has a .45 cal barrel on it.

"Very Nice" Nessie, just something about a flinter, they have soul.

I like to eat squirrel too much.
I’ll stick with my .22.
Although I’d use a muzzleloader before I would a shotgun.

You can find left handed squirrel calibers on the forsale section on muzzleloader fourm. Some guys do hunt with .45 they just use a light load. Here's the .36 I
put together it's a kibler.

When it's not 1000° outside I hunt squirrels with a flintlock... I have a .32 Pedersoli Kentucky, it does pretty good. And I also have a custom 20 gauge smoothbore... Never had to pick more than 3 pellets out when I'm skinning.

Here's a pic of the smoothie with the first squirrel I shot with it...


Mike

I also am left handed and have no trouble with a right hand percussion gun. I can't, however, shoot a right handed flinter. You may be able to do it, but it is too much of a distraction for me and makes me flinch.

Mike …have yah tried that Smoothy at 50 yards off hand yet ?

I've never shot a muzzleloader. Do you guys wear safety glasses when hunting with them? I've always wondered if the throw sparks and burning powder all over your face.

No Nessy, I worked on load development for a bit but got sidetracked. Haven't touched any of my flinters for a while. Pulled my .45 Bedford out the other night and re-oiled the bore. When the heat/humidity drop off in a few weeks I'll play with them some more.

My best groups from the smoothie came from a .610 ball, but I can't get my hands on a .610 mold for it... Lyman is the only company I know of who makes one and they don't seem to be making any right now. There is a Russian company who makes one that sells on ebay... Svarog, I think. I may order one to try out. I'd like to try different brands/granulations of powder too... I saw improvement when I went from Goex 3f to Goex 2f... I'd like to try some Swiss in it, but again, supplies are hit or miss. Might even try some 1.5f if I can get it... 2f sure made recoil a lot more tolerable.

Mike

Never had sparks/burning granules hit my face... Had a few land on my wrist, no big deal.

Safety glasses are never a bad idea when shooting. I wear prescription specs anyway and don't usually bother to change to safety glasses for the flinters... But I wear my prescription safety specs when shooting modern center-fire guns. Probably should wear them with all guns, but I don't.

I shot this last month with the .62 Smoothy….50 yards offhand …no rear sight…6 3/16 group….my best so far. Used a .600 ball .015 patch 90 grains FF Goex. The Smoothbore boys recommend a smaller ball with a thicker patch….so looking for a .595 ball and using some denim for patching material. And trying bare ball too

Your missing out on the Pahdy !

This forum is awesome. My son and I were just talking about getting some muzzle loaders for squirrel hunting and just messing around. Ive always wanted a 32/36 to squirrel hunt with. Have had my eyes on the Pedersoli rifles. I had some of the Thompson Center Hawken rifles years ago, a 54 and a couple of 45s. I have basically quit deer hunting and mostly squirrel hunt nowadays anyway. I have a question please for the more experienced.

I was thinking you could buy a large caliber musket, like a brown bess style and actually use it like a shotgun? If that is a stupid idea please let me know.

Those are some ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL rifles gentlemen.

If I had it to do over I would recommend a .36 over a .32

Nothing wrong at all with a .32 but in my experience it just seems easier to come by accoutrements for .36

Either way, a pound of lead and a pound of powder will last forever.

Mike

It’s a lot of fun!