Smallest caliber of smooth rifle anyone...

[Salkehatchie]

What is the smallest caliber of smooth rifle anyone on the forum has ever used and...found acceptable?

I realize that if hunting, the game hunted will be a determining factor.  Deer would be the largest hunted [ state req's are min .40 in BP if I remember correctly].  With squirrel and rabbit the most hunted.  Maybe turkey.

Just seems like the older I get the less I like dealing with recoil etc. 

Thank you!

[oldtravler61]

There was a 17 cal sold on here. Had a 25 smoothie once. But alas departed with it. Foolish move on my part. Was a good shooting squirrel getter .

[L. Akers]

First rifle I made, 50 years ago, was a .38 smoothie (I couldn't afford a rifled barrel).  Had no trouble keeping up with the rifled guns out to 50 yds or so.  Shot a lot of squirrels and won my first competition medal with that gun.

[Mike Brooks]

Saw saw incredibly accurate smooth bored .40's at Friendship years ago.

[Daryl]

I had a .44 cal. smooth barreled gun for a while.  I reamed a short jug choke the bore (adjustable reamer), putting in about .005" choke and it patterned very well indeed, using 1/2oz 7 1/2's, .410 shot cups with 1/10" card wad between the wad and powder, with a thin "B" wad over the shot.  I actually broke 10/10 at our local rendezvous with it from 16 yards - no dust, just 2 to 4 pieces - but every one broke. The 10 7 12 bore shooters were a little miffed.
With round ball, it was accurate enough to shoot bunnies to about 40-50yards. It was a lot of fun, but a friend needed it more than I so I traded it for an original, Sharps barrel with sights & mould. Yeah - should have kept it.

[Kermit]

"Plastikosmd" reported on the .20 smoothbore J. R. Salvo "ultimate squirrel rifle." It was apparently used with .177 cal roundball/lead BB's, but the new owner shot some very interesting projectiles. I looked long and hard at buying this gun, but my pockets were too tight.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=39847.0

[plastikosmd]

I haven't shot the .20 for accuracy yet, I am traveling. I had no issue hitting the 2x4 I shot at 25yrd. No issues loading or shooting. I do swab between shots and brush the bore after a day of shooting.

[Salkehatchie]

Thank you gentlemen for the responses.

[Keb]

I shot a .25 caliber rifle for a short while. It shot good but I didn't like cleaning it so I sold it.