.32 Kiblers?

[Panzerschwein]

Looking to get into the Kibler game and have a gap in my line missing a small bore. Smallest I have (or will have) is a .45 and looking for a squirrel rifle and always been intrigued by the small .32 caliber.

How does a .32 Kibler Southern handle? Good offhander and squirreler? Also how’s loading with that long 46” barrel? Does it foul up quick?

Got some customs on order but here’s when I get back I won’t have a rifle for some time on a count of lead times. Figure a Kibler kit would be economical since I already have tools and I’d have a fine rifle to tide me over. I am embarrassed to say I own no muzzleloaders at present! Having 3 made for me but won’t be done for a long time.

Thanks all and God bless you and America,

Dillon

[P.Bigham]

I had a .36 cal.  Excellent offhand handling and fund to shoot. Great weight balance.

[Daryl]

Dillon - with a nice smooth crown, all barrels, no matter the calibre, shoot cleanly.
People who have fouling issues, either have pitted bores, or they are using REALLY loose
ball and patch combinations - with little to no lube.

[Prospector8083]

I built a SMR with a 45 cal and a 32 cal interchangeable barrels. The 45 cal is perfectly balanced and the 32 nose heavy. It is fun to shoot but you have to clean the bore more often than the 45. Working on a chambers fowler at the moment.

[Daryl]

I stand by my statement about not having to clean - ANY calibre more often while shooting.
Taylor's .25, with a 44" (or .46") bl. is no different.

[hanshi]

Daryl is correct.  Having both a .32 and a .36 (though not Kibler) I can load easily from the first shot to the 40th with no swabbing.  I don't even understand how small bores can possibly foul MORE than larger bores, given equal quality. 

[Dave Marsh]

Me too.  I agree with Daryl and Hanshi.  My 32 shoots and cleans fine and no different than any of my other muzzleloaders.  Dave

[borderdogs]

When I got my .32 going last year  Daryl was a great help steering me in the right direction. What he says about shooting .32 worked for me and was great, Thanks Daryl!
Rob

[Leatherbark]

A squirrel shot with a .32, 36, 40, 45 will need head shot if you are going to eat it.  A body shot will blow a squirrel to smithereens unless you find a low velocity load that the .32 will like.  I'd say choose a 36 or 40 and head shoot them..............But if a guy had that 32 with a3/4 inch barrel about 38 inches long that would be nice indeed and well balanced.

Bob

[Randy Johnson]

I have a .32 Kibler that I couldn’t be happier with.
On the fouling deal - I won’t call it an issue because I don’t think it is one - since blowing down the barrel became verboten I run a damp patch down the barrel between shots. Doesn’t matter if it’s a .32 or a .75. That eliminates fouling problems anyway. But with the .32 I used to have, a Wayne Dunlap Issac Haines kit built by Clay Smith before he moved from the blacksmith shop to the gun shop at Williamsburg, I don’t remember any problems loading when all I did was blow down the barrel.
Get a .32. It’s nice to hear a pop instead of a boom once in a while.

[borderdogs]

I use to run a patch after shooting too but I found what Daryl said about shooting works for all the calibers I shoot (.32, .50, .54, and .58). A case can be made that running a lubed or wet patch down a barrel after shooting is pushing debris and fouling down a barrel, which would be counter productive. I  also shoot big bore calibers in single shot cartridge rifles in black powder and use a grease cookie and it works using those although I use a blow tube too. I recently shot 48 rounds out of a .50 caliber percussion and never whipped once. I have been shooting black powder since the mid 70's and I learned something new
Rob

[MuskratMike]

I have a .32 (not a Kibler) but using the same barrel. I love it and can shoot all day using .310 patched balls with either T.O.T.W. Mink oil or 100% pure Neatsfoot oil and never wipe once. I did cone the barrel to make loading those little balls easier and is the only rifle I cut the patches at the muzzle not pre-cut patches. Go for it!

[Panzerschwein]

Thanks, gang! I think I’ll put in an order for one. Take care!