caliber choice .32 vs .36

[borderdogs]

I have always been intrigued with small caliber rifles ever since I saw my uncle shoot his original .36 (or so) long rifle near 50 years ago. I am considering building a poor boy and have been thinking about a .32 but wonder if I should really consider a .36. I have no experience with either caliber the smallest I have shot was a .40 but I have the .30's stuck in my head. The rifle I want to build would be for small game and close range farm varmints; rats, chipmucks, etc.

So I put the questions to those that have them; what caliber do you prefer and why?
Thanks,
Rob

[bob in the woods]

I prefer the .36 simply because the smaller .32 cal balls were more difficult for my large hands/fingers to handle/load in colder weather. 

[Kermit]

I've had both, and like the .32--for no rational reason. The .36 seems close to the .40, which I have. One word, if I may: Radius Rifling. Okay, two words. I had a .32 with "square" rifling, and found it harder to clean and load. Your mileage may vary, of course.

[Kopfjaeger]

I like and own them both. Both calibers are excellent for small game.

[borderdogs]

Thanks for the comments I really appreciate them. Years ago I had an 1853 Slat Breach Sharps percussion in .44 which was a lot of fun to shoot. I owned a percussion NY style half stock rifle in .40 which was fun also. But for this rifle I am considering building I thought maybe a flint, any thoughtson with these calibers?
Thanks,
Rob

[SCLoyalist]

For the varmints intended as targets, either will do the job.    Considerations that come to mind are that the .36 can be fed with Hornady 000 buckshot rather than having to cast ball,  the .36's ramrod won't be quite as delicate as the .32's might be,   the .32 should use only about half the powder and two-thirds the  lead as the .36, if you envision shooting the varmints inside a barn or near buildings the less noisy and less powerful .32 might be a better choice, and for a given barrel width and length  the .32 will be a little heavier  than the .36.

[borderdogs]

The varmints would be around and inside barns particularly the rats. We live on a sheep farm so with grain and all rodents can be a problem. I have used high powered pellet guns but what is the fun in those.

I have a border collie who use be be great at getting mice but she is older now and not as quick. One winter I had her out and she spied one in a snow bank. She was cocking her head, moving it around just like a fox then pouched up and drove her nose right into the bank. Pulling her head out she flipped up a mouse which I saw silhouetted in the late day winter sunlight. She was a good mouser. Matter of fact, the rifle I have planned I may name it after her.
Rob

[d-a]

I use single 0 buckshot in my 32. It's a GM barrel with square rifling. I can shoot all day with out cleaning it and I'm shooting a hefty dose of 3f in it. Some guys report great accuracy with 10-15 gr of powder, mine likes much more. It's accuracy load is 42g

d-a

[hanshi]

Most of my squirrel hunting has been with a .32 Crockett that I bought 13-14 years ago.  The .32 is tailor made for small and varmints.  It deserves more credit than it gets.  That little caliber is capable of power beyond any rimfire.  I'm currently having a .32 poorboy built with a Rice barrel.  I'm excited.

I also have had a .36 SMR for several years and it makes a good small game rifle with the potential of impressive power.  For both calibers I like 20 grains of 3F, and since I cast for everything I shoot; ammo availability is irrelevant.  Both are flintlocks, by the way.

[mark esterly]

I will be starting a .32 build soon with one of Jason's 44" squirrel barrels.  it should be fun

[halfstock]

All ya'll that hate those old out of date 36's just ship them barrels my way I'll gladly get rid of them for ya, at no charge.
ps. 36 & 38 are 2 of the most accurate calibers followed very closely by the 45.

Know I'll get a lot of flack on this but tis true.

[Hank*in*WV]

Gotta wonder about the wisdom of shooting a fire-breathing flintlock in a barn full of dry grass.

[borderdogs]

Dirt floor barn no dry grass or hay. Sheep are feed outside the barn is where the creep feeder is for the lambs. Creep feeders for those that are not familiar with the term is an area where the lambs can get into without the ewes getting in too. The feeder is where the grain goes for the lambs.

The other barn is an equipment shed
rOB

[Kermit]

Just to broaden the range of options, I find a load of #8 shot out of my 44" x .50 cal smoothrifle pretty lethal on the quarry you describe. More than one way...

[Standing Bear]

.32, .40, .50, .58. Covers everything.

[Bible Totin Gun Slinger]

After looking at the weight of a 36 I wouldn't want smaller.

[omark]

After looking at the weight of a 36 I wouldn't want smaller.

even in a mouse gun???          mark

[Frizzen]

All we shoot in pistol is 32's. Have 5 of them.

[Dphariss]

Most of my squirrel hunting has been with a .32 Crockett that I bought 13-14 years ago.  The .32 is tailor made for small and varmints.  It deserves more credit than it gets.  That little caliber is capable of power beyond any rimfire.  I'm currently having a .32 poorboy built with a Rice barrel.  I'm excited.

I also have had a .36 SMR for several years and it makes a good small game rifle with the potential of impressive power.  For both calibers I like 20 grains of 3F, and since I cast for everything I shoot; ammo availability is irrelevant.  Both are flintlocks, by the way.

A friend of mine who had never owned one was amazed at the effectiveness on large Rock Chucks.

Dan

[omark]

a friend of mine called his little 32 his 22 magnum. lethal on rabbits, etc.not a deer rifle, though. the smallest i have had is a 40, but thinking about a 32 or 36 myself. thinking about 36 because of the ram rod size but a 32 for the cool factor. i have a cousin that has a 32 and another has a 36, they both seem to perform well. i went with a 40 because it can be legal for deer in colo and it was the largest allowed in small bore competition and held up over distance better than the smaller brothers.    mark

[Standing Bear]

Ball sz            Approx        Cartridge.       Bullet wt
                      Ball wt

.310                  45.                .22 LR.          40

.395.                 93.                 .243 W          100

.495.                188.                 .30-06.          180

.535.                 230                 .338 Win        225


Just sayin.......

[EC121]

Ricochets off the dirt could be a problem.  Here is a .30cal target at 34yds.  Notice the dimples in the 3/8" mild steel.  Might penetrate light siding type metal.

[WadePatton]

I read everything printed about 32/36 and eventually wound up selecting 30 and 40.

Now if i ever build them, it should make sense. 

40 will be next, and should cover all my 36/38 cal "needs".    30 after that, and should cover the "itch" for something tiny like 28/29/32. 

It's quite too easy to spend too much time processing information when one could be letting in some parts, doing something real. 

[Kermit]

Ball sz            Approx        Cartridge.       Bullet wt
                      Ball wt

.310                  45.                .22 LR.          40

.395.                 93.                 .243 W          100

.495.                188.                 .30-06.          180

.535.                 230                 .338 Win        225


Just sayin.......

#4 buck/.240.     ~21.              .22 short.       29 (27 in h.p.)

Just addin'?........

[hanshi]

Ball sz            Approx        Cartridge.       Bullet wt
                      Ball wt

.310                  45.                .22 LR.          40

.395.                 93.                 .243 W          100

.495.                188.                 .30-06.          180

.535.                 230                 .338 Win        225


Just sayin.......

I like your comparisons but thought the last three could use some help to become a bit more reasonable.


.390/.395           89 to 93             .250 Sav        87 & 100

.495/.490           175 to 180          .30/30           170

.530/.525           225 to 230          .35 Rem          220 & 250