OT: squirrel hunting with 1851 36 cal?

[O.S.O.K.]

Anybody hunt squirrel with a cap and ball 36 cal? I may have a chance to and am looking for pointers - beyond practice and sighting to point of aim...

I've got a Uberti Colt 1851 that shoots good. Another guy is going to use a 36 cal muzzy.

[2ndovc]

Aim for the head!

Even wounded they'll charge!



jb

[dr walker]

sounds like fun, if you can get close enough.

[Hairy Clipper]

You may want to forget the .36 and go for the .44 Walker. If a squirrel senses fear or peanut butter on your breath he WILL charge for certain and then leave you to be picked over by the the crows and buzzards.

Hairy

[Pisgah]

About 30 years ago I had a cheapo Italian 1851 Navy .36 and hunted squirrels with it frequently. I couldn't begin to remember my load, but I doubt it was anything unusual. The sights were, of course, utterly lousy, but the trigger was ideal. On a good day, if I concentrated, I had a better than even chance of nailing any squirrel -- and not a few rabbits -- out to about 15 yards or so. If it weren't for the gun cleanup afterward, I'd classify it as good, clean fun.

[Sixgun]

No, But back in my early twenties when I was still drinking, I used to go out back and shoot 'em with an 1886 Winchester in .33. I pretended I was Daniel Boone "barking " them. Of course, this was when drinking beer and hunting was still accepted. (at least around here it was ) Never did get any but I did have lots of fun.

Squirrels with a 36 c&b sixgun? Thats too challenging for me.-------------Sixgun

[piller]

No experience with it, but I hope you have a great time.

[tman]

i'd like to try it. but with a 1860 colt conversion. sounds like fun. enjoy.

[Andrew]

I never have but now I have one more thing to try.

[O.S.O.K.]

Boy, you guys are a lot of help

OK, so I guess I'll take it to the range this weekend and see just how good I can shoot with it. I know I can shoot pretty well but I wasn't looking at the groups in terms of minute of squirrel.

I'll probably take my Ruger Single Six and maybe my Rossi pump too so they're all sighted in with my ammo of choice. Hmm, another thing. Maybe I need to go to Cabelas tomorrow and get some CCI SG loads. Don't want to blow big holes in them with hollow points...

[Ysabel Kid]

Jac -

Sounds like the makings for a beautiful post - with lots of pictures! Good hunting!!!

[Griff]

Another thing to add to the "Bucket List"! Might have to try it in the back yard...

[Hobie]

#1 Read "Sixguns" by Keith.
#2 Experiment to find the most accurate load possible from YOUR revolver.
#3 Zero that gun.
#4 Go hunting.

I hunt with a .36 rifle. Works a treat. Have tried a .44 cap'n'ball. Lots of fun but I did use quite a few rounds compared to my .22 LR pistols!

[O.S.O.K.]

It's pretty well zero'd from what I recall - but it could probably be tweeked - I just file one side or the other of the rear notch a tad - has worked on all my others to get windage on.

My boss is taking the weekend to figure out if he wants to go squirrel hunting or maybe hog... see, he's got an in with Paradise Louisiana and we've invited a customer to do a hunt at our cost and it will be filmed and end up at his restaurant. He suggested we come to his 4600 acre hunt club for squirrel... very nice offer. I guess they just filmed a squirrel hunt though and that's the rub. A hog hunt would be great too - but I've only got so much time to go to the range....

May just check the sight in on my .22's and leave it at that. I'll probably use some Win Wildcat ammo that I've got - plain, hv round nose lead - good for squirrel w/o blowing holes in em if you hit the meat.

[2ndovc]

That sure sounds like it's gonna suck..


Better take the FAL. I'm tellin ya, those suckers are dangerous!

jb

[marlinman93]

You may want to forget the .36 and go for the .44 Walker. If a squirrel senses fear or peanut butter on your breath he WILL charge for certain and then leave you to be picked over by the the crows and buzzards.

Hairy

No peanut butter breath. It is full of salmonella!

[handirifle]

I read on some BP forums some time back, it was either the 32 or 36 cal that was a favorite for rabbits and squirrels. Ought to be fine, if you hit em.

[O.S.O.K.]

I read on some BP forums some time back, it was either the 32 or 36 cal that was a favorite for rabbits and squirrels. Ought to be fine, if you hit em.

I was planning on barking em

[Modoc ED]

I read on some BP forums some time back, it was either the 32 or 36 cal that was a favorite for rabbits and squirrels. Ought to be fine, if you hit em.

I was planning on barking em

Would that be "barking" as in shooting near them and directing a piece of bark at their head in order to kill them?

Or: Standing at the bottom of the tree and yelling "Woof Woof" until they fall out of the tree laughing themselves to death?

Eigher way -- a good plan and good luck with whatever you decide.

[O.S.O.K.]

I read on some BP forums some time back, it was either the 32 or 36 cal that was a favorite for rabbits and squirrels. Ought to be fine, if you hit em.

I was planning on barking em

Would that be "barking" as in shooting near them and directing a piece of bark at their head in order to kill them?

Or: Standing at the bottom of the tree and yelling "Woof Woof" until they fall out of the tree laughing themselves to death?

Eigher way -- a good plan and good luck with whatever you decide.

Yeah, the tree bark - we're going to have dogs along and the accoustic method would probably cause problems....

[2571]

That' an old wives' tale.

Shoot those squirrels in the left eye, though, or the meat will go bad.

[creosote]

Sounds like fun,It just a personal preference ,but I would only shoot the ones wearing blue coats.
creosote

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, I went to the range yesterday and left the 1851 at home. I just had too many other guns I wanted to shoot.

I sighted in three of my .22 rifles with the winchester wildcat ammo that I intend to hunt with - spiffed up 10-22, Romanian trainer m69 and a Rossi pump. They all liked the ammo well enough that any misses at 50 yards or closer will be my fault.

I also took my single six - and either it didn't care for the wildcat or I wasn't doing a very good job - it will stay home unless I can get to the range with it and try a few more loads - I seem to remember it shooting 1" groups at 25 yards with my forarms rested. I'm a decent pistol shot and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the 2 1/2" pattern I got at 25 yards.

[coyote nose]

Not a squirrel yet, but did bag this rabbit with a Colt 1851 navy a few years ago.