32 caliber or 45?

[Jeff Kavanagh]

So I'm new to black powder and have always wanted a flintlock to play with on the range.
There's just something so appealing of it for me. At this stage I'm not really thinking of hunting, just plinking and that's why I'm thinking of a 32 cal or 45.
(I pretty much bow hunt only except for maybe once a year taking one of my Win 94's for a walk)

I guess I'm just looking for some thoughts from people who likely have forgotten more on the topic than I'll ever know.

[boogaloo]

Yer powder will go a lot farther with a .32 but you may find it hard to find a .30 cal. ball mold. I have had a .36 for several years and have yet to fire it. Part reason I guess is I'm still having fun with my .50 and .54.........................Daniel

[Fox]

45 round balls can be easily found, 32 round balls are going to be tougher to find.

If you want to cast your own and an odd gun then try to find a 32, I think they are cool too, but 45 is a lot more popular.

[hollywood]

Once you get the blackpowder bug....you will want to hunt with it. That being said, you are much better to buy a .54 or .50 cal. Balls, sabots, brushes , patches etc. are much easier to buy. You will trouble finding this stuff for .32 or .45.....I know because I have both and .32 and .45 and had to order from the US . I have shot a number of deer with my .54 flintlock using round balls....it kills a deer easily within 75 yards. 50 to 60 grains of powder are good for plinking....80 - 95 grains for hunting. For a flintlock you need to use real black powder. Good flints are hard to find in Ontario....so again I order from the US. Go on-line to Track of the Wolf.

[Fox]

Once you get the blackpowder bug....you will want to hunt with it. That being said, you are much better to buy a .54 or .50 cal. Balls, sabots, brushes , patches etc. are much easier to buy. You will trouble finding this stuff for .32 or .45.....I know because I have both and .32 and .45 and had to order from the US . I have shot a number of deer with my .54 flintlock using round balls....it kills a deer easily within 75 yards. 50 to 60 grains of powder are good for plinking....80 - 95 grains for hunting. For a flintlock you need to use real black powder. Good flints are hard to find in Ontario....so again I order from the US. Go on-line to Track of the Wolf.

54 is not easy to find in Ontario either.

I just got into smoke poles, love it, but 50 cal seems to be the only one that is "normal" in Ontario and round balls and conicals are not the norm either, sabots are pretty much all you can find in normal hunting stores.

[boogaloo]

54 is not easy to find in Ontario either.

I just got into smoke poles, love it, but 50 cal seems to be the only one that is "normal" in Ontario and round balls and conicals are not the norm either, sabots are pretty much all you can find in normal hunting stores.

Trust me Fox........there is nothing "normal" once you get into flintlocks.....................Daniel

[MikePal]

Jeff good to hear you have an interest in Black Powder. I've been hooked for about 20 yrs and have pretty much forsaken my center fires. The Dec ML hunt is by far the best, more rewarding hunt I experience. Something about 'making smoke' on a cold Dec morning stirs the primal part of the human psyche.

There is a fella in Maitland Ont that make sells ball/conicals in all caliburs and he's fairly cheap. Just talking with him this morning and he's now only doing Black powder stuff so I'm a happy guy. Anyway, bullets aren't really an issue. I plink and hunt with .45, .50 and .58 ML's and he has provided me ball and conicals for all of them.

As far a Flinters go... you'll primarily be shooting Goex 2f or 3f Black Powder. I little harder to find but most places that sell powder can get it for you. It is not only fun to shoot but you get to lovingly rub and clean your entire gun after

You might consider going with a Percussion Cap (#11) to start with. A little easier for the beginner, they can shoot substitute BP powders (Pyrodex, T7 etc) and can still get the full 'Black Powder' experience, except for that unnerving explosion 2" from your eye that you get with a flinter

Pursue it if you can...you won't regret it !!

[Jeff Kavanagh]

Jeff good to hear you have an interest in Black Powder. I've been hooked for about 20 yrs and have pretty much forsaken my center fires. The Dec ML hunt is by far the best, more rewarding hunt I experience. Something about 'making smoke' on a cold Dec morning stirs the primal part of the human psyche.

There is a fella in Maitland Ont that make sells ball/conicals in all caliburs and he's fairly cheap. Just talking with him this morning and he's now only doing Black powder stuff so I'm a happy guy. Anyway, bullets aren't really an issue. I plink and hunt with .45, .50 and .58 ML's and he has provided me ball and conicals for all of them.

As far a Flinters go... you'll primarily be shooting Goex 2f or 3f Black Powder. I little harder to find but most places that sell powder can get it for you. It is not only fun to shoot but you get to lovingly rub and clean your entire gun after

You might consider going with a Percussion Cap (#11) to start with. A little easier for the beginner, they can shoot substitute BP powders (Pyrodex, T7 etc) and can still get the full 'Black Powder' experience, except for that unnerving explosion 2" from your eye that you get with a flinter

Pursue it if you can...you won't regret it !!

Thanks. I have a lot to learn and am looking forward to it all.

[Fox]

Jeff good to hear you have an interest in Black Powder. I've been hooked for about 20 yrs and have pretty much forsaken my center fires. The Dec ML hunt is by far the best, more rewarding hunt I experience. Something about 'making smoke' on a cold Dec morning stirs the primal part of the human psyche.

There is a fella in Maitland Ont that make sells ball/conicals in all caliburs and he's fairly cheap. Just talking with him this morning and he's now only doing Black powder stuff so I'm a happy guy. Anyway, bullets aren't really an issue. I plink and hunt with .45, .50 and .58 ML's and he has provided me ball and conicals for all of them.

As far a Flinters go... you'll primarily be shooting Goex 2f or 3f Black Powder. I little harder to find but most places that sell powder can get it for you. It is not only fun to shoot but you get to lovingly rub and clean your entire gun after

You might consider going with a Percussion Cap (#11) to start with. A little easier for the beginner, they can shoot substitute BP powders (Pyrodex, T7 etc) and can still get the full 'Black Powder' experience, except for that unnerving explosion 2" from your eye that you get with a flinter

Pursue it if you can...you won't regret it !!

Never saw rick with 32 cal though

[Fox]

Trust me Fox........there is nothing "normal" once you get into flintlocks.....................Daniel

Oh God, I know, I am learning a lot about it just by touching the surface.

Since I was able to get out and shoot my Kentucky rifle I am so excited for the controlled hunt in December, I am leaving the shotgun at home, will be the 50 cal round ball only, no going to participate in the drives just sit on a runway hoping to catch one 50 yards or closer.

What I meant by "normal" was that by far the large majority shoots 50 cal, pulling numbers out of the sky but probably close to 95% and of those now most are sabot shooters. I remember getting the Cabelas catalog when I was a kid, the one from the states. It had about 50 different bullet types in 45-58 and all conicals, not everything seems to be 50cal and sabot. The good part about it is this crazy internet thing, ha ha, you can find tons of different options but mainly you need to get them shipped and since we do not produce much in this country most has to be imported.