Squirrel with and inline

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Dogfood

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Hi all,
I have an Optima 2 that doesn't seem to get out much. It being a .50cal, I was wondering whats the smallest diameter bullet I could use in it. I've heard of saboting a sabot. But don't think I've heard of anyone doing it to get to the point to a .32-.40cal bullet/ball.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
dgfd
 
My daughter shoots .40 200 grain bullets in 50/40 sabots out of her .50 with good results.
 
try shooting a patched round ball with about 30-50 gr of 3f 777 powder or goex 3f black powder...if you can find a accurate load make a good squirrel/ground hog round..alot cheaper also.
 
try shooting a patched round ball with about 30-50 gr of 3f 777 powder or goex 3f black powder...if you can find a accurate load make a good squirrel/ground hog round..alot cheaper also.

So that'll thump them with a big, slow projectile, eh? Interesting strategy; I'm keen to try it out. Fortunately, I'm moving to OH soon (from RI) where that will be an acceptable method of take. Things are looking up. I appreciate it!
Cheers,
dgfd
 
I used to hunt squirrels with my 50 cal mountain rifle. PRB over 30 gr goex. I would aim for head or the bark just under their chin when hugging the tree ( it's called "barking"). Barking stuns them and they fall out of the tree. I'd walk up to it and finish it with a thump to the head with that heavy rifle butt.
 
So that'll thump them with a big, slow projectile, eh? Interesting strategy; I'm keen to try it out. Fortunately, I'm moving to OH soon (from RI) where that will be an acceptable method of take. Things are looking up. I appreciate it!
Cheers,
dgfd
Really
 
I used to hunt squirrels with my 50 cal mountain rifle. PRB over 30 gr goex. I would aim for head or the bark just under their chin when hugging the tree ( it's called "barking"). Barking stuns them and they fall out of the tree. I'd walk up to it and finish it with a thump to the head with that heavy rifle butt.
I was raised up doin the same thing " Barkin " the squirrel when that shot was there & yes a thump to the noggin with the butt. I broke a stock one time doin exactly that. For a few yrs my gun sat after that, until a big gunshow in Md I met a feller from Wva ( my home away from home state ) he had that same stock he'd been tryin to sell forever. So he hooked me up. Thanks for the trip down memory lane
 
i had an old 32 cal that had been in a friends family forever. they let me hunt squirrel and rabbit with it.

it was a blast. i shot single 0 buck if i remember right and used a cut off 30-06 case to measure out real black. no substitutes then.
 
i had an old 32 cal that had been in a friends family forever. they let me hunt squirrel and rabbit with it.

it was a blast. i shot single 0 buck if i remember right and used a cut off 30-06 case to measure out real black. no substitutes then.
Thats awesome. Was your .32 a Crocket? Thats cool the buckshot in it. I've seen a few old timers that use cut brass casings to measure out their BP loads.
 
i showed horses with a guy that had some marvelous originals and he built rifles too. he said it had been cut off at least twice. no markings left.

in the sixty's he hunted with a double over and under. fifty cal on top and 12 ga under. he said ohio wardens had stopped him and let him go.
 
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