Little Critter Gitter
- Thread starter rodwha
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chute2thrill
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Define "little critter gitter".. What caliber is too high and what barrel length is too long?
I hear of people using rather large calibers for hunting small game (.45+), but it seems too big. To me it seems something between the .22 conicals and a .36 ball would be the ticket. I tend to lean towards efficiency, and so a .22 or .31 sound great, but I have to admit that I like the idea of a .36 that can also multi task.
For me it's more of an overall length restriction than a barrel length restriction. I'd feel quite good with a 10" barrel on a single shot. 8" wouldn't be too much on a revolver. I must admit to liking the idea of something more compact and lightweight being that SWMBO and I love backpacking. I used to play the part of a pack mule and brought whatever it was I wanted. She opened my eyes (much like this
) to carrying what you really needed and replaced things that could be had much lighter.
If the NAA Mini Earl had better sights it would probably be quite good. Same with the Pocket Remington and .31 Colts, though a little longer barrel would no doubt help a lot. I really like them.
I'm kinda partial to the safety notches on a Remington, but really like the Colt Pocket Navy. I'm OK with only 4 chambers loaded. Rabbits tend to run away rather than charge! I would probably fill the safety slot on the hammer of a Colt as it would no doubt get annoying dealing with jams often.
I've considered what a shoulder stock can be attached to as well.
And I've also just considered trying out my Old Army. I'd need an awesome rest to hit a tiny head at 25 yds. I need glasses too...
For me it's more of an overall length restriction than a barrel length restriction. I'd feel quite good with a 10" barrel on a single shot. 8" wouldn't be too much on a revolver. I must admit to liking the idea of something more compact and lightweight being that SWMBO and I love backpacking. I used to play the part of a pack mule and brought whatever it was I wanted. She opened my eyes (much like this
) to carrying what you really needed and replaced things that could be had much lighter.If the NAA Mini Earl had better sights it would probably be quite good. Same with the Pocket Remington and .31 Colts, though a little longer barrel would no doubt help a lot. I really like them.
I'm kinda partial to the safety notches on a Remington, but really like the Colt Pocket Navy. I'm OK with only 4 chambers loaded. Rabbits tend to run away rather than charge! I would probably fill the safety slot on the hammer of a Colt as it would no doubt get annoying dealing with jams often.
I've considered what a shoulder stock can be attached to as well.
And I've also just considered trying out my Old Army. I'd need an awesome rest to hit a tiny head at 25 yds. I need glasses too...
I don't think the notch in the hammer has anything to do with cap jams. It's broken pieces getting back in the hammer slot in the frame (not the slot IN the hammer). The real issue is the caps available today. If you can find a brand that doesn't break up, that's most of the battle. The caps available back in the day were made for different guns, and didn't break up like the ones today when used for the right application. The ones for Colts pistols were heavier.
Hmmmm... I had heard something about the recess in the hammer deforming and grabbing the caps and pulling them off, thereby jamming up the works.
So a stronger cap will keep that from occurring? Do you happen to know if CCI caps (11's) are up to the task? It's what I'll most likely be using.
Oh, gl1200, I forgot to mention that I intend on eating those little critters. So I need for there to be some meat left once shot!
So a stronger cap will keep that from occurring? Do you happen to know if CCI caps (11's) are up to the task? It's what I'll most likely be using.
Oh, gl1200, I forgot to mention that I intend on eating those little critters. So I need for there to be some meat left once shot!
I don't know what available caps break up less. I had caps in the past that were much better in that regard, they didnt break up when fired, and had to be pulled off the nipple to reload, but don't recall what brand they were. I didn't really put the pieces of the puzzle together until reading in a book of a letter written during the Civil War by Major R.H.K.Whitely to Brigadier General J.W.Ripley, Chief of the Ordnance Department, stating "First, a cap suitable for Colt's pistol does not suit either Savage's or Starr's, because the main spring is too weak to explode it. Second, a cap suitable for Savage's or Starrs pistol does not suit Colt's, because the hammer drives it to pieces, a fragment often lodges in front of the cock, and renders the arm useless after the first fire. On this account our spies carry two pistols, and have had to depend on the second for safety for the reason above stated. Therefore, I am compelled to have two qualities made, one for the Colt's answering in thickness of copper to Ely's double waterproof, and for the other for Savage's and Starr's to Ely's metal lined."
Ripley forwarded the letter to Major W.A. Thornton at the West Troy Arsenal and requested the he 'please see that all the revolvers made for this Department are suited to fire the same caps as Colt's army pistols'. (fron "Guns of the American West, p 69-70, by Joseph Rosa)
It would seem that what's taken for granted regarding caps breaking up today, wasn't the issue in the past we assume it was. Percussion guns are basically hobby items in the market today, and nobody makes caps specifically for Colt type pistols to reduce cap fragmentation.
I've shot small game like cottontail rabbits and squirrels with 45 Colts, 45-70's with lead bullets, and with 50 cal round balls. They just make large clean holes through them, no problem with having meat left.
Ripley forwarded the letter to Major W.A. Thornton at the West Troy Arsenal and requested the he 'please see that all the revolvers made for this Department are suited to fire the same caps as Colt's army pistols'. (fron "Guns of the American West, p 69-70, by Joseph Rosa)
It would seem that what's taken for granted regarding caps breaking up today, wasn't the issue in the past we assume it was. Percussion guns are basically hobby items in the market today, and nobody makes caps specifically for Colt type pistols to reduce cap fragmentation.
I've shot small game like cottontail rabbits and squirrels with 45 Colts, 45-70's with lead bullets, and with 50 cal round balls. They just make large clean holes through them, no problem with having meat left.
My caps, both Remington and CCI, often get broken. But I'm not certain if this is due to the hammer or the large flash hole.
I've never hunted squirrel, but many rabbits have had a .22 caliber hole put through their head and ended up being dinner. It just seems odd to use something large enough for bigger critters.
On the large caliber guns that you used did you reduce the load for small game? I would have thought that a full house load, especially from a 45-70, would leave little pieces.
I've never hunted squirrel, but many rabbits have had a .22 caliber hole put through their head and ended up being dinner. It just seems odd to use something large enough for bigger critters.
On the large caliber guns that you used did you reduce the load for small game? I would have thought that a full house load, especially from a 45-70, would leave little pieces.
I used full power loads. In the 45-70, it was 65 grs 3f black powder and 400 gr bullets. The 50 muzzle loader was about 70 grs powder. 45 Colt was standard factory level smokeless loads with SWC bullets. The solid bullets at those velocities didnt tear up small critters, just made a large clean hole.
Round ball loads at low velocity make good small game and grouse loads in the 45-70, and don't make much noise.
I wish I knew what caps I used that didn't break up (it was about 25 or so years ago), because I'd use them exclusively in revolvers, if they were even still available. Too bad somebody doesn't step up to the plate and make caps truly suitable for Colts type revolvers, to greatly reduce or eliminate the cap fragmentation issue. On single shots, it doesn't matter in the least, with Colts type pistols, it does.
Round ball loads at low velocity make good small game and grouse loads in the 45-70, and don't make much noise.
I wish I knew what caps I used that didn't break up (it was about 25 or so years ago), because I'd use them exclusively in revolvers, if they were even still available. Too bad somebody doesn't step up to the plate and make caps truly suitable for Colts type revolvers, to greatly reduce or eliminate the cap fragmentation issue. On single shots, it doesn't matter in the least, with Colts type pistols, it does.
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