T/C Renegade round ball barrel

[sghart3578]

Hello friends,

New member and  still a rookie with  muzzleloaders and blackpowder.  I have spent many hours on this forum and others trying to decide on my next rifle.

Last summer I got a good deal on a T/C Hawken .50 cal with the standard barrel.  It seemed to shoot okay the few times that I shot it but I spent most of last summer with my centerfire rifles.   I now want to concentrate on muzzleloaders, specifically round ball.

I picked up a second rifle, actually a T/C Renegade stock only. Then I came across a T/C barrel, .54 cal with the 1:66" twist. Beautiful bore.

My question is this:  

Since I decided to shoot strictly round ball I was going to buy a Lyman Great Plains.  Then this deal with the Thompson came along.  How does the Renegade with this barrel stack up against the Lyman?  I should add that I don't hunt any more, strictly paper plates, etc.

Any opinions are welcome.  Suggestions also.

Thank you in advance for your time,


Steve in N CA

 

[exMember]

It will shoot right up there with the lyman rifles. The 1:66 twist is perfect for round balls and heavy loads if you need a heavy charge.

I'd suggest a starting point of 70gr 2fg, .015" patch and a .530" round ball to get you started.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

I agree.  You will be pleased with the performance of the T/C RB barrel.  Tack up some of those paper plates and check it out first.  Of course there is nothing wrong with owning a Lyman Great Plains too!

 

[Gramps]

I have the Great Plains long range hunter with fast twist for bullets not
balls.
It kills deer real well.
I have other round ballers.
http://www.custommuzzleloaders.com/guns.html

The Bucks County is mine.
.40 round ball shooter, custom made and the only one that exists.


I also have a Jaeger .58 round ball shooter by the same builder.

This ^^ one is engraved a bit.
And a .45 round ball shooter with Douglas barrel and fancy
maple stock, caliber .50.
Life's good.

Douglas hasn't made muzzle loader barrels in forever.

I also have some Thompson Center rifles and for junk guns
I guess they are o.k.
1:48 twist ain't good for anything .50 caliber and bigger.

I prefer the Lyman Great Plains Hunter for a production
weapon.
1:32 fast twist.

The T/C. 1: 48 twist is a "compromise" twist and shoots
round ball just so-so and bullets, just so-so.
Your mileage may vary.
In a .50 and larger bore a 1:60 or slower seems to work well.

For conical bullets 1:32 twist seems to work best.

1:48 might be spot one for a .32, .36 bore and round balls.

Some use the Greenhill formula for determining the best twist for a particular bullet/ball.

http://ebrammo.com/info-tools/greenhill-formula-for-rifling-twists

 

[Gramps]

sghart3578

Where did you find the T/C slow twist barrel?

 

[sghart3578]

I shot the new barrel today for the first time.

FrontierGander:  I took your advice and loaded 70 gr of Goex FFg with a .015" spit patch and a .530" ball.  I only had 30 minutes to spare on my way home from work and I took three shots.  All three went into a 2" orange stick on dot at 30 yards.  I was very happy.

Next week I will have a lot more time and I will wring it out at 50, 75 and 100 yards.

Thanks for your help.

jeager106:  I found the barrel on another forum.  I was telling my troubles there when a member contacted me privately and offered me the barrel for $225 shipped.  The Renegade stock was $150 so I got a .54 cal round ball rifle for less than a new Lyman.

I will probably still buy the Lyman.  I have been bitten by the bug.

Steve in N CA

 

[Gramps]

I have been bitten by the bug.


Addictive ain't it?


It's the aroma of white smoke.
Pure ambrosia.

I have probably 25 POUNDS of Holy Black Swiss stashed.
I got into a partner deal and ordered a case of Swiss mixed
2 fg, 3 fg and 2 pounds of 4 fg pan powder.
I ordered, fronted the bucks, in a deal with 5 other shooters.
Naturally when it came time to pony up the bucks they all
backed out!

Turned out to be soooooooooo lucky for me.

Now I'm set for life with Swiss Holy Black.
:lol!: :lol!: