My New (used, new to me) 50 cal. Rifle Arrived

MountainDon · May 20, 2009, 05:30:15 PM

Biggest caliber gun I've ever owned.

The wood is showing a few scuffs but the bore is great. I figure I may refinish the wood; they made loads of these, not exactly a collectors item I'd ruin by refinishing.

It's a Thompson / Center 50 cal black powder percussion cap muzzleloader. It's a cousin to their Hawken model which has more fancy furniture (the metal parts). The Hawkens usually have brass. This has case hardened iron/steel. This is the less expensive Renegade model. The Renegade's stock isn't as fancy as the Hawken either.

Anyhow it's a good place to get my muzzleloading feet wet. I picked up some powder, caps, balls and bullets and other necessities at a local shop.

Hopefully we'll try it out Saturday at the range.

NM_Shooter · May 20, 2009, 07:45:24 PM

Hey! I had one of those when I was 20. I loved that gun, but it was a pain to clean. Wash it out asap, and use breech plug grease when you reassemble.

Mine was very accurate with patched round balls, but I never could get it to shoot the maxi-balls. It would be fun to try sabots with that gun. I suspect the twist rate is too slow for longer projectiles though, so expect your best accuracy with balls.

I used to hunt squirrels with mine. I would load it with 20grns of 3f behind a round ball.

PM me with info on when you are heading to the range if you want company. I may try to sneak out with my muzzleloader too.

May 20, 2009, 08:21:21 PM

I think you'll have a ball with it Don. A hint on cleaning. Use Blue windshield washer fluid. Works better than anything else I've tried.

Of your going to pull the breech plug, get a plug wrench. It will shave you lots of scratches and rounded corners.

MountainDon · May 20, 2009, 11:15:52 PM

Thanks Peter.

Sent you a PM Frank.
1 in 48 twist Frank; a compromise.
I have a couple hundred balls, 100 bullets, 3# of pyrodex select rs, 400 caps; I'll try out different loads. Ought to keep me busy.

#11 caps are pretty loud!!!

glenn kangiser · May 21, 2009, 12:15:38 AM

One of these days I hope to get a muzzleloader...just in case.

May 21, 2009, 12:39:38 AM

nice looking grass.

rifles ok too

MountainDon · May 21, 2009, 10:02:53 AM

Quote from: muldoon on May 21, 2009, 12:39:38 AM
nice looking grass.

Synthetic turf

MountainDon · May 21, 2009, 11:54:58 PM

Interesting video; A demonstration of an American Caplock Rifle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OleGFPx-6Ak

and... A demonstration of an American flintlock long rifle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH4VMIlQhFM&NR=1

1 more (flintlock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kExAte9DMNs&feature=related

peternap · May 22, 2009, 07:55:31 AM

I think your hooked already Don.

Start keeping your eye out for a smooth bore barrel. If you can find one, you have all the gun you'll ever need. Note I said need....not want!

May 22, 2009, 08:42:42 AM

Quote from: peternap on May 22, 2009, 07:55:31 AM
I think your hooked already Don.

Start keeping your eye out for a smooth bore barrel. If you can find one, you have all the gun you'll ever need. Note I said need....not want!

Heh...my all time favorite exchange with an anti gunner:

Anti: "Nobody needs (x number) guns!"
Me: "It's never been a question of NEED."
(later)
A: "So, just how many guns do you have?"
M: "On me?"
A:

NM_Shooter · May 22, 2009, 09:08:34 AM

Hi Don,

You probably know a lot of this already as you like to be informed

I thought that the guy on the video did a couple of things I wouldn't. He kept his body very close to the muzzle as he was pouring the powder in. If that was a recent reload, there could have been charred cloth or some embers remaining in the bore as he poured powder in. It is not a bad idea to swab out the bore with a cleaning swab in between shots. After 3 to 5 consecutive shots, it gets pretty sooty in there and becomes hard to seat the ball. Plus, swabbing tamps out the embers.

Mark your seating rod in a couple of different places depending on your load. This will let you know when you have fully seated the ball, and protect you against placing a double load.

I know the guy was doing the period thing, but don't use spit on the patch. Lots of better alternatives.

I could not believe that he was dropping the hammer and pushing on the cap with it. I shot 1000s of rounds through my caplock, and never had to do that. Granted, I was not using 130 year old caps.

Muzzle loaders are a complete hoot. Be prepared to need a shower when you get home. Don't leave your food out uncovered at the range.

MountainDon · May 22, 2009, 10:31:32 AM

Thanks Frank. I had picked up on the cap loading thing right off. I have the T/C manual and they are very repetitive and thorough about safety while handling a muzzleloader from the importance of never pouring powder direct from the flask into the bore, where to keep the muzzle directed, marking the ram rod, loading caps, etc.

Peter; elucidate on why I need a smoothbore barrel. Shot?

I saw a nice looking one (on another T/C). I also see there are barrels made for this with 1:28 (bullets) and 1:70 (balls) twists.

peternap · May 22, 2009, 12:44:44 PM

Quote from: MountainDon on May 22, 2009, 10:31:32 AM
Thanks Frank. I had picked up on the cap loading thing right off. I have the T/C manual and they are very repetitive and thorough about safety while handling a muzzleloader from the importance of never pouring powder direct from the flask into the bore, where to keep the muzzle directed, marking the ram rod, loading caps, etc.

Peter; elucidate on why I need a smoothbore barrel. Shot?

I saw a nice looking one (on another T/C). I also see there are barrels made for this with 1:28 (bullets) and 1:70 (balls) twists.

If I recall, the standard smoothbore for that was a .54. That gives you something just shy of a 28 ga shotgun.
.

Make a capper with a piece of leather. Punch holes around the edge that will hold the caps and just thumb them on when needed.