T/C .56?

[Forager]

Back in the traditional game, but not how I expected.

I rescued (literally - it was part of a federal gov't seizure sale from a felon) a T/C Renegade .56 smoothbore.  It needed a good cleaning and a new ramrod, but those were easy.

I've got some .535" roundballs.  I'm thinking something like a .027" patch for those and a charge of 60-80 grains of FFg.  Any other suggestions for either PRB or shot loads for this one?

I should admit that I've already got eyes/ears our for other barrels from .45" up.

Is it what I "really" want?  No.  But it'll work quite well for a bit until I can acquire and/or build those pieces.

Thanks, in advance.

[Nit Wit]

Forager:
.550 rb mould, try jeff tanner moulds from the uk.
Nit Wit

[Forager]

Any other details/advice?

[Nit Wit]

Shot- start out with 60 gr powder/60 gr shot. Ball- start with 60- 70 grains powder .10-.15 patch. Pizza boxes make good wads.
Will shoot well with ball out to 50-75 yards. You might also pu a wad over your powder bare ball then a wad over your ball. See what shoots best.
Nit Wit

[Forager]

Thank ye kindly.

[Geezer in NH]

Note the gun was made to pass the just south state of MA from TC and for the PA laws. They used the same barrel used for the 58 rifles just no rifling. That saved money for them.

Great guns anyway you look at it.

[Forager]

That makes a lot of sense.  Thanks.

It's a danged shame that T/C is out of the traditional muzzleloader business.  To my knowledge, they were the only production company based in the U.S.

[Geezer in NH]

That makes a lot of sense.  Thanks.

It's a danged shame that T/C is out of the traditional muzzleloader business.  To my knowledge, they were the only production company based in the U.S.

TC is Toast S&W bought them, closed the plant, dumped the ML line. They wanted the machines to make the rifle barrels that was done.

There is no more TC as we think there was. Black guns rule to them after all the make the most money from them now and  are located in MA. I seem biter but think what the unemployed former employs think.

[Forager]

Well, the .535" RB with a .018" patch loads easily and over 70 grains of FFg, it keeps all the shots into an 8" plate at 60 yards.  That'll do for right now, and I'll see if I can convince a deer to catch one next weekend when our ML season starts.

I'll work on different loads after this season is over.

I can see why the smoothbore was a preferred weapon for so many centuries.  I shot it 25 times this weekend, no cleaning or swabbing between shots, and it was still loading as easily on shot #25 as it was on shot #1, and still keeping them in the same target zone.  That kind of consistency and ease of operation has a lot of merit.

[Geezer in NH]

Sounds like you are ready to me! Have luck with a buck

[Forager]

Not too concerned with a buck. A fat, tasty for will be just fine.  With a two-per-day limit, we have plenty of deer and plenty of tags.