Thompson Center 50 Cal New Englander- I just bought it and don’t know much- need load info shooting 4F Swiss.

Looks like number 11 percussion caps
I like Hornady balls.
What should I shoot from this thing using 4F SWISS?
PATCH ?
BALL SIZE
LUBE?
What are the specs on the nipple?
Help is appreciated if you have this rifle.

TC nipples are usually 1/4x28 and are shorter in height.

4f powder is a flintlock priming or pistol powder. If used in your rifle I’d load it light, maybe 20 grains.

.50 barrel, I’d suggest a .490 ball with a .015 patch.

Most of us make patches from pillow ticking from the fabric store, you can buy precut patches in various thicknesses from Track of the Wolf.

You need a few other things if you don't have them; there are a lot of patch lubes you can use, some like spit, some like tallow of various kinds, I use mink oil from track. You need a .50 cleaning jag, a .50 ball puller is a good idea as well in case you need to pull a stuck ball, you don't need a bore brush.

Cleaning is a biggie, almost all of us remove the wedge pin and pull the barrel on a TC for cleaning. Dunk the breech in a bucket of water (it doesn't have to be hot, I use luke warm) and pump a cleaning patch up and down the bore for a spotless barrel. Drying the barrel out is a must; I use dry patches, compressed air, a squirt of WD-40 followed by more dry patches and then a patch with oil on it.

Before you load your gun put a couple of dry patches down the bore and fire a couple of caps to drive out any oil in the breech. You are best off using 2F or 3F in your gun, TCs seem to like between 60-65gr of 3F or 70-75gr for consistent groups, some shoot less powder some shoot much more.

I much prefer a range rod for target shooting because it is easier to use than the standard rod that comes with your gun. The jag end of a TC rod has 10-32 threads, buy your cleaning accessories with the same threads, same with a range rod.

Look for any videos you can find on YouTube on loading, shooting and cleaning a TC, they have good information most of the time. All TC sidelock models load and clean the same.

You can use the real 4f as a priming charge with pyrodex as the main charge to make the real black last longer, but you have to clean the pyrodex fouling as good as you can! It’s horrible for corrosion!

rmark said:

TC nipples are usually 1/4x28 and are shorter in height.

4f powder is a flintlock priming or pistol powder. If used in your rifle I’d load it light, maybe 20 grains.

.50 barrel, I’d suggest a .490 ball with a .015 patch.

Click to expand...

Thank

BaldEagleFL said:

Looks like number 11 percussion caps
I like Hornady balls.
What should I shoot from this thing using 4F SWISS?
PATCH ?
BALL SIZE
LUBE?
What are the specs on the nipple?
Help is appreciated if you have this rifle.

Click to expand...

I can’t find where to modify this thread. I saw it on the upper right

rmark said:

TC nipples are usually 1/4x28 and are shorter in height.

4f powder is a flintlock priming or pistol powder. If used in your rifle I’d load it light, maybe 20 grains.

.50 barrel, I’d suggest a .490 ball with a .015 patch.

Click to expand...

I am having trouble finding where to edit my original post. I meant 3F power for loads and obviously the 4F is for the pan. Thanks for sharing the load. I will try a 490 ball and .015 patch. What do you think about how much 3F Swiss?

I would start at 60

I thought you could use a full charge of 4f just the same as any f

I dint know why.. being 2024 to find ballistic chart should be easy..

Looks like 200fps difference between 2f and 3f..

4f can't find ballistics yet anyway.

I wouldnt waist it. if you have 4f..

Like mentioned start with a little less.. my guess its 200fps faster than 3f..