Got my T/C Big Boar .58!!

[alaskasmoker]

Now just to locate the proper shooting accesories..

Also researching some old posts, some people were using wads? Why is that? I thought you just put powder in, lubed patch and a ball in. Am I missing something?

I went and bought some great plains conicals (do I need a wad for these?) and some round balls. I have Blackpowder and pyrodex to play with. Also this gun has a musket cap nipple on it.

What is my max charge here?

 

[bwhoffman]

the tc book states 120gr 2F as max period.
If you would like, pt me your email and I can forward the tc manual to you.

 

[renovato]

Howdy. Congrats on the Big Boar! Those are hard to find.

Wads do a couple of things. They protect the patch from the burning powder. This is especially handy when using heavier loads that tend to fray or blow out patches. Also, wads can delay the ball moving until more pressure builds up. Both contribute to better accuracy.

Wads can also help keep bore fouling down. I don't think I have a gun that doesn't shoot at least a little more accurately with a wad under the patched ball.

A wad under the conical isn't a bad idea. It helps protect the base from gas cutting and helps prevent blow bye.

 

[roundball]

IMO, the .58cal is an excellent one...and the big .570"/279grn ball will take most any game on the NA continent...I also use Oxyoke prelubed wads with all hunting loads.

 

[alaskasmoker]

So do I just look for .58 call shooting wads?

Im pretty suprised by the length of the barrel. Seems pretty short, but sure makes for some nice handling. I guess T/C figured that not much was gonna be gained with a longer barrel?

Trigger pull is a little on the stout side but not horrible.

Overall Im pretty impressed with it. Seems to be the perfect size for the thicker country I hunt in not to mention not too heavy. Its a nice simple non bling gun that should serve me well for everything Big game in Alaska.

Cant wait to shoot this thing. Hopefully tommorow.

 

[roundball]

If I could make a suggestion...you don't need to shoot full power hunting loads just to get familiar with the rifle, or to enjoy some weekend shooting with it...when I shoot occasionally my .58cal I just use 60grns of Goex 3F at 25-50yds...then when you get closer to hunting season you can decide on a full power load and zero it in at that time...saves powder and avoids excessive recoil

 

[alaskasmoker]

Haha, you dont even need to suggest it roundball! Im not a big fan of recoil. I will shoot it some though at full hunting loads cause it will be employed hunting in just a short while.

Ill be using this gun in a couple of months for black bear, and from what I've researched right around 100 grains is aplenty!

I just wanted to know max so I dont blow my self up.


I feel pretty lucky to have found this gun Plink. In Alaska no less wich is even more suprising. I was peddling some centerfires raising money for a muzzleloader project (small caliber build) and mentioned that I would take a large cal muzzleloader in trade. A guy Pt'd me and said he'd take an Item for this big boar. I was only asking 240.00 for the item so I think I did pretty good. This rifles SN is 29xx. I know they only made these for a few years though so the low SN probably isnt anythig special.

 

[bart_anastasi]

The TC manual for your gun should be on their web site.

If you use the load data they have there you should be ok

I believe they recomend 2f Bp for your gun and all the load data in the book gives you a reference for FPS and Foot pounds of enegry.

The T/c folks did a lot of developement work in their lab and it would be a shame to waste there efforts. IMHO

The load data in my manual lists their bullets and RB and Patch material. They indicate the loads there to max do not need any additional wads and stuff if you keep with 2f powder as recomended KISS seems a good policy to me.

If after trying a can of 2f and you can not get good results then try some 3F.

As for the shorter barrel that is in keeping with the Hawken style they were going for. I know I know to the PC fellas.

 

[410-er]

I was bless in finding a Big Boar about a year ago.All but cuts the same hole with .570 RB,.020 pillow patch,120 grs of FFg Goex.

 

[mcshot]

New but old shooter here.
Does the "pillow patch" take the place of "nest of hornet" I've read about? I even collected a nest last fall for such use. Am providing a new home for a Pedersoli Kodiak in 58 Cal. Now the hunt for a mould and supply of round balls.
mc :hmm:

 

[rice1817]

No, the pillow patch refers to the pillow ticking patch around the round ball. The hornets nest is a buffer placed down over the powder in lieu of a fiber wad to protect the patch from burnout caused by heavy powder charges.

 

[Swampman]

If the correct size ball is used, no wad will be necessary. Most folks use a ball that's too big, and a patch that's too thin.

 

[alaskasmoker]

So doing some research here. it seems the short barrel of this big boar is gonna cost me quite a bit of velocity and energy.

In looking at various data charts the .58 seems to generate less Ft/lbs and velocity than a .54 even when it has a 28-30 inch barrel.

Did I screw up here and not get the ideal rifle for hunting big game? Black Bears, Moose, Caribou, and maybe Griz? I guess I do feel that it is adequate for all the hoofed game Im going to encounter.

Im not sure about the Griz hunt though, as 1. those bears are big and scary, 2. I dont have much use for one. But if I do make the decision, would this gun be a good choice? If I were to hunt a brown bear, my 300 win mag would seem almost too small.


Still havent shot my gun. I have a new baby here and I have to be a dad after work. This weekend for sure though! I found some wads to at another gunstore.

I did manage to find a .54/56 cleaning jag that with a patch seems a little loose but 2 patches and it feels about right.

 

[Swampman]

IMO the .54 is the most efficient of the roundball callibers. I think the .58 is a great caliber but traditional muzzleloaders with traditional projectiles(round balls) aren't some magic wand that kills eveything in sight. They will kill big game with a well placed shot. I don't see the short barrel as an issue. I like short barreled muzzleloaders.

If I decided to hunt large bears, my .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun or 1895 will get the nod.

 

[roundball]

Did I screw up here and not get the ideal rifle for hunting big game? Black Bears, Moose, Caribou, and maybe Griz? I guess I do feel that it is adequate for all the hoofed game Im going to encounter.

Absolutely not...ballistics formulas which generate the charts you're referring to don't tell the real story about round balls and therefore comparative efficiency conclusions can't be drawn from them, as they don't factor in the larger frontal area of a larger ball.

IMO, you can take it to the bank that a .58 caliber .570" diameter 279grn lead ball driven at the same velocity as a smaller lighter .54 caliber .530" diameter 230grn ball, will have a significantly greater amount of whompability at the target. Given a choice, serious hunters would choose the .58cal without hesitation over a .54cal for the game you listed above.

Furthermore, in real life practical terms, the heavier .58cal ball will carry more energy further within muzzleloader ranges than smaller lighter balls will.

 

Whompability - I love that!! :rotf:

We need to come up with an official wompability formula. You're right though. According to the "official" formulas a PRB won't fly straight and won't penetrate paper at the other end.
Steve

 

[torn moc]

Whompablilty = Whoopa$$ = D.O.A.

HUH? :rotf:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Absolutely, Roundball!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hatsoff: :hatsoff: :hatsoff:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I am enviuos, I've been hopeing to come across a .58 rifle or .62 smoothy for some time (amongst other BP wish list). try a lubed felt overpowder to see if groups don't tighten up and fouling is less.

 

[hawk]

alaska a .50,.54,.58,.62.45 conial...they're all enough gun to do the job...but you must feel comfortable and confident enough with the gun to hit the boiler house every time...gutshot is gutshot no matter what the cal.
learn that gun and your distance and you'll have no problems.

a hole through the heart and lung is game over be it .54 or .58cal
enjoy your hunt hope you success