help with rifle identification please. T/C Cougar 50 cal

[koz]

I just got a rifle from little old lady. It was in box and broken down. The rifle has some very light surface rust. I was able to remove 90% with oooo steel wool and gun cleaner. Its has pretty wood and a cougar coin in the stock. The gun has dull stainless steel thimbals and lock face. The ram rod has same metal ends.

The box reads Cougar but no instructional manual. She told me her late husband got the rifle in early 80s, never shot it. He past away soon after he got the rifle. The gun seems like the regular Hawken type rifle. But I would love to see if anyone has more info.

Thanks Koz

 

[Grenadier1758]

These were a special version of the T/C Hawken with premium figured stocks and hardware. The Cougar coin is an identifying label. The manual for the T/C Hawken will provide all the instructional information you will need. Also the many message topics on this Forum will provide even more information than the T/C manual.

 

[ppg1949]

It certainly seems to be a T/C Cougar. If it is you have a real find.

 

[koz]

It certainly seems to be a T/C Cougar. If it is you have a real find.

Is this gun rare. I understand he never fired it and I would like to hunt with it. I am not a collector of guns I am a shooter/hunter of guns. LOL

I paid 250.00 is that a fair price. I am having a hard time finding value of the gun. I don't want to rip her off and would want to make sure I paid a fair price. The rifle has cougar stamped on the barrel. 50 cal. I would guess a starting load for be around 60-65 grains of Goex. Anyone know barrel twist rate? I would love to break out some conical for doe killing?

Thanks Koz

 

[Loyalist Dave]

It will be a 1:48. The Cougar upgrades were cosmetic (iirc).

A fair price for a never fired rusty gun that you didn't know was rare, is different from a fair price for a never fired gun that you knew was rare.

In other words, getting a good deal by accident is nothing you need to worry about.

I bought a used Pedersoli Bess that was very rusty this year, because I saw the previous owner had swapped out the sideplate for the earlier rounded style, and I gambled it would clean up. Turned out to be a highly modified Pedersoli Bess made to look like an older musket converted for use in the AWI, and only had surface rust.

Sometimes you get lucky.

LD

 

[koz]

It will be a 1:48. The Cougar upgrades were cosmetic (iirc).

A fair price for a never fired rusty gun that you didn't know was rare, is different from a fair price for a never fired gun that you knew was rare.

In other words, getting a good deal by accident is nothing you need to worry about.

I bought a used Pedersoli Bess that was very rusty this year, because I saw the previous owner had swapped out the sideplate for the earlier rounded style, and I gambled it would clean up. Turned out to be a highly modified Pedersoli Bess made to look like an older musket converted for use in the AWI, and only had surface rust.

Sometimes you get lucky.

LD

ok my Karma feels little better. I am gonna take it to the range this week and fling some lead.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

ok my Karma feels little better. I am gonna take it to the range this week and fling some lead.

You can use conicals, but a 177 grain, patched .490 ball will hammer a doe.
AND you do even better for your karma if you share venison with the lady who sold you the gun...

IF she doesn't like venison, hams or frozen turkey isn't too expensive. Folks say I'm superstitious...,

LD

 

[Grenadier1758]

Is this gun rare. I understand he never fired it and I would like to hunt with it. I am not a collector of guns I am a shooter/hunter of guns. LOL

I paid 250.00 is that a fair price. I am having a hard time finding value of the gun. I don't want to rip her off and would want to make sure I paid a fair price. The rifle has cougar stamped on the barrel. 50 cal. I would guess a starting load for be around 60-65 grains of Goex. Anyone know barrel twist rate? I would love to break out some conical for doe killing?

Thanks Koz

The rifle is rare, but not really valuable except for the premium wood.

LD is correct with respect to the twist rate.

You don't need a conical for effective hunting of white tailed deer. A 50 caliber (0.490" diameter) round ball wrapped in 0.015" pillow ticking, lubricated with olive oil over 65 to 80 grains (use a volume measure) of GOEX black powder is very effective with respect to killing a white tailed deer.

Be sure to thoroughly clean your rifle after shooting. Black powder fouling and the fouling from the substitute powders is very corrosive. Read some of the many threads on cleaning.