Just droped the hammer on a .56 TC SB barrel

[cynthialee]

I just droped the hammer on a .56 SB drop in barrel for my Renegade.

Insert standard issue questions of recomended shot and round ball loads.
Oh yeah...never shot a smooth bore smoker before. Plenty of modern smoothbores but not BP.

 

[vthunter52]

Great find! TC used to manufacture .56 wads, patches and Rb specifically for that bll. I can't help you with loads, but know of a hunter here in Vt. who has piled up loads of venison with one.

 

[lefty41]

I just droped the hammer on a .56 SB drop in barrel for my Renegade.

Insert standard issue questions of recomended shot and round ball loads.
Oh yeah...never shot a smooth bore smoker before. Plenty of modern smoothbores but not BP.

Have a LH T/C 56SB and my RB load is a .550 ball w/ .020 patch and 55 grains of goes 2f (target load. A few weeks ago at our weekly informal shoot I had a 50 (5 shot group) on a slug bull target @ 25 yds. Bought 28 ga wads fron Log Cabin shop, but haven't done a lot of shooting with shot. Did pattern #6's at 25 yds using T/C's only load given in their manual (I believe it is a 7/8 oz. load). Had the usual hole in center. Research threads here on methods to tighten patterns. Haven't had time to experiment but am anxious to do so when spring comes.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

 

[lefty41]

I just droped the hammer on a .56 SB drop in barrel for my Renegade.

Insert standard issue questions of recomended shot and round ball loads.
Oh yeah...never shot a smooth bore smoker before. Plenty of modern smoothbores but not BP.

Have a LH T/C 56SB and my RB load is a .550 ball w/ .020 patch and 55 grains of goes 2f (target load. A few weeks ago at our weekly informal shoot I had a 50 (5 shot group) on a slug bull target @ 25 yds. Bought 28 ga wads fron Log Cabin shop, but haven't done a lot of shooting with shot. Did pattern #6's at 25 yds using T/C's only load given in their manual (I believe it is a 7/8 oz. load. Had the usual hole in center. Research threads here on methods to tighten patterns. Haven't had time to experiment but am anxious to do so when spring comes.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

 

[sb 54 cal.]

I use a .54 cal. smooth bore. I am still working on a good shot load for turkey. I would suggest to start for shot 70 gr. with 45 or 50 grain of powder and tinker from there. For round ball this year I just put 80 gr. fffg a over powder card bare round ball and wadding. Not the best accuracy but good enough to take a yearling at 40-50 yds. went in a right rib cage and exit out left Ham. plenty of power. Pappy :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[cynthialee]

So I am thinking of getting a .545 roundball mold and some shot. I really don't know much about shot. For shotguns I just read the side of the bullet box and use the bullets made for what I was using them for. They make it really easy with the critter pictures on the side of the boxes and everything. But there is no such luxery involved in a front stuffer.

The sole reason I got a smoothbore was to kill a turkey next fall. They are all over the place around here and it isn't difficult getting close enough to shoot them. (didn't I say the same thing about the bambis that skunked me last year?) If it was legal to shoot one with a rifle, I probably wouldn't even have bothered with this barrel.

So what is the proper size shot for turkeys?

 

[longfowler]

I have a 56SB I converted to flintlock. I shot an 1-1/2 group with it, using .535 bal & .018 pillow ticking lubed w/olive oil over 70 grs of 3f. I havn't tried birdshot out of it yet, but out of my 12 gauges I like #5 shot over of Fg powder. I have made some wads by tamping wet toilet paper into my loading block and letting it dry!

 

[cynthialee]

hey thats a good idea!

I plan on using up this big basketball sized wasp nest I have first.

 

[Matt85]

sounds like those turkeys i saw in the woods behind yer house are gonna be in trouble.

i think a .545 or a .550 ball with a patch should be suitable. but i would be more interested in working up shot loads in that gun though. work up a couple loads, one for turkeys and another for small upland birds. i know we flushed more then a few birds while hunting deer.

-matt

 

[sb 54 cal.]

Use #5 or #6 shot :wink:

 

[sb 54 cal.]

Head shots only with shot :grin:

 

[cynthialee]

Them turkeys come right in the yard to steal feed from my chickens. I figure I have paid enough in feed for that flock that they owe me a turkey diner.

 

[pmwest]

I use the 56 for squirrel and deer. I like #5 chilled lead for both turkey and squirrel but the 56 is not legal for turkey in my neck of the woods. I cut my own wads from Durafelt using a 15mm arch punch. Soak them in water/ballistol at 4:1 and allow to dry thoroughly. I have good results with 3/4oz shot over an equal volume of 2fg Goex. Two wads between powder and shot and one over.

My deer load has been a .535 round ball in a heavy pillow ticking patch over 100 gr. 2f. Plenty accurate at 50 yds for deer but no volunteers to test terminal ballistics, yet. Deer must be scared of it because they never show when I have the 56 out in the woods but they walk all over me when I have anything else.

 

[VEARL]

I've got one of those.
I shoot a patched .550 RB in mine.Lubed .015 patch with 80 GR. OF 2f BP. I also use on O/P wad on top of the 2f BP. Shoots a nice group at 50 yds. Haven't tried it at 75 yds yet.
I use 1 1/8 oz of # 6 lead shot. 70 Gr. of 2F BP. With two O/P cards and one O/S card. Decent spread at 25 yds. My barrel doesn't like a wad between the powder and shot...just the two cards. Seems the fiber wad blows a hole in the pattern.
Been playing around with rolled paper cups for the shot. Think it will increase my range out to 30 yds. I use # 6 shot for tree ratsand rabbits. #5 shot for turkeys.
Enjoy that new smoothbore. You will like it. :thumbsup:

 

[WMR]

You've got a workhorse gun. I put together a TC 56 SB in the 80's when Massachusetts first had a ML deer season and only allowed SB. I use 550 ball and pillow ticking patch. 50 gr FF target and close range up to 80 or 90 for deer. Even went after woodchucks at 40 - 50 yrds. Kind of like puting the chuck on the tracks and letting a train hit him with that big 550 ball. I cut wads for shot from homesote with a 9/16 arch punch. Agree with another reply here that a big wad over powder blow the pattern.

 

[nkbj]

Got one too. Anybody got .53RB and canvas working?

 

[Maven]

All, A few years ago I asked about the proper RB diameter for the T/C .56cal. SB, as T/C .55cal. molds for that bbl. must have been made of unobtainium. Those who replied said they got VG to E results with RB's as small as .535", up to .550", the main difference being the thickness of the patch each used. Now, I have to say that I too am looking for a Renegade SB, but haven't been as fortunate as Cynthia. However, I DID win a little used, but slightly rusted Lyman .550" RB mold on eBay a few weeks ago for a song. It took me less than 30 mins. to return it to practically new condition. I tried casting with it the next day and it was perfect. Now if I can only find the gun to go with it!

 

[FishDFly]

I read the T/C manual and ordered some .550 balls for the T/C 56 SB. You need a 3 lb ledge hammer to get them down the barrel with a .015 patch.

For me a .535 works not a .550 ball.

 

[pab1]

I read the T/C manual and ordered some .550 balls for the T/C 56 SB. You need a 3 lb ledge hammer to get them down the barrel with a .015 patch.

For me a .535 works not a .550 ball.

Mine shoots great with .550 balls and they are not difficult to seat.

 

[roundball]

I just droped the hammer on a .56 SB drop in barrel for my Renegade.
Insert standard issue questions of recomended shot and round ball loads.
Oh yeah...never shot a smooth bore smoker before. Plenty of modern smoothbores but not BP.

From my own flirtation with the .56 back in caplock days, and subsequent 28 and 20ga bores since then, IMO if there's any way you can scrape up $60 to have Bobby Hoyt bore that big strong 1" barrel up to a .62cal(20ga) you'll never regret it...will give you much more flexibility with various loads for different game