New to me TC flintlock on the way, couple of questions?

[samk]

I recently purchased a TC Penn. Hunter stock, complete, flintlock, with a Hawken .50 flinter barrel, which fits fine, as the barrel is the same 15/16 ATF's. The stock has been refinished with several coats of Tung oil, beautiful, barrel is minty, with 2 extra touchhole's , lock has frizzen replaced with Lyman frizzen,and a extra one plus original. Has TC hunter peep sight, bead front. Barrel is a older one, guy who had it bought it new, factory TC Hawken,early 1970's, hunted with it, and took great care of it, was one of the barrels made by Douglas. He has mostly used RB, and occasionally maxi ball slugs. I have taken a ton of deer with TC Maxi Hunters and Hornady great plain slugs, have several molds, was wondering if I would have any issues with a flinter and maxi balls? I have had several rock locks over the years, but just never could get into them, was shooting a lot of percussion in competition at the time. This is to be hunted with only, on my bucket list to take some deer and maybe a bear with a flint rifle. All replies welcome gents!

 

[No Deer]

I have a TC Hawken .50cal flintlock that I got in 1975. It shoots great with the TC maxi ball. I have taken a few deer with it. You should have no trouble with them.

 

[nit wit]

I shot a moose with T/C Maxis in my T/C Hawken flintlock. The moose never knew if it was percussion or flintlock!
Nit Wit

 

[Rifleman1776]

Same difference. Rifle goes bang, deer drops. But, really, round balls make 'em jest as ded.

 

[samk]

Thanks for the replies all! I like the stored energy of maxi balls, past 75 yards, which I often shoot around my crop an hay fields, just wondering about accuracy, more possible blow back thru the touchhole.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks for the replies all! I like the stored energy of maxi balls, past 75 yards, which I often shoot around my crop an hay fields, just wondering about accuracy, more possible blow back thru the touchhole.

Your choice. Just keep the charges below the insanity level. If the hammer starts blowing back :shocked2: you are overcharging. Testing for accuracy on the bench is your best way to find optimum load.

 

[samk]

Would be pretty hard for blow back to push a flintlock hammer back, this is not a percussion!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well if you're worried of accuracy out past 75 yards, the round ball is better than your conical. Higher velocity = less bullet drop, and IF you were just over the supersonic point with the conical, when it drops back below the speed of sound some conical bullets can wobble. You won't get that with a sphere. My farthest shot with a round ball was 110 yards, and it went through the deer, broadside, and I was only using 70 grains of 3Fg.

LD

 

[hanshi]

I've only made three "long distance" shots on deer during my ML career. One was at 75 yards with a .45 prb and either 60 or 65 grains of powder (memory, you know). The other two were shot at "around" 100 yards with one probably being a bit farther. I used two different flintlock .50s on those. In every case the shots went through and through and the deer dropped pretty close to where the shot occurred.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Would be pretty hard for blow back to push a flintlock hammer back, this is not a percussion!

:redface: One of these days I'll learn to read. :wink:

 

[Alden]

Would be pretty hard for blow back to push a flintlock hammer back, this is not a percussion!

OK, the gun would have to be REALLY overloaded to push the hammer back on a flintlock!

:grin:

 

[Alden]

And .54, or .62, is his favorite "hunting" caliber!