Older TC w/48" twist, accuracy?

[cory1337]

I love my tc hawken. So far I've only tried 50gr 3f goex behind a patched .490 ball. I'm very happy with the results.

 

[Okie Hog]

My TC New Englander has both .50 and .54 caliber barrels. Both barrels have 1/48" twist. With the .50 barrel the gun makes three shot clover leafs at 50 yards using a tight fitting patched round ball and 80 grains of 3F Pinnacle. Patch lube is GoJo hand cleaner.

Load development for the .54 caliber barrel is a work in progress. On two range outings 50 yard three shot groups were about 2".

i see no need for conicals in this gun. Killed two deer last fall with patched round balls, one with .50 and one with .54: Both were bang flops. Also killed several hogs with the .50; none went farther than 25 yards.

 

[Doug Lykins]

Thanks all for the excellent info! If gathered a few RBs in the .490-.492 range & a variety of patch material. Got some Goex-3f and will be out to the range.....I'll post the early results.

 

[BrownBear]

Sounds like you're right on track. Enjoy the shooting!

 

[Mad Professor]

Besides PRBs try Hornady Great Plains and Buffalo Bullets conicals. 70-90 grs FFg in a 50 w/385gr.

 

[Rat Trapper]

With conicals I have found the harder they are to load the better they shoot. Which means a tight fit. Same with patched round balls. Felt wad over powder has always helped me when using conicals.

 

[Shoots Last]

I shoot an old TC renegade in .50 caliber. I feed it a .49 caliber prb on top of 80 grains of ffg the accuracy is astounding.

 

[house]

I have a 54 cal t/c and have only shot PRB and it shoots great. I did buy a REAL mold but haven't tried it yet.

 

[daniel collums]

all my t.c. hawkens and renagades are 1:48 and all shoot round balls very well other bullets are so-so. and after i started using the mink oil i got to wondering if i was missing the target after the first shot. last weekend i was shooting my 50 cal t.c. hawken with some new round balls i just poured up made from pure roofing lead. i had my target set at a 75 yard shot and after i shot about 6 loads with 70grs of ffg i went to 80grs and put my rifle in my shooting vise and the first two shots were over layed and the next two were almost touching each shot was followed by two swabs. in my hands with my eyes thats got to be some of the best shots i ever made on paper.

 

[Wes/Tex]

i see no need for conicals in this gun. Killed two deer last fall with patched round balls, one with .50 and one with .54: Both were bang flops. Also killed several hogs with the .50; none went farther than 25 yards.

I agree 100%. Haven't fired a conical out of anything in decades. Like you, and others, I found no real need. Patched balls in a rifle and bare balls in a fowling piece have taken everything up through buffalo...can't ask for much more than that.