Seneca in .45

[Zane121]

I picked up a excellent shape Thompson Center Seneca in .45 cal this past weekend. It looks unfired but the previous owner remembers his dad shooting it 20 or so years ago he thinks. It just says Thompson Center .45 with a serial number of 412xx. If anyone has a .36 caliber barrel that would want to trade let me know and I'll send you some pictures of the barrel. I have a .36 caliber flintlock and a few .54 calibers but nothing in .45 and dont know if I had a use for it and hate to buy all the .45 caliber stuff for it and find that caliber doesnt really do anything for me.

 

[Zane121]

I just thought about it a bit more. I bet this would make a great coyote gun for me? What do you folks think? It's light and I'm usually walking about 5-7 miles a day when I'm out chasing yotes. It'll be easy on the shoulder and even though I really need peep sights I can proably focus on the open sight for a 50 yard shot. Anyone shoot round balls out of their Seneca?
Thanks agan

 

[gunner69skmc]

I bought a Seneca, in .45, today on Gunbroker. Anyway I still have my Lee R.E.A.L. mold with roundball, and a bunch of other accessories for it. Now I need to dig out my casting goodies and cast up some soft lead to shoot. You will like your Seneca as it is lighter than a Hawkin. You might want to put a sling on it for easier carry. Good Luck...... :grin:

 

[asbrown]

Your 45 will be more than enough for coyotes. Mine shoots great with 70gr ff or fff but it's not a seneca. Even 50gr will drop em at 50yds. You'll just have to find a charge your gun likes for accuracy. :grin:

 

[Rat Trapper]

You can always sell the 45 barrel and have someone make up a 36 or 32 caliber barrel to fit your rifle. Track of the wolf and Cains outdoors both will do it for you.

 

[Sperit de bois]

"Buy all what stuff for the 45"????
Round balls/slugs and the other "stuff" you already have works???? You shoot the 45 and you will fall in love with it..and yes it will roll a coyote up in a ball and deer and what ever you shoot with it,if you use it within your's and it's limitations. I have 45 and 50,if I am going on a wood walk, the 45 is my choice,light weight, smooth lines and sweet to carry all day on snowshoes,

 

[Zane121]

lol Yep you folks are right. What stuff I have a .45 caliber jag and screw so that's all I need. Just some round balls and I'll be good...Thanks fellows.

 

[ebiggs1]

Remember a Seneca is not a magnum! The loads you may think about for the Hawken can be too much for a Seneca. I absolutely love mine and I believe the Seneca may be Thompson Center's best rifle. :thumbsup:

 

[ohio ramrod]

The Seneca and Cherokee's are both highly sought after in our area for youth, small women and us old goats! :idunno: As mentioined they are a LIGHT rifle and not intended for heavy charges that will work well in a hawken. I find my Cherokees like 40 to 45 grains FFF, a 440 ball and .013 patch. :hmm:

 

[Rat Trapper]

TC's test load for a 45 cal Seneca is 70 grains of 2F with a .440 ball. I wouldn't go much higher.

 

[George T.]

Not much to gain in this barrel length. 70 grains is pretty stout in a 6 1/2 pound rifle! Geo. T.

 

[asbrown]

WOW. If I'd known the Seneca was that light and had a thin barrel I might have told him my 45 is a Mowery with a 1" 32" barrel and weighs almost 10 pounds. Your absolutely right, 70gr would be a stout load in that little rifle.
:shake: don't try that at home :shake:

 

[don hepler]

The Seneca is a wonderful rifle, I have a 36, and I don't want to trade it. I think a 45 would be a great addition to have.

 

[William O.]

I just thought about it a bit more. I bet this would make a great coyote gun for me? What do you folks think? It's light and I'm usually walking about 5-7 miles a day when I'm out chasing yotes. It'll be easy on the shoulder and even though I really need peep sights I can proably focus on the open sight for a 50 yard shot.

I think you've hit upon the right idea; light and effective, more than enough for yotes and a good deer caliber as well, plus it can be excellent for target shooting. Work up an accurate load in it and let us know how you do.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I shot 70 grains a lot when I had the 45 Seneca barrel, with no problems. TC recommends up to 80 grains with round balls in the Seneca. I never went up that far. TC recommends up to 110 in the 45 caliber Hawken so you can see they want you to keep the loads lighter than what you might use in a Hawken.
I never found the Seneca to be as good a shooter in 45 as the Hawkens. Not sure why that is, but it was also told to me by a collector who's shot a lot of them. I traded my 45 barrel off for a 36, and it's the smaller calibers is where the Seneca really shines.

 

[HellBound]

"A 45 Seneca is not a magnum".

Very true. I have two Senecas and two Cherokees. When collecting them I saw many [about half] have the't/c split'. That is a crack below the tang. Too much blast.
The stock may be repaired, but the value is gone.
The 15/16 barreled T/C rifles are prone to this also.

 

[HellBound]

T/C 'split' occurs here:

I have a split stock in this way. I'll get a picture of it and post it. I would not go above
70g of fff with a PRB. The 36 or 32 does not seem to do this.

T/C big rifles got a fix for this by having the front tang screw tap into the front of the trigger guard. This puts clamp on the area
prone to splitting. I have never seen this mod
on the small rifle

P.A.

 

[Deadeye]

Zane121, A Seneca, like most .45 and smaller calibers, has a 13/16" barrel so it's as strong as any 13/16" barreled rifle. I have both a .36 and a .45 Seneca. My .45 has a 13/16" x 36" barrel same as my .45 Southern mt. rifle, both weigh 7 1/2 lbs. I use the same load in both, 60 3F and prb for target work, heavier for hunting.
The 36" on the Seneca makes for a great handling rifle. Here it is. Both have solid brass ramrods.

Deadeye

 

[410-er]

Keep the charges light and it will group.Have killed deer with 50 grs with RB and maxis but prefer RB.
Have one in 36 and 2 in 45.Both 45's shoot equally well at 50yds.

 

[HellBound]

Typical: