Shot load and the TC 56

[rdstrain49]

I recently picked up a Thompson Center .56 smoothbore. As I understand it was a specialized weapon for a rather odd deer season some time ago. I've got it shooting ball rather well.

Since I see no reason to re-invent the wheel, I thought I'd ask if any of you have an effective shot load for the TC 56 SB. Intended targets will be only what resides on my place. That being rabbit, pheasant, and quail. So far I've only tried a load consisting of 1/4" felt overpower, ball of tow, 7/8 oz. shot, 1/8" felt over shot wad. That is basically what I had on hand. Results were less than impressive.

 

[nwtradegun]

here is t/c manual http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/Shooting_TC_Guns.pdf

 

[rdstrain49]

Thanks, didn't get that with the gun.

 

[rdstrain49]

RJ; Page 77 had the answer. Very hard hitting load at 20 yards. Need to fine tune a bit to improve the pattern, but still, very usable as it is. Thanks a lot.

Roger

 

[yeahbuck36]

I just got a lead on one of these today! Been looking for something in the 58 smoothbore range, but I think this 56 will work out nicely.

Have you found any other shot loads that work well? I'm gonna use this primarily as a small game, and maybe short range turkey gun. Looks like wads and cards are readily available from Track of the Wolf.

 

[Toomuch51]

Have had some of our customers having very good results with these on turkey as well as on small game. As I recall the usual loads were 50 - 55 grains of 3f with 1/2" Circle Fly 28 ga. felt wad over powder, 1 oz. shot (size depending on game to be hunted) with .060 over shot card. These loads were very effective out to about 50 - 60 yards or so.

 

[rodwha]

That much lead, huh? Initially I wondered about reaming a .50 cal Lyman barrel to 28 ga and judging by the .54 max load specs figured I could do a bit over an ounce with an equal volume of powder but was assured that the typical 55 grns and 5/8 oz of shot was what would most likely perform well, that the long column such as this one just wouldn't work as hoped.

I'm certainly interested and figured once I buy a barrel and do this I'd begin with the standard load and work my way up hoping for a turkey load out to ~30 yds or so.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Basically, with an unchoked barrel, otherwise known as a cylinder bore, you trade the number of pellets for distance. The farther the distance the fewer the pellets that reach the target because of the wide spreading of the cloud of pellets in flight, so the pellets must be larger and thus heavier to do more damage, but when you increase the size you lower the actual number of pellets in loads of equal weight. For example an ounce of #5 shot has half the pellets that an ounce of #7½ shot carries, with #5 considered good for squirrel, rabbit, and turkey, while #7½ is considered pheasant and grouse size for a lot of people. Thus, to counteract the lack of pellets, the shot load is increased a bit. :wink: 28 gauge shells for choked shotguns usually have 3/4 to 7/8 of an ounce of lead. So adding the 1/4 ounce for your cylinder bore 56 isn't much. There are some who would advocate 1½ ounces.

LD

 

[Toomuch51]

That much lead, huh?

I'm certainly interested and figured once I buy a barrel and do this I'd begin with the standard load and work my way up hoping for a turkey load out to ~30 yds or so.

As I said this is what I recall they were using, this is from when I was serving as apprentice in Lycoming Co. and that was 26 years ago.

My best advice would be to start with about 5/8 to 3/4 oz. and pattern different loads and choose the ones that work best for the type of game you are after.

 

[yeahbuck36]

Toomuch, do you know of a good source for shot and wads in Central PA? If I pick this gun up today I'd like to be able to get it out and shoot this weekend, but I don't have any smoothbore supplies. If it comes down to it, I'll just use some newspaper as wadding, and cut some of my old shotshells open and use that shot.

It's looking like I'll use two Ox Yoke felt wads over powder, and an additional over shot once I get all my supplies gathered up, but that may be a few days or weeks.

 

[rodwha]

I've actually talked with some who advocate 7 1/2 for turkey, especially when the pellet count is a bit low explaining that the head isn't much more than a squirrel so a larger pellet just isn't necessary.

 

[rodwha]

I figured I'd have Ohio ramrod here make me a punch or two so as to make my own wads and cards.

 

[yeahbuck36]

Well I picked her up tonight. Not a single mark on the barrel other than a serial number. But definitely a smoothbore 56, that looks just like a renegade. I don't think this thing has ever been loaded... well until about an hour ago. I threw two shots through her 35gr of 2f, some wadded up toilet paper, 35gr of #9, topped with some more toilet paper. Gonna have to wait until I get some 28 ga wads to start on some serious load development, but just gonna shoot her for fun now. I must say though, she didn't throw a bad pattern at 20 paces with that load.

 

[Toomuch51]

Probably your best, and most economic, choice would be Grice in Clearfield.
You could also try Belding & Mull in Philipsburg but you might find their prices a bit steep.

 

[yeahbuck36]

I actually work part time at Belding and Mull, so you may have seen me in there before. We don't do anything in the way of blackpowder shotgunning supplies, and the stuff that we have for rifles is there mostly because I made the manager bring it in. I'm teaching the others at work a little about loading and shooting smoke poles today! Stop in and see me some time, ask for Cole. Anyhows, don't wanna get this topic too off track.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Buy a 14mm leather punches and your set.

B.

 

[yeahbuck36]

Busted a few clays today with 60gr of 2f, lubed newspaper wadding, and 60 gr of #6 shot, not exactly the greatest patterning but sure was a pile of fun.

 

[yeahbuck36]

I just can't seem to stop playing with this thing. This morning I loaded a few different loads up, and holy cow I found one that patterns amazing.

60gr of 2f, with 80gr of #6 shot.

Shot at 20 paces it put around 2 dozen pellets in the kill zone of a gobbler! Really wish I didn't fill my two turkey tags earlier in the season, or this baby would be going in the woods with me tomorrow morning!

 

[Britsmoothy]

Smooth bores get very addictive so I must caution you! You are making the same mistake many of us here have before you!!
Send the gun to me before it is too late brother. I am past redemption but you can still be saved.

B :hatsoff: