T/C 56 smooth bore

[nightwolf1974]

I went nearly crazy trying to find a .550RB mold back in the early 90's....before the internet. So, I shot a .540 RB w/ 2x .010" patches.

 

[Grimord]

Tanner Molds will make a .550 mold for you. They are brass single cavity molds and are very well made. Generally run around $40. No handles, but Lyman and Lee handles will fit.

 

[cynthialee]

I have been using .535 round balls with a .015 patch in mine and that load can get a little tight after a couple shots and I need my mallet.
I have some .550 round balls but they go down the barrel bare ball as they are too tight to load patched down the .56 bore. They shoot pretty good for a bare ball out of a smooth bore.

 

[user 48679]

In the early days of some state's separate muzzleloading deer seasons, there were a few other states (besides Mass) that allowed only smoothbores to be used - which (as stated above) changed after a few years.

I also used to hunt small game & birds with my 56SB via loading the shot charge into a 28ga shotcup with an over shot wad.
In reality, after dropping a powder charge downbore, I'd seat an empty shotcup on the powder charge, drop a pre-measured charge of #8 shot , then top off everything with the over shot wad.

 

[Notchy Bob]

In the early days of some state's separate muzzleloading deer seasons, there were a few other states (besides Mass) that allowed only smoothbores to be used - which (as stated above) changed after a few years.

I also used to hunt small game & birds with my 56SB via loading the shot charge into a 28ga shotcup with an over shot wad.
In reality, after dropping a powder charge downbore, I'd seat an empty shotcup on the powder charge, drop a pre-measured charge of #8 shot , then top off everything with the over shot wad.

It's good to know that standard 28 gauge components have been tried in this gun, and have been found to work. A true 28 gauge bore is .550", and I have often wondered why T/C didn't just make the Renegade Smoothbore as a 28 gauge. I don't know what the parameters are for backboring a 28 gauge, though... I suppose it's possible that .560" may still be within specs.

I have read descriptions of a number of old rifles which were described as .56 caliber, although if bore size was measured at the muzzle, the measurement might have been inaccurate due to funneling or coming of the bore.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Grimord]

The bores of the T/C .56 caliber barrels must have varied in diameter during their production. My .56 smooth bore will take a .550 ball with a .015 mink oil lubed patch with only some minor resistance to starting at the muzzle with a short started. Once started, the combination goes down the bore relatively easy with only minor resistance on the ram rod. I did however, cone the muzzle to start the balls better.

 

[cynthialee]

The bores of the T/C .56 caliber barrels must have varied in diameter during their production. My .56 smooth bore will take a .550 ball with a .015 mink oil lubed patch with only some minor resistance to starting at the muzzle with a short started. Once started, the combination goes down the bore relatively easy with only minor resistance on the ram rod. I did however, cone the muzzle to start the balls better.

yeah I don't know that I could get that combo down my barrel, I put the .535 ball with a .015 patch and it is really tight, any fouling and like I mentioned I need my mallet to finish seating my round

I suspect you are right on the variance in bores for this barrel

 

[Winchester97]

May I ask what load you are using?

Tried a bunch of stuff that worked well, but settled on 70g 3f, 2 hard cards, 1 oz of #5 shot wrapped in a self contained post-it note shot capsule, with nothing on top. Also used 28ga shotcups that worked ok, a little too small though.

 

[Crazy Jay]

Thanks, I will give it a try.

 

[Roundball2319]

Tried a bunch of stuff that worked well, but settled on 70g 3f, 2 hard cards, 1 oz of #5 shot wrapped in a self contained post-it note shot capsule, with nothing on top. Also used 28ga shotcups that worked ok, a little too small though.

How thick are your cards?

 

[Winchester97]

How thick are your cards?

Just thin overshot cards I think they might have been 24 ga. Circlefly, not sure on that though. I'm sure you could punch your own as well.

 

[Roundball2319]

Just thin overshot cards I think they might have been 24 ga. Circlefly, not sure on that though. I'm sure you could punch your own as well.

Thanks. Are they about cereal box thickness?

 

[Winchester97]

Thanks. Are they about cereal box thickness?

Yep, pretty mutch, a little thinner, but close enough.

 

[Roundball2319]

Yep, pretty mutch, a little thinner, but close enough.

Thanks again. In that case I will continue to use the ones im punching out.

 

[Winchester97]

Thanks again. In that case I will continue to use the ones im punching out.

yep, enjoy. Keep trying components and checking patterns. Good luck.