T/C Firestorm Flintlock Owners

[wpd410]

Hello, I'm new to the forum. Just learning my way around.
I am interested in hearing from other members who own or have owned the T/C Firestorm flintlock. I am wondering what type of accuracy to expect, what fuel and projectile were used by others. I would welcome any suggestions in starting to work up an accuracy/power load for this rifle. I would like to use CVA Powerbelt 245gr bullets if possible.
I purchased 50gr Triple7 pellets and the above powerbelt bullets. I also purchase a german agate flint.

 

Accuracy in the long run is totally controled by the jerk on the trigger. No offence please, just what my father taught me. :v

 

[mbw907]

You may not be happy with triple seven in a flintlock, especially in the pellet form. They may not ignite as well as Goex 3f black powder would. That is what I would recommend if it were me. The triple seven pellets are designed more for inlines with the 209 shotgun primers. Flint loves real black powder. It ignites much easier. Welcome to the forum, by the way, and enjoy your new rifle. Everyone here would be glad to help when you have questions or comments. :thumbsup:

 

[pmwest]

Here are a few starting points:

Main fuel = Goex 2Fg
Primer = 4Fg
Tom Fuller Black English flint (nothing wrong with cut agate, I just get better spark from knapped black)

Regardless of the ball/bullet, this combination will give instant ignition if you keep the pan and frizzen clean and pick the vent.

Is this a new Firestorm? And what is the rate of twist of the barrel? The first production run of the Firestorm was 1:28, later models are 1:48. Mine is the 1:28 so if yours is different you most likely will have different results. This rifle, or at least mine, is capable of extremely good accuracy. Here are my favorite loads:

50 gr 2f + .490 PRB, one ragged hole in target at 25yrds
90 gr 2f + Hornady Great Plains, same results
90 gr 2f + .430 XTP + MMP green sabot, super accurate, I like to plink soda cans offhand at 75 yrds with this one
75 gr 2f + T/C Cheap Shots, great accuracy but hard to find these
120 gr 2f + 220 gr PR Dead Center, amazing but still testing

I am not a fan of the powerbelts, the 245 gr did not shoot well in my gun. The heavier ones shot better but not as good as the Great Plains or other loads mentioned. Terminally, they tend to fragment if they hit bone. They kill ok but make a mess. If you are really sold on the 245 powerbelts I have an opened package with 3-4 missing that I will send you if you pay the shipping. Send me an email if you are interested.

 

[jimknife]

I have been looking for a flintlock to start learning on. Have considered the Firestorm or the Traditions deerhunter both in 50. The firestorm is about 400 and traditions about 200. Don't know about warranty or service of either. Any suggestions?

 

[pmwest]

I am a huge fan of T/C’s so my opinion will be biased. T/C has a full lifetime warranty with excellent service if you should need it, most do not. These guns are American made and highest quality. T/C is my first and only choice for a production class gun. If I were looking for an alternative, I would probably look to Pedersoli made guns marketed through Cabela’s. I do not own one but have shot several and they seem to be top notch. On my opinion scale Traditions would only be a couple of steps up from CVA. My advice is to spend a little extra up front, you will find the investment well worth it.

 

[roundball]

I have been looking for a flintlock to start learning on. Have considered the Firestorm or the Traditions deerhunter both in 50. The firestorm is about 400 and traditions about 200. Don't know about warranty or service of either. Any suggestions?

Agree...excellent product and lifetime warranty for the money...I have a number of TC Hawken Flintlocks and they're 100% reliable.

FWIW, if you do get a TC Flintlock, I've tried a number of different type and style flints, and without question all my TC locks get the best performance and longest flint life using Tom Fuller 3/4" black english flints (3/4" Wide x 7/8" Long).

 

[TN.Frank]

The deal is that the Firestorm has a special breach plug that's suppose to allow it to be used with Pyrodex Pellets, believe it or not. You'll still have to use 3fg or 4fg as pan powder so to keep things simple you just may want to use 3fg as pan and main charge powder, that's what I do in my "Traditional" flintlocks. :hmm:

 

[wpd410]

Thanks to all of you who have responded to my post. My T/C Firestorm is the new model with the 1-48" twist. I had intended to buy the Austin & Halleck Hawken rifle but my nephew talked me out of it. He works at a local firearms store and had previously owned a T/C Firestorm, also with the 1-48" twist. He sold me the rifle, and on the idea to use Triple 7 pellets behind the Powerbelt bullets. The only thing being different is that he used the 245gr hollowpoint bullet, while I chose the 245 AeroTip. He swears that he could consistently hit a Skoal can at 75 yards using the hollowpoint and 2-50 grain Triple 7 pellets. I don't know about any ignition problems, as he didn't say. He did say that his rifle didn't like the "loose" powder (not as accurate).
Thanks for the offer Wildshot, but as yet I don't know whether I'll like the Powerbelts. Perhaps if I could just find the time to shoot it.

 

[wpd410]

I don't know yet that I'm sold on the solid fuel concept. I had thought about dropping 5-10 grains of 4f down the bore first, kind of as a primer for the pellets. Any thoughts on this.
I have some old 2f and 3f powder which I'm sure I'll eventually try.

 

[walruskid1]

ten, welcome aboard! hope the rifle works out for you, even with the pellets. if it doesn't work out, kick your nephew square in the butt for talking you out of the hawken. :nono:

 

[gcebulka]

ten, welcome aboard! hope the rifle works out for you, even with the pellets. if it doesn't work out, kick your nephew square in the butt for talking you out of the hawken. :nono:

Hi Ten,
Ok, here is my .02. No 4f down the barrel. Use the 2f or 3f. 4f is for priming only.
Try shooting with just the black powder, I think you will find that you'll get a faster and more realible ignition.

 

[pmwest]

I must admit that I have not tried the T7 pellets and can not tell you what to expect when you pull the trigger. I have experimented with pyrodex pellets and although they will work, I was not satisfied with the ignition time. Hodgdon recommends a helper charge of 4f down the bore when using either type of pellet in a flintlock. Problem with doing this in the Firestorm is with the vent liner. The fine grains of 4f end up blowing out the vent when you ram the bullet/ball. I tried 5 gr 2f with 2 pyrodex pellets and got good instant ignition. I like the real black powder. My logic is that the more complex the loading, the more likely I am to screw it up. Besides, it’s cheaper to shoot than pellets.

 

[mako224]

I have a TC Hawkin in Flintlock. My standard load has always been 80 grains of FFg and FFFFg in the pan. Be sure the touch hole is clean and you should have good ignition. Shooting off a bench rest the flintlock is every bit as accurate as my percussion hawkin. Offhand is another story. :blah:

 

[Livbucks]

I have a traditions PA pellet rifle. It is very much the same gun as the firestorm. Although they claim it will shoot pellets, I feel that loose powder is superior. I do not see the benefit of pellets myself. With loose, you can shoot a light load for plinking or custom work a load depending on projectile. It is easy to use loose in the field too. Just premeasure some charges and put them in prescription bottles or film canisters. I shoot 777 2f and Goex 4f to prime. Works great. These guns have a breechplug that funnels the charge from the rear into the touchhole and ignite synthetic powders quite well. When using pellets, one must place a trickle of loose in the bore prior to dropping the pellets. I say just use loose and be done with it. I shoot 80 grains of 777 behind a powerbelt 295 gr HP or alternately a Buffalo Ball-et 270 gr conical with great result. The Buffalo Ball-ets seem to have better accuracy out of my gun than the Powerbelts. I like the gun and hope to buy a firestorm at some point also.

 

[mckutzy]

so is there any big diferences
between the barrel types, the stainless and steel barrels. like accuracy for example.

 

[Livbucks]

I don't know if barrel finish has any effect on accuracy or not. Here is a link for you to look at if you want:[url] http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=R3810856[/url]

 

[Old Ironsights]

Hello, I'm new to the forum. Just learning my way around.
I am interested in hearing from other members who own or have owned the T/C Firestorm flintlock. I am wondering what type of accuracy to expect, what fuel and projectile were used by others. I would welcome any suggestions in starting to work up an accuracy/power load for this rifle. I would like to use CVA Powerbelt 245gr bullets if possible.
I purchased 50gr Triple7 pellets and the above powerbelt bullets. I also purchase a german agate flint.

I have the 1/48 Firestorm in Stainless. I love it.

1st thing I did was to grind down the heel on the frizzen so it stopped eating flints. After that, it's been all good.

Email me for details.

I will not use PyroHex, so I've not tried the pellets. The 777 pellets don't have the little igniter pad that the PyroHex pellets do so I figure those are right out - you'd have to duplex with BP to make them work anyway.

I have only used 3F BP in mine, but I've tried a lot of brands.

I've been shooting .490 PRB with .015 OxYoke prelubed patches to good effect. But the jerk behind the trigger keeps the groups from getting where I want them.

For Heavies I really like the 360gr Traditional Minnie. Loads easily and shoots clean up to about 110gr.

And while I like the Plastic on the Outside of the gun, I won't put it down the barrel (any more). I tried a few because they were there (I didn't have to buy them) but IMEX my Firestorm doesn't like saboted anything.

 

[bnail]

I will not use PyroHex, so I've not tried the pellets. The 777 pellets don't have the little igniter pad that the PyroHex pellets do so I figure those are right out - you'd have to duplex with BP to make them work anyway.

What is it about the Firestorm that allows it to suppossedly shoot Pyrodex? I know TC did something to the chamber, at least according to their website, but I can't see where the Firestorm would be any more forgiving of Pyrodex and pelletized propellents than any of its predecessors.

 

Another thought is that with pellets, you get only a choice of fifty, or one hundred grain loads, and most fifty, and fifty-fours like a seventy or eighty grain load generally speaking(your performance may vary}, but optimal load will vary with patch/ball or "ugg" :haha: bullet/shoe(sabot)combo's. Thus if you use pellets it greatly limits you posibilities for the perfect load combo. Just my two pence.
Bill