T/C Hunter Carbine

[vincent bartusik]

I am considering buying a rifle for my daughter, 2 that I am looking at are both T/C Hunter Carbines, one has a full octagon barrel and the other has an oct to round barrel. Does anyone know what the twist rate is for these rifles? is there a difference between the different barrels? She will be starting shooting RB then when she gets older ( she's 11) if the barrels are compatible she can try conicles for bear, thats why im concerned about the twist rate, I would prefere getting a 1-48 for her. I can get her a new Traditions Deerhunter, but i prefere T/C.

 

[don hepler]

I think the White Mountain, which is half round, has a twist for conical bullets. If you could find a 45 Seneca, you'd have a perfect rifle that she could shoot now and later. They were also made in 36 cal. I watched two women shooting them in competition and they were doing great, and they were so proud of those little rifles.

 

[excess650]

TC Pa Hunter and carbine are 1-66" twist.

 

[Walks with fire]

I had a TC PA Hunter carbine with the oct/round barrel and I have a straight octagon PA Hunter Carbine now. They are both 1/66 twist. Shoots good from 50-90 grains Goex 3f. I use 80 grains for all my .50's now.

They are sweet little carbines and I recommend them highly. Easy to carry and shoot great. One of my favorite deer rifles.

 

[vincent bartusik]

Thank you for the input, I talked to T/C and after searching all over to find info on these rifles, they told me they came in both 1-66 and 1-48 twist barrels but had no markings to differentiate between. HUH? The manufacturer doesn't know how to tell the twist rate on their own rifles, someone has misinformation. One thing I noticed on both actions is that the cock (hammer) has a bit of movement front to back on the shaft, could this be just a loose screw or is it indicating abuse (rounded out hole or rounded off post)? The oct to round barrel is listed at $295, which to me seems fair considering the condition of the rest of the gun (vg to almost new), but I don't want to 'buy a pretty paintjob with a worn out drivetrain". Any thoughts on this are appreciated. Thank You

 

[nwtradegun]

hammer moving back and forth is most likely a loose screw if shaft size is problem the hammer can be removed and 2 punch marks with a pin punch acroos from each other will tight the hammer. did this with one I had. fisrt try a prper fitting screw driver to tight screw before u buy it.

 

[Walks with fire]

I would bet the external screw that holds the hammer is just a little loose. 300 bucks isn't a bad price for a gun in nice shape. If it hasn't been shot much don't get too concerned if it doesn't group real well at first because both the one I now have and the one I had before it took about 300 balls to get it shooting real well. The TC PA Hunter barrels are cut rifled and it takes a while to smooth them out. You will be real happy with it once you get it broken in.

 

[Walks with fire]

If you want to know whether it's a 1/48 or 1/66 twist here is how to do it. Put a well oiled but very snug patch on the cleaning jag attached to the ramrod and push it all the way to the bottom of the breech. Take a piece of masking tape and wrap it around the end of the rod while it's in the barrel right at the muzzle. Now take a felt tip pen and mark the tape at alignment with the front sight. Pull the rod out slowly and when the mark turns 1/4 turn stop; measure the distance from the tape on the rod to the muzzle. For a 1/66 twist barrel the distance will be 16.5" (16.5 x 4 = 66) but if it's 12" (12 x 4 = 48) then it's a 1/48 twist. The working barrel length is 21" on the carbine so that is why you have to use the 1/4 turn of the rod to get a good measurement.

I have never had a 1/48 twist PA Hunter barrel but it wouldn't be a deal breaker to me if it was. TC 1/48 twist are good ball shooters; once had a Hawken TC with 1/48 and currently have a Lyman Deerstalker .54 in 1/48 twist that is a real good grouper.