TC Firestorm flintlock

[Amikee]

Ok gents

What fonyou think about tc firestorm flintlock? I don't have picture, but you can look it up. Here's company description:


The Patented Pyrodex® Pyramid (#6,219,951) directs the ignition fire 360° around the entire base of the Pyrodex Pellet. As the pellets move forward, the flame is drawn up through the center of the pellets ”” creating a “fire storm” in the breech area for ultra reliable ignition.

FEATURES

Steel Fiber Optic Sights
Magnum Capabilities
1 in 48" Twist for Conicals
RELIABLE IGNITION

Designed specifically for ultra-reliable ignition with modern Pyrodex® Pellets, the Fire Storm™ also has a removable breech plug for easy cleaning from either the breech end or the muzzle.

The Fire Storm’s massive recoil lug assures solid and consistent barrel lock up for repeatable accuracy, and the all steel click adjustable fiber optic sights aid in precise sight alignment in low light conditions.


THE “FIRE STORM” POSITIVE IGNITION

The Fire Storm’s removable breech plug with the “Pyrodex Pyramid” directs the ignition fire 360° around the base of the pellet. As the pellets move forward, the flame is drawn up through the center of the pellets, creating a “fire storm” in the breech for reliable ignition!

THOMPSON/CENTER FIRE STORMâ„¢ SPECIFICATIONS:

CALIBER: .50
IGNITION: Flint Lock
BARREL LENGTH: 26" - with QLA® Muzzle System built in.
RIFLING TWIST: 1 in 48" for use with Round Balls & Conicals
O/A LENGTH: 41-3/4" WEIGHT: 7 lb. (approximate)
STOCK: Black Composite
RIFLE SIGHTS: Competition click adjustable steel rear sight and ramp style front sight are fitted with Fiber Optics.
TRIGGER: Single trigger with large trigger guard bow.
EXTRA FEATURES: Aluminum ramrod is standard.
LOADING: The Fire Storm™ can accept magnum charges of up to 150 grains of FFG Black Powder or Pyrodex® equivalent (or 3 Pyrodex 50 caliber, 50 grain Pellets).

 

[David W.]

I've never shot one, but there have been forum members that think the're pretty nice rifles.

 

[Amikee]

They seem to be good shooters from what I've read except maybe for plastic stock, modern glo sights and false muzzle.

 

Patented Pyrodex Pyramid, Fiber Optic Sights, Designed specifically for modern Pyrodex Pellets, QLA Muzzle System, Fiberglass Stock, Aluminum ramrod!

It sounds like it's got everything you could want in a modern rifle. :wink:

 

[Amikee]

Lol, yes, I would guess :grin: but it's a flintlock so there is a controversy. Overall sounds good, but I don't think the false muzzle in good for prb. Anyway just looking for opinion. Thx

 

[roundball]

I'll take a positive approach to this from the nay sayers.

IMO, if you just trying to get started learning the ropes with Flintlocks, and you can get this for low cost, I'd say go for it...heck you may find that don't like Flintlocks and won't have a huge investment laid out.
If you do like it and want to upgrade a few years down the road you can do that too...so let's examne this from a positive point of view.

It will / should have T/C's redesigned/improved lock assembly on it and they lack for nothing, which is the most important part of a Flintlock because ignition speed and reliability are everything.

You can use Goex 4F blackpowder for your priming powder;
You can use Goex 3F (or 2F) blackpowder for your main charge;

The false muzzle is not a deal-breaker at all, just use a couple caliber size larger patches and you'll be fine...I've owned one with a QLA and speak from experience.

The aluminum ramrod is stronger than most cheap wooden ones and won't break, hurting your hand and/or ruining a hunt...I replaced all mine with brass ones...also metal...so ignore that.

And OK, maybe the stock might not be an expensive piece of curly maple...big deal...I'm in my 60s and only just now have been able to afford a couple nicer looking MLs after 18 years of T/C Hawkens;

The .50cal will get it done on most hunting you'll probably want to do, including throttling back the powder charge for small game and plinking at the range, so it won't break the bank shooting the occasional range session.

And T/C honors a lifetime warranty on their MLs even you're not the original owner, so used T/C are pretty low risk.
Just make sure the bore is in good condition as T/C can't warrant neglect of course.

It should be important for fellow Flintlock enthusiasts to help someone get started into this grand hobby whenever possible...

 

[ebiggs1]

I have one and I have shot it a lot. :grin:
I have a high dollar “custom” rifle with all the RIGHT components on it. The Firestorm is the fastest flintlock I have ever shot. It will shoot any powder (black or subs), not as quick as when fed 3f GOEX and 4f prime, though. :hmm: Actually the Pyrodex loose is still to slow to be viable as a hunting load (IMHO) and I suspect the pellets are worse. :idunno: Never tried them and have no hankering to. But the fact remains, it will consume subs as advertised.
The fact one must use real black powder for prime is the limiting factor. If you need the real stuff for one thing you may as well use it exclusively, correct? :thumbsup:
Loaded correctly it will shoot patched round balls as well as any TC, just use a large enough patch and lube.
It will also handle 150 grs of kill at both ends of powder with massively heavy bullets. :shake:
Should you buy it? :hmm: If you want it get it. Would I buy one now after I know what I know, probably not, but I am glad I did. It taught me some things and I found out how far off some replies are on this forum. There are some folks advice here that should be carefully weighed before believing. :shocked2:

Probably this one too! :v

 

[ebiggs1]

As an addendum:
Would I buy another “custom” gun (as a shooter), :hmm: no I probably will not. But that, too, taught me a lot and I am glad I did. :thumbsup:

 

[larry wv]

Good post. :thumbsup: Larry

 

[Amikee]

Oh gents

There is some good debating here! Thank you kindly

 

[tg]

"What fonyou think about tc firestorm flintlock?'

I would look for something a bit less modern myself, but if it is the only option if one is looking for a flinter I guess it would have to do

 

[Blackpowdersmoke]

I'll take a positive approach to this from the nay sayers.

And T/C honors a lifetime warranty on their MLs even you're not the original owner, so used T/C are pretty low risk.

I recently purchased a Firestorm Flintlock used from a fellow that needed some money. The gun was in very good to excellent condition, with the exception that the hammer (for some reason that I could not see without disassembling the lock) fell forward enough so that it allowed the flint to contact the pan. Before I made any attempt to fire the gun, I contacted T/C and explained the situation. They had me send the lock back and in less than a week, I received a brand new lock at no cost to me! I'm not real wound up about the synthetic stock and single trigger, but for the 200 bucks I paid, I can live with it. One feature I do like is the fact that it has a removable breech plug. If a load happened to get wet due to foul weather its just a matter of pushing the old one out, no fighting with a ball puller! I own 14 T/C muzzloaders and they are a great company to deal with. You can't go wrong with any of their guns IMO :hatsoff: ...BPS

 

[nit wit]

I have one and was surprised that the pellets ignited quickly. BP is a must for the pan.Did a story on it and have not shot it since. Kinda like breast implants: look good but feel funny! :rotf:
Nit Wit

 

[ebiggs1]

I have one and was surprised that the pellets ignited quickly.

This must be a relative term, “quickly”? Admitted, I have never shot the pellets in mine but Pyrodex, RS or P, grains are noticeably slower to go boom than black powder in my Firestorm. Again the fact you must use real black powder for prime negates any advantage for it to be able to handle subs. Doesn't it? Since you have to go to the trouble to obtain the real stuff anyway why not just use it. I have used the “starter” load of a few grains of 4f in before the Pyrodex and, yes, that does make if much faster, almost acceptable. But than again you need real black powder to get it going, so here we are.
The Firestorm is scary fast with a 4f prime and 3f GOEX charge. :shocked2:

 

[nit wit]

UUUUH, because I write a column and some folks want to know how the pellets work.Been shootin bp since 72, got a bunch of customs and thats why the firestorm stands in the pile.
Nit Wit

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have to agree with Ernie. Some people Have a whole different idea of what is "fast", or " Quick" when it comes to flintlock ignition. gI don't own nor shoot the firestorm, but I stood around and watched and listened to a guy shooting one- and missing the target-- using the wafers of pyrodex. I would not call that ignition fast, even when he used BP as a priming powder, when compared to my more traditional sidelock Flinter, using ONLY BP in the barrel. He was trying to "zero in a scope" on a new gun- just before Deer Season-- shooting off a bench, AT 100 yds! :blah: :youcrazy: :nono: :shocked2: I know, from watching other firestorms being shot, and talking to other shooters who use the guns that there is NOTHING wrong with the barrels- they are very accurate shooters. This guy simply had NO idea how to property sight in a scope, much less a new guns.

OH, I did notice that he was putting 3 of those Pyrodex wafers down the barrel, then a plastic cup holding some kind of copper jacketed bullet in it. He was complaining on how much the gun recoiled- it grazed his eye brow with the scope once-- and how much it cost him for each Round fired. He shot 5 or more shots and never did hit the paper. Didn't ask any of us for help, either.
Great Expectations, you know. :haha: :bow: :v

 

Nobody has asked, so I will; In the features items, what does "magnum capabilities" mean? Does that make it a 300 yard hunting rifle????
Mark

 

[Stumpkiller]

Magnum = burns more powder than the bore can accomidate efficiently.

 

Stump,
I just wanted to see if I was crazy or something. I think the term was coined to get the modern high power rifle shooters to buy a muzzleloader that they thought was the answer to all their prayers, instead of practice and sighting in. Hit them and they will drop dead!!!
Mark

 

[tg]

The more I read the decription it looks like this gun may be beyound the scope of what this forum is intended to represent, unless "keeping Tradition Alve" is just a catchy phrase.