TC Firestrom

[doc623]

Anyone have information/experience/opinions on the TC Firestorm?
Tks in advance.

 

[pmwest]

I have one that was from the earlier production runs when they made both percussion (209) and flint. Mine is a fast twist barrel, now I believe the twist rate is 1:48. It is a typical T/C product meaning that it is top of the line for a production class firearm. Once I did my homework, accuracy is top notch too. This is not the prettiest of guns. The fit and finish are good considering the stock is molded plastic and the metal parts are investment cast. I use mine primarily as a hunting gun in circumstances where you would not want to damage a finer firearm. T/C markets this as a flintlock that will shoot pelletized powders and saboted bullets, a modern rifle for locations that have “flintlock only” hunting seasons. Although it does consistently fire pyrodex pellets the ignition time is somewhat slower than granular black powder. My preferred loading is 90gr Goex 2F under a Hornady Great Plains bullet. This makes a great deer load and I really like the fiber optic sights for low light shooting.

 

[Toomuch_36]

The main problem with the Firestorm lies in the inverted cone at the head of the breach plug,and the recomended use of compressed pellets instead of loose powder. The makers of these pellets do not recomend them for use in side lock rifles due to their poor ignition in these type rifles. The cone the breach also (instead of inhancing ignition) tends to retard ignition timing. The reasoning behind this cone is to provide a "hot" spot on the base of the pellet to speed ignition, the flaw in this thinking is that to provide a hot spot the cone must first be hot itself, and it can only get hot after ignition has occured.

It has been my experience (from my years of gunsmithing) that since the mid 1970s T/C is becoming less and less shooter friendly and is basically selling its good name that it established in the '60s.

Toomuch
............
Shoot Flint

 

[pmwest]

To spite any claim made by marketing types, the “pyrodex pyramid” does nothing more than move the base of the pellet forward of the flash hole so that the flame from the pan can reach the ignition patch on the bottom of the pellet. In a typical sidelock gun the flame from pan or cap would hit the pellet in the side and would not reliably ignite it. The cone has little or no effect when using granulated powders.

 

[arrowheadtax]

I really like mine and have taken several deer with it. It goes off well, is light to carry and performs flawlessly. I use 100grs of FFg and a 240gr pistol bullet with a T/C sabot.

 

[Toomuch_36]

To spite any claim made by marketing types, the “pyrodex pyramid” does nothing more than move the base of the pellet forward of the flash hole so that the flame from the pan can reach the ignition patch on the bottom of the pellet. In a typical sidelock gun the flame from pan or cap would hit the pellet in the side and would not reliably ignite it. The cone has little or no effect when using granulated powders.

The "hot spot" theory I refered to comes straight from T/C's own literature, so much for being honest with the customer.
What thepyramid does (in reality is to crush the pellet when you ram the ball (or sabot) home and create loose chunks of shattered pellet in the ignition area.

Toomuch
.............
Shoot Flint

 

[Old Ironsights]

If you are crushing pellets then you are ramming the ball too hard. If you ram Powder that hard I'm surprised you get any flinter to fire - you are compressing the air right out of the powder.

 

[roundball]

If you are crushing pellets then you are ramming the ball too hard. If you ram Powder that hard I'm surprised you get any flinter to fire - you are compressing the air right out of the powder.

FYI...I use Goex in my Flintlocks, and my loading / seating practice for years has been to seat the ball as hard as I can, leaning on the ramrod...and I can actualy hear the powder 'crunch' as I compress it.

Then, if after a day's hunt I bloop the load out with compressed air into a box of towels, it's not all the uncommon for the heavily compressed powder charge to slide out as a 'pellet' of Goex...often thought that may be where somebody got the ideas to pelletize powder.

And burning BP generates it's own oxygen...ie: BP cartridge shooters have their powder completely sealed in an air tight case...my Flinter's ignition is always fast and consistent with excellent accuracy, in spite of severely compressing the powder charges as I've always done...

 

[Old Ironsights]

I know it generates its own oxygen (KNO3). What concerns me is the flash-to-ignition time.

What are you using for a vent-pick then? My lock time goes waaaaay down with a firm, but uncompressed, seating vs. a crush-seat - and I don't have to try to poke a hard metal toothpick into the powder.

 

[roundball]

I know it generates its own oxygen (KNO3). What concerns me is the flash-to-ignition time.

What are you using for a vent-pick then? My lock time goes waaaaay down with a firm, but uncompressed, seating vs. a crush-seat - and I don't have to try to poke a hard metal toothpick into the powder.

Have never used a vent pick in about 5000 shots now...using TC rifles with their patent breeches and Goex powder, there's never any fouling down in the breech...plus, with redesigned locks and vent liners, if ignition was any faster I couldn't stand it...like shooting a .30-30.

I bought a couple of vent picks about 5 years ago when I decided to get into flintlocks because I'd heard that I'd need them but have never used one...not sure where they are now, probably in a parts drawer somewhere...

 

[paulvallandigham]

I suspect that Roundball and old Ironsides are speaking about apples and oranges. Roundball thinks he is getting fast ignition, because he has never shot a flintlock loaded the way Old Ironsides, and many of us load ours. He may not even be able to hear the difference if he stands near someone shooting one with loose powder, because he has done it his way so long.

Percussion and flint are two Entirely Different ignition systems. They burn black powder, and shoot the same size projectiles, but how they create the gas pressure to move those projectiles is as different as night and day. Compacting Black Powder is NOT conducive to fast ignition with a Flintlock action, no matter what Roundball claims. The tests done with simply chronographs proves this conclusively. Hang in there, Old Ironsides. He can't last forever.