Tc

[Trot]

While there are exceptions, I think they are usually pretty well spoken of here.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

Some folks are “absolutists”. They buy something and whether it’s good or bad that’s what all of them are. Then there are some that look down on any production gun. I mean, they can’t possibly be any good if a common man can afford it.

I receive that criticism constantly because I have no custom guns.
I love shooting the production guns I have and I shoot often.
I just ignore such talk.

 

[Whitworth]

I like mine, that's all that matters to me

 

[Eric Krewson]

TC sidelocks are the 30-30 of the M/L world and have probably killed more game than all of the other production guns combined.

Like I have posted before; I swore off of them when I bought a new late model Hawkins that had the lock installed with hot melt glue from the factory.

But alas, even though I am finishing up my 5th sorta' H/C flintlock build two more TC Hawkens have creeped back into my stable, older models without the hot melt glue inletting. These are my only percussion deer rifles, everyone needs a cap gun around for a change of pace, I might even slip out the back door and kill a deer with them every now and then.

 

[waarp8nt]

I enjoy shooting and tinkering with the T/C line of muzzleloaders, currently have 6 in the safe; two Hawkens (early and anniversary) and four Renegades. There is also a cut down Renegade on the bench to be refinished and a flintlock Renegade in the corner of the bedroom that was put together from parts; stock from bubba.50, barrel from this forum and lock from an online auction (pretty certain it is a lyman lock). The flintlock parts Renegade started life as a .54 caplock barrel that was converted to flintlock with a TOW breech plug and vent liner. It is my "go to" hunting rifle, having hunted exclusively with it last year and planning to do the same this year.

I have two originals; Great Western Gun works and an original fowler. I have two custom rifles; likely built in the 70's by some local fellows. They are nice to look at, however I prefer to shoot my T/C. As with any rifle I believe practice, practice, practice is the key to success, regardless if it is a factory rifle or high dollar custom. Once seen a fellow with a custom rifle lose a silhouette match to a fellow with a Renegade. It was clear the fellow with the custom rifle thought he had the "rite of passage" due to his investment rather than spend the time he needed too practicing.

 

[Grenadier1758]

The thing that cracks me up is “but they aren’t an exact copy of a real Hawken”

...

I own a period correct T/C Hawken, in a 100 years that will actually be cool

Life is too short to worry about the little stuff

The funny thing about a T/C Hawken rifle is that it is a pretty close copy of the rifles made by Jake and Sam Hawken for the local trade. These were made with the brass hardware, single wedge for the barrel and in the smaller calibers of 45 and 50. Similar rifles were made by Dimick. Of course none of those rifles used coil springs or button rifling, but some manufacturing shortcuts by T/C should be expected.

 

[user 49399]

I receive that criticism constantly because I have no custom guns.
I love shooting the production guns I have and I shoot often.
I just ignore such talk.

I’m right there with you. I don’t own any custom guns either. I’d shoot one if I had it though. There’s nothing wrong with production guns and nothing wrong with custom guns, we need more of all of ‘em. My Thompson Center must be one of the good ones. I wish I had eyesight to match its accuracy

 

[Bad Karma]

I thought it was Traditions that nobody likes?

CVA…

 

[Rawhide67]

No hate here. I have 12 of them in various styles from renegades, hawkens, Seneca's, Cherokee, patriot. All are good shooters, as good as I can shoot. One hawken didn't shoot well but the barrel was rough. My rain day gun is a grey hawk with musket nipple and TC maxi, 50 cal.

 

[Ruben44]

When I returned from Europe in the early '90s I purchased a T/C Renegade kit and built it. Being a young guy in my early 20's and left handed, I didn't have a lot of money but had learned from others that Thompson Center was a great, dependable rifle and was available in a Southpaw configuration. That T/C is still my go to hunting rifle over more modern alternatives. I'm now at a spot where I can get a custom built Southern Mountain Rifle but that old Renegade will always have a place. Many great memories and future depending on the hunt.

Sorry, long winded thanks for a solid introductory muzzleloader from T/C that brought me into the sport and has kept me interested and actively hunting for decades.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Why all the TC hate...?
I've had the same renegade for 25 years and taken plenty of game and I proud to own one.

I've only owned two T/Cs. The first was a lovely little Seneca, probably the most authentic rifle T/C ever made. The second was a used Renegade that I reconfigured into a more traditional rifle. Nice thing about Renegades is that they have so much extra wood on them that you can really change the look. Both rifles were stolen when I spent a week in the local VA. I found it to be a cynical marketing ploy for them to call the other rifle a Hawken, but it isn't a bad representation of a late plains rifle. And once again, there is a lot of extra wood on them. And Warren Center fatuously said that they went to coil springs because traditional flat springs wouldn't last five minutes in the woods. Guess he didn't Know about all the 200 year old firearms that are still functional.

 

[deerstalkert]

i have had many TC Hawken slip through my fingers over the years. can't remember one that didn't make me smile looking through the white smoke!
have 4 now. two 54's and two 50's

 

[Elkhorse]

I'm lefty and traded for .50 T/C flint RIGHT hand in '83. Still have it.
Always said I'd get a lefty.
Couple months ago I finally found a .58 Investarms percussion LEFTY.
Sure feels weird.......

 

[andy52]

I never owned a T/C not because there's something the matter with them I've know many people that have then and they are decent shooters.
When I got involved in this habit-forming sport I wanted something closer to an authentic "Hawken" this was in the mid-70s. T/Cs were available but with a little research I found out they aren't close to an original. Guns of that time that were are the GRRW, Allen Etc. yes, more expensive but I decided to save my money until I could get one and bought a GRRW in 1979.
There is one thing about the guns closer to a real Hawken they are god awful heavy and not near as comfortable carry as T/C.

 

[Bassdog1]

I like them because as a young teenager I would look at the ads for the Seneca and Cherokee and wish that I could afford one. Got started buying them a few years ago and went kind of overboard with it. I have shot quite a few and found them to be reliable and lots of fun. A few folks worry about the kit barrels that could be bought as an accessory to easily change caliber or in a kit you could complete yourself but I have seen no difference in their quality and again shot several and accuracy was quite good. I just made an agreement to purchase another set of Senecas 32, 36 and 45 that all came out of the custom shop with factory peeps installed. Did I mention that I kind of went overboard with them. In my opinion there was no way I could pass on this set of guns as I have only saw a few pics of there custom shop Senecas and they are beautiful. I am having a more historically correct flinter because I got a good deal on the parts but I just like the overall process of shooting BP guns.

 

[Idaholewis]

I started with TC’s, I own MANY of them, They are my “GO TO” Muzzle Loaders. I just got done shooting 2 TC Renegades to 500 Yards on Video, a .50 and a .54 Cal, Just the way they came from the factory EXCEPT the sights. I own a CVA MR (stil have it, bought it new in the box) a few Pedersoli’s, I had a Lyman Great Plains, They are all gone EXCEPT my TC’s.

 

[nkbj]

And abused TC's are so much fun to turn into something new!

 

[tom_in_vt]

For a production gun, they are just fine. They shoot well (see Idaho lewis’ videos) and look good enough. They aren’t fancy, but they are a good honest rifle that is a workhorse. I have nothing bad to say about them.

 

[longcruise]

And abused TC's are so much fun to turn into something new!

Ah yes. It will be one of my winter projects turning a neglected and not very well built 50 Renegade kit gun into a respectable member of the community.

 

[B P Arn]

Why all the TC hate...?
I've had the same renegade for 25 years and taken plenty of game and I proud to own one.

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

― George Carlin