Thompson Center 12 gauge question

[EastoftheBay]

I have been looking into getting a flintlock rifle and smoothbore. Recently my local gunshop got some muzzleloaders from a recent estate sale. The smoothbore that stood out the most was a Thompson Center New Englander. It was a percussion 12 gauge smoothbore. The gunsmith there said for $90 he could switch the breechplug over to flintlock and he could sell me a flintlock for the smoothbore for another $50. The shotgun has a choke tube in it. I never knew muzzleloaders had chole tubes. Which is why I came here to ask before I buy. Is this smoothbore some homemade job or did Thompson Center made these brand new with choke tubes ? Secondly, are the choke tube shotguns terrible muzzleloaders ? Thanks in advance for the help I have been struggling to find anything on a Thompson Center with choke tubes besides a gun called the "Encore".

 

[Winchester97]

They made them both ways, unchoked, and removable chokes. Should be perfect provided you clean the threads well, and develop a load that can be loaded through the choke. I have New englanders and Pedersoli doubles w/and without tubes, and I do prefer the unchoked versions, but either way is usable. Could always just use a IC or skeet tube.

 

[Winchester97]

Good luck,keep us posted

 

[EastoftheBay]

They made them both ways, unchoked, and removable chokes. Should be perfect provided you clean the threads well, and develop a load that can be loaded through the choke. I have New englanders and Pedersoli doubles w/and without tubes, and I do prefer the unchoked versions, but either way is usable. Could always just use a IC or skeet tube.

Are they hard to load with the choke in ? I was thinking about using some sort of paper cartridge to load my smoothbore whatever I choose. That way everything stays tightly packed.

 

[Walkabout]

Are they hard to load with the choke in ? I was thinking about using some sort of paper cartridge to load my smoothbore whatever I choose. That way everything stays tightly packed.

I have an IC choke tube in my TC shotgun and yes it takes a lot of force to get the wads down. Paper cartridges might be an option.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Forget wads just use thin cards. They curl enough to pass a choke then the rammer rights them on the way down. Don't be sucked into doing it the hard way, you'll get fed up of it in no time!

 

[Dave Marsh]

I sold mine as I did not like dealing with the choke tubes. PITA.

 

[Winchester97]

Keep it simple. As Britsmoothy said, the cards go right down reguardless of choke, wads will be a struggle with anything near modified choke. Just have to play around to find what works, I have used paper shot cartridges with no issue even on full choke as long as the shot packets are not too fat.

 

[lonedave]

I bought a yard of 1/8" Duro-Felt and punch out wads with a 3/4" arch punch. Lube them and use them....very easy and effective. If you use cushion wads, try using the thin over powder cards, then a 13 ga wad, then thin over shot card. All these load easily in my New Englander with choke tubes. You just need to slightly flex the thin cards to put them through the tube. Also, I'd be suspect that the Gunsmith could just change out the breechplug and make it work, unless he made a plug himself. The tang and breechplug on the New Englanders fit together very differently than the T/C Hawken or most other muzzleloaders that I know of and I've never seen this type of plug sold. Compare it with one of the other muzzleloaders he has and you'll see the difference.

 

[EastoftheBay]

I bought a yard of 1/8" Duro-Felt and punch out wads with a 3/4" arch punch. Lube them and use them....very easy and effective. If you use cushion wads, try using the thin over powder cards, then a 13 ga wad, then thin over shot card. All these load easily in my New Englander with choke tubes. You just need to slightly flex the thin cards to put them through the tube. Also, I'd be suspect that the Gunsmith could just change out the breechplug and make it work, unless he made a plug himself. The tang and breechplug on the New Englanders fit together very differently than the T/C Hawken or most other muzzleloaders that I know of and I've never seen this type of plug sold. Compare it with one of the other muzzleloaders he has and you'll see the difference.

I talked to gunsmith at the local shop today when I went in to try and haggle for a T/C Rifle. He took the barrel off and then removed the barrel from a Renegade and there was a complete difference. He rescinded what he said about swapping them over and that ended it for me. I want a flintlock smoothbore not a percussion smoothbore. Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I use soft leather wads in my choked muzzle loading shotguns. They load easily and seal well.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

You will regret not buying that New englander 12 gauge percussion.

They are great all purpose hunting guns, and mine also shoot roundball very well,

 

[2 shots]

i use wonder wads they compress through choke than expand once past it or u can just use a cylinder bore choke tube , its nice to have the option. many brands of choke tubes will interchange with t/c i think mossberg is one one. they are allover. do a search to see what else will fit.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

fan of New Englanders.... but I dunno how anyone could make a flintlock out of one. Best thing about them is the big triggerguard that allows for gloved fingers in cold weather. The Greyhawk will take New Englander barrels and vice versa.

I used to sell the rifles and then a 12 gauge barrel. They made them in 12 gauge, .54 and .50, but I never saw a .45. Always wanted one in 16 gauge, but they never made one.