Anyone shoot 54 Cal muzzle loader

[Rumrunner]

I just bought a Thompson Center 54 caliber ML that looks like it was never fired, as many of the guns there also weren't. It looks like the TC Renegade, but is only marked TC ML 54 Caliber.

Any advice on gun, loads, etc. appreciated.

 

[cas6969]

Things might have changed since S&W gobbled them up, but in the past if you contacted T/C they would send you a little instruction book that had load data in it.

I might have one somewhere... I have two .54's but I'd have to go digging for data.

What kind of powder do you plan on using? (comes down to what you can find local (usually icky subs) or if you are willing to order and ship real black powder. (worth it IMO)

Also what projectile.... round ball or some sort of bullet.

 

[BearBio]

I've taken a couple of mule deer with mine. I use a Buffalo Ball (Buffalo Bullet?) conical backed by 90-100 grs of Pyrodex (by volume). Same load in my Knight.

Round ball: I use a 70 gr. RB tend to be more accurate.

 

[gunzo]

A TC Hawken had brass furniture, patch box, & double set triggers. The Renegade had blued furniture, no patch box & double set triggers. The Hunter had a single trigger.
Mine likes a .530" patched round ball & 90 grains of 2F Goex black. It also likes a 370 grain Buffalo Bore bullet with 80 grains of 2F.

 

[Rumrunner]

Thanks for the feedback. Mine has blue furniture, not a Hawken. It does have the double set trigger on it, but not marked as Renegade. Probably an older model, judging by other guns he had. Serial number is 43398.

I will probably go with 2F black powder unless all I find is Pyrodex, Also most likely use Hornady great Plains 425 grain bullet since on shelves here. Amazingly I can actually see the iron sights well enough to use.

I will be contacting TC today for manual. What primer do you guys use? All I have shot are in-lines with 209 shotgun primers.

Thanks again.

 

[miniman]

i run 70 gns of fff and a round ball its very accurate for me.

 

[CHICKENHAWK]

Mine always shot the Hornady great plains bullet and a 100 grains of pyrodex very well. Killed many a whitetail with it

 

[trebor44]

Depending on the twist, 90 to 100 grains by volume is a good load. Also you can get more info here: https://www.tcarms.com/owners-manuals. Muzzleloaders are the beginning of an adventure and do get expensive for some. Enjoy!

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

It's been a while since I shot mine but I stick with 2F and prefer black to pyrodex. Having said that it's getting hard to find black. Personally I like the Powerbelts when it comes to bullets.

 

[tom black]

I've killed a ton of deer with my 2-54 calibre flintlocks. The 54 calibre round ball is to muzzleloader's what the old 270 WCF is to centerfires, IMHO. My 54's love 80 grains FFFG, it's accurate and deadly. I use FFF instead of FF because it burns cleaner and fowls less. I use a .530 inch pure lead ball cast from a bag mold and medium weight linen patch lubed with bear oil. Others mileage may vary.
Tom Black
Cantucky

 

[Heliman]

Can't speak to the .54 as I have a .50 TC Renegade from the 80's. Most accurate muzzle loader I have ever owned. Quality workmanship and reliability. Good luck with your .54!

Dave

 

[Rumrunner]

Thanks all. I sent TC an email and within 30 minutes they emailed me a pdf copy of the owners manual. Great service.

Looking forward to trying a few loads. I shot a friends 45 caliber Hawken about 45 years ago a go and he used a conical bullet, not round balls. I will experiment with both. I leave for work for 2 weeks Tuesday so I will try to get everything together in that time so I can shoot it when I get back.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have a T/C Hawken that I built from a kit over 30 years ago. Have killed a truckload of deer with it. Have used the T/C Maxi-ball (430 grains) over 100 grains of FFg, or the Lee REAL bullet (370 grains) with the same powder charge.

The last few years I've just been shooting good old .530 round balls with a linen patch and 100 grains of FFg. The deer seem just as dead.

 

[Hogeye]

Mine has the Hawken rate of twist, about 1:48, and will shoot RBs, sabots, and Buffalo Ball-ets equally accurately with 90 grains of Pyrodex RS. Too much gun for the little hill country whitetails I hunt, but I got it cheap and it's accurate.

Thanks for reminding me BTW - today is the opening day for registration for the Missouri managed hunts this fall, when we thin out the deer in State parks and such where hunting isn't normally allowed. I like to do my part for my community :wink:

 

[DeletedMember275]

I will be contacting TC today for manual. What primer do you guys use? All I have shot are in-lines with 209 shotgun primers.

Thanks again.

With real black powder, standard #11 percussion caps work well. You can also buy a nipple that allows use of musket caps for a hotter spark. Some of the BP substitutes may require a hotter spark from the 'magnum' #11 caps, but I have no experience with them.

Track of the Wolf or Dixie Gun Works are two excelent sources of parts, accessories, and information.

 

[cruzerlou]

I have a CVA Lone Wolf Hunter Hawhen side lock in .54 Cal.
I shoot TC 390 GR Expanded conicals over 90 grains of Pryodex.
The gun can take up to 120 grains but 90 is the most accurate.

 

[trebor44]

So, if you need (want) some of the holy black, this is a place to go: https://www.buffaloarms.com/

And they do have lots of other stuff!

 

[cas6969]

https://www.mainepowderhouse.com

 

[blackhawknj]

I've had fun with a Mississippi Rifle in .54 caliber.