54 caliber powerbelts???
 

I have a Thompson Center Renegade in 54 caliber and most of what I read says that this is an excellent patch and round ball gun. Does anyone have experience using a sabot or powerbelt in this gun and caliber?

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

Sabotloader shoots sabots out of his Renegade all the time. And the targets are very inpressive. I have shot sabots also with good results. I also shoot the 405 grain Powerbelts with good accuracy, although my Lyman Flintlock shoots the powerbelts best of all with 80 grains of powder.

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

MR.D

I do shoot sabots from all three of my 54's, one Lyman Trade Rifle and two Renegades, they shoot them as weel as I can shoot them.

My hunting partner shoots a 54 Hawken, but I have never been able to talk him out of his powerbelts... they are really convienient for him and he has been successful with them.

The TC 54's usually have a fairly tight bore so you will need to find a thin sabot for them. Companies are not making a selection of sizes like they do for the 50's so you just have to try some and see what works best. At one time I would have told you the Orange TC Mag Express and the Tradition 45/54 sabots would work well - but recently they switched manufacturers and they are now slightly thicker. Harvester regular sabots shoul work. I myself use Nosler sabots but I bought a slug of em years ago. They are a washed out red color, the new ones that I am seeing are a really ugly some form of green color but they really look like the right ones... I usually purchase Nosler sabots here:

http://www.wholesalehunter.com/product/nosler/nosldes/NoslerSabots.htm

This is what the new ones look like and I really do think they are the correct thickness - in fact I am going to order a couple of packs right now...

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0011550097

I shoot T7-3f powder - 90 grains with a Dynimt Noble 1075+ #11 cap - .455 300 grain Hornadys XTP's but I am switching to 300 grain Speer Gold Dots (higher BC and better expansion) I have been really pleasedwithresults. I would have no problem hunting elk with this load. With the 1/48 twist in my 54's I have not had the best luck with lighter bullets...

Here is a target I have posted on photobucket..



Hope some of this helps - some back if I can help with anything..

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

Thanks for all the info.

I did shoot sabots a while back and found oneold one at the bottom of my safe. It is a hollw point with a white sabot. I dont remember the manufacturer. Since I need to buy more anyway I was thinking of trying the powerbelts.

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

MR.D

Usually a white sabot indicates a 44/54. A white sabot should be a Hornady Sabot with a44 cal bullet in a 54 cal sabot... I also did not have much luck with the 44s...

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

I also found a half box of 430 grain maxi balls. I havent shot those in over twenty years. As you can tell I am just getting back into the flintlock deal since I have some tags left over this year. I havent had to rely on t he flintlock for quite some time. With archery, in line, and rifle season gone and still no deer in t he freezer the smokepole will be my last chance. I will be hunting Saturday and Monday with what I have. That is Patch and round ball or maxiball. Which do you suggest?

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

I have shot sabots in all 3 of my 54's the 1-38 and the 1-48 do quite well the 1-66 is a little pickie but I have several loads it likes. Lee

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

Use what you are sighted in for other than that I have had my best results with PBR. Lee

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

MR.D

Oh! I wasn't thinking flintlock at all - that might not be a 1/48 twist could be a lot slower than that - then I have no idea how it will shoot Powerbelts, sabots or conicals...

RE: 54 caliber powerbelts???
 

I am shooting Hornady 300gXTP MAGwith a split rib sabot out of a Hawken Flintlock, 1-48 twist and they shoot just fine with 100g of Goex. I sight them in at 13 yards, then go out to 50 and get it grouping there about 1" high, this is dead on at 75yards.
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