They are normally a great shooting rifle.Was this one with the 1-48 or the 1-66 twist? Was it a flintlock? I do not get too worried about the QLA. I've shot a lot of rifles with the QLA and never had a problem with accuracy. That is one model of Thompson Center I do not own. Although I have sure looked at them enough.
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What's the barrel length on that rifle? They made that rifle in 1:38, 1:48, and 1:66 twist. My rifles are 31" and 21" long with 1:66 twist and the QLA barrels. They can be both great and fussy shooting rifles. Once you get the correct load figured out for them they shoot wonderful.
With my rifle; and all rifles are different; I have found a Criso lubed .018 pillow tick patch and .495 Hornady ball over 90 grains of Goex 3f with a .54 lubed Wonderwad is a tack driver. The grooves are cut .010 deep and square bottomed. I have found that the cleaner I keep these barrels the better they shoot. A .50 caliber brush with a solvent dampened cleaning patch will get down into the corners of the grooves real well. It's not really necessary for practice but for the absolute best accuracy I do it and it helps. The wad is one thing that I find is needed to get excellent groups as it seals the bore and protects the patching from cutting thru. I don't know what the guy wants for it but I would buy it; they are not easy to find anymore. The .490 ball does not shoot as well in my rifles and I believe the .500 ball would be even better if you have access to them. On my good days, with little wind; groups of 2" at 100 yards are possible but groups under 3 1/2" can be the norm on most light wind days. I like the rifle and it's balance.
If it's a flinter send the lock back to TC and complain that it eats flints and fails to give good sparks and consistant ignition and they will send you a complete and newly designed lock that is much better than the older models. You won't have any trouble with the new ones but the older design can give you fits. Let us know how it goes when ya get it. If you don't buy how about letting me know what the guy wants for it by privite message and I may just pick it up for myself; I know a guy at work that wants one for this son.
It is a flinter .50 looks like new but the frizzen has a bunch of scratches on it where the flint strikes it. It was in the new gun rack though. I may run out there this aft. If memerory serves It was just over $400, now curiosty has got the best of me!!
When you go to look at it run a patch down to the bottom and slowly pull it out until the ramrod turns 1/4 turn; mark, measure, andmultiply times 4 and you will know what the twist rate is.
I just ran out to the shop, looked at it, put my bore lite down the bbl, 1 in 66, put it on layaway. Couldn't help myself! Such a sweet handling rifle. Been thinking about a flinter for a while. Well, gonna scratch that itch, in a few mos. I've got the black powder jones!!!
My friend had one 1:66 and it shot both PRB and the Hornady PA conicals out of it with good results. These conicals were designe for the slow twist barrels and seem to work well although the really put the lub on them and you have to wipe some off prior to loading.
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If anyone is interested, I have one of these new in the box. I am the orginal owner, was purchased in the early 90's and placed in my gunroom. As stated "never fired", TC PA Hunter 31" 1/66 twist .50cal caplock, boxed, owners handbook etc. Only one issue orginal ramrod was removed and replaced with a non wooded style (super wunder?) still don't know where I put the darn wooden orginal. (lp2313@yahoo.com)
T.C. Pen. Hntr .50
