A few weeks ago, I had locally picked up a in new condition Thompson Center Renegade. Its a 50 caliber and percussion lock, but the condition it was in, and the price they were asking was one of those.. can not pass this time deals. So I got it, cleaned it, and put it on the rack.
Today I was looking at rifles to shoot and saw that new to me, Renegade. I decided to give it a try. So I swabbed the barrel free of oil. And like most Renegades and roundball they like Black Powder.
85 grains of Schuetzen Black Powder
Winchester Mag #11 caps
pillow tick 100% cotton patch cut at muzzle
moose milk lube
I swabbed after several shots because I was feeling a false bottom.
using a 6 o'clock hold on the round white circle
This is a sweet rifle. I normally avoid a 50 caliber in the Renegade but this one kind of completes my collection of them. The trigger on set is VERY light. And I was unsure where it was sighted in at.
I was really concentrating. But it was 30 degrees, wind blowing, and snowing and I mean snowing. But hey, that's where I live. So I was shooting off my Caldwell bench rest and trying my best.
I noticed it was shooting low and to the right. Just to make sure, I put one round to the left of the group. This is when I was noting a false bottom due to the crud from the black powder. So I swabbed the barrel. Dried the barrel. Cap fired the barrel. And adjusted the sights up.
That second group was high enough, (even though I threw one low) and then to make sure the sights were true I put one to the left of the group. I was pleased with the accuracy. But I had to be careful of the trigger. Also this rifle does not go off on the first strike. Even if the nipple is clean. And the nipple looks... different lets say. But it always went off on the second hit. This will be an easy fix of a new nipple I am guessing.
So I adjusted the sights again. This time moving the group to the left I hoped.. and a little lower for now. You will see my one adjustment check shot. But over all this is a nice shooting rifle.
But again, I was not pushing the rifle hard. I swabbed it clean again before shooting at the upper bull. And this was only 25 yards. The main group was excellent. I think that was six shots. Maybe seven. I was not counting. And I decided to quit paper and go after some paint cans.
I was not going to hike around in the snow. The other day I set my knee back a good week of healing and so I was taking it easy on crutches today. Crutches and snow are not friendly, but they work if you take your time.
So the next time out I want to see if it will do this again. And if it does, I have a lot of different things I want to try out of it. But this rifle sure likes Black powder. And I need to swap out the nipple with a new one. So I had a good day playing in the snow.
playing in the snow
