Originally Posted by
Rebstud
I guess I can say( for you guys) here we go again. But I've spent the last 15 years hunting with a long bow. So then I get a wild hair to pull down a TC 54cal renegade that's been hanging on my wall for quite some time. So I hit the forums, go to Bass Pro Shop and but a box of Hornady .530 RB's. .015 pre-lubed patches, #11 percussion caps, and some Pyrodex RS powder. I live in Fla. but hunt in Ga. So with that said, I can't picture shooting deer past about 120 yrds. My eyes suck so I need to shoot at targets at 50 yrds. Where you guys come in is this. When I sit down to start shooting this thing, do I need to swab the barrel out after every shot, and with what. I also would like to know how high will the ball hit at 50 yrds to zero in at around 120 yrds. I know the barrel comes off pretty easy and have read about Luke warm soapy water for cleaning before I put her to bed for any length of time. I'm sure oil setting in the barrel after cleaning can't be good for the next time I want to go hunting, so that's a concern. I guess I just want to hear it first hand what you guys do in muzzle loading/ hunting 101. If I go on a 3 or 4 day hunt and shoot, do I have to give it the soapy bath during the hunt or will it make it home before turning into a pile of rust. Just any normal info will be greatly appreciated. Oh yeah I bought one of the automatic measuring thing that screws to my powder flask. It measures out 84grs. Thanks in advance ....regards Wade
1. do I need to swab the barrel out after every shot, and with what. That depends on the powder you shoot, the humidity, the temperature, etc. But it does not hurt to swab between shots. You accuracy will be better. But when you swab DO NOT SATURATE THE PATCH. I use a mix of Windex and alcohol 50/50. I spritz the patch and then work it up and down the bore in short strokes. SHORT STROKES. Then when I did not sides of the damp patch, I like to run a dry patch to make sure there is no moisture in the barrel.
2.I also would like to know how high will the ball hit at 50 yrds to zero in at around 120 yrds. When I sight in, I like to sight in two inches high at 50 yards. That normally puts me just under the bull at 100 yards. With my eyes, I will not shoot past 100 yards anymore. 75 and under is preferred. As for how high you'd have to be over the bull at 50 yards to be on at 120.. you'd have to do some range time and learn your rifle. The powder charge can also make a difference.
3. I'm sure oil setting in the barrel after cleaning can't be good for the next time I want to go hunting, so that's a concern. Spritz a patch with alcohol. then swab the bore of the rifle. The alcohol will pull the oil out of the bore. Then a couple dry patches. This makes sure the barrel is dry and oil free. Then put a dry patch on your jag and push that to the bottom of the breech. Now put a #11 cap on the nipple and fire it. This will blow any oil out of the fire chamber into the patch. It will also burn the patch. If you have a burn mark that means the fire channel is clear. If no burn do it again until you have a burn. Then pop one more cap for the muzzleloader gods. They like the noise.
Now your ready to load the rifle. You know the bore of the rifle is oil free and the fire chamber is clear. So you should be set to go.
My .54 caliber Renegade likes 90 grains of 2f powder and a .530 patched ball. There are other things you can do to make sure that the rifle will fire when hunting. But that info should get you shooting.