T/C Big Boar???
 

Well I tried the search function and had no luck so maybe you guys can lend a hand.

I went to my local gun club swapmeet and I came home with a beautiful looking T/C Big Boar in .58 cal. She is appears to be unfired!!! Now I know she will look good next to my other caplocks in .50, .54 and now .58 cal. What little data I could find says these guns were made with a barrel twist of 1 in 48". It should do well with both PRB and conicals.

I have a .58 cal Zouave and shoot a .578 Hodgdon conical in it and will give it a try in the Big Boar. I see that there is a Hornaday Great Plains bullet available. And of coarse there is the Maxiball and hunter bullets.

Because it is out of production, I can't find much data on it. What is the actual bore size of these guns? What seems to be a good combination for a PRB. Is these only one size roundball available on the market?

I think I will keep the #11 nipple on it and shoot my Goex powder. I did switch over to a musket caps on my two other Hawkens guns.

I was going to take it to the range on Wednesday, but have to go to Pa. for a family matter tomorrow. I should be back on Friday. Once I get back I will take her to the range. First though I need to get my hands on some bullets and balls.

Thanks.

PS: I forgot to mention, I paid $200.

Rafsob,
As I remember it the Big Boar Took a .570 diameter ball 279 gr and heavy ticking worked well with it greased.
The 58 caliber Maxi 555gr and the hunter 560gr.
Now I am not sure but I though the maxi and the hunter were discontinued.
The max load was 120gr.
My own experience with one gun shows the PRB working the best both for group and for trajectory.
Its has been a long time since I sold all my 58's and when to 54 caliber for the flatter trajectory and the drop them on the spot capability.
Hope this helps some. Lee

lemoyne

Thanks Lee. I just got done talking with a friend and he has a R.E.A.L bullet mold for the .58. I will use it to make some of them. I have a .54 REAL bullet mold and it shoots very well. My .54 cal has a 1 in 24" twist though. If TC discontinued the Maxi line of conicals, I think I still can get molds.

I just visited MidSouth and they have a bunch of Lee molds for the .58. I guess I have my work cut out for me!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I think I got a good deal on that Big Boar. I got it for $200.

Sounds like you got a heck of a deal. That thing will sure put a hurt on any animal you drop the hammer on.

rafsob
I always had good results with a real bullet to, but do check out the PRB they are very effective in the 58. Lee

Lee my favorite caplock is my .50 Hawkens Carbine with a twist rate of 1 in 66". I love shooting the PRB!!!

Spaniel, I know it will. But my biggest problems is that I have to wait till next season to find out just how bad it will smack 'em down. He,he,he!!!

The T/C Big Boar came in a Hawkins or Renegade stock. They had a 1-48 twist barrel. And it will be stamped on the barrel "Big Bore." Why they considered the .54 a big bore when it used to be so common I can not say, but the .58 caliber is starting to push the big calibers. The bore was supposed to be .580. So I would shoot 100 grains of 2f powder and a .570 ball with a good thick patch. Also because of the twist they shot conicals pretty good. I tried to get one a few months back, but bidding was crazy on the thing. You found a heck of a rifle there. Good luck shooting it. The manual for it is under the traditional rifle section which covers the Hawkins and the Renegade. In the back you will find load data for the .58 as well as I remember.

Thanks Dave. I will have a lot of fun setting it up and will give a full report after my range time. ;)

Sharpshooter I think has one of them also...

I sure wouldn't have passed up that deal Rafsob. I love the .58.

You're a luck guy (with big balls, too).

Well I got back from my trip up north. I hate it up there. The traffic was unbelievable.

I stopped in at my local gun shop and got some Maxi Hunter bullets and he also had some round balls. I will take them and my new acquision to the range next week.

I will post a report after.

rafsob, I dont know if you need one, but I was on e-bay looking around and a guy on there has a Lyman mould (round ball) for the 58.Cal there's also a 54. too for sale.
(BP)

I have been searching for one for at least a year now. 200 bucks you are lucky to find one in that condition, most are around 600 bucks from what I've seen. For me when I get one I will be shooting this bullet:
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...6116&oh=671475

600 grain maxi, I wrote him once and he used 110 grains of powder. I've seen what a 69 cal roundball can do to a deer, I can only image what a 600 grain bullet would do. Great find and please post what you will be shooting. I will have one of these by years end. I beleive Green Mountain makes a 58 cal barrel for this gun frame as well in 1:70 twist. I would start at 90 grains with prb and see what she does and go from there. No need to go too big too fast. Great gun at a great price. Congratulations.

congrats,raf,that's a great find!!!!! I,m green with envy.

With a .57 diameter ball, no need to try conicals of any type...:)

Got lucky the other day at my local toy shop and found a box of round balls (.570). What size patches do you suggest? I have some .010, .015, and .018. I have not slugged my bore yet.

I prefer to buy cotton ticking at Walmart and lube myself so I know they are fresh...A few years back my .54 was burning through patches and I traced it back to old patches...

I've never miked a patch, but they feel like .018...With a good rap of the short starter they go down and lead swages to the bore pretty easily...I do know I can shoot 3-4 of them before cleaning the barrel...