playing in the snow
 

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.

cayugad

Great shooting Dave, our snow is rapidly disappearing... I really wanted to get to the farm today.. but end of the month jobs got me stranded in the office...

How thick do you think the pillow patch you are using is?

Rondy season starts early march I need to get out and get some shooting with PRB's in.

the 100% blue stripe cotton pillow tick I shoot is .018 according to my cheap digital caliper. The red stripe is the same.

Thanks Dave... I think I switched to 18 last season but can not remember for sure. I will know as soon as I get the gear out though.

That's a nice hole @ 25 yds Dave. Good shooting. It will be interesting to see it at work a little further out.

HA

The lil' Renegade that could!!

Looks like we have a winner.

Looks like another winner Cayugad. Ya gotta love Rennies - the all American muzzleloader. If you don't own one, get one.

Why do you say that Dave?....Just curious, BPS

This is really different from when I lived up North we are having 4 days in a row of 65 + degrees. Catching up on garden work.

If I had my choice, I would always hunt with something bigger then a 50 caliber. Not that a 50 caliber will not get the job done. And I have hunted with them. But I prefer a larger caliber, like the 54 or 58 caliber.

Lee.. believe it or not. We hit 42 degrees here today. That has to be a record. I mean the end of January is our coldest time of year with day time highs of 18 degrees on average. Night times can be down right brutal. I have never got by on so little fire wood in my life. And I am burning junk wood this year. I only throw some hard maple on at night when I go to bed.

I believe it I remember it well. Last year here we were ice in and had to cancel a trip.
Global warming or just nice weather. Europe is getting our bad weather from what I have heard.
I have to agree with you on caliber, I started out with a 40 caliber that I made off the stock and action of a 22 semi auto, next was a 45 then a 50 then a 58 then a 54 then a 62 and out of all of them I love a 54 with a PRB. It work the best for me for deer, bear and boar and the way it shot long distance and dropped animals on the spot is the reason I still take it hunting some times.

Interesting...I don't think any of the deer I've killed with my ML rifles from .45 to .58 died any differently. I usually try to take em' through the ribcage and take out their lungs. They may go a little ways but almost always fall within sight. The only ones I've ever had "drop on the spot" were ones I shot in the neck or head. I like all of my ML's that I hunt with. I don't use the .58 much as it is an in-line (not dissing in-lines, I just enjoy the traditionals more). I've often thought I would like a custom big-bore Flinter in .58 or .62.... Maybe someday. Oh well, to each his own I guess...BPS

BlackPowderSmoke.. in no way am I claimed a 50 caliber is not a good lethal rifle. My one friend shoots a Traditions Kentucky and with patched roundball I have seen him knock deer flat at 100 yards. But for some reason, I just like that larger caliber and feel more comfortable with them. A Doe I shot with a 50 caliber a few years back, she was broadside, I shot for the lungs and ... have you ever shot a deer and they just stood there like nothing happened? I actually thought I missed. Then she skipped off about 20 yards and fell over dead. With a 54 caliber I shot at one deer, killing it on the spot, and the ball passed through that deer and killed a second one behind it. Now that is penetration in my book.

Consider the fact that while a roundball is deadly, its not the most desired projectile among a lot of shooters. But if you look at the difference of a 50 and a 54 caliber the ball of the 54 is 33% larger. 177 VS 234 grain. And if you judge a 50 to a 58 you've increased the weight almost 60% in weight. That is a huge difference. And we all know energy is increased if you can increase velocity or weight. So since I shoot about the same powder charge out of all my rifles.. I go for the bullet weight (talking roundball).

But I see your point. They all end up killing the deer if they are placed in the right spot.

Dave, I never took it that you were "dissing" a .50, so please don't take it that way, but you didn't mention using a roundball in your earlier post when I asked you why you stated what you did. By the same token, I didn't mention that I use solid lead conicals in most of the ML's that I hunt with in my later response. I know people do it, but I wouldn't use a PRB in my .45 for deer, but I have no problem using it with a Maxi-ball just as I have no problem using a PRB in my .54's. In most of my .50's I use a Maxi or a Lee REAL, but I do use a PRB in a few (the T/C PA. Hunter Carbine I'm holding in my avatar is one). My T/C .58 I use a PRB in because honestly, the Maxi's are just too d@mn punishing too shoot!!... And yes, I have had deer stand there and look like they were never hit after you punch em' through the lungs. I had it happen once with a 12 ga. slug gun and I have had it happen with a .270 win. because every deer reacts differently to how they're hit (in some manner). So we're on the same page brother, I initially thought that you stayed away from .50's because you probably already own too darn many of them!!! Incidentally, the .50 Hawken that I have coming any day now will make the SIXTH .50 rifle I'll own!!...BPS

I agree Cayugad, the .50 Renegade is a good shooter. I traded for a 30 inch 1 in 66 twist round ball Renegade barrel, and it shoots a ragged hole at 50 yards.

When shooting conicals I always stick with a 50 caliber. Although that White. 451 can sure to make a decision hard when talking conical shooters. I like that rifle a lot. I have no idea how many 50 caliber rifles I currently have. It is probably the biggest number of rifles in my collection. Although a dozen of them or more are inlines. I think.