Community
Black Powder Ask opinions of other hunters on new technology, gear, and the methods of blackpowder hunting.

Renegade .54

Thread Tools
 
Old 02-10-2015, 10:27 AM
  #1  
Spike
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 84
Default Renegade .54

Hi all

I have been doing some research on a Thompson Renegade in .54 caliber but wanted to ask opinions on what this muzzleloader would shoot the best. PRb, conical etc. I have two Omegas now and shoot 300 grain XTP's very well and would love to do the same with a Renegade but from research it doesn't sound promising.

Your thoughts please
Omega218er is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 10:37 AM
  #2  
Nontypical Buck
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,922
Default

No offense here. But wouldn't you find it 'boring' to use the same 300 grain bullet in your 54?

For instance:
I have two 1:28 MLs in 50-cal. Been thinking I want to shoot monster 460 grain conicals in my Knight and lightweight 200 grain sabot/bullet in my Omega. I also have a longrifle Shenandoah that covers my slow twist, roundball/patch fetish I get.

Why not conicals or a roundball in that 54? That's the Uno Numero #1 caliber for roundballs (my opinion). Why buy 54 cal plastic sabots to shoot XTPs 54/45 in a third ML?

Personally I would turn that 54 into a full-bore, all-lead / no sabot ML.
Triple Se7en is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 10:41 AM
  #3  
Nontypical Buck
 
Blackpowdersmoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Penns Woods
Posts: 1,628
Default

Seeing as how it's probably a "middle of the road" 1:48 twist, I would try everything and see which it likes the taste of best.

BPS
Blackpowdersmoke is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 10:49 AM
  #4  
Dominant Buck
 
cayugad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
Default

I have two of the .54 caliber Renegades with the standard barrel. They shoot roundball real good. They also shoot some conicals. But in the few instances I have tried shooting sabots... I did not have good results. Now in the .50 caliber that's different. But never had the same luck with the .54. And I never had them accurate to distances. Out to 50 yards.. they did hunting fine. But the roundball is all you need in that caliber.
cayugad is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 11:02 AM
  #5  
Fork Horn
 
Palehorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: IndianaKY
Posts: 244
Default

I had zero luck with sabots.

Maxi-balls stabilized, but accuracy was just OK (Did not keep me from killing plenty of deer, but that was due to getting real close).

Maxi-hunter would not stabilize, and LEE REAL were in between.

I also tried Great Plains bullets will mixed results.

All testing was done with Pyrodex RS.
Palehorse is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 11:06 AM
  #6  
Spike
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 84
Default

Originally Posted by Triple Se7en
No offense here. But wouldn't you find it 'boring' to use the same 300 grain bullet in your 54?

For instance:
I have two 1:28 MLs in 50-cal. Been thinking I want to shoot monster 460 grain conicals in my Knight and lightweight 200 grain sabot/bullet in my Omega. I also have a longrifle Shenandoah that covers my slow twist, roundball/patch fetish I get.

Why not conicals or a roundball in that 54? That's the Uno Numero #1 caliber for roundballs (my opinion). Why buy 54 cal plastic sabots to shoot XTPs 54/45 in a third ML?

Personally I would turn that 54 into a full-bore, all-lead / no sabot ML.
No offense taken at all! Simplicity is what I was thinking of, it would be fun to learn another muzzleloader and do something different. To be honest I figured the consensus would be a patched roundball but wanted to ask. Thank you
Omega218er is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 11:10 AM
  #7  
Spike
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 84
Default

Originally Posted by cayugad
I have two of the .54 caliber Renegades with the standard barrel. They shoot roundball real good. They also shoot some conicals. But in the few instances I have tried shooting sabots... I did not have good results. Now in the .50 caliber that's different. But never had the same luck with the .54. And I never had them accurate to distances. Out to 50 yards.. they did hunting fine. But the roundball is all you need in that caliber.
Thank you for your response. Are you saying that even with .54 caliber and PRB you could not get accuracy to 100 yards? Where we hunt we can easily have a 100 yard shot yet do realize I need to keep expectations grounded with what I'm working with.

Thanks again

Mark
Omega218er is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 11:52 AM
  #8  
Nontypical Buck
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kerrville, Tx. USA
Posts: 2,722
Default

I would try some maxiballs and great plains. No excuses (460 gr) might also do well.

And if you keep the powder low (say in the 90-100 gr range) powerbelts would probably be accurate and should be big enough to do the job in 405 or 444 gr bullets.
txhunter58 is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 12:15 PM
  #9  
Dominant Buck
 
cayugad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
Default

Originally Posted by Omega218er
Thank you for your response. Are you saying that even with .54 caliber and PRB you could not get accuracy to 100 yards? Where we hunt we can easily have a 100 yard shot yet do realize I need to keep expectations grounded with what I'm working with.

Thanks again

Mark
The patched round ball is plenty accurate out to and past 100 yards if you have good eyes and practice. I never had sabots shoot all that accurate. I also shot a lot of conical bullets and while out to 100 yards they did fine, after that I never tested them much. Some of the conicals my rifles like is the maxi ball, Great Plains in 425 gr which they no longer make I understand, I shot some of the BS conceals but had mixed results depending in the powder and the charge. My .54 did shoot the 405 grain Power Belts very good.

My .50 caliber Renegade did shoot sabots better then the .54 caliber. I was able to get hunting accuracy. But understand, my ranges in the woods are 50 yards and under for the most part.
cayugad is offline  
Old 02-10-2015, 01:48 PM
  #10  
Fork Horn
 
Landngroove's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 180
Default

90 grains FFG Goex + 018" pillow ticking patch + .530" round ball shot well from my T/C Renegades. 1 percussion, and 1 flinter. Never had any luck with Maxiballs, and Maxihunters.
Landngroove is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.