56 Smooth Bore Renegade

[Bugflipper]

 My cousin up north ordered a custom shop tc renegade 56 smooth bore several years ago. The regulations changed and they were able to use rifled bores so he never used it. I ended up buying it off of him but haven't gotten it yet. I have a little dilemma. I use side by side percussions for small game. I'm really not seeing a benefit of going down to a single and decreasing the bore diameter and range. I can load a SxS light and get that. A smaller prb isn't really a benefit either. The only things I can see is it has sights instead of a bead. And is a modern steel so wouldn't have to worry about an old shotgun blowing up on me.
 I guess I am wanting opinions on what you use your "rifle" style smooth bores for? What is the effective range if you pattern them right?  Maybe that would give me a better perspective on them. I just bought it to resell but they are getting scarcer as time goes by and I'd hate to want one later and not be able to find a decent one. Also the condition of NIB and the curly stock has me thinking that it wouldn't bring what a normal rifle would bring anyway because renegades are considered utility grade anyhow. So maybe just hang onto it. Plus if I have it very long it wont stay unfired. I don't keep guns that I don't use unless they were handed down to me.
Thanks

[P.A. Myers]

These are rapidly becoming very valuable. Unless it is an integral part of your collection, I would trade it for cash. If you give it some exposure it will bring some decent money.

Have a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year,      P.A.

[Bugflipper]

Thanks P.A., same to you and yours as well.

[pastorp]

I have one of these, how much are they bringing?  I really want a 62 cal fowler, so maybe I should sell some of my TC side locks and put the money toward a fowler. 

Regards,

[bubba.50]

hey byron,
take it for what it's worth, there's two 56 renegades on gunbroker right now with $269.00 & $279.00 startin' bids with no bids on them. luck & have a Merry Christmas friend, bubba.

[josie wales]

It seems to me the .56 smoothbore is a desired barrel not for what is was meant for,shooting a patched .550 round ball. It seems that today purists are using them as muzzle loading shotguns. I have one because when Massachusetts first had a blackpowder season that was all we could use. It is so hard to load I used to have to beat the ball in with Thompson's suggested loads. I was so glad when I could retire the barrel and use a rifled one (1-60 twist RB Special). I do have to say for being a smooth bore it was very accurate up to 50 yds. I never tried using it as shotgun but others I have talked to say it is strictly small game. There are other forums you can get loading data if you want to use it as a shotgun.

[josie wales]

Just a follow up: EVILBAY has a .56 newly listed  starting price is 0.99 yes 99 cents. It will not be sold for this that is for sure but it will give you an idea of going price if you follow the auction.
 
 
     http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thompson-Center-56-Cal-Smooth-Bore-Muzzleloader-Barrel-/121039963355?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D4221191486207656464%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D181046672863%26

[sixgun_symphony]

You might consider having it "freshed out" into a .58 caliber rifle.

[Swampman]

Buy a Green River rifle barrel for it and sell the smooth barrel on ebay.  The smooth barrel will shoot nicely with a PRB.  A "purist" wouldn't shoot a T/C.

[Bugflipper]

I am thinking of doing just that Swampy. On ebay barrels seem to sell at or near what a complete rifle goes for. Maybe break even or make a little and keep the fancy stock. I just don't think it is going to be for me. I am guessing they are good for 25-30 yards with shot if you play around with patterning? I can head shoot a squirrel at that range with a prb, so not seeing an advantage. Can load light and duplicate 28 ga loads. The shot column isn't as cramped so I am guessing that is why they pattern further.
With a ball my rifled barrel ones would be more accurate out further. Of coarse not knocking anyone who likes them. I just can't see an advantage in the thinned woods I hunt.

[coyotejoe]

I think you have it pretty much straight, with an ounce of  #6 shot it will be reliable on squirrels out to a maximum of 25 yards, maybe a bit less. A small bore rifle would take the same game at the same or longer range while using half the powder and 1/4 the lead. They were built to comply with certain game regulations and if you're not limited by law to a smoothbore there is no reason to use one., which is why T/C stopped making them.

[pastorp]

I followed up on JW eBay link & the 56 renegade barrel sold for $104 & change. That's not almost the price of a rifle in my book. You may feel different. Just saying I wouldn't sell mine for that.   

Regards,

[Swampman]

I've sold them on there for $300.00.  I've bought nice Renegades for less than $200.00.

[45-70.gov]

i would find a 50cal barrel for it......mine is a 50 and i feel no need for anything else
mine  has  1 in 48 spin.....shoots maxi balls  great  and PRB  great too
NOT SURE  WHAT A NEW OR USED BARREL WILL COST




i did pick up a 12ge smooth bore  for  $10 or $20  that i have shot a few times

[pastorp]

That may be true Swampy, but the one JW used as a example didn't.  so his example of one doesn't inspire me to list mine.

Regards,

[Bugflipper]

I figured that one would sell pretty high. They ended it at a prime time when folks could bid on it. Most of the time the ones with pitting won't get to $100. Or they'll peter out just over like that one did. If people are awake and impulse bidding when they get outbid the price is usually higher than when they place a bid of what they think it's worth and go to bed. Generally 100-150 is a hunting grade with a few marks and no rust or pitting so whoever sold that one did pretty well.




As for the smooth bore, I ended up swapping it for a seneca. It has a 36 and 45 barrel. I wanted to keep the fancy stock but to be honest I would just tear it up. My rifles don't sit around in a safe or get admired on a wall without use. I'm not one to abuse them, but when you use them a lot you are going to inevitably end up with nicks and scratches. I figured it would be better to get the trade value out of it instead of having a curly stock with scratches in it several years down the road.

[Ken Rummer]

I had one I bought to shoot PRB but it was a hassle to get a supply of proper sized roundballs for the .564 bore.
I sent it to Bob Hoyt and he reworked it to a 62 cal rifled bore.  It is now a big bore carbine.  Love it.