Author Topic: T/C New Englander .54 caliber (Read 1705 times)

Stan in SC · « **on:** September 18, 2004, 06:58:09 AM »

I just purchased a used but excellent T/C New Englander in .54.I know this rifle has slow twist rate which would make it more suitable for round ball.I think I would like to try sabot bullets but would like any of you guys experiences on what loads work good in this rifle.Thanks in advance.

Stan
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roundball · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2004, 10:48:35 AM »

Stan, if by slow twist you mean it has a 1:66" round ball twist, that might present a challenge to get satisfactory accuracy out of pistol bullets in sabots...ordinarily, fast twists are needed to stabliize sabot/bullet combinations and/or conicals...but you'll never know until you try;

As far as .54cal round balls go...my .54cal TC Hawken 1:66" round ball barrel gives outstanding accuracy with the following:

Target Load = 60grns Goex FFFg
Hunting load = 90grns Goex FFFg

Oxyoke prelubed wonderwad
.018" prelubed pillow ticking patch
Hornady (or Speer) .530" x 230grns ball

Stan in SC · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2004, 04:39:05 PM »

As I remember the twist rate for the New Englander is like 1:48.If that rate is incorrect someone please correct me.
In my White Mtn. carbine in .50 caliber I use round ball with good success with a charge for hunting of 80 gr. FF black powder.The twist rate is like 1:20 in that rifle.I did shoot some sabots in it when I first got it about ten years ago but was not satisfied with the accuracy so have stuck to round ball since then.
If I do not get satisfactory results with the sabots I purchased yesterday for the .54 I will stick with round ball for it from here on out.
I was just curious what others who might have a New Englander have used with success in loads.

roundball · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2004, 05:17:25 PM »

I just checked a TC catalog and it does list the New Englander as having a 1:48" twist so it should shoot most everything pretty well

Stan in SC · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2004, 06:39:50 AM »

Good information,roundball.Thanks.

lonewolf5347 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2004, 08:12:40 AM »

My New Englander 54 cal. shoot great with a REAL 380 conical and 80 grains of goex 3f ,seems the New Englander will print some excellent groups using the same powder charge and Hornady mag. sabot in 240 grain and the Noslers 240 grain,I can tell you that the 300 grain sabots will not groupe well.

hans g./UpS · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2004, 11:58:18 AM »

100gr FFg[or 80gr FFFg]Goex+double pillow ticking[1 lubed] patch+.530 or .535 ball+RWS#11 or CCI#11Magnum cap. +3"@50yds=0@100yards.

RCL · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2004, 02:53:20 PM »

I picked up a .54 New Englander last year. I wanted to shoot conicals, and what worked well for me was a Hornady Great Plains Bullet over 100 grains of Goex 2F. Off of bags I was getting aprox. 2 1/2" groups at 50 yards with the open sights.

Jerry/PA · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:57:22 PM »

Hi Stan in SC,

If your 54 is half as good as my 50 New Englander, you won't be sorry for your purchase. (If you do decide you're sorry, drop me a note and I'll probably buy it from you!)

Anyway, trying different bullets could be fun I suppose. Some of the specialty bullets can get kind of expensive though.

Roundball is cheap and, at least in my 50, phenomenally accurate. A couple of weeks ago, I put a three shot group at 75 yards into one of those yellow post-its...(the office pad thingies), benchrested.

The only thing I can probably tell you is that, with roundball, my 50 likes 70 to 80 grains of Goex FFg. Higher or lower and accuracy falls off. It likes a specific patch thickness....075... a couple of thousandths more or less and accuracy falls off. (The Ox-Yoke prelubed .015 precut patches should get you pretty fair accuracy with your rifle if you're not up to making your own patches.) Lube slickness is likewise critical. However, if you do find the "magic combination", it should be a tack driver.

Also, I cast the Lee REAL conicals , 320 grains, for my 50. I shot a 7/8", 3 shot group at 60 yards on Saturday afternoon with 82 grains of Goex FFg, benchrested.

Your rifle should do likewise with RB or conicals. Sabots... sorry, but I don't know. I've never tried sabots. Since they're expensive and I cast for next-to-nothing, it's probably best that I don't find out if sabots are too good!

Good luck,

Jerry.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2004, 11:11:56 AM »

In an effort to try several loads I saw some Buffalo Bullet Co. "ballettes" advertised in Cabela's.I looked at the company website to see what they say concerning these and ordered a box of them this morning.I needed to order a non-breakable ramrod anyway so I just tacked it on to my order.
Buffalo Bullet Co. says these are the ideal hybrid between round balls and conicals.They do not use a patch.
I bought some T/C sabots the other day so when the ballettes come in I will have several loads to test.I am also going to pick up some regular round balls at the local shop.
I am going to have some load testing to do.Hmmm,sounds like a full day at the range.

Jerry/PA · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2004, 01:46:17 PM »

Hi Stan in SC;

I suspect that you'll be able to make the "Buffalo Ballettes" work in your rifle. I know that you'll be able to make the RB work in your rifle if you work up the best patch/charge/lube/barrel prep combination.

The only thing you may be disappointed about is if you really think that your have a "full day at the range" ahead of you! I suspect that you have many trips to the range ahead of you! But then you said in your profile that you are "retired and loving it"! Enjoy your new rifle. Experimenting is fun!

P.S. If you are planning on deer hunting with the rifle this Autumn, I hope that someone has told you that you don't really "need" any more than a patched 54 caliber roundball? A simple roundball, especially 54 cal, is devastating on deer.

Jerry.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2004, 03:56:07 PM »

Jerry,
Thanks.Yes,retired and loving it.I go to the range every Wednesday and sometimes more often.
I am planning to do some black powder hunting this year.Actually I have been doing same for the last 20 years.I will hunt with the .54 this year but also with my White Mtn. cabine in .50 that I have killed a few deer with over the last 12 years I have had it.
Usually on my hunting lease I will hunt black powder season which precedes regular gun season here in South Carolina.Then when gun season rolls in I will hunt with my NEF ultra light .243 or the NEF 45/70 until I kill one and then start using the black powder again a lot but not exclusively.I just really like black powder hunting.
Of course this year I gotta change up the muster a wee bit to include my scoped Mosin and my scoped .303 as well as an iron sighted milurp or three.So many guns...so little time. I usually try to hunt 5 days a week during season if no other projects interfere.
I know..it's a rough go but damn it man, somebody's gotta do it.

Jerry/PA · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2004, 05:57:46 PM »

Quote from: Stan in SC

I will hunt with the .54 this year but also with my White Mtn. cabine in .50 that I have killed a few deer with over the last 12 years I have had it.
I know..it's a rough go but damn it man, somebody's gotta do it.

Yes Stan, It's rough, but since we're both "working" at getting in as much huntin' and shootin' time as we can.... I guess that makes us a team!

Anyway, if you're right close to the season, you'll probably be able to find the best load with the conicals faster than you may be able to find the best roundball load. You'll have all winter to work with all of the different possibilities afterward.

Tell me about your T/C White Mountain Carbine. What have you gotten to work well in yours? What twist is yours?

Regards,

Jerry.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #13 on:** September 22, 2004, 10:00:08 AM »

I went to the range today.Loaded the New Englander with a T/C sabot .45 caliber 275 grain copper hollow point over 80 grains of black powder.At 25 yards it was shooting low .I upped the charge to 90 grains.WOW! Right at the top of the 1" black dot at 25 yards using a tight hold.
At 100 yards the same load using a higher front post hold was right in the 8" shoot n see target a little high and left of center.Looked at the rear sight and it was off center a tad.I had not looked at it that close before to see exactly where it was.Moved it over to put it right in the middle and was right at the top of the bull on the next shot.This rifle is a real shooter.
I have some Bullalo "ballettes" coming.I think I will try them at 80 grains of powder to start.
Thompson/Center just makes a quality product.My White Mountain carbine has been a great shooter for the 12 years or so I have had it.
After the past three years of fooling around with military rifles it feels good to be getting my hands dirty with black powder again.

clodbuster · « **Reply #14 on:** September 22, 2004, 12:12:36 PM »

The very early New Englanders were listed as having 1 in 66 twist and as has been stated, a 240 gr roundball over a max load will knock a deer into next week. Just find the load and practice, practice, practice. Good luck!

Stan in SC · « **Reply #15 on:** September 24, 2004, 03:11:26 PM »

Clodbuster,
Yes,I have used round balls for about 20 years now and always had good success with them Accuracy is most consistent with round ball.I am in the mode to try something different.
My "ballettes" and the ramrod I ordred arrived today.The rod is great for $10.99.Guaranteed for life and already has a jag on one end.I noticed the jag seemed kinda loose and I proceeded to unscrew it and lo and behold it has a built in ball puller underneath.An unexpected extra.It is 48" long so I had to cut it to the correct length as matched up against the old one.
I had a chance to inspect the ballettes and am kinda impressed with them.They are 315 grain.Look kinda like an elongated round ball.Very small base cavity and a skirt.Prelubed and advertised as needing no patch.Next Wednesday at the range I'll see how they do.
I really appreciate all of the information you gentlemen have shared with me here.Just goes to show how a quality site attracts quality folks.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** September 24, 2004, 04:26:31 PM »

Stan, FYI, if that ball puller doesn't have a collar on it, don't use it! Those kind don't self center and can gouge the bore cuz they go between the ball and bore. The good kind have a sub-bore size collar that won't allow that to happen.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2004, 02:00:21 AM »

You are entirely correct on the collar on the ball puller.I found that out a long time ago.It can really mess up a bore.No,it does not have a collar with it but I have one that resides in my possibles sack ever since that one incident.Thanks for the thought tho.It might help someone else at some time.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2004, 01:21:23 AM »

I received the Buffalo Bullet Company "ballettes" which I ordered.As you might remember last week I tried the T/C sabots with good success.I have as of yet not tried round ball in this rifle.
I srated off at 100 yards since last week I had it printing at that range.Using the same load of 80 grains of FF,the first shot went low.I elevated the rear sight a couple of clicks and tried two more.Elevation was ok but they were spread left and right on the target.About a 6" spread.
Moved back to 25 yards and two shots were a wee bit high and again spread about 3".Moved again back to 100 yards and six shots were spread and a little erratic unlike the sabots from last week which were grouping pretty well.
I am going to obtain some .54 round balls and try them.I have always had consistent accuracy with RB.
If anyone else here has tried the "ballettes" I would appreciate their observations.
As a side note I also shot the White Mountaon carbine which I have had for about 12 years now and as usual at 100 yards it was putting the RB's right in the center.This New Englander better perform as well when I get RB for it.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2004, 05:16:26 PM »

I went to a gun show Saturday and managed to find two boxes of Hornady .54 round ball.If you remember I was having erratic accuracy with both "ballettes" and sabots.
Got to the range today and took the first shot at 25 yards.2" high of the bull.Lowered the rear sight and brushed the barrel and the second shot was dead on the bull but 1" right.I figure I pulled it a little.
Reloaded and took aim on the shoot n see at 100 yards.Dead center!The next two shots were kissing the first.I have found the sweet load.