Author Topic: .54 Cal bullets going away?  (Read 1037 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Redhat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 47
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« on: December 09, 2005, 01:59:18 AM »
Hi all,

 I have a .54 T/C Renegade, and I read that .54 cal has been falling off in popularity and so the rounds were going to be harder to find

If this is true I would like to know if I can get a .50 barrel and put it on my rifle.

Where could I get one? From T/C, Green Mtn.

Would that be the best way to go?

Thanks ahead for the advice

Offline dodd3

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1004
  • Gender: Male
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2005, 02:44:43 AM »
red hat if you wont to shoot patch balls  get a green mountain barrel if you just want to shoot sabots or slugs get the long range green mountain barrel if you want to be able to shoot both types of  bullets get a tc barrel.i don't think the .54 will ever loose its popularity. bernie  :D
if its feral its in peril

Offline roundball

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 375
Re: .54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2005, 02:55:44 AM »
Quote from: Redhat
Hi all,

I have a .54 T/C Renegade, and I read that .54 cal has been falling off in popularity and so the rounds were going to be harder to find

If this is true I would like to know if I can get a .50 barrel and put it on my rifle.

Where could I get one? From T/C, Green Mtn.

Would that be the best way to go?

Thanks ahead for the advice


TC makes standard 1:48" and round ball 1:66" barrels for the Renegade in .50/.54cals...and they make a standard 1`:48" .58cal for it as well.
(both caplock and Flintlock)

CONSIDERATION:
If you're thinking of buying another barrel anyway, the big .58cal / 279grn ball is a powerhouse...I have one and love it...and unless you're going after grizzly bear or something like that, the .58cal round ball should take most anything on the north american continent, and you won't have to bother with those huge .54cal conicals...

(or...of course there are "even huger" .58cal conicals)  :grin:

Check with TC's Fox Ridge shop at 800-243-4570
"Flintlocks.......The Real Deal"
(Claims that 1:48" twists won't shoot PRBs accurately are old wives tales!!)

Offline lostid

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 420
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2005, 01:36:07 PM »
No, it is not true. The common .530 and 535 round ball are available to me at 3 different suppliers in my community of 70,00.( by 2 different manufactures)..(Scheel's, Sportsmans Whrhse, and Gander),,(by Horandy and Speer).

 the GM I.B.S. is available in many calibers, and several twist rates too accomodate your Renegade,, and all recieve HIGH ratings.

 Should you decide to replace your barrel,, the GM barrels are available from several suppliers..on-line and in almost every large metropolis from coast to coast.

 Don't worry :D  >54 is good!,,,,,,besides, ta point too a fact,,some states require larger than .50 cal BP to hunt some game. :-D
i'm a realist. i've not seen it all, but man ,,I've Been Around the block once or twice

Offline Ramrod

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1440
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2005, 03:00:47 PM »
The .54 ain't going away. I remember hearing the same thing about the .58's when Cabela's cut back on them. What you might be hearing has more to do with the .45 and .50 calibers getting all the attention from the modern "muzzleloading" sabot shooters. The traditional calibers will always be available for the traditional shooters. Heck, you can still buy .66 and .69 cal. balls if you know where to look.(Track of the Wolf). If you are going to get paranoid about it, just buy a mold, and cast your own.
"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine." Patti Smith

Offline flintlock

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1405
  • Gender: Male
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2005, 03:26:37 PM »
Just buy a .530  mould and you won't have to worry about it....I bought a Rapine about 15 years ago and haven't used a store bought ball since...

Offline kjg

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 70
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2005, 02:53:35 AM »
to be honest if you check on bullets at most chain stores, it will have only .50 cal, even in round balls, the reason, the .50 cal is the most popular in them funky in-lines (arrgh), I my self shoot .54" one on a T/c Hawkin with a replacement barrel from G.R. and fantastic, it only likes power belts they are expensive, but work. that is my explination, and I hope it helps, only have two cap guns all the rest are built by scratch long rifles in .54, 90 grains a muslin patched lubed with bore butter, and a .530 ball + one dead deer or match grade accuracy at the shooting match.  kjg

Offline Rustyinfla

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1744
.54's
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2005, 08:09:15 PM »
One of the things I've seen in the Renegade's is that even the standard bbl will give acceptable accuracy with a round ball. a .54 rb has enough energy to take almost anything in N/A except maybe a Griz. Stick with the rb's and learn to love them. they'll return the favor.

          Rusty <><
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tuff

Offline Redhat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 47
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2005, 07:30:35 AM »
Thanks for all the replies!

I asked because the usual place I bought TC conicals only carries .50's now.

I like conicals (all I've ever used) but am willing to give RB's a try. Will they do okay in my 1:48 bbl?

I guess I always went with conicals because they were easier for a beginner to load the rifle with.

If I wanted to have a .50 bbl what size flats do I need on the GM bbl?

Thanks again

Offline Swamp Yankee

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 207
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2005, 01:48:40 PM »
Redhat,
   The 1 in 48 twist will work just fine for prb. If you're having a hard time finding 54 cal balls places like Cabelas, Midway, Track of the Wolf and Mid South have them. I buy mine from Mid South as I find them to be the cheapest.
   As far as after market barrels, the Renegades take a 1" accross the flats.  My choice would be a 30" barrel because I like the added weight for a more stable gun and it gives me a longer sight plain as well. [the factory barrel is 26"]
    I like to use pillow ticking patches[.18] and an over powder wad as well. Some do some don't.
     Try the prb's I think once you use them you won't go back.
         Jim

Offline Redhat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 47
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2005, 06:38:15 AM »
Swamp Yankee,

Are you shooting the Renegade .54 also? If you are, what is a good powder charge to start out with. I've only shot Pyrodex in mine and that was about 6 years ago.

Thanks

Offline Swamp Yankee

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 207
.54 Cal bullets going away?
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2005, 01:10:00 PM »
Redhat,
   Yeah, I have a Renegade in 54. I really like the ff Swiss but it's to expensive to shoot all the time so I shoot the ff Goex. I've never shot the black powder subsitutes, I started with the black and have stayed with it. I'm a paper puncher and for me I find 70 grains is a comfortable load and I can shoot it all day long. I had a 26" barrel and sold it and bought a 30" TC 1 in 66 coustom barrel.  It is a bit more accurate but I think the sights I put on play more of a part than the longer barrel. Was it worth the $170 yeah I guess so. [to me any money spent on muzzleloading is worth it]
Like I said earlier "try the prb you won't want to go back",,,,,,,,,,Jim