Author Topic: QLA For Roundballs-Frustrating (Read 1633 times)

slayer · « **on:** April 10, 2005, 06:14:14 PM »

I have newer T/C Hawken and love the QLA for Conicals, but gives me fits for loading Roundballs and Patches. With my other T/C`s, they load great and straight with a nice smart pop, but with the QLA it is loose and the patch slides all over the place. does this bother anyone else? I think they should have stuck with the regulare barrels at least for the Hawken, since alot of people use Roundballs in them. The QLA is very frustrating for roundballs and patches. Because of this I am buying a replacement 31 inch roundball barrel from T/C without the QLA. Regards-Jack.

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2005, 05:57:03 AM »

You might want to try Track of the Wolf for drop in Green Mountain barrels for your Hawken. I have a .54 Hawken (older one without QLA) and want a patch and ball barrel in .50 which is available from Track of the Wolf for about $160 and I can get one in seventy twist. I don't think T/C offers that slow a twist.

slayer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2005, 11:14:39 AM »

Thanks Keith!! Yes, T/C is 31 inches and 1:66 twist and they want $190 plus shipping with the sights. $160 sounds very good, does that include the sights? Thanks-Jack.

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2005, 11:18:52 AM »

I believe it includes the sights, ramrod, nipple and everything ready to just drop into your stock and action. I am planning on ordering one soon. The Green Mountain rifling I believe is a little deeper than the T/C which is better for patched round ball and helps to control the fouling. Most of the serious competition people tend to use GM barrels or so I have been told. Check out Trackofthewolf.com and you will find them less expensive than ordering directly from Green Mountain. I just looked again and the .50 barrels are 32 inches and one in seventy for percussion with all the above included. Groves are .010 to .015 deep. Good luck.

roundball · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2005, 12:45:35 PM »

Quote from: slayer

I have newer T/C Hawken and love the QLA for Conicals, but gives me fits for loading Roundballs and Patches. With my other T/C`s, they load great and straight with a nice smart pop, but with the QLA it is loose and the patch slides all over the place. does this bother anyone else? I think they should have stuck with the regulare barrels at least for the Hawken, since alot of people use Roundballs in them. The QLA is very frustrating for roundballs and patches. Because of this I am buying a replacement 31 inch roundball barrel from T/C without the QLA. Regards-Jack.

Heads up...I have a houseful of TC Hawkens...some with standard TC 1:48" barrels, and most with TC Fox Ridge 1:66" round ball barrels...all excellent, and match the TC rifles exactly like they should.

CAUTION:
If you buy a GM "drop-in" barrel for a TC Hawken as I did in .58caliber, and want it to match your Hawken, you'll have to turn right around like I did and spend another $40 anyway...the reason is that GM barrels come with 'black' thimbles so they don't match the Hawken furniture...and the ramrod is a Knight glossy black aluminum rod with chrome tips, and it doesn't match the Hawken furniture or style either...cost me $40 to get matching replacements...and your right back up to the price of a TC Fox Ridge 1:66" round ball barrel anyway.

lostid · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2005, 02:38:35 PM »

Heads up...I have a houseful of TC Hawkens...some with standard TC 1:48" barrels, and most with TC Fox Ridge 1:66" round ball barrels...all excellent, and match the TC rifles exactly like they should.

But, Bill/NC, the T/C hawkin don't look like no Hawkins anyways!! So how can someone replace an original with a replacement original to begin with?

An I have seen you tell a bunch how to replace a qla barrel with another for free just by saying it's bad and requsting a proper barrel. using T/C's lifetime warrenty.
(do-it bill,lye to me now,,in front of all)( tell,,,
best of wishes,
best to ya,
luck too ya,
lyke til',
p.s. best guess is. he'll come-up with ,,whaa? who? Don't know what ya mean??

Quote

roundball · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2005, 02:53:04 PM »

Quote from: lostid

Heads up...I have a houseful of TC Hawkens...some with standard TC 1:48" barrels, and most with TC Fox Ridge 1:66" round ball barrels...all excellent, and match the TC rifles exactly like they should.

But, Bill/NC, the T/C hawkin don't look like no Hawkins anyways!! So how can someone replace an original with a replacement original to begin with?

An I have seen you tell a bunch how to replace a qla barrel with another for free just by saying it's bad and requsting a proper barrel. using T/C's lifetime warrenty.
(do-it bill,lye to me now,,in front of all)( tell,,,
best of wishes,
best to ya,
luck too ya,
lyke til',
p.s. best guess is. he'll come-up with ,,whaa? who? Don't know what ya mean??

Sorry, but you're wrong again...as usual...you're so interested in jumping at the chance to start a fight that you always get your facts screwed up.

The first TC round ball barrel I got had a QLA in it, found it to be a PITA, it provides no 'alignment' benefit to a round ball, sent it back, they replaced it with one without a QLA...that's the kind of outstanding company TC is.

Sounds like you need to put the cork back in the bottle and sober up...you're just wasting good people's time with nothing of value to be taken seriously...

slayer · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2005, 03:11:32 PM »

Thank you very much Roundball!! I think I am goping with the factory Fox Ridge stuff for a few bucks more and know it will match perfectly, including the furniture :-) Like I said, the QLA rocks for Conicals, but for Roundballs, well it sucks

I can`t wait to get the new barrel and I am going to sell the QLA one, as I am sticking with roundballs for my Flinter!! Thanks-Jack.

slayer · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2005, 03:15:02 PM »

I also would like to add that I spoke to Fox Ridge yesturday and they told me all of the new roundball barrels they are making are Non-QLA for now on!! :-D That`s cool. Jack.

roundball · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2005, 03:52:21 PM »

Quote from: slayer

I also would like to add that I spoke to Fox Ridge yesturday and they told me all of the new roundball barrels they are making are Non-QLA for now on!! :-D That`s cool. Jack.

Yeah, I think when they set up their RB barrel production line, they didn't even think about it...probably just set the line up just like they did for the standard QLA barrels and started turning them out...I can't imagine you'll regret buying it...made for the Hawken, very accurate, lifetime warranty, holds resale value, etc...enjoy !!

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2005, 04:56:18 PM »

Does anyone know if T/C Fox Ridge makes a 1" across the flats Hawken barrel in .50 cal? I have a .54 which is 1" and want to change it to a .50 round ball for competition shooting. I would like the barrel to be same size as the breech receiver. I know that Green Mountain does but now you have me wondering if I should go with them or spend more and get real T/C barrel.

lostid · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2005, 05:17:38 PM »

well you are a "frustrating" little ball aren;'t ya billy

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2005, 06:28:17 AM »

I just answered my own question. Called the custom shop at Fox R. and they said they do not make a .50 Hawken barrel 1" across the flats. Only the .54 and .58 are interchangeable. They did check and said that the Renegade .50 is 1" across the flats and will fit the Hawken stock but may not match the furniture so I guess the GM barrel is just as good a choice for me if I am not going to have a match. Renegade barrel is available in one in sixty six also which is what I want. It is only 30" long but that should be OK. I don't know what the Renegade looks like but I do know the ramrod will not match. Anybody have a Renagade and a Hawken to match colors on the steel parts???

Longcruise · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2005, 12:08:40 PM »

Quote

but with the QLA it is loose and the patch slides all over the place.

I'm getting the feeling that you are shooting pre-cut patches. If so, before you pop for a new barrel you might want to try using your patch material in a strip and cut the patch after starting the ball. I don't shoot QLA, but my overall accuracy improved when I started to cut patches at the muzzle instead of using the precuts. Makes a perfectly centered and uniform patch every time. The QLA works sort of like a coned muzzle and many shooters swear by them for ease of loading and accuracy.

My .02 FWIW

slayer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2005, 01:03:01 PM »

You are right, pre-cut .015 T/C pathes with the lube on them. In my Renegade, it loads so much easier. Like I said, I like the QLA for Conicals, but not for Roundballs. I also will be happier with the 1:66 twist and 31 inch barrel. Thanks-Jack.

harryo · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2005, 08:13:06 AM »

Quote from: Keith Lewis

I just answered my own question. Called the custom shop at Fox R. and they said they do not make a .50 Hawken barrel 1" across the flats. Only the .54 and .58 are interchangeable. They did check and said that the Renegade .50 is 1" across the flats and will fit the Hawken stock but may not match the furniture so I guess the GM barrel is just as good a choice for me if I am not going to have a match. Renegade barrel is available in one in sixty six also which is what I want. It is only 30" long but that should be OK. I don't know what the Renegade looks like but I do know the ramrod will not match. Anybody have a Renagade and a Hawken to match colors on the steel parts???

I have 4 different GM 32" long drop-in barrels. A .58 on a Renegade, a .50 and .40 on T/C Hawkens and a .45 on an Investarms Hawkens. They are all exceptionally accurate ball shooters. GM drop-in barrels of just as high quality as T/C barrels and you will not go wrong by using one.

The bluing match is not a problem. What roundball is referring to is the the GM barrels come with blued thimbles, which matches the blued iron furniture on Renegades, but not the brass furniture on T/C Hawkens. I have darkened the brass on my Hawkens rifles so that is not an issue for me.

Also, the ramrods on all the GM barrels I have. except the .40, are blued steel, with brass ends, not the chromed ends as roundball said came on his. Perhaps, GM made a ramrod change since he purchased his barrel? There is a problem with the ramrod ends coming loose on the ramrods like mine, but that can be quickly fixed with ferrule cement. I have also heard that GM has made another ramrod change and now uses a flexible, super-rod type with all their barrels but I can't confirm that, although my .40 cal did come with that type of ramrod. While these don't match the T/C wood ramrods, they are much stronger and more functional for hunting use. For target use I use steel or aluminum range rods.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2005, 11:07:12 AM »

I replaced my TC Renegade barrel with a Green Mountain back in the fall before muzzle loading season and couldn't be happier.....shoots the same hole at 25 yards.......about 3 inches at a hundred yards with the iron sights that came on the barrel.........The longer barrel is muzzle heavy, and points just right.........I bounced a coffee can 10 out of 10 times at a hundred yards sitting on a bench with my elbows resting on the table top .................I like shooting round balls as the price is much cheaper than conicals...so I shoot more! My Renegade with the GM barrel likes 70 grains of pyrodex, speer .490 round balls, and .15 patch.........recoil is light...accuracy is where I want it, and deer never know what happened......lights out..........

slayer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2005, 12:26:59 PM »

Thank you gentlemen, you have been very helpfull!! I think for my Hawken, I am going T/C, but for my Renegade, I might try the GM barrel and check out the differences :grin: Thanks-Jack.

roundball · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2005, 01:58:37 PM »

Quote from: harryo

Also, the ramrods on all the GM barrels I have. except the .40, are blued steel, with brass ends, not the chromed ends as roundball said came on his. Perhaps, GM made a ramrod change since he purchased his barrel?

FYI...bought both of my GM / Hawken drop-in barrels as follows:
GM .62cal smoothbore barrel in 2003
GM .58cal round ball barrel in 2004

Both came with Knight's black anodized aluminum ramrod with chrome tips...made cleaning rods out of them for the garage, and replaced them with solid brass rods to match the two TC Hawken stocks the barrels are mounted in

harryo · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2005, 05:21:19 PM »

Quote from: roundball

FYI...bought both of my GM / Hawken drop-in barrels as follows:
GM .62cal smoothbore barrel in 2003
GM .58cal round ball barrel in 2004

Both came with Knight's black anodized aluminum ramrod with chrome tips...made cleaning rods out of them for the garage, and replaced them with solid brass rods to match the two TC Hawken stocks the barrels are mounted in

I mistakenly said my GM barrels came with blued steel ramrods but from the weight of them, they do appear to be also be anodized aluminum and could very well be black. My vision is somewhat red-green deficient and it is virtually impossible for me to tell some deep shades of blue apart from black. However, they definitely all have brass tips, not chrome. One was purchased in late 2003, 2 during 2004 and 1, the .40cal, was purchased in an online auction just last month. It came with the flexible, unbreakable type ramrod. I did read somewhere that GM was supplying that type ramrod with all there drop in barrels now. It also has brass tips.

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2005, 06:01:51 PM »

Just talked with GM and the aluminum rod is black with brass tips. The synthetic rod is an option and costs about $10 more. Since T/C cannot match the barrel any better than GM can for my Hawken I am going with the GM barrel as it is about $40 less expensive and slightly slower twist. If I had a 15/16ths barrel T/C can match it but since my .54 is a one inch hex they cannot match it in .50 cal. They can sell me a Renegade barrel which is a one inch but looks just like the GM barrel with blue thimbles etc.

slayer · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2005, 11:09:36 PM »

I preced the 2 and for my T/C Hawken Flinter, the difference is $180 GM and $190 T/C, so for that one, for $5, I will go T/C. Difference also in one inch shorter for the T/C and a little quicker twist, but nothing big, 1:66 T/C and 1:70 GM. Jack.