T/C .50 31 Inch 1:66 Flintlock Barrel/What To Expect/Ordered

[slayer]

Well, I just ordered this barrel from the T/C Custom Shop. I don`t care for the way the original 28 in Barrel loads roundballs with the QLA. Sure, once it`s loaded it shoots very accurate with 70-80 gr of Goex 2F, but it is frustrating when the patch under the ball slides all over trying to load it, thus gets off center alot, pain in the butt when loading it fast or even moderate speeds. I will use the QLA barrel for Conicals, the QLA is awsome for that. OK, what should I expect form the 31 inch 1:66 twist barrel without QLA other than it will load roundballs easier with nice smart snap :grin: I image in will shoot heavier loads without jumping the lands and grooves now? Anything else to expect? Thanks-Jack.

[roundball]

FYI...I agree that QLA's are a PITA for using nothing but patched round balls and I no longer own any TC barrels with QLA.

However, on the subject of 1:66" vs. 1:48"....I personally ran side x side tests with my TC 1:66" and TC 1:48" barrels last summer...I ran these tests in sets of .45cal, .50cal, and .54cal barrels...one set of caliber barrels on each of three different Saturdays at my range, with everything else being precisely the same at the time of the tests....equipment, procedures, products, weather, lighting, shooter, etc, etc

My hunting loads are:
90grns Goex 3F (3F)
Oxyoke wonder wads
.018" TC prelubed pillow ticking
Hornady .440/.490/.530 balls

If you shuffled the targets together and handed them back to me I'd have to pause and study them to try and figure out which ones were made with the 1:66 vs the 1:48.

IMO, assuming proper components in good condition barrels, the notion that a patched ball will skip rifling is an old wives tale...like the old wives tale that 1:48" twists won't shoot round balls accuratey.

I bought round ball barrels because I had heard the old wives tale about 1:48's...now I know better from first hand experience that I didn't need to.

[slayer]

Thanks RB. When you sasy:

"FYI...I agree that QLA's are a PITA for using nothing but patched round balls and I no longer own any TC barrels with QLA."

Don`t you meen the QLA is a PITA for Patched roundballs? The way it is written, I take it the other way around. I have found the QLA makes roundball loading a PITA.

Anyway, I hope I didn`t just blow over $200, but even if the accuracy stays the same, my sanity will get better with the easier loading of the Roundballs, the patches will stay centered :grin:

Thanks-Jack.

[roundball]

Thanks RB. When you sasy:

"FYI...I agree that QLA's are a PITA for using nothing but patched round balls and I no longer own any TC barrels with QLA."

Don`t you meen the QLA is a PITA for Patched roundballs? The way it is written, I take it the other way around. I have found the QLA makes roundball loading a PITA.

Anyway, I hope I didn`t just blow over $200, but even if the accuracy stays the same, my sanity will get better with the easier loading of the Roundballs, the patches will stay centered :grin:

Thanks-Jack.

Hows this:
For using patched round balls, I agree the QLA is a PITA.

[lostid]

My hunting loads are:
90grns Goex 3F (3F)
Oxyoke wonder wads
.018" TC prelubed pillow ticking
Hornady .440/.490/.530 balls

 now i ain't going to fight with rounball again,,(it's mute)..but the guy just got done saying,,it dosen't matter .45-.50.or.54,, 1-66 or 1-48,,all that matters is you use the load described above and they all shoot the same.

Well now,,hhhmm.?
( oh, don't forget,,shoot 40 times every saturday.)

( I shot tuesday, thursday and today)( plan on shooting again this coming tuesday)( next saturday I have to cut-wood with the club members for camp)(week-ends ya know?)

[slayer]

Yep, I totally agree Roundball, PITA for Patched Roundballs for sure. Lostid, I don`t understand your statements? Regards-Jack.

[lonewolf7396]

I have to agree with RB on that one,I have a older t/c flinter without the QLA,maybe the first year the Renegade54 cal was offered as a kit.I did some shooting last week and I can say I up the charge to 100 grains of 3f a wonderwad @ a 530. diameter RB and my owm lube,the gun shot excellent clover leaf groups at the 50 yard target with the factory iron sights.
I also have a New Englander 54 cal. that will shoot 85 grains of 3f goex a wad,and 530 RB that shoot outstanding,the New Englander has a hunter peep sight ,that makes a world of difference,I am going to try to push the load on the New Englander to see how she shoot with the 100 grain charge.
So it semmes the 1 in 48 twist barrels will handle the heavy charges also,compared to the slower twist barrels

[roundball]

I have to agree with RB on that one,I have a older t/c flinter without the QLA,maybe the first year the Renegade54 cal was offered as a kit.I did some shooting last week and I can say I up the charge to 100 grains of 3f a wonderwad @ a 530. diameter RB and my owm lube,the gun shot excellent clover leaf groups at the 50 yard target with the factory iron sights.
I also have a New Englander 54 cal. that will shoot 85 grains of 3f goex a wad,and 530 RB that shoot outstanding,the New Englander has a hunter peep sight ,that makes a world of difference,I am going to try to push the load on the New Englander to see how she shoot with the 100 grain charge.
So it semmes the 1 in 48 twist barrels will handle the heavy charges also,compared to the slower twist barrels

No question about, 1:48's are fine...and it's always interesting to see reactions from other people who simply cannot grasp the fact that things like this are true in spite of their own limited knowledge and experience...and worse...then they show it :lol:

[slayer]

Thanks guys. The lady at Fox Ridge Outfitters said, these barrels are made to order and take about 6-8 weeks :eek: Oh well, waiting is half the fun :-D jack.

[Charles/NM]

I've shot a .50 cal T/C Hawken with the 1:48 barrel since the 1970's and have always been able to hit whatever I aimed at @ 50 yds with my home cast round balls and MaxiBalls.  I doubt that a slow twist barrel would shoot my Maxi's as well.  What I found makes me more accurate is shooting from crossed sticks.  I would venture an opinion that shooting sticks would make your gun shoot more accurate than changing to a slower twist barrel.  My 65 year old eyes also favor a peep rear sight for accuracy but they don't work for me when hunting - can't see thru them in the darker early and late hours, and in dense dark woods.  Maybe I should go to one of them silly front fire sights and use my home machined peep rear.  But I ramble too much.  Someone else take a turn.  BTW, the spell check feature here makes an old illiterate retired engineer read like he's much smarter than he is.

[tscott]

How often do you guys clean the barrel on the range? My 1/48 is right on with the first shot, and then starts to walk high left, with each subsequent shot. Cleaning restores original impact.. Is this wierd? I know all rifles are different, and this would not be a problem hunting. Just wanted to know if I should just be resigned to cleaning after each shot>>> Thanks!

[Charles/NM]

At the range I shoot a shot to foul the barrel and then don't clean anymore til I get home that day.  I only shoot cleaner burning Pyrodex so that may be a factor.  I tried brushing after every shot, both before loading and also after loading.  Accuracy went to pot, opening up from 1 1/2" to 3/4" at 50 yds to 3".  As with all of my other firearms, my T/C Hawken is more accurate with a fouled barrel and it's a lot easier to shoot by eliminating the cleaning after every shot step and the last shot goes down the barrel as easy as the first. I normally shoot 20 to 30 shots in a range session.  With Wonder Lube and Pyrodex my barrel fouling is a light coating of grey stuff.

[Turtle]

Interesting thread.  One question I have and pardon my ignorance (but that's why I'm here, to learn) but what does QLA stand for and what is it?

My intent is not to hi-jack this thread, just a question.

Thank you.

[Charles/NM]

I've heard about T/C's new QLA® Muzzle System. What exactly is it?
T/C's QLA® Muzzle System (Quick, Load, Accurizor) is basicly a built in "false muzzle". Many old time target shooters used to attach a false muzzle to their rifle barrel for loading purposes, to guarantee precise alignment of the projectile during the loading procedure. They would then remove the "false muzzle" prior to shooting. The "false muzzle" also protected the rifling from being damaged or worn during loading. T/C's QLA® Muzzle is built right into the end of the barrel in all of our rifles permanently. It guarantees consistent alignment of your projectile in that its surrounded by steel for 360 degrees prior to being driven down the bore and engraved with the rifling. The projectile can't tilt, and the shape can't be altered (lead is soft) as it is started down the bore. This consistent alignment from shot to shot greatly improves the accuracy potential of the rifle by eliminating one of the variable associated with good accuracy... projectile alignment. T/C's QLA® Muzzle System also makes loading your second shot in the field much easier. You merely drop the projectile in the barrel and go straight to your ramrod, using short strokes. It eliminates the hassle of trying to align the projectile with one hand, and drive it into the rifling with a short starter.

[slayer]

The reason for me buying the longer slow twist barrel for my T/C Hawken Flintlock is not for more accuracy, but to eliminate the stupid QLA System. I love it for Conicals, but it gives me fits for Roundballs!! On a regular barrel, you put the patch over the barrel, place the ball, use the short end of the short starter and pop, right in perfectly. With the QLA and a patched rounball, you do the same process, but one problem, the patch slips around all over the place and gets off center and sideways and...............UGH!! Like I said, the QLA are great for concals and Sabots, but sucks for Roundballs and patches I do agree thoguh, my Renegade and Hawken shoot both roundballs and conicals with amazing accuracy, but still the QLA gives me fits in my Hawken for patched roundballs. My Renegade is quite older and has the Non-QLA barrel. Jack.

[slayer]

Well I received the barrel and it is fantastic, no QLA!! I love the longer look of the 31 inch barrel and the non-QLA. Yes the gun is a little heavier and yes it is a little nose heavy, but I adjusted my gun holding hand and that made up for it. I will probably jump from my 80gr of FFG to 90-110 and try that now that the barrel is long and with the slower 1:66 rate of twist. It fit perfectly right out of the box, but the weird and good thing I guess is they gave me a new Tang with it. I have no idea why, but hell, I can`t complain :-D Jack.