Question for my TC Renegade .54 cal Custom

[sduve]

Finally got around to firing this rifle for the first time today. It's about 15 yrs old but I got it last year from duck hunting partner on a trade. His ex had bought it for him and he didn't like smokepoles anyway. I lubed up some 455 gr Maxi's I bought thru DGW and set them over top 70 and 80 gr of triple 7 FF. Could not get any kind of groups at 25 yd. Even missed the paper 4 times! I figured rear sight might be loose. Nope. I shot some Hornady RB's with .015 patch and 80 gr 777FF and 1/2" group at 50 yards! All shots were from sands bags. Any thoughts?? I bought the rifle for small game with the GM .32 cal I bought from Dixie. It is awesome. Thanks for the replies. sduve

[johnt]

Awhh! not a .54 renegade!!
 tell ya what,,just so's ya don't gotta try anymore ta make that BP rifle shoot proper,,I'll give ya the equivilant of $100,,jus think of all the tyme I'm savin ya!! Why heck! jus look at all'in  them folk's what say's them "oldetyme" gun's  will never shoot fer nothin!!
 Might's well take me offer now!! cause that renegade will never shoot proper!
  Deal??

[sduve]

NAH!

[WD45]

Yup.... If you listen to most people.....
The only smoke ploes that could ever hit anything belonged to D. Boone,
S. Kenton and D. Crockett.... Nobody else could hit the side of a barn with one of those things..... and then the next thing you WILL invariably hear is. When are you going to get a real gun ?   :roll:

[LOG EYE]

HI sduve: I shoot a .54 renegade of about the same vintage. You maybe having the problem of the 1:48 twist barrel which probaby isn't fast enought stabilize the MAXI giving you irratic flight. In my barrel, they shot 3ft left and 1ft high :?  The next problem might be the 777 powder. If you have access to Goex 2F blackpowder, try it instead,80-90 gr. In my Renegade, the 777 powder opened up my group by 1.5 to 3 inches at 50 yds. A well placed round ball with 80-90 gr of any powder will definately put down a decent sized deer. SOO- unless you're determined to use MAXI's, I'd side step that headache and go lead balls,which you said patterns OK. LUCK AND SHORT BLOOD TRAILS TO YA

[WD45]

If you want to shoot a maxi type bullet try something lighter. 455 gr is a big chunk of lead and you dont need it just for deer. Try something between 300 and 350 which should stabilize from a 1 in 48 barrel. A round ball from a 54 will bring a deer down with no problem like the other feller said also

[sduve]

Thanks all for the replies. I may stay with RB for now since this is only a backup to my Encore 209x50. I will continue at a future shooting session to look for that magic load!

[johnt]

Ok,ok,,125, and a pack of powerbelt thingy's fer the .50(I know I got a pack of them damn,,I mean darn good shooting most accurate thing's around ,,, someplace!), as an added bonus,I'll pay shipping.(just ta ya help out). That ole' renegade ain't gonna help ya fer nothin! Notice how heavy it is ta carry? That darn thing will do nothin but weigh ya down! Might's well git rid of it while ya can.
best wishes to ya during yer hunt sduve,, hunt well,mind yer back trail,know where the wind blow's, an hit yer mark :grin: tacks'

[TopperT]

Hey Guy; don't dispare and DO NOT SELL THIS !!!!!   I have an older one that I dressed up with some TC Hawkin parts and maintain strictly for hunting.  It shoots very tight groups with Maxi's that I cast myself from Lyman Molds.  I use a mix of wheel weights and soft lead.  .  I realize most of the fellers on this site have way more time in the field than I..... BUT...I shoot this particular gun out to 50 and sometimes 75 yards with no fear that it will not group tightly and place rounds exactly where I aimed.  My Lyman GP's are better long distance target guns and shoot RB's very nicely, but for the tight brush here in SE Massachusetts, the .54 Renagade and the Maxi does well, is easy to carry and is NOT one of these new issue "rule-beaters" that keep poping up.
 :wink:  Traditional it may not be but it is a very solid firearm and will shoot.  PS try 80 grains Pyrodex....seems to work for me.

[sduve]

Thanks for the replies. I took said rifle out yesterday with round balls a downed a doe at 60 yds. Deer traveled about 125-150 yds. Shot was in front of diaphram and ball lodged in front of opposite rear leg. Not much blood at first, only 1 hole. Am still trying to find lighter Maxi's, cause ball just isn't heavy enough IMHO. Have a great season. sduve