I put a T/C Renegade .50 cap lock together while I was in grad school. That was 30 years ago. I've used this rifle to put a lot of venison in the freezer (though not for a few years). I ultimately decided on this working load: 90 gr. Goex FF/370 gr. Maxiball lubed with "Bore Butter". When seating the bullet, you can feel loose spots in the barrel, at least that's the way I interpreted the places where the Maxi would "fall" and then stop until the ramrod fully seated the load. I've also noticed that this particular gun doesn't do well with a clean barrel. Again, I've assumed the fouled barrel sorta filled in the loose places.
I missed the last deer I shot at (with an unfouled bore). Miraculously, I was able to get another chance at this uneducated doe, and the fouled bore printed according to the sight picture. Could I have flinched? (Who ME???).....Well, sure I could have, but I don't think I did. Anyway, the end result plays havoc with my confidence in the rifle. If I take the time to foul the bore, it reliably prints where it looks. Guess I can do that. (Like the patient who tells his doc, "It hurts when I do this." And the doc replies, "Don't do that!")
Has there been chatter about irregular Thompson barrels? Just curious.
Guess I should also confess, I've allowed my lack of confidence in the Renegade to excuse the purchase of a .54 T/C Hawken in nice, "pre-owned" shape. I'll be curious to see how the bore in the new (to me) rifle compares with my Renegade.
PC