Great plains trade rifle or used TC Renegade

[cnorth]

Really trying to get in the traditional side. So I need some advice. I have found a used 54 cal Renegade with minor pitting that the best I can tell , that I can get locally or would I be better off with a new great plains trade rifle? I was wanting to shoot PRB. Will be used for whitetail only with lots of recreational shooting. Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[bubba.50]

The Great Plains and the Trade Rifle are two separate animals. Both are Lyman/investarms but the Great Plains has a 32in 1 in 60in roundball twist barrel while the Trade Rifle has a 1 in 48 twist barrel. The Renegade also has a 1 in 48in twist barrel. In spite of what a lot of people will try to tell ya both can e mde to shoot roundballs just fine.

For deer all will be plenty accurate but the Trade Rifle and the Renegade are shorter and might be considerably handier in the woods.

 

[Hawken1980]

I have a renegade and love it. I also want a Great Plains Rifle. Talk down the price of the renegade, by a plains rifle later

 

[Walkingeagle]

Agreed, the Renegade is a great, solid, reliable muzzleloader, that if properly cared for will give you several lifetimes of enjoyment. It will also consistently fill your freezer. The only downside is that it is not authentic to history. I still have mine, and would be the only muzzleloader I own if it weren’t for this site igniting a huge amount of interest in history while igniting further passion for more.
I would get the Renegade then immediately start saving for the next, more authentic one. Keep that Renegade for bush hunting though. You’ll love it!!
Walk

 

[cnorth]

The Great Plains and the Trade Rifle are two separate animals. Both are Lyman/investarms but the Great Plains has a 32in 1 in 60in roundball twist barrel while the Trade Rifle has a 1 in 48 twist barrel. The Renegade also has a 1 in 48in twist barrel. In spite of what a lot of people will try to tell ya both can e mde to shoot roundballs just fine.

For deer all will be plenty accurate but the Trade Rifle and the Renegade are shorter and might be considerably handier in the woods.

Thank you for explaining the difference on the GPR and the TRADE.

 

[Pete G]

If it has pitting, even minor, I would stay away from it. It can only get worse.

 

[Dave Marsh]

I'd go for the Renegade and clean the pitting up if not too bad. As long as it is local drop a bore light (light up fishing bobber works) and see how much of an issue the rust is. If it looks pretty bad send the barrel to Bobby Hoyt and have him change the caliber to 58 or what ever caliber he can safely do based on the depth of dovetails and screw holes. I have had him do several. Me I am partial to Renegades and especially 58 caliber. Good luck whatever way you choose to go.

Dave

 

[Kansas Jake]

The issue with the Renegade is price. If it has minor pitting and the seller wants $500, then it is too much. If it still has strong rifling with only a few small pits and the asking price is $200 it is a bargain. For less than $200 it could be freshened by Bob Hoyt or bored out and you still have a cheap rifle that will give years of service. If it is in the $300-$400 range, then it may be borderline.

58 Caliber, I was evidently typing as you posted. Great minds think alike!

 

[Dave Marsh]

Yep should have mentioned price. Got one of mine for $100.

 

[Walkingeagle]

I’ve paid anywhere from $250 to $400 for Renegades here in Canada.
Walk

 

[Okie Hog]

Examine the bore carefully with bore scope. Any pitting greatly decreases the value.

 

[leadhoarder]

I have a GPR and a Renegade. My only two traditional rifles. I bought the renegade sight unseen off an auction site. When I took it to the range to fire it I decided at random to use 70gr FFF. I could not beleive thow well it shot. It makes golf ball sized groups at 75 yards with the Lyman peep sight that is on it. No load development needed. I could not believe how effortless and quick getting it zeroed in was.

I read all about how 1-48 was a compromise twist that would not shoot PRB accurately. i found out quickly that that was BS.

The GPR is more traditional and is very steady offhand but that renegade is a shooter and honestly makes a better hunting rifle to shoot from various positions because of the ergonomics.

 

[cnorth]

The Renegade is $300

 

[Dave Marsh]

Well if it is in a gun shop and you light up the bore and show them the rust issue I'd say go for it with a $200 offer. No rust I'd say go for it at $300 but you could still offer $250 and maybe settle at $275. That is what I would do. As they say your mileage may vary. Good luck and let us know. Pictures are always nice too.

Kansas Jake you are correct on the great minds but don't say it too loud around my dear wife of 53 years as you may get an argument. I think the word simple would show up in that discussion.....

 

[deermanok]

If you can get it cheap enough, buy it and if the barrel turns out to be bad, you can usually find barrels for sale for it on Ebay.

 

[bubba.50]

I have a GPR and a Renegade. My only two traditional rifles. I bought the renegade sight unseen off an auction site. When I took it to the range to fire it I decided at random to use 70gr FFF. I could not beleive thow well it shot. It makes golf ball sized groups at 75 yards with the Lyman peep sight that is on it. No load development needed. I could not believe how effortless and quick getting it zeroed in was.

I read all about how 1-48 was a compromise twist that would not shoot PRB accurately. i found out quickly that that was BS.

The GPR is more traditional and is very steady offhand but that renegade is a shooter and honestly makes a better hunting rifle to shoot from various positions because of the ergonomics.

Exactly! Do a little research and see how many guns Jake ad Sam Hawken made with 1 in 48 twist barrels. I’ve never heard anybody refer to thheir guns as ‘inferior’ or ‘compromises’.

 

[FishDFly]

"The only downside is that it is not authentic to history."

I have never heard of a deer, after being shot, complain that it was unfair, since the rifle was not authentic to history.

If being authentic to history was a requirement to hunt, that would eliminate the majority of rifles being used today.

Buy the Renegade.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I might have missed it... is the Renegade pitted in the bore, or just cosmetic stuff on the barrel ?
For me, I own a TC and would lean toward the Renegade. I don’t think you could go wrong with either choice if they are in reasonably good condition. Price is always a factor.

 

[Bad Karma]

If it has pitting, even minor, I would stay away from it. It can only get worse.

Nah... you can stop further pitting and make a shooter out of that Renegade. I’ve done it a couple times with T/C’s. use a proven protectant (Eezox or Barricad) after a thorough cleaning and the rifle will outlast you and your children’s children.

 

[cnorth]

The minor pitting that I could see was done with a flashlight, and it was at the end of barrel. I'm going go back when I can get a hold of a bore light to check the full length. All in all the outside of gun looks good cosmetically. Looks to have a stainless nipple on it .Thank you all for the responses.