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T/C Renegade in .54 caliber?

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Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
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Location
Southern Vermont
I am looking at a really good deal on a really clean Renegade in .54. 225. out the door.
I have decided to deer hunt with black powder and round balls from now on.( its just too easy with centerfire, no challenge anymore, no excitement ).
I have .45 and .50 caliber guns now, but I have never shot a .54. Am I wasting my time and money for the ability to shoot the bigger roundball? A big buck in Vermont probably weighs 150 - 200 lbs dressed out.
 
look deeply into my post.

your eyes are getting heavy, and you are getting very sleepy

you are falling into a deep relaxing sleep

you are getting out your wallet and buying the .54 rifle and taking it home

when I snap my fingers, you will be wide awake and very happy with your new rifle, you will take it into the woods and turn Bambi into little white packages


snap!

there- that was easy. I have a .54 which started as a percussion and I've managed to turn it into a flint … this is a tremendous caliber for deer (in my opinion) and I would urge you to get this rifle for your own before some other (doubtless less worthy) shooter.

It's an excellent price, and although there are many who 'turn up their nose' at the Renegade, it's a very well built gun and will put lead on target every time.

Good luck, happy holidays, and

Make Good Smoke!
 
Truthfully the .50 will do everything a .54 will do on deer the sizes you are speaking of. The .54 will open things up for larger animal capabilities should that opportunity ever arise. For that price, and if you can afford it, I would pick it up in a heartbeat. Just don’t expect the deer to die any quicker than with the .50.
Comes down to if you want it.
Walk
 
That’s a really good price if you want the rifle. The .54 TC’s are great deer and elk rifle if that opportunity presents itself. It would also work well for moose, something that seems more likely, given your location.
It seems as if the .54’s go for a bit more, on gunbroker at least.
 
On deer sized game you won't kill them better with a .54, but you'll likely have a greater satisfaction using more lead and powder.
 
Nothing says "You must keep it forever", especially IF you find it doesn't give you any satisfaction...except for the great asking price and having gotten a good deal.
So..., you can resell it for a bit of a profit, and buy another rifle that you fancy..., or you could trade it or trade it and a little bit of cash in a similar situation...,
You could send it to Bob Hoyt, if you don't have a small game rifle, and have him bore it out to .56...and then you have a 28 gauge "smooth rifle" for small game and birds, AND you can still shoot the patched round ball out of it...
You can loan it out to a newbie to muzzle loading hunting who accompanies you on a hunt. IF the person bungs it up..., you're only out $225 and you still have the other two rifles to shoot.
You can forget about the whole thing, after you pm me the seller's contact information...OK so maybe that was pushing the question a bit far....can't blame a guy for tryin' ! :rolleyes:

LD
 
I appreciate the feedback. I will buy it tomorrow if possible, the gun shop was so busy today, I could not get thru on phone. Store is over 100 miles away, I will try again tomorrow.
If I get it I will post pictures.
 
You won't be sorry if you get it.

FYI the "Shooting Thompson Center Sidelock Black Powder Guns" manual gives 60 to 120 grains FFg (or same volume Pyrodex RS grade faux black powder) behind a 230 grain .530 patched round ball as the reccommended load range.
Using Number 11 Caps, Musket Caps, or Flint.
They suggest/reccommend their Bore Butter for the lube, of course.

They do not give a FFFg powder load range for any caliber rifle they made, and do not reccommend using it or P grade Pyrodex, at all.

Your most accurate load will be "somewhere in the middle" of the minimum and maximum powder charge.

I strongly suggest you email them for the "Shooting Thompson Center Sidelock Black Powder Guns" manual.
They will send you (free) the manual in PDF format.

If you get the Hawken manual, it only covers the .45 caliber and .50 caliber.
Obviously not much use for the .54 and larger Hawkens.
 
I have no regrets with my .54 Renegade.
70 gr of 2f goex .530 ball, .018 ticking patch, great in the brush, balances nice, goes bang, hits where I aim. I'll be sad and proud the day I hand it down to my grandson.
 
Thank you all for the feedback. I'm on my way to pick it up this morning. What the hell, its Christmas! And I have been good.
I'll post pictures after the holidays if I can figure out how.
Merry Christmas to all!
 
Wow, I picked up this 54 Renegade yesterday, very pleasantly supplied. It is unfired! The stock has some safe rash, small dings but its barrel and lock are pristine! Even better, dealer threw in a box of .530 roundball! Like my dad said" even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while" When I get a chance I'll post some pictures. Merry Christmas
 
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