TC rate of twist

[Rocky Johnson]

I just bought a 54 cal.TC caplock in very good condition #25525 serial.Gave a freind a $100. for it. How do I tell the twist in the barrel. Rocky

 

[Dave Marsh]

Should be 1:48 unless its says on the barrel that it is a roundball barrel with 1:66. Nice deal. You wouldn't get one of mine for that price.

 

[excess650]

If its a sidelock 1-48" is a pretty safe bet unless its a Tree Hawk, White Mountain Carbine, or Black Mountain Magnum.

To find out, you'll need to fit a TIGHT patch to a brush or jag and start it in the muzzle. Mark the rod and observe how far the rod is pushed to complete 1/4 or 1/2 turnand calculate the twist. The barrels will be too short to check for a full turn.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Whoops not sure but must have had a TC Renegade on my mind. My comment applies to Renegades and Hawkens only. What caplock did you buy??

 

[BullRunBear]

Most TC barrels will have the rate of twist on the barrel. My old TC Renegade came with a 1:48 twist which I believe was usual for the time.

I have since replaced the original barrel with a longer Green Mountain drop-in barrel with a round ball twist and had the original reamed out to a 20 ga./62 cal. smoothbore.

Jeff

 

[David W.]

If that rifle is in good shape, you made quite a bargain. Most T/C rifles are 1:48 ROT. Can you post pictures? hotoSmile:

 

[BE Wild Willy]

Here's a chart...
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/chart_muzzleloaders.php

 

[BrownBear]

Thanks for that Be Wild Willy. I knew that chart existed, but had lost it in my bookmarks. It's there in a prominent spot now! :hatsoff:

 

[BE Wild Willy]

Your welcome BB. I find it interesting that there are so many different types of rifling. Some just indicate rate of twist, some as being "cut", and others as "deep button". What would be the most desired, and how could you tell the difference between the three?

 

[BrownBear]

Now there's a bucket of worms! No clue. :idunno:

But I'm sure theories and formulas abound. :rotf:

 

[excess650]

Button rifling is usually very smooth with the bottoms of the grooves showing no marks. Think Shilen or Douglas....

Cut rifling, whether single point or broach cut, will normally have cutter marks in the bottoms of the grooves.

Cut rifled barrels generally have less stress in them due to the fact that they were cut rather than having metal displaced by a button. It is claimed that button rifled bores are work hardend by this displacement of metal. In the case of a MLer, none of this means much.

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Thanks for the response. The barrel is 27 inches including the breach plug.The twist is not marked on the barrel.I hunt with a flintlock but am looking forward to playing with this rifle. :wink: