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I have both a Hawken and a Renegade in 54 caliber. They both shot very well with Hornady Great Plains bullets using Pyrodex Select.
I was looking for next level accuracy and switched to real black powder and No Excuses conical bullets and that did the trick! Both prefer 105 grains of bp.
I switched out both rifles nipples to accommodate musket caps and have had exactly zero misfires.
Would highly recommend you check out No Excuses ml bullets….they are a game changer. I’ll check them out!
“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.” - James Russell Lowell
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Load up 90 to 100 grains of real black powder behind a patched round ball. You’ll soon see how well it shoots! 🤠 That’s the plan! I LOVE black powder. I have inlines that shoot the substitutes well, but I usually pass them up in favor of a traditional smoke pole.
“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.” - James Russell Lowell
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Campfire Outfitter
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First thing I always did with my TC rigs was to swap out the front sight with a smaller one. I could never hold those factory ones tight enough. And did add peeps also. That was all I ever did to them. Still have my Renegade from the late 80s and its killed a variety of stuff.
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Any muzzleloader will likely benefit from a good barrel scrubbing. I use a bronze brush with JB Bore paste or polishing compound. You will be surprised how much black junk you get out of the bore. Switching to cloth patches and the compound and then patches with alcohol complete the task. My final step is to clean with hot water and while barrel is still warm treat it with 1000+ on patches. An hour or so in time has always lead to better groups for me.
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I've burned probably 10-12 pounds of Goex FFFG in my T/C Hawken and have never experienced a misfire using CCI #11 caps and hot shot nipples. No issues w misfires, I just like the musket caps as they are larger and easier to get a handle on, especially in cold ass temps.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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In 1/48 twist the rifling is shallow. TC made the barrels to be mated with their maxi ball. PRB is OK, but I found 80g to be about maxp A good thing to try w shallow rifling is a .535 ball and .015 or .018 patches. Snug the fit up a bit but not too much.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I've burned probably 10-12 pounds of Goex FFFG in my T/C Hawken and have never experienced a misfire using CCI #11 caps and hot shot nipples. No issues w misfires, I just like the musket caps as they are larger and easier to get a handle on, especially in cold ass temps. #11 caps fit in my speed loaders and are quick and easy to apply on the nipple from them. Don't know if they make similar for musket caps or not but since performance with #11's has always been good I've had no reason to look.
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The musket caps are easier to handle, and won’t get lost in a shirt pocket. They also are just a good option to have, needing only a nipple swap, in times like these. Before I sold my last TC, I had nipples for both and a 209 adapter, JIC. My Knight will accept all three with the right parts too, at need. Now, with a musket, a .36 single-shot pistol, and a couple of inlines, I need all three on hand.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Why would I put caps in my shirt pocket ? They go directly from the can into my speed loaders before I leave home to go hunting. I don't find them at all difficult to load into the speed loaders.
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Joined: Oct 2013
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I just keep em in the tin, carry it w me in my little pouch that has 2 or 3 speedloaders in it.
Different strokes for different folks.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Joined: May 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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I will give the 90 gr. a try, however, I have done quite well with 50 gr. of 3F and 2F . I have gone to 60 & 70 gr. and saw no difference. I hear 80 gr. is standard.
But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23
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Seems like 90-100 grains of powder is a standard hunting load. I hope to find a bullet that shoots good in that range.
“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.” - James Russell Lowell
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Campfire Outfitter
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Seems like 90-100 grains of powder is a standard hunting load. I hope to find a bullet that shoots good in that range. 250gr. XTP.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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I have a TC Hawken in .54 . I shot patched roundball and lead Powerbelts with it, and eventually settled on the cast bullets using the Lee R.E.A.L 300 grain.
Normally I used FFg black for round ball and 90 grains of 777 for the cast bullets.
Last edited by shaman; 07/27/21.
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I forgot about the R.E.A.L.!
“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.” - James Russell Lowell
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New Member
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Hello Tom, the 1 in 48 twist can shoot ball or bullet as good as any providing you stay in the neighborhood of around 90 gr. of powder. I've been in shoots when 1 in 48's shot 1/2" groups at 50yds consistently. Develop a good loading technique / ball and patch combo and you'll be very happy. In my 54's I use a .530 ball with a .015 lubed patch also use a range rod with a bore guide save your ram rod for the field. Hope this helps.
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Campfire Tracker
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The issue is not the twist rate in the TC rifle. Many old guns, now 180 to 240 years old had "a turn in 4 feet" twist. I have made many barrels that were one-holers" with a 1-48 twist.
The issue with the TC barrels is that they are rifled to take bullet and not specifically made to take the cloth of a patch. The rifling in them is about .004" deep. A barrel cut just for a cloth patch is from .008 to .014 deep. and the very best 'ball rifling" is made with lands that are narrow enough to grab and leaves the grooves more open, to load easier and collect less fouling. Enfield rifling like what TC used was made from the inception to engage metal to metal, steel to lead or steel to copper.
But loaded with a patch and ball combination that holds into the somewhat shallow riffling of the TC barrels, they can be super accurate. You just have to do some load work. That's all. In every case I have seen in 50 years of making and using muzzleloaders the patch is the issue. You can use .530" or .535" balls and do well, but you NEED to get a patch that fits both barrel and ball. Once you do that, the TC Hawken is as accurate an any muzzleloader made.
Last edited by szihn; 07/28/21.
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Campfire Ranger
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In 1/48 twist the rifling is shallow. TC made the barrels to be mated with their maxi ball. PRB is OK, but I found 80g to be about maxp A good thing to try w shallow rifling is a .535 ball and .015 or .018 patches. Snug the fit up a bit but not too much. I have two TC .54 cal muzzle loaders. One's a Renegade and the other a New Englander Carbine. Both love Hornady .535 round balls wrapped with a .015" greased (w/bore butter), and either 85gr Goex 3f or 110gr Goex 2f, depending on how much punch I want. Both charge weights are capable of shooting within 2" @ 100 yards. I've been looking at Olde Eynesford BP from Powder, Inc since my stash of Goex is about gone and I'd like to shoot the same brand in my muzzleloaders and my Sharps. BTW, I have killed two Black Bears with my New Englander, both with the old 435gr Buffalo bullets which are very similar to the LEE R.E.A.L. bullets. Best wishes with your new acquisition! Ed
Last edited by APDDSN0864; 07/29/21. Reason: Added text.
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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Love the way the 54 sounds with ffg black powder ..
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I have a Lyman Deerstalker 54 cal with a beautiful walnut stock that shoots Hornadys 530 RB into tight groups @ 80yds, it's is impressive. I used to use pyrodex at 90grs 10yrs ago when I shot it last. I don't use it no more, it's a damn shame too. Octagon barrel adjustable Lyman sights. It don't do to bad with plastic & 45cal bullets, but I always used a ball and #11's, never failed to fire. It even works good with 777 @ 80grs.
I would have got him too but a Dad Blam snow flake hit me in da eye....
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