Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Help with T/C Renegade

Howdy all,

I'm new to this forum but I have a couple of questions about proper operation of my Renagade. I haven't shot it for about 5 years due to being stationed in Japan (no guns allowed), but when I initially tried to work up the load (Pyro RS), I had lot's of problems with the gun failing to go BOOM. If I removed the nipple and dribbled a little powder in then tried again, it would work. I followed the tradition of firing some caps after cleaning the bore, but no luck. I even tried a hot-shot nipple...same problem.

Second...could I replace the .54 barrel with a .50 and still have it fit in the stock?

Thanks

RedHat,.... Kind'a sounds as if ther is a "partial blockage" of some sort in yore "pattened breech".

With the gun UNLOADED, and the nipple removed,....do you git a "unrestricted flow" of air by blow'n down tha barrel?? Might be some rust from "lack" of occasional shoot'n, or, some other "hardend gunk build-up" in tha "breech" area!!
I'll make this garruntee,.... switch to real blackpowder, and she'll "fire" tha 1st. time, ever time, with minimal problems,....and, it might even "fix yore problem" by blow'n out whatever is cause'n the "partial blockage"!!!!

YES!!.... you can purchase "replacement drop-in" barrels .50, or, .54 caliburs, for yore Renegade, from "Track of the Wolf" (763-633-2500), $140.00!!

Good luck, and, Good shoot'n!!
rollingb

RollingB

Thanks for the tips, but there was no obstruction, I think it may have been the pyrodex or maybe the borebutter I put on the patches when I wiped. What loading steps do you go through when shooting on the range?

RedHat,.... Once I start shoot'n at tha range, I "NEVER" run a patch down tha bore 'tween shots.
This doesn't work for everbuddy it seems, but I've ben shoot'n this way for over 30 years.

Then agin,.... I use "spit" for lube ('cept for hunt'n), and GOEX blackpowder!!

hey red
I have a renagade one of the first made and it came in kit form. well after putting it all together and browning it I used pyro and had the same problem. after many attempts to cure the problem i found out that the gun hates pyrocrap. if you use black powder you will never have any problem, never, just do as you should after you shoot it. CLEAN IT!!! as far as a 50 cal goes, dont, the 54 is just fine better than the 50, also I use 80 grains of FF black and cci caps casted lee mold and for deer i drill and x the tip home made jig i made. deer hate that combo.

Many times you can cure that problem by switching from FF to FFF (or pistol powder).

THROW AWAY THAT NIPPLE CONVERT IT TO A 209 PRIMER NEVER FAILS ME
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I agree with the other posts (except re: 209 conversion... even if it could be done to a renegade?). One other thought is to try the CCI #11 magnum primers, might also try FFFG Tri7le Seven- that combination has worked well lately for me... or, as mentioned before real black powder is the easiest of them all to ignite, especially FFFG.

Eric,..... Are you actually suggest'n,... thet a feller should try "real" blackpowder,...... in a "blackpowder rifle"?????

Good for you!!!!!.... You are a "man of wisdom"!!

Very best regards!!
rollingb!

RollingB

Are there any additional safety measures that need to be taken with true black as opposed to storing and using pyro?

Redhat,.... Since "real" blackpowder is a "low explosive", it is MUCH easyer to "ignite",.... then many of the "fake" powders which are a "flammable solid".

The "common precautions" for ALL powder, fake, real, or otherwise,... is usually on the "caution label" of the particular container.

One "advantage" of real blackpowder is,... if, it ever gits wet, simpily dump it out on a clean surface, and allow it to dry,... once it's dry, it is agin, "good as new".
I don't know of ANY "fake" powder, thet can make this claim!!

An open container of fake powder will "draw" more moisture, than an open container of real blackpowder.

Ther has ben "instances" of people ignite'n 200 year old blackpowder,..... we'll have to wait anuther 165 years, to see if the "fake" powders will still "FUNCTION PROPERLY" at thet "age"!!!!

Be careful,.. read the "caution label",.. use "plain ol' common sense",.... and all powders are "safe"!!

The renegade is a great rifle. No need to cash-in the barrel, unless it's seriously eroded. If you order a barrel get the correct size for your stock by measuring the width between flats. Green Mountain makes a nice barrel also. It will drop right in the T/C stock.

As for your problem...It's certainly possible that you have some residue lube, carbon, or rust in the tube (touch hole) between nipple and chamber. It's easy to forget that area. A little grease or dampness can snuff out your spark, especially if some time has elapsed after loading. It's more prominant with "weaker" caps.

I like to carry some pipe cleaners in my possibles bag and clean that area out with the nipple removed.

Do this before your firing session and use a nipple pick and the narrow end of the pipe cleaner in the tip of the nipple. Make sure you can see light through the hole. Fire a couple caps and you should be good to go.

Black powder seems to be more forgiving to missfire than the artificial ones.

Don't get too caught up in the "ease of cleaning" with the artificial powders. You can ruin a rifle just as thoroughly by not cleaning properly with either.

I use a 50/50 mix of simple green/water and clean like a conventional rifle. It takes quite a few patches, but I am yet to have problems. A drop-in bore light is fantastic for seeing how your cleaning job works. Reverse the light and you can get some idea of the touch hole condition and clean with pipe cleaners.

Each rifle seems unique but I get more accurate shots by running a patch dampened with the simple green mix between shots. It also makes the final cleaning easier.

Black powder is great fun. Enjoy it!

T/C Makes a 1/4x28 nipple (#7252) that takes a musket cap. They equal or out fire a 209, are big enough to see and have flanges for fumble fingered folk.

Hey Stride
I had a renegade since t/c first built them and I started the first shot on pyrocrap and had the same problem and then went to FF black powder and never had a problem since.
As far as cleaning i mix equal amounts of murphys oil soap isoprophal alcohol and hydrogen peroxide and it seems to work good. also Phels naphta soap and HOT water.

Bearbeater

Thanks for all the info. There's nothing wrong with the barrel, just thought I might like a .50 also. As to cleaning I was using T/C's cleaner...stuff looks like milk, and "seasoning" the bore with bore butter, like the T/C owner's manual said to. It sounds to me like my problem was the Pyrodex. I would like to try Goex, but so far none of the gun stores have it. I think this rifle can take up to 120gr, although from memory, I think I had the best groups with 90-100.



BY the way, I also have a Pietta .44 Rem 1858 that's a hoot to shoot!

That's an interesting mix. I know a few guys that use ammonia mixtures as well. I'd have to guess that almost any cleaner with hot water would work. I used to use plain dishsoap and water and got good results. But I found Simple Green to be faster cleaning and it works well to nuetralize some of the rotten egg smell.

Personally I shoot FFg. The guys I shoot with call me a "traditionalist" - I just like black powder. I switched to Swiss this year. It shoots well but seems "gummy" after firing. I have to clean more than I did with GOEX. I'll probably go back to GOEX.

I'm currently shooting a .50 T/C Hawken. Good shooter. I used to have the same caliber in Renegade. It was a good shooter also. I purchased the Renegade used with about 1/2 jar of Pyrodex. I went ahead and used it up - I didn't have any problems, but I know a few guys that have, especially with last years Pyrodex.

A friend is using Triple 7 this year, I tried a few loads. It seems like good stuff, and shot clean. But I'm still shooting Black Powder. It's hard to argue with a few hundred years of sucess...

hey stride and red

I am a FF man myself you are right cant argue with all those years of sucess. I also cast my own slugs and then run them through a sizing die so they are all the same and it works well I also shoot a 54cal dont think there is much differance if any one can tell me if there is any please enlighten me.

bearbeater

just because you heads shaped like a light bulb
doesnt mean you are bright.