Muzzleloader Question

[Chicken Dinner]

We took my Mom out to dinner tonight. She's been cleaning out the last of my step father's things and passed along to me a couple of his muzzleloaders. He was a huge black powder shooter and really got me into it. (The monthly silhouette shoot at my gun club is named after him as he dedicated so much of his time to BP shooting at the club.). Even though I was grown when they married, we were very close and I'm incredibly honored to have these keepsakes.

The first is a .45 caliber TC pistol. Can't wait to shoot it and I think they just opened our ML deer season to pistols. It would be super cool to take a deer with a ML pistol.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/a2a566a1a22dda6a6f108f6e1e230b0e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/4c5b22b3d2642ed3c16b6f5068d8778b.jpg

The second is a beautiful curly maple rifle a good buddy of his made for him. The only markings are his friends name and a date. It's got some nice gold inlay and some neat carving in the stock.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/8e7f29be55a0f87d2ce8bbbd9823a54c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/fcf573ee290f53c50f71754459bc4392.jpg

Any advice on figuring out its caliber? The bore is definitely smaller than the .45 pistol.


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[Captain]

Damn sweet looking guns. Congrats.
Prolly a 36 caliber.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Aren't bore gauges rather cheap?

Or only if you knew a gunsmith!

BkB

[Thumper]

Just cram in whatever fits! ;)

[Chicken Dinner]

Well, a .45 conical doesn't fit which was the smallest I had lying around. (Of course, that didn't seem to fit in the .45 pistol - at least not with enough room for a patch - either interesting enough.). The smallest round ball I have is a .54 for my other sidelock and that definitely won't fit.


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[Captain]

Did no one see about where I said it was a 36 caliber?
Hello! Is this thing on......

[BarryBobPosthole]

Did somebody say something?

BKb

[Chicken Dinner]

Yeah, thanks Law Dog. I just didn't want to let empirical data get in the way of a conversation. Now, I'll just have to find me some round ball in .36 and watch out squirrels.

[Arty]

Squirrel hunting is a lot easier if you have a good pair of binoculars with you. Just don't lose'em.

[Thumper]

Did somebody say something? BKb


I thought that was static.

[BarryBobPosthole]

https://youtu.be/5HFiMXZiLAs

[Captain]

It is possible that's it could be a .32 caliber so don't go loading up on .36 until you mic the barrel. .32 is RARE but some folks liked them for squirrel guns. My money is on .36 caliber.

[Chicken Dinner]

It is possible that's it could be a .32 caliber so don't go loading up on .36 until you mic the barrel. .32 is RARE but some folks liked them for squirrel guns. My money is on .36 caliber.

Here's a side by side pick of the muzzles. The .45 is on the bottom. I'd think there'd be a bigger difference for a .32. (Yes, I made sure they weren't loaded before I took the pic.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/a550d7ed6d5e9099359b4272852b76e5.jpg


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[Captain]

Yea, that's gonna be a 36 caliber. Just remember the rule don't exceed the caliber with weight grain of black powder.
i.e. 36 caliber no more than 36 grains of black powder, 45 caliber no more then 45 grains, etc...

[Thumper]

.100 caliber no more than 100 grains. ;)

[Captain]

That's just a rule of thumb and it only applies to REAL black powder not the fake crap.
I do have a 50 caliber that shoots dimes at 100 yards with 70 grains of fff black powder which of course breaks the "rule"
But on a unknown rifle it's best to stay within the rule and work up if you see the firearm is safe within the rule.

[Chicken Dinner]

Good point. I know I shoot way more than 54 grains in my .54.


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[Captain]

Black powder or pyrodex?

[Chicken Dinner]

2f black powder.


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[Arty]

For real cap?!? Holy hell!
I grew up dropping 90 grains down a .50 cal.
So did my dad and oldest brother!
Black powder. Not pyrodex
Good thing. I ain't dead'

[Captain]

Most modern guns will have no problems at those pressures.
The oldies you find around you need to keep to that rule.

[Arty]

Most modern guns will have no problems at those pressures.
The oldies you find around you need to keep to that rule.
10-4 then. These were new front-stuffers

[Thumper]

Good thing I ain't dead.


Well ..... you sure SMELL dead!!


9264

[Arty]

Well ..... you sure SMELL dead!!

9264

Prolly just your upper lip.

[Chicken Dinner]

10-4 then. These were new front-stuffers

I went back and checked my note on my .54 TC Hawken and my hunting load was 110gr of 2F. I dropped it about 25-30gr if punching paper or silhouettes at a turkey shoot. It totally makes sense to exercise caution with an older or unknown gun. I'm hoping I can track down the guy who built this and see what he recommends.



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[HideHunter]

Did no one see about where I said it was a 36 caliber?
Hello! Is this thing on......

Personally , I'd guess it might be a .36 caliber.. popular squirrel rifle.. "36" would be a big sonofabitch". You're welcome... ;)

[HunterEd]

Take a handgun cartridge in 38 and 40 cal to see it one of them fit the bore. Your 45 conical is probably around 454 to 457 dia. A 36 cal will take a 375 rb and the 40 runs the 395 dia.
I shoot offhand and will run 45 to 72 grains out of my 45 cal percussion rifle. I usually settle on 55 to 65 grains depending on the day,amount of sun light and mood I'm in.

The pistol pictured is a TC Patriot is it marked as such? If so a little trigger polishing and she'll shoot 4" groups or less depending on operator at 50 yards.