Newarcher Posted December 6, 2009 Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 I went to Church this morning to teach my class (senior adults) and one of the members told me to take a walk with him that he had something for me. He usually keeps me in veggies during summertime but it is well past tomato time....I thought perhaps some cabbage. He pulled out a Thompson Center High Plains Sporter smoke pole. I was SHOCKED! After some protests that it was too much he insisted so I relented! I have never had a smoke pole so I am trying to learn about it. It is older so I can't find the manual. I am trying to learn about this. Maybe some of you black powder dudes can help me...I know nothing about them. I need to know: -What bullets to use (its a 50 cal) -What powder (can I use the pyrodex pellets?) -What about cleaning? -What do you do if you are hunting and don't shoot it--how do you clean out the barrel and unload it without firing? Thanks, New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted December 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=138807984 It looks exactly like this one except the rear sight on mine is a military like aperature sight instead of the grooved sight. Also, the aperature sight on mine is installed behind the hammer (just above the trigger) instead of in front of the hammer. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwa Posted December 6, 2009 Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 Read this. Rich Dunkirk's (bluelk) Muzzleloading chapters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted December 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 Thank you!....that's what I needed to know. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Very nice of your friend, and welcome to the world of shooting and waiting till the smoke clears! There is a LOT of fun to blackpowder shooting. Keep it clean and enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Can someone tell me what the recoil on a 50 caliber with 100 grains of pyrodex would be like?....say compared to a .243? I have an 11 year old who is somewhat recoil sensitive and this is an answer to a prayer in that he wants to hunt from time to time and now can have a gun to do it with. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 That is pretty cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad dryden Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I would say maybe about like a 20ga depends what your gun weights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Can someone tell me what the recoil on a 50 caliber with 100 grains of pyrodex would be like?....say compared to a .243? I have an 11 year old who is somewhat recoil sensitive and this is an answer to a prayer in that he wants to hunt from time to time and now can have a gun to do it with. New I would say maybe about like a 20ga depends what your gun weights. Agree. Not much. My son shoots 100 grains of Pyrodex. I'd say it kicks about like a 20 gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Read this. Rich Dunkirk's (bluelk) Muzzleloading chapters Yep, what I was going to suggest too. If you have anymore questions down the road there is a ml forum here too. Can someone tell me what the recoil on a 50 caliber with 100 grains of pyrodex would be like?....say compared to a .243? I have an 11 year old who is somewhat recoil sensitive and this is an answer to a prayer in that he wants to hunt from time to time and now can have a gun to do it with. New Recoil on 100 grains would not be bad, probably pretty similar to a .243. May want to check to see what the max loads are for that gun, sure TC will be able to come up with some info for you if you contact them. I have an old side lock similar to that in a carbine, I think used 90 grains of pyro in it if I remember right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 That is awesome, then again New, for what you do for your church and how you treat people, probably just a small token for what you do! Enjoy the smokepole! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Congrats New! Heck of a nice gift for sure . I think you will find as I did, the older smokepoles like loose powder. Yours might digest the pellets well, but I have an 80's era T/C that ONLY likes(will shoot accurately) loose powder.Loose Pyrodex only, it does not shoot loose 777 well or the 777 pellets. The pre lubed T/C Maxi Hunters(300gr) and Maxi Ball(350gr) are what I would recommend to put through that gun. The gun was made before the Power belts bullets and other Sabot bullets for MLer's. Find out your twist rate of the bbl. Slow twist for heavy bullets and fast twist for lighter ones. I think your bbl will have a 1:48" twist which should work out fine for the bullets I listed. T/C will also send you any paperwork they have on that gun if you call/email and ask for it. A 90gr charge will be delivering approx 1100lbs of energy at 100 yds. Over that magical 1000lb threshold at 100 yards to cleanly kill deer sized game. Clean with HOT HOT water and soap and lube well so rust does not appear. I like T/C bore butter . Good Luck with it and enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 New, I have a Thompson Center Renegade which is the big brother of your rifle. It has been my smoke pole for over 20 years. I shoot 80 grains of Pyrodex with a 348 gr. Powerbelt and it will drive tacks. One of my hunting buddies has the same rifle you have and it is an awesome shooter. One piece of advice that I would HIGHLY recommend is throw away the #11 nipple on your rifle. Get a T/C Flame Thrower nipple for musket caps. They are 100% hotter than the #11's and you will have almost no mis-fires. Do not put any type of powder pellets in these guns, shoot loose powder ONLY! If you have any questions please feel free to shoot me a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Thanks all... I have been convinced to use loose powder (it came with the quick load tubes) and I will get the flame thrower primer. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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