Great story an got my heart pumping. I've been luck enough to draw a couple of muzzleloader tags here in Ore and hunted deer and Antelope. I drew a tag for antelope this season. Haven't connected with mine yet but had some great hunts and came close. I use my 50 cal Hawkin with the maxi bullet in mine and has good accuracy with it. I've also picked up a used 54 cal renegade but found it needs to be relined. Nice looking on the outside but missing about 6 in of rifling from not being properly cleaned. I'm looking forward to Sept now.
I also have a T/C Encore in 50 cal but haven't drawn a tag where I can use it yet.
I enjoyed the story! Sounded exactly like something that might happen to me. For years I used a TC Renegade in .54. I think I finally settled on a 230 grain round ball because it was so darn accurate. Had many good hunts with that rifle. Finally went the modern muzzleloader route and it just wasn’t as satisfying for some reason.
The Renegade was a great rifle! My little carbine was pretty much a cut down shorter version. I've nothing against the modern inline muzzle loaders, but I like the more traditional rifles. They just look and feel right to me.
Agree. But I’ve gotten lazy and I’m state we can use a straight wall during “alternative firearms” season. So I’ve gotten a Henry single shot in 360. I am hoping to use it this year, a bunch of surgeries kept me out of the woods for the last two years. And if you can’t hunt then what’s the point?
Got my TC White Mountain Carbine for the Mississippi muzzleloader season of 1990. Used that same load much of the time and took a bunch of deer over the next ten or more years. Nothing as outstanding as yours, but a lot of great times hunting.
Mike - thank you! It is a great little rifle and I'd not hesitate to take it for mule deer, elk or black bear. Must admit that I'd think twice about taking a traditional muzzle loader for grizzly...
We drew black powder deer tags in New Mexico GMU #15 again! Two years running even!! Should have bought a handful of lottery tickets the day of the drawing!! I'll be carrying the same T/C Hawken .50 cal that I have had since my first muzzle-loader hunt in Oklahoma in 1977. A patched round ball over 90grs FFF has always shot best. The Hawken has taken more whitetails than mule deer in its long tenure but no in-lines need apply.
That's a great story with an ending that made me smile. In the 1970's I built my 50 T/C Hawken from a kit. Browned barrel, linseed oil finished stock. The double set triggers ruined me for a while for rifle shooting; when set, the letoff was about 6-8 oz. I earned a reputation for hitting anything I could see with it. It was followed up with a 50 T/C Scout pistol, and I ran about 4 lbs. of Pyrodex through it, earning the same reputation. Each used the same load; 90 gr. RS Pyrodex.
I tried the 385 gr. Great Planes bullet in the pistol; the base would blow out from the muzzle blast and I could not hit a thing. Switching to the solid base T/C 370 Maxi-Ball hp solved that problem.
Now I am excited about Muzzleloading Season this year! Gotta get that Hawken out!
Great story an got my heart pumping. I've been luck enough to draw a couple of muzzleloader tags here in Ore and hunted deer and Antelope. I drew a tag for antelope this season. Haven't connected with mine yet but had some great hunts and came close. I use my 50 cal Hawkin with the maxi bullet in mine and has good accuracy with it. I've also picked up a used 54 cal renegade but found it needs to be relined. Nice looking on the outside but missing about 6 in of rifling from not being properly cleaned. I'm looking forward to Sept now.
I also have a T/C Encore in 50 cal but haven't drawn a tag where I can use it yet.
Thanks for the comments and best of luck on your antelope tag!
I enjoyed the story! Sounded exactly like something that might happen to me. For years I used a TC Renegade in .54. I think I finally settled on a 230 grain round ball because it was so darn accurate. Had many good hunts with that rifle. Finally went the modern muzzleloader route and it just wasn’t as satisfying for some reason.
The Renegade was a great rifle! My little carbine was pretty much a cut down shorter version. I've nothing against the modern inline muzzle loaders, but I like the more traditional rifles. They just look and feel right to me.
Agree. But I’ve gotten lazy and I’m state we can use a straight wall during “alternative firearms” season. So I’ve gotten a Henry single shot in 360. I am hoping to use it this year, a bunch of surgeries kept me out of the woods for the last two years. And if you can’t hunt then what’s the point?
Great story! Thanks.
Got my TC White Mountain Carbine for the Mississippi muzzleloader season of 1990. Used that same load much of the time and took a bunch of deer over the next ten or more years. Nothing as outstanding as yours, but a lot of great times hunting.
Mike - thank you! It is a great little rifle and I'd not hesitate to take it for mule deer, elk or black bear. Must admit that I'd think twice about taking a traditional muzzle loader for grizzly...
Great read!
There’s just something uniquely satisfying about using a traditional smokepole to close the distance with my prey and my ancestors.
We drew black powder deer tags in New Mexico GMU #15 again! Two years running even!! Should have bought a handful of lottery tickets the day of the drawing!! I'll be carrying the same T/C Hawken .50 cal that I have had since my first muzzle-loader hunt in Oklahoma in 1977. A patched round ball over 90grs FFF has always shot best. The Hawken has taken more whitetails than mule deer in its long tenure but no in-lines need apply.
Good Hunting Tale!!
That's a great story with an ending that made me smile. In the 1970's I built my 50 T/C Hawken from a kit. Browned barrel, linseed oil finished stock. The double set triggers ruined me for a while for rifle shooting; when set, the letoff was about 6-8 oz. I earned a reputation for hitting anything I could see with it. It was followed up with a 50 T/C Scout pistol, and I ran about 4 lbs. of Pyrodex through it, earning the same reputation. Each used the same load; 90 gr. RS Pyrodex.
I tried the 385 gr. Great Planes bullet in the pistol; the base would blow out from the muzzle blast and I could not hit a thing. Switching to the solid base T/C 370 Maxi-Ball hp solved that problem.
Now I am excited about Muzzleloading Season this year! Gotta get that Hawken out!