OT---T/C .50 cal White Mountain Carbine Muzzleloader

[CEMENTHEAD]

Hey guys, I've got questions for the Wizards here. I recently bought a T/C .50 cal White Mtn Carbine at a yard sale for $ 30.00. The exterior is about 80-85%. The interior of the barrel is trashed, due to being shot about 5 years ago and put away without being cleaned. (see pics below) Do you think I could have this rebored to .54 or .58 cal? Or should I just look for a replacement barrel? It's 15/16" across the flats of the barrel if your wonderin'. Next question, what is your favorite conical bullet load ? Bullets at least 350 grains on up. Thanks in advance, Tom

[Mokwaw]

I have a T/C Hawken .45 that same thing happened to, I plan on replacing the barrel with larger caliber. Chec out www.trackofthewolf.com They probably have what you want.

[AndyM]

I would look at Green Mountain barrels - they used to carry replacement barrels for T/C muzzeloaders. You scored a good deal - some day I would like to own a traditional caplock muzzleloader and T/C makes a good product...

I have a PA Hunter Flintlock - 1 in 66" twist that likes patched roundballs - I load up to 100 grains of FFg powder and let her rip.

[PaperPatch]

Give this one a look...


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... ISO-8859-1

[Pete44ru]

I would call T/C, to see how much $$$ the .50 Firestorm barrel with the 209 ignition drum would cost (which should drop in), and/or take a ride to NH and visit their custom shop - Fox Ridge Outfitters, 400 N. Main St, Rochester, NH (just off the Spaulding Tpke/Rte 16).

.

[DerekR]

It would be MUCH cheaper and simpler to replace the barrel vs. reboring. Any barrel meant for the T/C Hawen (15/16 accross the flats) should drop right in. Green Mountain is a great barrel if you don't mind spending about $200. Check Track of the Wolf. You could also go on EBAY and pick up a used barrel. The .50 caliber for the Hawkens can be had pretty cheap.

[Mokwaw]

Track of the wolf has complete barrel (plug, thimbles,sights etc.) for .50 carbine length for $170. The .54 & .58 cals are 1" across the flats. Cabelas is $30.00 higher and doesn't include the sights.

[6pt-sika]

A TC White Mountain Carbine was my first hunting ML !

I'd kinda like to find one in original nice shape I think

[slabsides]

The WMC is discontinued now, and some parts may be on the scarce side. Still, barrels will be available for a long time. The WMC was made with two different barrel twists: 1 in 28" and one in 48". The faster twist is only intended for sabots. I have a 'Gray Hawk': stainless/synthetic: a close equivalent of the WMC: wonderfully accurate at under 100 yards. I'd try cleaning the heck out of that barrel and shooting it. It could surprise you. Failing that, a 54 caliber replacement would be my next choice. I am pretty sure you can't substitute a barrel set up for shotgun primers on the caplock frame. Could be mistaken, tho; T/C or their custom shop, Fox Ridge, would be the people to tell you. I don't know why people want to use sabots and pistol slugs in their BP guns. I get wonderful accuracy, lots of fun, and game-killing power from my 50-caliber sidelock, using patched round balls. It's the cheapest and most traditional way to enjoy BP shooting. Of course I'm just an old stick in the mud, fuddy-duddy hard shell traditionalist, so take my remarks for what they're worth.
Have fun with your new toy. You did ok on the sale, even figuring the cost of a new barrel in.

[CEMENTHEAD]

Thanks for the responses. Slab sides you really think cleaning is gonna help? If so I could have the barrel breached so I could clean it from the back end. Maybe if the entire wasn't rough. I'll mull it over, I have plenty of time between now and next hunting season. I wanted this for 75 yds and under hunting of pigs and maybe bear/moose. I intend to shoot heavy conicals (400+ grains) with loose powder. No sabots or pellets. Again, thanks for the answers, Tom

[mescalero1]

When I was cleaning my .243 this weekend I used JB bore paste and it worked really well.
It is abrasive, but not aggressivly so.
I do think that blackpowder steel is softer than modern smokeless steel, so keep that in mind.
Try some good blackpowder cleaner, then some JB,s ( in moderation )

[slabsides]

I think a good scouring might give you a shootable barrel. Your pic doesn't look so awful A lot depends on how things
are way down deep near the breach. T/C is noted for their customer service...if you can't get it to shoot, before investing
nearly 300 bucks in a new barrel, I'd send it off to T/C (or drive it over yourself, you're not that far away) and let them look at it. I've heard that sometimes the Company will do incredibly generous things to owners of their product who are candid and up front with them. Tell them it's a yard sale bargain, and that you really want to resurrect it. They might just give you a new gun. Happened something like that to me once with a 'scope of theirs. Bought it at KTP, discovered in the parking lot that there was a big crack in the front lens (moral: be more careful examining 'bargains') drove over to Rochester and they gave me a brand new 'scope. How great a company is that?
I gather from some of the questions you've asked that you aren't too experienced with BP arms. When you contact T/C, ask for a manual for the gun. They are always happy to provide information to their customers.
Can you tell I LIKE Thompson/Center Arms?

[Guy]

I've got a T/C White Mountain Carbine! Great little muzzle loader. Used it to take a couple of mule deer back in the mid 1990's and just take it out for a little target practice now and then. Very easy to pack, and good accuracy. The only reason I don't use it much anymore is because we had a group of four of us who hunted together - then one by one all my muzzle loader shooting buddies moved away. All my other hunting buddies used modern rifles, so I gave up using the muzzle loader. It's still fun to shoot though.

My hunting load was pretty mild, but shot well and killed both deer quite dead:

385 grain Hornady Great Plains hollow point over 80 grains of Pyrodex. Also shot well with 90 grains.

The first deer fell to a blackpowder load, not Pyrodex. Had to step around the smoke to see that I'd nailed the deer!

[rwb]

You can check E-bay. I built a WMC from parts I bought this summer. I think the barrel was sixty bucks.

[CEMENTHEAD]

Thanks to all again. I appreciate the input. I currently hunt with a Knight muzzloader with scope, sabots, pelletized powder. I'm just looking to take a "technology break" and put more "hunt" back into my hunting. Thanks again, Tom