Thompson Center .54 Cal Old School Sidelock

[Deck78]

I just scored a TC .54 cal sidelock from my wife's granddad and it is in excellent condition. He only shot it a few times over the years. I don't know what model it is because it was before they listed the model on the barrel. It is not the Hawken as it does not have the extra brass but it has double triggers. Anyone know something I don't?

 

[droptine]

Could be a renegade.

Mine has double set triggers.

 

[ShaneHallum]

I heard mine was a New Englander. It sounds like the one you mentioned.

 

[Buccaneer]

If it is all blue and has an octagon barrel it is the TC Renegade. Greatest cap lock .54 muzzle loader ever manufactured. 100 grains of Pyrodex RS and TC Maxi-Hunter's and you are a deer killer on anything out to 100 yards. I rigged mine with fiber optic sights and love it. Zfirst muzzle loader I ever purchased in 1982 and still my favorite.

 

[Buccaneer]

The double trigger arrangement is adjustable. The rear trigger is the "set" trigger and the front trigget is the "bang" trigger. You can adjust the front trigger pull down to feather light with the adjustment screw between the two. In a situation where the deer has suddenly appeared in front of you, the front trigger can be the primary trigger without having to use the "set" rear trigger. Believe me the ste trigger feature of the rear trigger is wonderful but being able to bypass that when necessary is a great advantage of the TC Renegade or Hawken cap lock rifles.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

I believe Buccaneer has nailed it. The New Englander does not have set triggers and also the barrel is round. Calibers .50 and .54 were offered in both models. You could also get a .56 smoothbore in the Renegade and a 12ga shotgun barrel for your New Englander. Both good American made products. The twist in the TC barrels I think is 1 turn in 48", which can handle maxi style bullets and round balls alike. A good economical and fun shooting load would be 50 or 60 grains powder(real black if you can get it), patch and round ball.

 

[Deck78]

Thanks for the input fellas! I reckon its the renegade since mine has the set triggers and an octagon barrel. I just got home from the inlaws and will try to get a picture up when I can. Looking forward to cleaning it up and putting a few balls through it

 

[TennesseeJed]

My first muzzleloader was a .54 Renegade and it remains my favourite. They're hard to get now, but I bought .40 and .58 caliber Green Mountain barrels for it that are incredibly accurate.

 

[Locksley]

My first muzzleloader was a .54 Renegade and it remains my favourite. They're hard to get now, but I bought .40 and .58 caliber Green Mountain barrels for it that are incredibly accurate.

YEP a .54 Renegade and the Lyman 54 caliber Hawken are hard to beat.