A word of warning

[woodnbow]

My experience with TC muzzleloaders is limited, but it seems that the locks on their guns are mediocre at best. My lock has some serious wear on it and now has shims made from a soda can keeping it from dropping hammer unexpectedly. It’s relegated to a range toy currently because of that and it does not get capped until it is on the shoulder and pointed down range towards the target. It has been neglected since the issue got worse, the bore may be trashed now because I know it has been left dirty for a while. Realistically it’s not much more than a stock anymore because the barrel is trashed, the lock is crap, and the stock is gorgeous. I have considered barrel replacement to a bigger bore but I just haven’t had a place to hunt or shoot regularly so I haven’t bothered.

I’ve probably owned ten or more T/C’s. Buying them for myself, wife, kids, and grandkids. Soon I’ll be buying another Seneca for my great granddaughter.. I’ve rescued a few from folks who didn’t clean them and I’ve sent a few barrels to Bobby Hoyt for boring and re rifling or lining and rifling. I’ve nevertheless had very good “luck“ with the brand. All save one were caplocks though and I have heard complaints about the rock locks. The one I had seemed to,function ok but I was not then and am not now a flintlock guy so it went on down the road...

 

[woodnbow]

The tumbler I ordered from Lyman came in today. It required quite a lot of fitting to get the hammer to go on. I was told that the hammer screw was metric but the original fit perfectly.

All is well again. Thanks for all your help.

Glad you’re up and running again!

 

[grter]

I would like to know how large was the powder charge of 777 and which granulation?
What type of projectiles were being loaded and if not round balls then what did they weigh?
How many times did the hammer reset before the tumbler broke?
Which brand of musket nipple were you using, TC or another brand?



I haven't heard of this happening before.
The tumbler looks like an inexpensive cast part than cost TC less than 5o cents to make.
It really depends on the details and could be an anomaly.
Resetting a hammer once or twice probably wouldn't break it in most cases.
But many TC lock parts are capable of breaking, that's why their guns had a lifetime warranty with free repairs which a lot of folks made use of.
It seems to be as much of an issue with using 777 as it is with the musket nipple.
777 should be loaded down by 15% which I doubt most folks put into practice, i.e. - only load 85 grains of 2F 777 instead of 100 grains of 2F Goex or Pyrodex RS.

It was not the only reason people would send their TC in for lifetime warranty free repairs. People used to screw up their rifles by removing or attempting to remove their breech plugs without the proper knowledge and/or skill to do so and most often when not necessary. It became such a problem that TC stopped selling their breech plug removal wrenches to the general population. My impression is in addition people just took advantage of the free warranty repair in general wether it was their own fault or not.

I think other than this POSSIBLE ??? problem or anomaly ? with musket nipples TC muzzles loaders are high quality and very underrated. It still is not clear to me if this problem is moot using musket nipples with smaller flash holes.

I am wondering if anyone who knows here can tell me if they make musket nipples with larger flash holes for reenactors who shoot blanks using those new low power semi dud musket caps that regular shooters who use proper eye protection have been complaining about.

 

[arcticap]

I am wondering if anyone who knows here can tell me if they make musket nipples with larger flash holes for reenactors who shoot blanks using those new low power semi dud musket caps that regular shooters who use proper eye protection have been complaining about.

Just checked Track of the Wolf and they sell a bunch of special "flush nipples" made for cleaning guns that have a description that states:

"Made of stainless steel, with a 1/4" square lug for a nipple wrench. "O" ring, and a large hole for better flushing action. Nipple end turned for 3/16" tubing, included."

They're not made specifically for re-enactors, and they even sell that same type of nipple threaded to fit TC rifles.
Not sure if they would work with musket caps or would need to be dressed to use them.

They're at the bottom of the first page of search results for "nipples".--->>> https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Search.aspx?search=nipples
Here's the TC Musket Nipple with the large flash hole. --->>> https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/66/1/FLUSH-RST

 

[72coupe]

Mine doesn't look like either of those.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I think the best warning is to not use Triple 7.

 

[72coupe]

That might be the prudent thing to do but I sure do like it.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Seems to work for some people. I had a bad experience with it, Pyrodex never worked great for me, now I would never again use anything but real black powder. Swiss black powder absolutely ROCKS, burns clean, cleans up easy. Goex "seems" to be cleaner than it used to be. ? Anyhow, If I was the original poster I certainly would not use it again. The musket nipple certainly was not the cause of the damage.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I never understood the musket nipple idea. Yes, I know why but with a fresh load of Swiss powder, a good nipple, hot shot or ampco, uncle mikes stainless or even the BACO platinum nipple and Remington 11’s I’ve had very good service the past couple decades.
Wrt your current issue, ebay seems to have a good supply of tumblers and other lock parts.

Methinks that the musket nipple is a cure for those who don't clean the rifle properly, both after, and before shooting, and get those first shot miss-fires. Indeed, with real black powder, and the other things you mention, the rifle will be as reliable as a cartridge gun. On the other hand, it sort of confuses me when people put #11 nipples on their muskets. ??

 

[grter]

This looks like a good video on some basics

 

[792mauser]

Have a little .32 Cherokee.
When I saved her the cone was bad. Every time it was fired it would blowback to either the half cock or full cock position depending on powder load. Blackpowder, pyro-crud, 777, APP, Black MZ. They all did it.

Finally snapped the half cock notch off the tumbler.

Replaced the cone and tumbler and all is right in the world now.