Drop in smoothbore barrel

[George Mabry]

I've got .54 Renegade that I rarely shoot so I've been thinking about converting it to a smoothbore. Doesn't someone make a drop in barrel for the T/C Renegade/Hawken? I've found drop in rifled barrel replacements but no smoothbores. I checked the T/C website and didn't see anything and I went to the Green Mountain Barrel site and didn't find one but I'm almost positive I've seen one somewhere. Anyone have any ideas of where to look?

George

 

[Loyalist Dave]

They don't seem to be still in production. But you can find them used...

.56 Renegade smoothbore barrel

The other option is to find a really roached-out .54 barrel for like around $50, and get a gunsmith to ream it out smooth to .56

LD

 

[Jaymo]

.56 is a little larger bore than 28 gauge, isn't it? That would be pretty cool.
I've thought about reaming out the barrel on my New Englander to 28 or 20 gauge.

 

[longrifle346]

There are several good smiths that can rebore the 1" TC barrel out to as much as a 62 smoothbore(20 guage), which is IMO a much more useful bore size for turkey, and small game. A 62 smoothie will also shoot a patched roundball with almost rifle accuracy out to around 50 yards or so and it can be done usually for less than the price of a decent used barrel. Mr Ed Rayle of Gasaway, West Virginia leaps to mind....

 

[Jaymo]

I've seriously thought about making a 5/8" (20 gauge) "D" reamer and reaming it out to 20 gauge.
I already have a 20 gauge round ball mold and I could use Foster slugs and shot.

 

[George Mabry]

I hadn't thought of boring out my current barrel. I might as well because I never shot it. I have other rifles that long ago replaced the old Renegade in the line-up. Maybe it will come out of the safe more often if it is a smoothbore. I've never owned or shot one before.

Anyone in the Dallas-Foat Wuth know a gunsmith that might be up to the task?

 

[longrifle346]

Me personally? I'd never bore a good 54, LOL...I'd find a cheap 50 and bore that one!
Quick note...if it's ever had a scope on it beware, they might send it back to ya...I had one that(gulp, ewww!) had been drilled for a modern scope and they drilled so deep it's a wonder the powder didn't leak out when I loaded it!

 

[Jaymo]

I paid all of 30 dollars for the New Englander with the pitted rifling.
I paid 100 dollars for the Renegade that appears unfired.
I'm not getting hurt if I ream out the NE to 20 gauge.
I'm keeping the Renegade as a rifled 50.

 

[longrifle346]

Jaymo I need to hit some yard sales up in your area if you can buy $100 Renegades. Good hunting to you...

 

[Jaymo]

Found both of them a a local pawn/gun shop. Both were left handed versions. Less demand.
Since I'm left handed, it worked out well.