While at the OGCA show today I saw a 50 caliber T/C scout rifle in great condition for $200 with a sling and scope. I have always liked the look of the Scout and I am thinking about going back tomorrow and picking it up. I was wondering if anyone had any hands on experience with the Scout and could give me a little nudge one way or the other. I plan on using it for Ohio deer season next year.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Hi,
I purchased a T/C Scout 50 cal. black with rynite stock, I believe back in 1994...I've loved it and still have it.
No problems at all.
One thing I have found; and this is after shooting many
round-balls, maxi-hunters and saboted-pistol bullets etc.,
is that mine likes "Real Black Powder"...Goex FFG.
I've tried Pyrodex and the new Triple Seven, but accuracy was spoiratic to say the least.
With the Black Powder, Accuracy is awesome...
I ask the dealer about it shortly after I bought the gun and he said that for some reason they prefer the real deal...

Personally, I like the faster ignition of the black powder anyway and the clean-up isn't all that bad...

If your not into "modern" ways of using pellets and primers; then I don't think you can go wrong with this Muzzleloader...

Good Luck, Drew

If you do not buy it for yourself, please purchase it and then sell it to me. I'd love another one!

$200 is a great deal if it's been taken care of (if used at all, PHENOMENAL for new condition). I got my .54cal about 5 years ago and it has served me well, putting plenty of meat in the freezer. It's a great looking gun to boot, perfect mix of modern and traditional.

I've never used anything besides Goex FF black powder so I can't comment on Pyrodex. It's been very accurate and consistent with T/C MaxiHunters, but I hope to give Hornady bullets a try. And in case you want to scope it, an Omega base fits perfectly (it took me quite a while to discover that...).

In short, go for it, you won't be disappointed.

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

Thank you very much for pushing me over the edge. I'm leaving now and should be back with it in a few hours. I will post some pictures when I get her home.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I just bought in my new Scout and shot a few quick pics, it is a .54 caliber not the .50 as I stated earlier. At first glance I looked as if it might be unfired. Here it sits as it walked in the door. I may leave the scope on it while I work up a load and then it and the ugly see through mount get taken off and I will use the sights.






After a very close inspection pulling the barrel and the breech plug it has been fired but, not much and was well cleaned and oiled for long term storage. I only dirtied 6 Q-tips with my anal retentive cleaning, and most were soping up oil, there was very little black crud left over.

The only flaw I could find were a few minor handling dings in the butt stock with one serious wabi near the sling swivel..

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Don't know how much black powder experience you have, so don't be offended at my advice.

I got my first BP gun at 15, a Civil War Zoli Zouave rifle, just over 40 years ago. I tried all sorts of loads and lubes and oils. The best that I have found is real black powder for shooting, Ballistol for cleaning, and natural lubes like Bore Butter for preserving the barrel after cleaning.

With this combo, cleaning takes less time than with smokeless pwder in my more modern guns.

Avoid petroleum bases cleaners and lubes. They gunk up when combined with black powder residue.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Quote;
"I just bought in my new Scout and shot a few quick pics, it is a .54 caliber not the .50 as I stated earlier. At first glance I looked as if it might be unfired. Here it sits as it walked in the door. I may leave the scope on it while I work up a load and then it and the ugly see through mount get taken off and I will use the sights."

Sweet....Congrats! Glad it worked out for you.

Mine is the "Carbine" Rifle version.
Yeah, I have debated using a scope over the years, but just can't bring myself to do it. Always thought it would be cool to try, cause I know these guns can achieve way better accuracy then I can see...
I like the open sights on these, some of the better ones I've seen. I also purchased a nice peep sight that T/C made for these models. That's what I am currently using.

If I didn't know better I'd say you've been in my cabinet... Except for that scope. Mine has the same sling with it.

I took mine a couple seasons with open sights and took a very nice 8-pointer at about 60 yards. Then I got around to scoping it and found out just how accurate these smoke-sticks are. 100 yard shots are no problem at all. I use 100gr of FF Goex powder behind a 435gr Max-Hunter. That might help you figure out what works best for you. Great catch!

P.S. - I kinda like that mount, if you do remove it I'd be willing to take it off your hands for a reasonable price. I haven't been able to find a see-through that I like.

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

When you are working up loads, try some of the TC Maxi-Balls. They are conicals designed for the TC barrels.

My 54 TC shoots best with these, and I use 90 gr of Goex PB to push them.

Accuracy is on par with most centerfire rifles IMHO.

I got a .54 Scout pistol a couple weeks ago ($99!) and found that it throws .54" 435-grain bullets at 1253 fps!

(ouch)

Not bad at all for a hunk of lead that big! What was the load?

I've kept my eye out for a Scout pistol ever since I got the rifle, it would make a nice companion.

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

Man, it's a no-BS gun. I've wanted one for so long - couldn't believe that I ran across a used one (with ugly grips) at that price. Works great - would certainly be up for a TX Heart Shot on an elk.

Now you guys are making me want a Scout pistol so I can have a matched pair. Quit trying to make me spend more money. :P

I'm hoping to get out to the range this weekend and make some fluffy white clouds of smoke.


Edit:

I forgot to post a picture of the bore.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Ive been gathering my gear up and so far have a capper with caps, a powder measure, nipple prick, some Trip7 and some Goex. All I really need now is a horn and some bullets. So, today I went a looked for some lead to throw downrange. I found T/C Maxi balls/hunters very expensive, and me being a tightwad opted for a more economical solution. I found some Buffalo Bullet Company conicals and sabots in the right caliber at the right price. I almost got a box of Hornady round balls, but my guess is with the tight twist PBR will not perform well at hunting velocities.

All I need now is a powder horn and the weather to break.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I have a TC Scout 50 Caliber. Love it, easy to carry in the field but found out the hard way, pellets dont work. Black powder is best for accuracy. I have the TC detachable scope mount for cleaning as the scope gets blow back from hammer and vents on side. They claim it returns to same sighted in spot. Any one have trouble with this easy on , easy off mount for accuracy?

I need a new barrel for my T/C Scout blackpowder rifle. My barrel is .54 caliber, but i was ruined by gunsmith-friend trying to dislodge a round that was left in the barrel. I am not sure what else to do but look for a good used barrel to get my Scout back in action. Please reply with any leads or ideas that you might have. Anyone know of a barrel expert that might work to repair my current barrel that was drilled in the breech end and apparently ruined it, but i am not certain of that statement.

THANKS !!

Scout barrels pop up on ebay and gun broker fairly regularly, just keep an eye out for them. If you get lucky you might find one before deer season opens.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Craig, you might ask the guys at the Black Powder Firearms forum (Google it): a couple of them (including the mod) are black powder gunsmiths, and they might be able to help to actually fix what you have left over.

Because it's been a long time since I posted on this thread, here're pics of my .54 Scout pistol and Carbine:

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Now go make God proud...

Smith, don't use the 777 or the sabots, twist rate is 1 in 48, the buffalo bullets or maxi ball should work with 90 to 100 grains (by volume) of FFg Goex. a round ball with the right patch should shoot good with 45 or 50 grains of the same, clean between shots and use the hottest primers you can find. the 777 will leave you a crud ring in the bottom of the barrel thats hard to clean or get a bullet past. just a suggestion from 43 years of shooting black power. good luck and have fun. jim

I have a .50 cal Scout Carbine I bought new back in the early 90s. The
nipple looks like a breech plug but isn't. The actual breech plug is not
normally removed on the Scout. Ignition can be a problem due to the
design and long very small hole through the nipple. I called TC and
they said the solution was to use black powder. I don't use BP so my
solution was to drill the nipple hole slightly oversize and use hot caps.
My barrel has the fast twist, 1 in 20 I think, and fouling builds quickly
with hunting charges of Pyrodex or 777. After learning the hard way by
pulling several bullets I settled on 777 with a moist patch run down
the bore after every shot. Pistol bullets in plastic sabots refuse to
go down the bore and the best bullet for my gun is the Hornady Great
Plains HPs or flat nose. The soft leather sling pictured is original.
The Scout is a very attractive gun with the wood furniture and has a
rugged very simple design but presents challenges when used with
BP substitutes. I haven't messed with mine for a while but I have an
extra nipple that I'm going to modify for use with musket caps and
see how that works one of these days.

If your "gunsmith" removed the nipple and drilled the barrel
from the rear what he did was ruin the breech plug. Your
barrel may still be ok. The breech plug in the Scout barrel
is not readily removed like some others and people often
confuse the nipple with the breech plug. Try calling TC. If
they have any parts they could just replace the breech plug
if you send in the barrel. Worth a try.

Thanks for the info and suggestions. The area he drilled into was forward toward front of barrel and behind the breech plug - with the breech plug removed. He thought it was supposed to be an open bore straight into the barrel.