by John C. Krull
Gun Week Production Manager

The name Thompson/Center isn't new to any of us. T/C has been producing an array of single-shot rifles, pistols and muzzleloaders for years, and has a reputation for quality, reliability and performance.

My first muzzleloading rifle was a T/C Hawken in .54 caliber, which I still use in competition and for hunting. It has never let me down so long as I did my part. My second was a T/C Patriot pistol in .45 caliber. The Patriot needs to be sent back to T/C for some service work on its lifetime warranty. I broke the ramrod some time ago and just recently the lock failed. But not to worry; I've been told to just send it back and it will be taken care of.

Pyrodex
Hodgdon's Pyrodex has been on the market for several years now. This is the only substitute for blackpowder to be used in muzzleloading firearms. The advantage in using Pyrodex is that it burns cleaner and produces less fouling than blackpowder.

It also seems that Pyrodex must not be covered by the same laws as blackpowder, at least in New York state. I say this because I have been able to find Pyrodex for sale in many gun and sporting goods stores in New York that don't or can't carry blackpowder because of the storage and other restrictions that are put on them by both the state and federal governments.

For years, I was a pure traditionalist and used only blackpowder, which I would buy in a mixed case of 24 pounds.

But who likes to have their barrel fouled, which causes loading problems? So, while I still use blackpowder, I also use a fair amount of Pyrodex.

For several years three variants of Pyrodex were available. Pyrodex P, which was meant for pistols and rifles of .45 caliber or less, the same as you would use FFFg blackpowder. Pyrodex RS, which was formulated to be used in larger bore rifles and shotguns, compares to 2F blackpowder on a particle size basis. Finally, you have Pyrodex Select, which, while also being equivalent to 2F, will produce smaller group sizes and can be used with sabots and conical bullets.

More recently, a new configuration of propellant for .50-caliber in-line front stuffers appeared on the horizon. This was the Hodgdon Pyrodex Pellet. With the advent of the in-line muzzleloading rifle, the Pyrodex Pellets offered the in-line shooter/hunter not only a propellant that caused less fouling but also offered an easier, more foolproof means of loading the propellant-without the use of a powder measure or powder horn.

The first Pyrodex pellets were only available for .50-caliber guns in a pellet that was equivalent to 50 grains of blackpowder or Pyrodex. Eventually, Hodgdon designed a companion to the 50/50 pellet and marketed a 50/30 pellet. Meant for a .50-caliber arm and equal to 30 grains of powder, the 50/30 gave the shooter the advantage of being able to tailor his load for a specific rifle, distance and projectile.

Much to my dismay the pellets weren't available in my favored .54 caliber at that time, but since then Hodgdon has introduced not only .54-caliber pellets in a 60-grain equivalency, but also 44/45 Pyrodex Pistol Pellets for the cap and ball shooters, in a pellet that is equal to 30 grains of powder. This makes for really easy loading, and the need for less gear when loading guns that acccept the pellets.

I felt the need to provide more information on Pyrodex before getting too far into the real meat of this article on the T/C Firestorm.

Fire Storm Rifles
At SHOT 2000, I was introduced to the T/C Fire Storm by Rori Chandler, one of the people who handles the company's media relations. At first I wasn't really interested. But, after further thought, I realized that this was the most innovative item that I had seen at SHOT in the blackpowder field and requested one for test firing in the flintlock variation. This wasn't just another muzzleloader; it has many advantages.

Whenever I get a new gun in the mail, I'm like a little kid in a candy store and want to get out to the range and shoot it right away. This was delayed by both weather and time restrictions.

Just two weeks ago, I finally got to the range to do my testing of the Fire Storm and two other guns.

I hadn't shot a flintlock in a couple of years, even though I own several. I was quickly reminded about the slight delay in ignition and the need for a sustained follow-through. After a few shots, I was right back in the saddle-shooting one of my favorite types of guns. The challenge that our forefathers had, not only in hunting, but also in battle has always amazed me.

The Fire Storm comes in two models. You can get a sidelock percussion gun or the flintlock version. I chose to test the latter.

Specifications
Both of the Fire Storm models are sidelock rifles-the Fire Storm Flintlock and the Fire Storm 209 Caplock, with the hottest, most reliable ignition ever developed for traditional style muzzleloaders.

The Fire Storm rifles are the first sidelocks designed specifically for use with Pyrodex Pellets and the first to incorporate a removable breech plug for easy cleaning. They are both capable of handling magnum charges of up to three 50-grain Pyrodex Pellets, extending effective ranges to as much as 200 yards.

Both feature T/C's exclusive Pyrodex Pyramid, which directs the ignition fire 360 degrees around the base of the pellet. As the pellets move forward, the flame is drawn up through the center of the pellets, creating a "fire storm" in the breech for reliable ignition. Loose FFg black powder or Pyrodex may also be used in these new rifles, but the pellets make more sense.

The .50-caliber Fire Storm incorporates performance features you expect in modern in-line rifles. Ignition in the 209 Caplock version is by means of a 209 shotgun primer. Both models come equipped with competition click-adjustable steel sights, fitted with Tru-Glo™ fiber-optic inserts for accurate shooting during low-light conditions at dawn or dusk. Both guns are equipped with a 26-inch barrel. The Flintlock has a 1-in-48-inch twist for use with round balls and conicals, while the Caplock has a 1-in-28-inch twist for use with conical bullets and sabots.

The barrel is fitted with a massive recoil lug to assure solid and consistent barrel lock-up and includes T/C's unique QLA muzzle system for easy and precise bullet alignment.

As said before, I used to be a pure traditionalist, one who once disallowed using a gun that had anything but the traditional wood stock. So while I'm getting away from the historic type of propellant, I'm also wavering from the tradition of wooden stocks. The Fire Storm comes with a Rynite stock, which seems to be beneficial in more than one way. It is less susceptible to weather conditions while also being lighter in weight, decreasing the overall weight of the firearm. The Fire Storm weighs only 7 pounds, with an overall length of 41 inches.

An added feature is the aluminum ramrod that comes standard.
T/C has so much confidence in their product-as well they should have-that they offer a lifetime warranty. This is something that is unheard of in most industries today. I intend to take advantage of it with my Patriot pistol.

The Fire Storm shot well, was easy to clean and looks good, even with its non-traditional Rynite stock.

The suggested retail price of either model Fire Storm is just $391, something that I consider a real bargain for what you are getting.

Accessories
If you choose to use either blackpowder or granular Pyrodex rather than the Pyrodex Pellets, you might want to acquire a couple of accessories that are exclusive to T/C. Their U-View Powder Flask is a clear plastic powder container that lets you monitor your powder supply. It's small enough to fit into your pocket or possibles bag, yet holds enough powder for about a dozen reloads. It has a spring-loaded plunger for easy control when dispensing powder into your powder measure.

That brings up another of the accessories: T/C's U-View Powder Measure. This is a clear plastic powder measure that allows you to see the exact level of the powder in the tube. It has 5-grain increments and is adjustable and easy to use. Graduations are from 15 up to 125 grains of powder. Like the traditional brass measures, it incorporates a swivel-loading funnel that moves out of the way to fill the measure. It's lightweight, easy to use and will complement any muzzleloading gun.

My possibles bag also contains two T/C starter tools. The first is the traditional style with a round ball handle-a must for seating the projectile. The second is the T-Handle Shot Starter & Ramrod Extension. The latter features a hardwood handle with a 2-piece solid brass rod, coupled with standard 10x32 threads. By removing the seating end of the brass rod, and screwing the T-Handle onto the ramrod, it will extend the length of your ramrod for easier seating of projectiles, and provides you with the extra leverage for firmer, more uniform seating. It converts your ramrod into a range rod.

KaDooty
Several months ago, I attended the International Hunter Safety Instructors Convention. It happened to be held in Buffalo, so I had no excuse to not be there.

One day Joe Tartaro brought me a product to try out called the KaDooty®. This is a sectional brass rod with a brass weight for bullet seating or bullet extraction if need be.

I used the KaDooty for the first time on the Fire Storm and was glad to have it. Loading a muzzleloader can be a job. What do I mean can be a job? It is a job. To get a good seal you need to force a projectile a couple of feet-at least-down a barrel. Patched lead round balls, minis or sabot loads must fit extremely tight. The KaDooty has a brass weight that does all the work. Once you have started the projectile with your short starter, you switch to the KaDooty rather than your traditional ramrod. The weight slides back and forth, supplying the force that sends the projectile down the barrel.

Have you ever forgotten to put some powder down the barrel before you seated that bullet? If you shoot muzzleloaders enough, it has to happen eventually. Pulling a roundball is a two-man job. With the KaDooty you can perform this task by yourself. All you need to do is attach the ball puller to the rod, seat it into the bullet and let the KaDooty do the work of pulling the load by means of its attached weight system.

The KaDooty packs the powder the same way every time, thereby assuring consistently uniform loads that mean tighter groups. It is designed to be easy to use and to last a lifetime with a minimum of care. KaDooty also makes cleaning all your black powder firearms a breeze.

Optional attachments convert the KaDooty into an archery stabilizer and broadhead puller. The KaDooty can also be used on a bow as a counter weight and as a broadhead puller, but even if you don't use it for this purpose, any muzzleloader will be well satisfied with the KaDooty's performance. The KaDooty retails for $119.95, including the archery adapter. Scabbards are available to carry the KaDooty with you in the field.

EZ Clean
Finally, I want to let you know about another new product from T/C. It is their EZ Clean for both Pyrodex and blackpowder. I use this product on the range after every five shots to eliminate fouling and it really helps. It was much easier to load after using the EZ Clean to remove fouling that had built up. EZ Clean isn't in the T/C catalog yet, but works really great and should be available from T/C dealers. It is environmentally safe, made using all natural ingredients. You just spray some down the barrel and on other fouled parts and wipe clean with just a few patches. Try it; you'll like it. Cleaning a muzzleloader is one of the most time-consuming jobs I know of, but it is shortened considerably by using EZ Clean.

For more information on any Thompson/Center product, contact them at: Thompson/Center, PO Box 5002, Dept. GWK, Rochester, NH 03866, phone: 603-332-2333. Their website is www.tcarms.com.

For more information on Hodgdon products, contact them at: Hodgdon Powder, PO Box 2932, Dept. GWK, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201, phone: 913-362-9455. Their website is www.pyrodex.com or www.hodgdon.com.

For more information on the KaDooty, contact KaDooty Manufacturing, LLC, 842 South Tamela Drive, Dept. GWK, Lake Charles, LA 70605; phone: 888-878-7468. Their website is www.kadooty.com.

Remember when contacting any of these suppliers, tell them that John at Gun Week sent you.