Truitt Brothers .36 caliber muzzle-loader rifle

[Sternwheeler]

I've had this rifle since I was a teen. Does anyone know anything about this company, or more importantly, how much FFFg to feed it? I've always used the smallest measure that came with the flask out of fear of damaging the rifle.

I could not begin to guess the model, but it is made in the Kentucky style, minus the patch bin in the stock. It is a cap-lock, has an octagonal barrel, and two triggers. (One has to be pulled to lock the hammer rearward. This leaves the other hyper-sensitive to fire with. Is this perhaps what is called double-set triggers?) It weighs a ton and has tiny sights.

Any help would certainly be appreciated.

 

[BHP FAN]

About 40 gr. of 3f Goex.Is this an original ?Maybe you should buy a Dixie Gunworks repro for shooting,and keep this one for lookin' at?

 

[BHP FAN]

the only other mention I can find is an 1810 .54 caliber caplock converted rifle,originally a Springfield flinter....I will continue to dig.

 

[arcticap]

The Traditions manual lists 35-45 grains of fffg, and 40 - 50 ffg as the most accurate rifle loading for their .36 Shenandoa rifle, but I've loaded with as little as 25 grains of 777 fffg which is equal to about 30 grains of powder with good results.

PDF manual page 5:

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/products/TRADITIONS SIDELOCK BOOK1.pdf

For another example, the minimum/maximum powder loads recommended by the Pedersoli owner's manual for their .36 single shot target pistols is 12 - 30 grains.

The TC sidelock manual states that a .36 Seneca loaded with a 65 grain round ball and 40 grains of fffg produces 1894 fps and 50 grains of fffg produces 2034 fps, both of which are faster than a .22 magnum round loaded with a 50 grain bullet which has a muzzle velocity of 1650 fps.

See page 72:

http://www.tcarms.com/assets/manuals/current/Shooting_TC_Side_Lock_Black_Powder_Guns.pdf

 

[BHP FAN]

Right 'Cap, and since we aren't sure of the vintage,it's wise to be minimalist.My favorite load for modern made replicas in the .35 to .40 caliber range is 55 gr. of 3 F Goex [like a .38-55] but in a gun of uncertain vintage and metallurgy,I just wouldn't go there.

 

[Sternwheeler]

About 40 gr. of 3f Goex.Is this an original ?Maybe you should buy a Dixie Gunworks repro for shooting,and keep this one for lookin' at?

The man who gave it to me did so in the 80's, just before he passed away at 77 years of age. He'd had it since he was a boy or young man at least. So I reckon it's original. I once found a comment on the internet that Truitt went out of business in 1861, but I can't back that up in any way.

What game, if any, would your prescribed load be effective against. I've only killed targets. Easy to hit, but not much meat...

 

[BHP FAN]

That squares with the flinter being converted to caplock,they did a lot of that for the Civil War...I wonder if the Late Unpleasantness is what put them out of buisiness?

 

[HUnter58]

Searching through my reference materials list Truitt Bros. & Co. as lock makers only. They were located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and were in business from 1847 - 1861.

 

[BHP FAN]

Thanks,Hunter!Lets keep digging...

 

[dispatch55126]

Does it look something like this?

 

[BHP FAN]

WOW! Good price,too I knew I'd seen one somewhere. Good job,Dispatch...

 

[Sternwheeler]

Does it look something like this?

Yes, very much so. Minus the decoration on the stock, and the trigger guard is shaped a little different.

 

[Sternwheeler]

Thanks...

Thanks to everyone that helped with my problem. Before I posted here, I called Guntalk and was told by the call screener "Tom said to Google it." This forum worked much better, I think. Thanks again.

 

[StrawHat]

If you can post a photo we would like to see it. Also, there are many knowledgeable folks in different parts of the country who could look at it and tell you what you have. If you are near Ohio, it might be worth a trip to the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi. Other areas have their shops but they are getting fewer and fewer.