Hawken 50 cal classic Questions

Don't worry about recoil until you try the gun. It probably won't be a problem with hunting loads in a 50. I tend to shoot heavy loads for hunting but accuracy is the primary consideration.

Getting started the load tubes are probably better. I like the TC tubes.

One neat thing about traditional BP is that the equipment can often be found used at gun shows dirt cheap due to low demand.

Ironhand

Huntolive said:

I like the idea of having pre-measured powder loads that I can do quick reloads with

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Instead of worrying about a "quick" reload, simply use the premeasured loads for …, simple reloads with less fumbling. I say this as the only person I've ever seen who had a chance, let alone made a second shot on a wounded deer, did so with a Pedersoli Double Rifle, a Kodiak. His first shot had a powder problem, probably from a bit of lubrication left in the barrel, so he had to reacquire the deer in his sights and use the second barrel. Don't expect to ever be able to reload and hit the deer a second time in a matter of seconds from where you shot...even if you had a swivel breech or a second rifle handed to you. Don't expect the need to make a quick, second shot. Either the deer will be down or it will move off, and you will have plenty of time to reload. I know I'm stressing this, but hasty reloads lead to broken ramrods, or improper loads, or unsafe situations. Make a proper reload, wait 10 minutes, and go pick up your deer..., cautiously. IF by some chance the deer lay down but isn't passed when you get to it you want to slowly creep up on it if you need to make that second shot. Spook it, and it will move too fast for you to hit it with anything but luck.

LD

Totally agree with Loyalist Dave about a fast second shot. It just doesn't happen with a single barrel Muzzle loader. and as dave said, rushing to reload cand and does cause problems like dry balling, broken ram rods, failure to seat the ball on the powder. Make your first shot count, and make a leisurely reload just in case a follow up shot is required. In my 35 years of hunting with a muzzle loader, I have never had to take a second shot at the animal, but then again, I am very particular about the distance I will shoot, and where I aim. The last 13 deer I have shot dropped dead within 30 feet of whre they stood. The farthest shot was a measured 82 yards, but most of them were inside of 60 yards.

Picked up a .50 cal T/C Hawken today for $130, figured it would be an inexpensive way to get started. Once I get it cleaned up a bit I'll post some pictures. Since this is my first rodeo with black powder I'm sure I'll have questions

You have been given great advice in the previous posts. Not to belabor the points...

Resist the urge to use maximum powder charges. Your rifle is not a magnum, don't try to make it one. My TC Hawken .54 likes 85 grains of 2F best, as shown by groupings at 50 yards. Which leads to

Resist taking long shots. Your rifle is not intended for long range sniping. Most of us will not take a shot beyond 100 yards, less if the groups are too large at that range. Shoot yours enough to know where the ball hits at intermediate ranges.

Clean it thoroughly and promptly after shooting. Find a method that you are comfortable with and just do it. Bore damage in a fine rifle that is caused by sloppy cleaning procedures is a sacrilege and completely preventable.

I like loose real blackpowder rather than pellets because in my experience real black powder ignites more reliably with percussion caps, but you have to make your choices so good luck and post pictures when you tag your deer!

My suggestion is to use sabots or the modern bullets like you used in the in-line in the Hawken. Mine shoots groups well under an inch at 50 yards with those bullets and a heavy charge. Many Hawkens have a twist for conicals. Unless you have a Lyman for round ball or a special round ball barrel. That brass butt plate hurts when shooting groups though. I do use loose powder. I do not know if the pellets will work with the patent breech? My guess is no so I have not tried it. You can get a nipple for a 209 primer if you want. One of my Hawkens has a red dot sight in it.

For me putting a hole in the exact center of the target is fun. I gave not yet mastered the round ball and patch for accuracy.

Avoid pellets. Stick with real black powder if at all possible. I suggest 3f Swiss. With that powder (and other components), my P58 Parker Hale is a sub 2moa gun with minies and iron sights. The bp subs have their own range of issues from being a bit harder to clean the fouling and being more corrosive. I'd also advocate against sabots. Shoot the gun as designed and it won't let you down.

MEA CULPA....
Sorry, I wrote about your "set" trigger, and that screw adjustment changed the "weight" of the pull. I should've written it increases or decreases the distance the front trigger travels.... before it releases and fires the rifle. The "poundage" meaning the pressure applied is always the same when the trigger is set...just the amount of movement is changed by the screw.

LD

Huntolive said:

Wow, excellent help. THR is always the best crew!

So what is the process to load with "real" black powder?
My plan is to use the 490 round balls with TC prelube patches and start with 70 grains of powder I guess.
I've hunted for over a decade with in lines with a hundred grains of pyrodex which is usually two pellets and mostly use power belt 250 or 290 grain what I guess you guys would call conicals, but with that metal buttplate on this Hawking if you say that makes more recoil I'm happy to switch to round balls
Also is there a common easy way to pad make or buy a pad for the butt plate of the stock?

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If I say the word P E L L E TS out loud in front of my Hawken it starts making noises like a rabbit or a sheep, and goes in to convulsions like it is going to puke. I have to shoot it about ten times just to get it calmed down again.

On that brass recoil pad, just think, some of the old ones were iron.

Like they tell modern snipers taking three breaths and squeezing the trigger, there is and old mountain man tradition. JERE, breath in and out, set the trigger, MIAH, in out again, JOHNSON, in deeply and out slowly on the SON and touch the hair trigger on 0 and just THINK about squeezing between heart beats through the N.

What recoil? Thats a love tap from the Rocky Mountains.