What do I have here?

[Arkansas Paul]

Hey guys. I'm thinking about going old school and taking this out this muzzleloader season. I've got a break action 209 primer muzzleloader with a 3-9x40 scope, but I'm feeling nostalgic. My dad bought this rifle a few years ago for $100 but no one has ever hunted with it.
But what is it? The only markings on it are "Ardesa Spain .58 caliber"
There is a serial number but no brand name, unless Ardesa is a brand name. Does anyone know what we have? Are they any good?

We know nothing about them really, dad just thought he couldn't go wrong for $100.

And for .58 caliber, where should I start my powder charge? We have Pyrodex. I know it's not cool for you die hard BP guys but its what we have.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Here's a pic. Its not great but you can tell what you're looking at.

 

[rodwha]

Your photo is too small and I can't seem to get it to zoom, but if I'm not mistaken I think I've read they are made my Investarms. If that's so it looks a little similar to my Deerstalker from Lyman's made by Investarms.

Can you give a barrel length?

 

[rodwha]

It's hard to say, but it looks a little similar to a few of these, though they only go up to .54 caliber.

http://www.investarm.com/eng-avancarica.html

 

[rodwha]

http://www.ardesa.com/en/productos.php?wgo=104

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I'll try and get a better pic up soon. Its got a little surface rust but I think I'll go to town with some fine steel wool and Ballistol tonight and see how pretty I can make it.
If I can group them pretty good at 50 yds or so I'm gonna take it out soon.

 

[MattShlock]

$100 for that including double set triggers!? You should listen to your Dad more often...

And it's not like .58 isn't at least addequate for deer!

 

[Armored farmer]

I love hunting with my .54 T/C Hawken. Been taking deer with it since '83.
Be careful....you'll be buying 'hawks, and possibles bags, and horns, and starting fire with flint and steel, wearing moccasins, and carrying your drinking water in a gourd from now on.

I don't have load data for a .58, but my .54 uses a .530round ball, .015 or so patch, and 90gr of fff for hunting.....75gr of fff for targets. I think similar charges would apply for a .58
--Good luck.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Be careful....you'll be buying 'hawks, and possibles bags, and horns, and starting fire with flint and steel, wearing moccasins, and carrying your drinking water in a gourd from now on.

That's funny. I picked up a nice powder horn at a garage sale the other day for $7 so I got that covered.
I've been wanting to get a Hawken and dad never hunts with this one so I got it from him and I think I'm gonna like shooting it. He may have to wrestle it back from me.

Yeah MattShlock the double triggers are nice. You set it and you barely have to breath on that front one. You better be ready when your finger touches it.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Okay. Got out the camera and got some better pics. Like I said, there's a little rust, but I've got a can of Ballistol and I'm not afraid to use it.

Quick question. There is a little rust on the color case plate. Is there anything I should know before trying to remove it? I don't want to hurt the finish.
Thanks.

 

[J-Bar]

The original Hawken rifles had double barrel wedges; most of the repros only have one, so this is a nice touch.

Caliber should be marked somewhere on the barrel.

Rough rule of thumb is powder charge should be about 1.5 times the caliber, so if you have a true .58 rather than a .54, a good charge would be about 85-90 grains by volume.

My .54 caliber TC Hawken says don't go above 120 grains of powder, and I have never had reason to go that high. It works just fine with a patched round ball and 85 grains of powder.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good Find.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Caliber should be marked somewhere on the barrel.

if you have a true .58 rather than a .54

Oh yeah, its clearly marked on the barrel .58 caliber. Pops said he has some round lead balls for it. I assume they'll be a little smaller than the bore to be used with cloth patches. I guess I'll have to either make some or buy some tomorrow.

 

[Hellgate]

FYI, Investarms used to make a .58cal St. Louis Hawken 28" bbl and a shorter 24" barrelled carbine in .58cal.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Ardessa is a Spanish company. They make guns for Traditions and probably others. I have a Buckhunter pistol and I think it is better than average quality. You got a good deal.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Go ahead and get rid of the rust. Ballistol is not a rust preventative as it's water soluable. Best to get some "Barricade". If you have the imported .58 then you have a real find. You won't really harm the case hardened finish on the lock, since it's wrong to begin with. You are ready for anything from whitetails to moose with that gun. You do, however, need to keep a lookout for a .32 to .36 caliber rifle for squirrels and rabbits or a smoothbore, to cover squirrels or rabbits and birds. You may not think so now, but after you have fun with that rifle, you will become..., one of us...

one of us....

one of us...

one of us...

LD

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ Yeah, I'm excited about it. It is not my rifle, but I have access to use it pretty much any time I want to. I think I'm gonna have loads of fun with it. The thing is, if I do get hooked like you guys seem to think is gonna happen, you can pick up Hawken rifles in pawn shops around here for $100-$150 all day long. You can build up a pretty large collection like that.

And I do have a can of Barricade to treat it with once I get the rust gone.

 

[Hellgate]

That narrow and curved butt stock might hurt a little with heavy loads like minies. The rifled muskets I have resemble shotgun buttplates and are easier on the shoulder. Roundball loads ought to be plenty for deer or anything else.