Hawken, good and bad brands?

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stovepipe699

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After foolishly selling my Hawken a few years back I’m thinking of getting another one. My last one just said made in italy, and I never used it. I would use it for target/plinking, deer. Maybe a bear or moose. What brands are good quality, any to avoid? I’m thinking I’d like to shoot Minie style projectiles for ease of loading, but others would be fun too. Suggestions on 50 cal vs 54 cal? I’ll also consider other styles of traditional muzzle loaders, I’ve had inlines for 25 years.
 
I have a Thompson Center , 50 cal hawken . Built it from the kit that was offered back in the 1970's . Original barrel was a .45 and after it was shot out (15 years) changed out the barrel to a Green River .50 cal. one . It is a quality set up and a tack driver .
I use buckhorn rear sight , and prefer it to the original .
 
US and Italian made ones are usually good, they only ones I do not like are the Spanish made ones (soft steel and weak springs).
 
I have used Thompson Center, Lyman and CVA. For hunting loads the Tc are awesome - the heavy barrel and stock design appear to kick back half as hard as the CVA - i did say appear but the Tc are a heavier gun so I guess it's real For plinking the CVA is fine
 
I would echo JP and stick with Italian or US made especially if you want a flinter. The Investarms hawken rifles I have owned have been decent rifles, one which was sold as the Lyman Trade Rifle (50cal) is a fantastic shooter. Pedersoli are very nice but a bit pricier. A used Pedersoli would be my preference if one can be found.
 
As mentioned, Investarms rifles are well made and are usually cheaper than finding a brand name, such as Lyman, which Investarms make them for. For off the shelf supplies, 50 caliber is generally easier to find supplies for. But if you are going to go after bear or moose, I think I'd opt for 54 caliber, or get both!!!!
 
Thanks for the advice folks. I’m going with percussion rather than a flinter, and favouring a 54 cal. Let me know if you have any leads. I was offered a 54 TC Renegade last year locally, messaging the guy but not getting a response unfortunately.
 
How about something like:

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more.....
 
gunsaholic said:
As mentioned, Investarms rifles are well made and are usually cheaper than finding a brand name, such as Lyman, which Investarms make them for. For off the shelf supplies, 50 caliber is generally easier to find supplies for. But if you are going to go after bear or moose, I think I'd opt for 54 caliber, or get both!!!!
Click to expand...

When going after Moose and maybe Bears, you should be using a Maxi Ball, rather than a round ball.

I've taken Deer, Black Bear cleanly with patched round balls in both 50 and 54 cal. When I do my part an put the ball where it needs to go, there is little if any difference between the two.

Same goes for Maxi Balls with either 50 or 54 cal, on Moose. The biggest thing with Maxi Balls is to make sure they fit your bore properly. They utilize lubrication grooves and aren't paper patched (for those that don't know the difference)

I've had both Thompson and Lyman rifles. I kept the Lyman and sold the Thompson.

The only reason I kept the Lyman which is 50 cal is because I had all of the molds and other kit for it at the time and it actually shot more consistently accurate groups than the Thompson.

I suspect that both the Thompson and Lyman were built in Italy by the same manufacturer for the US companies. The parts interchanged without fitting.

I liked them both. They are also very strong, much stronger than the Spanish variants.
 
Thompson-Center Hawkens were made in New Hampshire, just a few hours drive from me. When they were bought out by an investment firm, factory was moved and they eventually stopped making the Hawken rifles.
 
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If you can get a good Thompson Center Hawken, grab it. They quit making traditional muzzleloaders in 2012.
A Lyman trade rifle /Hawken is a good choice too. They're made by Investarms in Italy and are known as an Investarms model 120 A or B.
They come in .50 or .54. The TC Hawken came in .45, .50, and .54.
Both have 1/48 twist shallow groove rifling barrels. Great for Maxi balls.
Top one is Lyman/Investarms. Bottom is TC Hawken
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