Info on Thompson Hawken 50cal I bought one

huntinstuff

huntinstuff

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I am new to BP and have decided this is the gun I am going to purchase. Anyone have one and what do you like / dislike about it.

Any info on powders, projectiles let me know. Remember, I'm new to this and don't know the lingo. Never shot one in my life. Dont even know how to load one yet....but Im gonna learn

Thank you for your time.
 
They're a great rifle. Make sure you read up on "care and feeding" before you start. You'll need: FFG or FFFG black powder or a replica powder like Triple Seven (that one's probably your best bet) or Pyrodex, patches (if you're going to shoot round balls) or just go with a conical, like Lee's REAL or TC's Maxi-ball.

Lube: Thompson Center makes an excellent BP lube as well as BP solvent (you'll need both). Percussion caps (if it's a caplock); nipple wrench; jag (for cleaning; worm for pulling stuck patches and bullet puller (a screw device for the end of your ramrod to retreive bullets loaded without powder). A bent paper clip works well to keep the nipple clear of fouling.

A powder measure, a flask and a short-starter come to mind as well.

I think that's about it, as far as gear is concerned. make sure you know how to properly load the rifle. For that, your best bet is to read about it in a BP magazine or book like the one published by Lyman.
 
or you can get the TC powder shooters kit which includes everything except powder and caps/primers, and even has a video for proper care, maintenence, and loading of your ML...

Ryan
 
Laredo said:
or you can get the TC powder shooters kit which includes everything except powder and caps/primers, and even has a video for proper care, maintenence, and loading of your ML...

Ryan
Click to expand...

Dinosaur alert ! I had my first Hawken before we had home video... :lol:

Get the kit, watch the tape, shoot safe !
 
Forget commercial lube! make your own:

The recipe is:
1 part paraffin (I use canning paraffin, found in grocery stores)
1 part mutton tallow (sold by Dixie Gun Works)
1/2 part beeswax (available at hobby and hardware stores)


Works better too... :shock:
 
Isn't mutton tallow the same as lanolin? I've seen anhydrous lanolin that looks very much like beeswax. Is the stuff you get from Dixie hard like wax or soft like a cream?
 
I have a lot to learn............but its gonna be fun. Thanks guys. Im alot further ahead now than I was before.....i like the video suggestion. I learn better by seeing than by reading instructions. My immediate goal is to learn how to safely load and fire and eventually someday I want to take a moose with it.
 
huntinstuff said:
I have a lot to learn............but its gonna be fun. Thanks guys. Im alot further ahead now than I was before.....i like the video suggestion. I learn better by seeing than by reading instructions. My immediate goal is to learn how to safely load and fire and eventually someday I want to take a moose with it.
Click to expand...

anytime!! I'm just learning too, I think the powder shooters kit was the best thing I've ever bought, well worth the $70. I've already shot about 40 rnds out of my ML and I love it!

Ryan
 
A-zone said:
Isn't mutton tallow the same as lanolin? I've seen anhydrous lanolin that looks very much like beeswax. Is the stuff you get from Dixie hard like wax or soft like a cream?
Click to expand...

I don;t know if it's the same as lanolin. In truth I've never bought the Dixi GW stuff, though it comes recommended. If you eat mutton, just save the grease, filter it, and let it congeal. Voila! Tallow!

I think you could realistically use andy animal tallow, but Mutton is supposed to work best and be more resistant to turning rancid with age.

I sometimes use plain beef tallow if I'm gonna use it up fast and I just keep it in the fridge once mixed. You need to heat everything CAREFULLY (so it doesn't ignite the parrafin) when you mix it.
 
I'm tempted to try deer tallow - just save some from the next buck and render it for use in bullet lube. Has anyone here tried that yet?

Regarding mutton tallow, I'm a bit surprised to hear that it would last longer than beef tallow, given that its fatty acid content is higher (so I would expect it to be more prone to oxidizing). Not sure about tallow from deer. If it works, there would be a pretty substantial source of bullet lube available every Fall. :D

I've heard how some old timers used to mix a bit of Crisco with their pork lard (which is also high in fatty acid content) to prevent it from becoming rancid. Maybe a bit of Crisco in the mix would help keep it from spoiling.

On the rancidity note, I've got some old "Wonderlube" that sure went rancid. The stuff turned quite nasty.

Regarding the ignition risk, I've made it a habit to always melt lube in a double boiler to prevent the stuff from catching fire.
 
I've also just used striaght crisco as a lube on many occasions and it works well, though doesn;t prevent leading quite as well as the tallow/paraffin/wax mix does.
 
I've had a TC Hawken for almost 20 years. It is the one rifle I will not get rid of. It was my first BP. I saved and saved and when I turned 17 I bought it.

Mine is a .54, with deep browning instead of blueing with brass tacks on the stock.
 
I have bought a 50 cal Hawken and if you guys have more advice, keep it coming......I need it.....email me if you like. Especially on cleaning tips and powders.....

thank you all for the info and patience with this newbie.......you guys are tops
 
I clean with with very hot water with some laundry soap in it. Then lube everything with T/C bore butter natural lube. As for powder FFg works fine but apparently from other threads I've seen here, Triple 7 powder is gaining in popularity probably because of far less fouling and much easier cleanup.
 
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