My new Thompson Center Hawken .58 cal *Range report*

Huntsman

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
287   0   0
Well it started out as their .54 cal model with 1:48 twist. As much as it was a fine shooter as a 54 I couldn't pass up on a brand new unfired Green Mountain barrel in .58 cal w/1:70 twist. G.M. claims it to be a drop in bbl but it required some very minor fitting. The barrel rib needed to be shortened a few thou and the wedge key required a half round valley to be filed length wise to clear the ram rod. Other than that everything fits good n tight! I'll be taking her to the range this weekend to launch some round balls and make some smoke!! :rockOn:
Quite the size difference from my TC .50 Hawken.

 
Last edited:
Looks good. You'll have to give a range report.

Today I set off to the range with my 50 & 58 and possibles in hand.



I started off with 100gr charge of Goex 2F 0.015 Oxo lubed patch and wasps nest at 50 yards. The rb hit low so adjusted the rear sight 8 clicks up, fired another, still low so I doubled it, 16 clicks up. Still low so I went to a 110gr charge. Recoil was near nil, I actually think my .54 kicked more but of course not as heavy as this 58 bbl. So after the 110gr charge the rb's started hitting where I was aiming and slightly left.

After a few more shots I tried a shot ea. from both Hawken rifles at 100yds. I basically covered the green ring on the target with entire front sight and squeezed the trigger. I was quite impressed on both shots.



Then I went back to the 50yd and fired one from the kneeling and one standing.


I was able to recover a few of the round balls in the berm. An unfired rb weighs 287.0grs. The recovered rb's ranged from; 286.7grs, 284.2grs & 280grs.
When they hit the dirt they hit with some "mighty authority"



I tried a new patch that my brother ordered from October Country called 'Daisy Ticking'. These were .010 and loaded with wasp nest but showed signs of burn thru so I went back to the .015 thou patch.

I had alot of fun with this 'beast' but had to cut my day short as the wind picked up and -2 was close to -10 and the air was damp. But there will be a next time ;)
I intend on looking up what a max charge is for the G.M. barrel and give that whirl.
Cheers,
 
Last edited:
How tight is the ball an patch combo? Try using .018" patches with spit as lube or 1 part soluble (ballistol or machine lube) oil and 6 parts water. It may tighten the group up.
 
How tight is the ball an patch combo? Try using .018" patches with spit as lube or 1 part soluble (ballistol or machine lube) oil and 6 parts water. It may tighten the group up.

Actually I just re-checked and my Ox Yoke patches are 0.020 thick. Too thick IMO, it required a bit of effort to seat. All this time I thought they were .015.
The Daisy patches were indeed .010 but too thin. .015 is likely what I'm after. I've looked for ballistol and have never been able to source any?
The Ox Yoke come pre-lubed but I have a few bags of original TC cut patches that are .015 which I can lube with my homemade lube (beeswax, Crisco & Murphys oil soap).
Thanks for the tip MC.
 
I'm very surprised with your statement that 110 grains of powder was quite nice to shoot from a recoil vantage. A 110 grains with my .45 or .50 is downright painful (3F) and puts the recoil of highbrass 12 ga rounds to chuff at.

It could be that I was wearing 3 layers (lined denim shirt, cotton thermal under shirt and plaid loggers jacket and insulated bib overalls) of clothing due to the weather and the added weight of the rifle.
110grs was easily manageable.
 
Last edited:
Actually I just re-checked and my Ox Yoke patches are 0.020 thick. Too thick IMO, it required a bit of effort to seat. All this time I thought they were .015.
The Daisy patches were indeed .010 but too thin. .015 is likely what I'm after. I've looked for ballistol and have never been able to source any?
The Ox Yoke come pre-lubed but I have a few bags of original TC cut patches that are .015 which I can lube with my homemade lube (beeswax, Crisco & Murphys oil soap).
Thanks for the tip MC.

Thick patch lubes like beeswax based lubes particularly in cold weather can make it harder to push past through the fouling on subsequent shots. . A lube that makes the fouling soft for subsequent shots to be pushed through and wipe the bore is more desirable. Wax based lubes are great for long term when leaving a ball in the bore for hunting etc where you do not want a water based lube that may cause corrosion.

I use 1 part ballistol (or milling machine oil) and 6 parts of water for patch lube. I can shoot 60+ rounds accurately in a day with out cleaning or wiping between shots or sessions.

Try the .020" patches with with a new lube, if not improvement try some .018" then .015" till you find what works best for your rifle.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
 
Great thread, OP, thank you. I just love reading about other people's experiences with BP, seeing as how I'm off to our club for the guest day this morning with my ROA and Winchester Model 1886 with my favourite plinking load - a 450gr FN over 60gr of 3Fg.

That re-barrelled Hawken has to be about the best-looking replication I've seen, and of course, they are ultra-rare over here in yUK except as fun-guns.

Enjoy!

tac
 
Actually I just re-checked and my Ox Yoke patches are 0.020 thick. Too thick IMO, it required a bit of effort to seat. All this time I thought they were .015.
The Daisy patches were indeed .010 but too thin. .015 is likely what I'm after. I've looked for ballistol and have never been able to source any?
The Ox Yoke come pre-lubed but I have a few bags of original TC cut patches that are .015 which I can lube with my homemade lube (beeswax, Crisco & Murphys oil soap).
Thanks for the tip MC.

This is where i get ballistol from. http://ballistol.ca/index.php?route=common/home
 
Very nice. You should try some minie balls. With a twist liike that they will be accurate. I used 60gr of powder with a 500gr ball in a musket with a 1-78 twist. Takes a lot of lead though which isn't easy to find.
 
I should point out that my groups weren't really a group of shots in succession. I was working up the elevation until satisfied, you'll notice in the pic the gradual climb to the bullseye. The 'group" point did however open some great discussion on patch thickness and the use of Ballistol ;) Which thanks to "freire" and the link he provided and the mix ratio from "MC" I have something to work with.

 
Very nice. You should try some minie balls. With a twist liike that they will be accurate. I used 60gr of powder with a 500gr ball in a musket with a 1-78 twist. Takes a lot of lead though which isn't easy to find.

Lyman54,
I tired conicals and the only one I ever had luck with was the TC Max-Ball mould I have. The Lee REAL, Improved Minie, Plains bullet have not provided me with any of the accuracy I wanted.
I spent a good deal of range time trying too work up loads starting at 50grs and working up to 110gr (all with .54). I've since just settled on the good 'ole round ball and patch.
After I was happy with yesterdays shooting with the 58 I tried some loads with my .50 Hawken. Which I launched some Lee REAL 250gr. I will say that I only shot half a dozen at the 50 yard target, the group was in excess of 8". I've read that conicals like to be pushed fast do my charge started at 100grs Pyrodex RS. I would've stayed longer out there yesterday but the temp was dropping and wind was picking up. it went from -3 to -12. Which also caused my wax lubed patches too be difficult ;)
 
Back
Top Bottom