Range Report: 45 caliber TC Hawkin rifle

Jack O'Conner · September 20, 2012, 02:59 PM

It was very breezy which made it difficult to keep my pan powder in place so I fired only two shots. Very light recoil. I'll wait for a better weather day to develop a hunting load using conical bullet. Any suggestions?
Distance: 35 yards

Load: 50 grs of FFFg with .440 round ball w/lubed patch

Jack

kwhi43 · September 20, 2012, 08:14 PM

Yes, you willl love your T/C Hawken. I built mine in 1973 from a T/C kit. It is a 45 also. At the time mine was new for 125.00. Boy they sure do shoot!

PetahW · September 21, 2012, 06:06 PM

My .45 T/C only looks like a Hawken, but it's 13/16" (across-the-flats) barrel instead of the Hawken's 15/16" barrel ID's it as an early unmarked Seneca.

The thinner barrel makes for a lighter rifle, but it also won't takes loads as hefty as a heavier Hawken. (and neither will my shoulder)

I checked it's zero last week, with T/C Maxi-Hunter pre-lubed conicals over 70gr of FFFg Holy Black, and it easily put 3 shots in a 50yd group about 2x as large as the OP's RB group - about as far as I expect to see a Whitetail, where I usually hunt.

.

B.L.E. · September 21, 2012, 09:54 PM

My experience with Maxi-balls in a TC is that accuracy is so-so until you reach maximun loads, then they will shoot cloverleafs at 50 yards and two inch groups at 100. You got to have enough pressure to expand those bullets into the rifling.

45-50 grains 3fg seems to be the sweet spot for patched round balls in those .45 caliber 48 inch twist barrels in my experience.

Rifleman1776 · September 22, 2012, 08:22 AM

Two shots isn't much of a report.
35 yards tells almost nothing about performance or accuracy. You need at least 50 yards.
Funny, 40+ years of flintlock shooting the wind has never hindered me from priming.
But, if you enjoyed, that is good.

B.L.E. · September 22, 2012, 12:42 PM

I think that 35 yards will definitely show you if a load is in-accurate. If using longer ranges to asses your rifle's accuracy, keep in mind that a mere 5 mph cross wind will drift a .45 roundball about 1 1/2 inches at 50 yards and over 6 inches at 100 yards. Also watch changing light conditions. Bright sun to overcast will change iron sight's zero.

September 20, 2012, 02:59 PM	#1
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Range Report: 45 caliber TC Hawkin rifle It was very breezy which made it difficult to keep my pan powder in place so I fired only two shots. Very light recoil. I'll wait for a better weather day to develop a hunting load using conical bullet. Any suggestions? Distance: 35 yards Load: 50 grs of FFFg with .440 round ball w/lubed patch Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release. Last edited by Jack O'Conner; September 20, 2012 at 03:34 PM.

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September 20, 2012, 08:14 PM	#2
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	Yes, you willl love your T/C Hawken. I built mine in 1973 from a T/C kit. It is a 45 also. At the time mine was new for 125.00. Boy they sure do shoot!

September 21, 2012, 06:06 PM	#3
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	My .45 T/C only looks like a Hawken, but it's 13/16" (across-the-flats) barrel instead of the Hawken's 15/16" barrel ID's it as an early unmarked Seneca. The thinner barrel makes for a lighter rifle, but it also won't takes loads as hefty as a heavier Hawken. (and neither will my shoulder) I checked it's zero last week, with T/C Maxi-Hunter pre-lubed conicals over 70gr of FFFg Holy Black, and it easily put 3 shots in a 50yd group about 2x as large as the OP's RB group - about as far as I expect to see a Whitetail, where I usually hunt. .

September 21, 2012, 09:54 PM	#4
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	My experience with Maxi-balls in a TC is that accuracy is so-so until you reach maximun loads, then they will shoot cloverleafs at 50 yards and two inch groups at 100. You got to have enough pressure to expand those bullets into the rifling. 45-50 grains 3fg seems to be the sweet spot for patched round balls in those .45 caliber 48 inch twist barrels in my experience.

September 22, 2012, 08:22 AM	#5
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Two shots isn't much of a report. 35 yards tells almost nothing about performance or accuracy. You need at least 50 yards. Funny, 40+ years of flintlock shooting the wind has never hindered me from priming. But, if you enjoyed, that is good.

September 22, 2012, 12:42 PM	#6
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I think that 35 yards will definitely show you if a load is in-accurate. If using longer ranges to asses your rifle's accuracy, keep in mind that a mere 5 mph cross wind will drift a .45 roundball about 1 1/2 inches at 50 yards and over 6 inches at 100 yards. Also watch changing light conditions. Bright sun to overcast will change iron sight's zero.