TC Hawken question

[Nickmcpheron]

So I inherited a tc hawken in 50 Cal. I'm learning but I cant find info on a couple things. First, the rifle shoot high, like 12 inches at 25 yards. Doesn't matter what powder charge. Second, it looks like the tang has an adjustment screw in between the 2 wood screws. I raise the tang with adjustment screw and retightened it. This should have raised the back of the barrel. First shot was great but every other shot was back to 12 inches high. Also, the hammer is now, not aligned with the nipple and seems to be to far right looking down at the top of the barrel. I need help from you guys. I love the rifle, just don't know what I should do to fix it.

[Smoke & Recoil]

The small screw in between the 2 wood screws is not a sight adjustment, that is a plug which you would remove if you were to mount a peep sight. A picture of the smoke pole would be a help for others to help you.

[4V50 Gary]

Yep, give us a picture of the rear sight. You might want a tang sight.

[ligonierbill]

Your front sight is too short. Should be a straightforward replacement. Regards alignment of the hammer, check the lock bolts. Are they snug? Check the lock mortice for damage. Barrel properly aligned? (Maybe not if you are repositioning the tang.) Good luck.

[Hawg]

Like they said the small screw is not an adjustment. It's a plug to hide the hole where a tang sight was mounted. It really shouldn't have done anything.

[Nickmcpheron]

Thanks for the replies. I'll get a pic of the rear sight when I get home from work tonight. Just for info, the rear sight is a standard old style adjustable rear. It is adjusted all the way down but still rides a good 1/4 inch above the barrel. I took the sight apart and it is bottomed out. I looked for a taller front sight but haven't had any luck. Out of stock is what I see most of the time. Hoped I was doing something wrong.

[Hawg]

That rear sight is crap anyway. You'd be better off with a tang mounted sight or Skinner makes a barrel mounted peep that replaces the rear sight you have.

[4V50 Gary]

Of course, before replacing the front sight you can try it at 50, 75 and 100 yds and see what it does at those distances.

[Nickmcpheron]

The Skinner Sight would be nice. I'll look into that. I do believe I'll take the advice and shoot longer distance to see what that does. Probably wont happen till after deer season. Maybe next season I can have this one in the woods.

[Nickmcpheron]

Here are the pics as promised. Please ignore my desk. Had a lot to work on this week.


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[4V50 Gary]

That's an adjustable sight. It's the screw on the sight that is centerline w/the bore. You should crank it down lower (but suggest you test fire at 50, 75 and 100 yds with it as is). Unless you're really good at stalking, you're not going to be hunting at 25 yds.

[ligonierbill]

Putting a sticky note on the screen and scaling against the barrel flat, it's clear that your rear sight is way high (or front low, but the front sight seems reasonable). Is that a replacement rear sight? I like the suggestion of a tang mounted aperture. One of my Savage 99s insisted on hitting high, and I did not want to replace the original front sight. A Lyman aperture, popular back in the day, fit perfectly on the tang and cured the problem.

[bamaranger]

Reset the tang back to its original position to get the barrel back to where it belongs and get the nipple/hammer lined up. As has been stated, that has nothing to do with your point of impact.

It's clear from the pics the rear sight is adjusted down, just as you (OP) stated.
Twelve inches high at 25 yds is VERY HIGH indeed and apparently some sort of sight geometry problem. (too tall front, not enough adjustment on the rear).

However, you might gain some small change in POI at distance with a load change. You don't mention what load is being shot? Round balls typically shoot flatter than conicals, and a mild, 50 gr round ball load MIGHT come on target just enough at distance .........but honestly I doubt it, and myself I'd rather hunt w/ conicals anyhow.

Sight options. Skinner offers several options, they're great.....but you pay for it. T/C parts are out there and can be expensive. They sold a primitive, file to zero rear sight back in the day and it might be cheaper than a Skinner. Track of the Wolf may offer some sight options as well.

The old T/C rifles were good guns and I wish they were stiill available.

[Smoke & Recoil]

Looking at the rusted exterior of the barrel, you might want to take a good look at the bore for issues. In case you don't know...if the serial number has a prefix of (K), such as Kxxxx, it indicate a kit gun, if no prefix of (K), it is a Thompson Center built gun.

The serial number is located on the left flat of the barrel opposite of the 50 caliber stamp.

[Smoke & Recoil]

A good picture of the hammer vs nipple alignment...top and side would be helpful for others to help also.

[mehavey]

Twelve inches high at 25 yds is VERY HIGH indeed and apparently some sort of
sight geometry problem. (too tall front, not enough adjustment on the rear).

Just the opposite.
A tall front sight will push the muzzle down, not up.

Many beaucoup problems at work here . . .

[Nickmcpheron]

Thanks for all the knowledge everyone. My plan is to follow the advice given and set the barrel back where it was. This will align the hammer and nipple again.

I will investigate the skinner rear sight. Looks like the best solution.

Everything is factory on the rifle. And yes the rear sight is all the way down.

It is a kit gun from the 70s. He hardly ever shot it. Bore is pristine. Barrel was only browned to begin with. I keep it oiled but I don’t think he did. Some surface rust has stained it.

Deer rifle season starts in the morning so I probably won’t get to work on the rifle for a while. I really appreciate all the help.


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[bamaranger]

Yup, I stand corrected......he needs a taller front sight.

[bamaranger]

Here;s an option, and one I performed on a CVA .32 and price was reasonable.

Skinner sells a tiny stem type peep sight, called the Lo-Pro. It is about the most affordable rear sight they offer. I have not priced one lately, but as I recall $30 or so. Rather than try and describe, one can search it easily. On certain T/C rifles, there is a tiny hole, plugged with a slotted screw, on the top of the hooked breech recess at the end of the tang. The threaded shaft of the Lo-Pro will fit that hole, if you buy the right diameter version. I cannot recall what size that hole is or the appropriate screw/thread size, but if your rifle has that tiny hole, ONE of those Lo-Pro sizes will just thread into it.

The Lo-Pro is aptly named, it sets LOW on the rifle, I'd speculate LOWER than the maxed down OEM blade rear in the pic. If one is willing to experiment, the OP might find his lofty shooting Hawken might come on target with the Lo-Pro. The few accounts I've read relate their rifles shoot LOW with the tiny peep and require a front sight change. That was the result of my experiment and I had to add new front on my .32 as well. Since the OP rifle shoots HIGH at present, MAYBE the Lo-Pro will do the trick. The factory blade rear will have to be removed. There is no windage adjustment on the L0-Pro, only elevation, so windage adjustment shifts to drifting the front sight 'till you get what you need.

If the factory hole is not present, a good machinist can drill and tap what you need. There is plenty of metal there. One could consult online pics to see just how the factory whole is located. That of course would add cost, but I had an acquaintance that did the job for me...... I rewarded him with a bottle of Wild Turkey!!!!!!!!! He said to bring another job anytime I did the front sight swap myself from an online purchase. Hardest part was getting the right dovetail size to begin with. The OP may not need a new front...as I said....an experiment of sorts.

Whether or not the hole is there depends on when your rifle was produced and the model. Some of my T/C's have it, some do not. I've heard it said it was for a scope base, and I've also heard it was for a machining jig fixture.

Best of luck

[Jack Ryan]

Probably nothing wrong with that sight. My first guess is you don't know how to use it.

Fix that set screw and the tang back like it was/is suppose to be and start again.

It looks like that front sight was welded in. If so, I doubt it is very far off.

From the looks of that barrel, I'd want to see something convincing out of it before I'd spend much time or effort on the barrel or anything else that comes with a replacement barrel.

[bamaranger]

Regards my suggestion on the Lo-Pro peep. Skinner apparently has renamed the sight the "stem peep", and it appears it comes only in one shaft diameter. It is offered in three different heights however. Screw hole size is 10x40.

That's interesting, because once upon a time Skinner made a version with 8x40 that screwed into the holes for scope base on the Marlin lever rifles and others. I got the peep from a guy who had it mounted on a Marlin, then changed horses and 'scoped it. Apparently one size only now. The entire web page looks different, I wonder if Skinner has sold? I wonder if other products have dropped or changed?

I still can't advise about the hole size on some t/c's

[bamaranger]

OK, I'm an idiot. The Lo-Pro does exist, in 6x40 or 8x40. The "stem peep" is to fit other systems Skinner offers.

I promise, I'm done now.

[4V50 Gary]

Once again, I would try it at different distances before I replace it.

[deerslayer303]

That rifle isn't ever gonna shoot straight and accurately. It will bring you much pain and misery when you have sat out in the cold all morning then only to have the rifle let you down and you miss the buck of a lifetime. Its way more trouble than its worth. PM Me and I will send you my address so you can send me the rifle. I will give you a few hun to go towards a more MODERN and straight shooting Muzzle loader that will have better ignition and the option for OPTICS! Making hitting that buck you waited for ALL morning or ALL of your Life a piece of cake, when the rifle actually HITS what you are pointing it at and after it ACTUALLY goes BOOM!! Instead of a popped cap and a broken heart. Hit me up!!