2nd time shooting my CVA Hawken

[mudburn]

I had some time Friday, so I took my CVA Hawken .54 out to get to know it better.

I'm liking it. That's the ball starter and adjustable powder measure I made that are with the rifle in the picture. The sling came with the gun when I bought it off of[url] gunbroker.com[/url].

I loaded it with 60 grains of fffg Goex, a .530 RB, and a WalMart pillow ticking patch lubed with Blue & Grey Patch Lubricant (it was $1). I set up my bench (a stool with a folded quilt) and a bucket for me to sit on at 60 yards from the targets.

After the first three shots, I adjusted the sights and then shot this group:

I tried another three shot group with some .010 patches because it really takes some effort to get the ball started with the other combination. That group was a lot more scattered, but not horrible.

I shot a some cans and another target while I was at it, and I was pleased with the results. I was going to shoot off hand to see how well I could do, but the rifle didn't want to work after the first shot (I'd already shot it over 15 times) -- the cap would go off but not the main charge. I made sure the nipple and vent were open, but still no go. After I couldn't pull the ball (I couldn't get the ball puller deep enough into the ball), I took the nipple off and put a few grains in from the breech end. It fired fine after that, but I decided to stop there and clean the gun.

I'm itching to shoot it some more, but it's raining today, so I'll wait for another day. I like the size hole a .54 makes.

Darryl

 

Beautiful Rifle and Acouterments.
Very nice shot group.

 

[Runner]

When the gun starts acting up, put some powder under the nipple and pop a cap with no load in the barrel. That will blow anything out that is clogging things. I carry q-tips to clean the channel with, but you can also use a small caliber bore brush. If you use a q-tip, never stop turning it as you clean or the cotton will pull off coming out.
I use a short starter because the guns shoot better with tight fitting patch ball combinations. My fifty likes a 495 and a .015 to .018 patch.
Good luck and have fun!

 

[Keppy]

Very nice rifle. I have a CVA Kentucky 45 cal. and if I don't tap the side of it after loading some times it don't fire. But so far it been a great shooter for money have invested in it. :thumbsup:

 

[torn moc]

Great looking rifle Mudburn! Looks lioke you are off to a great start! Load that cannon with 100 gr and enjoy the recoil! :shocked2:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Please do borrow a micrometer, or a caliper, or buy one or the other- you can find calipers( dial calibers) for about [email protected] from Midway, and Mid South, among other suppliers- so you can measure the thickness of your patching. Referring to something as Wal-Mart Blue Ticking tells us nothing at all. There is no real uniformity on the ticking sold there, or anywhere else. Until you measure the thickness, all you are doing is guessing - by Golly it feels right!- and you can never get your groups tighter. Try reducing the charge to 50 grains, and then come up in 5 grain increments. Use a good bench and sandbag to rest the gun so you can control the " flyers ". YOu might also benefit by putting a " sighter " on the target . YOu can buy stick on decals in many shapes at an office supply store. If you are sigting the gun shot shoot dead on, then use some kind of square or diamond, in blaze orange, or whatever color stands out best for you( white works against a black background) so that you can hold that front site on the target in the same place for each successive shot.

Also, make sure the gun is mounted to your shoulder the same way for each shot. To test this, before you cock the hammer, but after its loaded, sit down at the bench and mount the gun to your shoulder, and face. Close your eyes, and relax the grip on the pistol grip of the stock. Open your eyes. If the sights have moved, you need to shift your body left or right so that the butt of the rifle is square to your shoulder. The direction the sights move will tell you which way you should move to correct the problem. Once you have that proper grip, you are ready to fire, knowing that the gun will recoil against your shoulder the same for each shot during your follow through. That will keep the groups tighter.

 

[mudburn]

Paul,

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate the way that you offer help and information. I also think fondly of the area in which you live. I spent five years in the Champaign-Urbana area while completing my doctorate at the University of Illinois. I also grew up in Central Illinois about 60 miles south of Champaign (Windsor, IL) and the last two years of high school near Gibson City.

You're right about the pillow ticking thickness. I was guessing since I've not measured it. I will try to do that. I don't have a micrometer, but I'm sure I must know someone who does. And, I think the rifle will be a lot more accurate when I get my shooting form down. It'll take some time and discipline. I hope to spend some time every week punching holes in some targets with the rifle.

Darryl

 

[spaethjm]

I have a ST louis hawken with a 54 cal 1/66 barrel I cast 530 rb. I like to use a felt wad between the powder and PBR. It seem to help accuracy I shoot 100 gr of 2 f goex.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Best wishes to another escapee from the cornfields.

Paul