I’ve had a full stock standing breech flintlock “Plains” type rifle on my bucket list for over 25 years. I know that to call it a Hawken wouldn’t be historically correct, hence “Plains” type. This may be stirring the pot with a Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge type question, but which caliber would y’all prefer, and why? It will be used for target shooting and some whitetail deer hunting. I’ve been successfully deer hunting for nearly 40 years, but have yet to take one with one of my muzzleloaders. I know exactly what I want, but may have to build it in order to find it. Caliber is about the only thing I’m undecided on. Y’all please help me out!
50, 54, or 58 cal flintlock “Plains” rifle?
- Thread starter jetcsa
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longcruise
70 Cal.
Well, it's easy to help you out on caliber. Go with a 50 or a 54 or a 58!
Ok, seriously now. If you have your design set in your mind , then think about barrel diameter vs weight. A robust Plains rifle in 50 cal is going to be a heavy weight. And so forth.
Ok, seriously now. If you have your design set in your mind , then think about barrel diameter vs weight. A robust Plains rifle in 50 cal is going to be a heavy weight. And so forth.
Phil Coffins
69 Cal.
Ones as good as the next, I shoot a 54 mostly.
William Sublette
45 Cal.
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I had the same lust.
Finally had one made . Went with 58 so I could do everything.
It's been a joy.
Finally had one made . Went with 58 so I could do everything.
It's been a joy.
Very nice looking rifle! What load are you shooting? I believe I could follow that blood trail without an issue here on my place where the ground is covered in red and brown leaves!
I just acquired a 54 cal Lancaster style rifle with a 44” Getz swamped barrel. It seems lighter and more balanced than my 41” SMR in 45 cal, or my 39” SMR in 50 cal. I had about settled on a 54 cal, but got to thinking that bigger hole in a 58 cal might have the same effect on better weight and balance, especially if I go with a 36” bbl as planned.
Phil Coffins
69 Cal.
A proper Hawken has a lightly tapered barrel which makes for better balance. A detail often over looked when building a dream gun.
Nice doe, beautiful rifle!
Agreed, but so far, I haven’t found a kit that has a tapered barrel. I’m afraid I’ve already disqualified it from being a proper Hawken by wanting a full stock and flintlock on the same rifle, though.
I am patiently waiting on Jim Kibler to release his hawkin kit. I am sure that if you wait a little longer, Jim’s kit will fill your needs. I can’t help you with the caliber, I don’t hunt anymore so I am just punching paper and ringing clangers and the smaller calibers fit my needs.
Firstly, the bursitis in my right hip votes .58 to help with the weight of that style of rifle. Secondly, I share your pain of not having taken a deer with a traditional ML. 33 years of hunting with a ML and have taken everything I can hunt with one in my state successfully but a deer... Every stinking time Murphey's law shows up.
I would wait on it, too, but from what I understand, it’s only going to be offered in a half stock version. Have you heard any rumors of a full stock?
I’m afraid that the one chance I had, I really helped Mr Murphy out. I had been shooting Triple Seven powder in my 50 cal flintlock. It was so clean and so easy to clean up after shooting that I fell in love with it. In a very controlled and relatively safe manner, I made some “FFFFg Triple Seven” to prime the pan. I had been told that it wouldn’t work and wasn’t reliable. I practiced with it for the better part of an afternoon and had zero hang fires. Not only was it clean, it was accurate enough that I could consistently hit a quarter sized spot on a paper plate offhand at 40 yards. Well, that evening I loaded up one more time. I had a perfect broadside shot on a nice doe at 35 yards. I set the back trigger and touched the front one and got the longest loudest hiss you’ve ever heard. The doe turned it into a spectator sport and stood there watching for what seemed like 15 seconds. I finally lowered the rifle. When I did, the rifle fired and that round ball kicked up dirt about halfway between me and her. Only then did she salute me with her white flag. That is the last time I decided I was more clever than my flintlock mentors!
Sniperdoc
36 Cl.
Using a.50 cal, 7/8", 36" or shorter barrel, could make a handy rifle. You won't have as much recoil, and it's plenty for whitetail. (My whitetail load is 50 grains of 3f behind a patched ball, but the area I hunt doesn't offer shots beyond about 35 yards.)
With the.50, you also get more loads per lb of powder, and balls/bullets per lb of lead; likewise you can carry more reloads if you are on an extended hunt.
Best of luck with whatever you choose!
With the.50, you also get more loads per lb of powder, and balls/bullets per lb of lead; likewise you can carry more reloads if you are on an extended hunt.
Best of luck with whatever you choose!
I’ve got an old 50 cal CVA Hawken with a 28” bbl that is very accurate and nice to shoot. I seriously considered converting it to flint, which I’ve done in the past with another CVA, and trying to put it in a full stock, but that’s more woodwork than I want to do. I wish someone offered a pre-shaped and inlet full stock for those CVA Hawkens.
I’m not sure exactly why I’m so hung up on a full stock with triple wedges and no patch box, other than that’s what I got in my head that I wanted nearly 30 years ago, and can’t quite turn loose of the idea. I guess I’m a little too stubborn.
If whitetail is your target a .45 will make meat as well as bigger. Dead is dead
There is no reason to have bigger unless your target is mulies, elk, buff or bear.
But
It’s awful fun to bounce them big balls around.been hunting hundred pound these last few years with a ball almost as heavy as them
To have a plains rifle historically you want at least a .50
54 was real popular, I think in the old days because it shot two balls to the ounce, and .58 twenty four ball to the pound
First rifle I built was a .54, last gun I built was a .54
I find it just a fun size
There is no reason to have bigger unless your target is mulies, elk, buff or bear.
But
It’s awful fun to bounce them big balls around.been hunting hundred pound these last few years with a ball almost as heavy as them
To have a plains rifle historically you want at least a .50
54 was real popular, I think in the old days because it shot two balls to the ounce, and .58 twenty four ball to the pound
First rifle I built was a .54, last gun I built was a .54
I find it just a fun size
Sniperdoc
36 Cl.
You can always convert it, then add a piece of wood to extend the forearm ala the Traditions "full stock" rifles
I’m really liking the .54. If I had to decide tonight, that would be my choice, but if I found a really nice .50 that was already built for the right money, I’d settle. If I get my hand on a .58 that feels sweet, that would probably change my mind, too.
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