50 cal Hawken

[JoeinFl]

What would ya'll consider max range on 50 Hawken for clean kill on Sambar deer? Not really sure what type projectile yet, most likely conical.
Thanks in advance,
Joe

 

[Plains99]

I have always felt that 120 yards is a good outside maximum for any primitive style muzzleloader with open sights. It isn't that a .50 Hawken won't take a deer at much greater range but the precise sighting of open sights gets tricky beyond that range. If you sight in your gun at 2" high at 50 yards you can pretty much sight dead on out to 120 or so and not have a great problem. Not knowing your rifling twist rate, I'd suggest that you look at the Hornady Great Plains, the White Buckbuster or the Buffalo bullet for your gun. All of them load differently from the other two and I think react differently to powder charge rates. For something the size of a deer I suggest that you try an FFg load of 85 to 90 grains with any of these projectiles and see how they print on paper. I've kilt a lot of deer with this setup and bullet choice depending on the rifle I was testing during any given season.

 

[cayugad]

The max distance will have a lot to do with your accuracy ability, the amount you practice, and the rifle. If you can place your shots into a five inch circle, I see no reason why that rifle would not be more then able to take a deer out to 120 yards. I am not sure of the size of the deer you mention but I always thought they were much larger then our smaller whitetail.

Take into consideration your rifle's ability. If you practice and can place consistent hits at 100 yards and no further, then limit your range accordingly. Because of their size, I would personally limit my shots to 100 yards whether roundball or conical were used.

 

[Headhunter]

Another contributing factor is the thickness of the front sight. Finer sights allow for longer ranges. If your front sight covers the deer, well, thats a bad thing for long range shooting.

Headhunter

 

[Plains99]

I agree and it certainly depends upon how finely you've honed your front sight if it is a primitive blade. You need to be able to draw an awfully fine bead for long shots. To credibly consider long shots (over 100 yards or so), you need to know exactly what that rifle can do in your hands. I recently examined three old plains rifles used for buffalo hunting in the late 1860's and into the 70's. All of them had barely a touch of front sight left with low rear sights and finely knotched v's. Those old boys knew what they were doing.

 

[JoeinFl]

My rifle is T/C 50 Hawken. It is about 25 years old and brand newin the box, I bought it from an estate sale for a more than reasonable cost. It has the factory sights on it but I am considering a primitive set of fixed sights If I can find the appropriate type. Does anyone know of a source for such a set of sights?

Thanks In Advance,
Joe

 

[longcruise]

You can get the primitive sight form Track of the wolf and most other mail order outfits. It's a rear sight that screws into the existing mount holes of your TC. It's extra tall so you can work it with a file if you like.

 

[shmrck1]

Might also check with[url] www.dixiegunworks.com[/url] &
[url] www.cainsoutdoor.com[/url].
snake-eyes :hmm:

 

[rudy parnell]

Primitive sights. The factory sights on the Thompson are the best. They are completely adjustable and are perfectly sized to accomodate the longer shot that you have suggested. I think you will be making a huge mistake to change the sights. If you want a primitive set-up...just buy another gun. And another gun won't be much more expensive...especially in the long run cause most people will shy away from a gun that's been tampered with like you are suggesting. I strongly recommend that you shoot what you got!