.58

[kemart17]

My Hawken has a heavy barrel and i'd like to lighten it up some. It's a .50 and i'm thinking of having Bobby bore it out to a .58. I've had a lot of .54's but never a .58. I'd be increasing the PRB from 177gr to 280gr. That will increase the recoil a bit.

My question is for those who have a .58. How do you like it as a hunting caliber? What's your hunting load? My barrel is 32". Game will be muley buck and black bear. Maybe elk if I can get my Lakota friend to hunt with me and help with getting the meat out.

I considered shortening the barrel but i'd prefer to not do that. 32" is as short as I want to go on a Hawken and I like the longer sighting plane. My crappy vision can see the front sight better.

So, you .58 shooters. Give me your opinion. Good or bad.

Thanks

i shoot a .58 for deer. 110gr 2f PRB. hawken style i built about 20yrs ago. have shot many deer with it, my load is actually heavier then needed but my gun likes it a lot and has never let me down. accuracy with power.

 

[brazosland]

I shoot three .58’s. Ball in all three. But you don’t need my opinion...

 

[rich pierce]

I’ve got more calibers than I should need. I’ve got a .38, a couple .45s, a .50, .a 54, a .58, a 20 gauge, and a.69 smoothbore. I’ve got .36 and .62 rifles planned, plus a 24 gauge smoothbore. Addictive!

 

[Kreole]

I shoot a .58 calibre but I use a 500 grain minie in my Enfield carbine. No PRB yet.

This.... or a .570 ball patched .015

 

[Bill Rowe]

My Hawken has a heavy barrel and i'd like to lighten it up some. It's a .50 and i'm thinking of having Bobby bore it out to a .58. I've had a lot of .54's but never a .58. I'd be increasing the PRB from 177gr to 280gr. That will increase the recoil a bit.

My question is for those who have a .58. How do you like it as a hunting caliber? What's your hunting load? My barrel is 32". Game will be muley buck and black bear. Maybe elk if I can get my Lakota friend to hunt with me and help with getting the meat out.

I considered shortening the barrel but i'd prefer to not do that. 32" is as short as I want to go on a Hawken and I like the longer sighting plane. My crappy vision can see the front sight better.

So, you .58 shooters. Give me your opinion. Good or bad.

Thanks

You can lighten your barrel a pound + or so off the heavy end by tapper fluting it. I took a .50 cal. 1'' octagon 33'' long, and took over a pound off mine. Took 3 hr. in a mill with a 3/8'' ball nose cutter, looks fantastic, Made alll the difference in the world. Bill

 

[Rawhide67]

I’ve got more calibers than I should need. I’ve got a .38, a couple .45s, a .50, .a 54, a .58, a 20 gauge, and a.69 smoothbore. I’ve got .36 and .62 rifles planned, plus a 24 gauge smoothbore. Addictive!

I'm in the same boat. Many I haven't even shot, including a TC big bore. So little time.

 

[fraungie]

Ok, never mind. I got all the info I need on the ALR forum.

Strange that none of you shoot a .58 ball.

I shoot a .58 Zuove. 90 grains of 2f with a patched .570 ball and musket caps. I killed one buck with it. Put the ball through both lungs. The ball enteerd between the ribs on the way in and hit and broke one on the way out. He ran about 50 yards. Very large blood trail.

 

[user 36911]

You can lighten your barrel a pound + or so off the heavy end by tapper fluting it. I took a .50 cal. 1'' octagon 33'' long, and took over a pound off mine. Took 3 hr. in a mill with a 3/8'' ball nose cutter, looks fantastic, Made alll the difference in the world. Bill

I couldn't do that but i'm glad it worked for you.

 

[Art Caputo]

I shoot/hunt with a 58 cal Kibler Colonial rifle with a 43” barrel. I shoot a .570 Patched LRB. At 8.8. pounds it’s pleasant to shoot and a very effective hunting round.

 

[longcruise]

I have a 58 Renegade that started as a 50. Bobby bored it out for me. I have yet to hunt with it but not expecting any extraordinary revelations. It’s nice and light in the hand compared to it's 50 configuration.

I'm perfectly satisfied with the way it shoots and have no doubt it will serve as an elk gun.

What is your barrel across the flats? Bobby will do the job on it if you have 1" ATF and nobody has drilled any crazy holes in it. If you are going to do it, now is the time September is coming at us!

I plan to use the 58 this year for elk and bear. Probably antelope too.

 

[user 36911]

Yes, it's 1" across the flats and the gun is brand new and untouched.

 

[JCKelly]

What’s ALR?

American Long Rifle forum

 

[user 36911]

I just talked to Bobby. We decided a .54 will work best for me. Recoil would probably be a problem with the med problems I have. My Lakota friend said to day he'll be there for an elk hunt and do all the work of getting the meat out. I don't think I can skin and quarter and animal anymore. Bad back and knees have gotten too bad. So, it will be an elk hunt from now on with my buddy. He's only do it for elk because he loves the meat just Like i do. Neither one of us like mule deer and bear meat. He'll get half the elk meat. I'd pay him too but he wouldn't take it. He can have the hide and make money with it too.

So, since Colorado has a .54 minimum for a PRB for elk the .54 has to be done. I won't save as much weight as a .58 but everything taken off the barrel will help. He said a 1-60 deep groove will work good and not need a big powder load like a slower twist would. I'm thinking 85gr of Goex 2F at my close range of under 50yds should fill the freezer for a cow elk.

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

I have used a .54 for years but have a .58 on order. Looking forward to receiving it and trying loads out for it.

 

[user 36911]

Here's one of my hunting spots. I don't hunt the open areas but just the timber. as you can see it's at timberline about 11.500ft. Lot's of bear, elk, and muley's.