Bought a First For Me Today

[Terry Lightle]

Bought a 50 caliber TC Hawken today.was bought new in 1983 the gentleman thought.Really clean gun with bore looking virtually new.Have Swiss FFF and was wondering how much powder you guys are using in the ones some of you guys are shooting.Gonna shoot round balls.Shoot 80 grains in my 54 flintlock but never owned a 50.Serial number is 122XXX.Has the spade mark for Sharon barrel

 

[Phil Coffins]

70 grains.

 

[Banjoman]

Mine shoots good with 65 grains of 3f. Above that wasn’t any better accuracy so I stuck with 65.

 

[ETipp]

Congrats on the awesome find. Indeed, somewhere between the 60 and 70 grains will most likely be the sweet spot.

 

[dave951]

Start with 50g and work upwards. Most 50s I've shot had the sweet spot at 65ish.

 

[Duk]

Mine loves 70 grains

 

[Treetop]

.490 ball
15 thousands patch (lubed)
60-70 grains
That 3F Swiss is good powder, makes for a nice clean up after firing.

 

[Terrier]

Mine seems to like 80gr 3f with a .010 patch and .490 RB.

 

[Second-rate Marksman]

Sounds like you got a great find with that TC Hawken! For a .50 caliber shooting round balls, a common starting point is around 50-70 grains of FFFg powder, but some shooters go up to 80-90 grains depending on the accuracy they’re getting and how the rifle feels. Since you’re used to 80 grains in your .54 flintlock, you might want to start on the lower end and work your way up to see what shoots best in your new Hawken. The Sharon barrel is a nice touch—those are well-regarded for their quality. Happy shooting!

P.S. What distances do you typically shoot at? I’ve found 50 grains in my plains rifle to be perfectly adequate and gives me 1” groups or better at 50 yards. No sense in shooting more powder than you absolutely have to: it’s just a waste of powder and results in increased recoil.

Below is a three-shot group at 50 yards shooting 50 grains of Swiss through my own plains rifle. Not a bad group considering I didn’t have any real point of reference (bullseye or marking of any sort). Just aimed at approximately the same spot on the upper torso of the target. Shot from the bench.

 

[fubar22]

Always check the owner's manual, if available, for minimum and maximum loads. You should be able to find a manual online for any TC firearm. You'll find recommended projectile types, powder charges, and loading instructions.

Determining the load that works best between recommended minimums and maximums is a lot harder, and boards like this one can be a big help.

 

[kelljp]

Factory reference

 

[reddogge]

My target load was always 50 gr FFG. My hunting load was 80 gr FFG. The 50 gr load was very accurate out of my rifle.

 

[Second-rate Marksman]

… boards like this one can be a big help.

Or a big source of confusion.

My target load was always 50 gr FFG. My hunting load was 80 gr FFG. The 50 gr load was very accurate out of my rifle.

I think a lot guys tend to overload their rifles. Not in the sense that they’re exceeding the manufacturer’s recommendations, but they’re consistently shooting charges at/near the maximum load specification. I don’t know if it’s a machismo thing or what, but I’m convinced it’s like shooting a steady diet of +P ammunition through a centerfire: it simply accelerates wear and tear on the firearm. Perhaps this is why so many of the guns I’ve owned in the past had hairline cracks in the lock inlet area and around the tang…

 

[CVA Enthusiast]

Like all blackpowder I have to start with the smallest charge size recommended, for the patch/conical/round ball I am using and do at least a minimum of 8 shots per increasing the powder increments by 5 grains until I reach my desired results. Barrels, rifling, powder charge, patch size it all increases or decreases accuracy as well as velocities. I got a Hawken that loves 85 grains a .490 round ball and .12 ticking and another by the same maker few years apart and abused by previous owner that thrives on 70 grains a .495 round ball and .10 ticking to get my desired results out to 100 yards. Do I dare to say you should play with it, stroke it find the diet the rifle enjoys to bring you to your desired climax? hahahahahahahahahah. Good start for a .50 cal 50 grains, .490 round ball and .10 patch keep an eye on printing, what is happening to patches burnt, shredded, char, holes worn it all tells one needs a thicker or thinner patch or larger ball.

 

[Terry Lightle]

Took her to the range this morning,55 grains of Swiss FFF shot great.Going to have to change sight as it was about 6 inches high at 50 yards.Has the adjustable rear sight so going to take it off and put the lower base on that came with it and put a buck horn on it.Appreciate the responses I got here.Ran out of adjustment on elevation screw,would rather have the buck horn anyway.

 

[Terry Lightle]

80 yards or so is about as far as I will shoot at deer,practice at 100 pretty regular.