Conversion of 50 cal Hawken Flintlock to Percussion

[rpg3cornell.edu]

Does anyone know of kits available to convert a 50 cal Hawken flintlock to a percussion?

Thanks in advance!

 

[rpg3cornell.edu]

This is a Thompson Center Hawken made from a kit back 1985.

 

[galamb]

There is no "kit" but there are parts available to do it.

You can get a replacement "flint" breech plug - not from T/C but made to fit (about $31).

It would have to be fit to your barrel - so percussion plug removed and the flint plug fit (gunsmith costs???)

Then you would have to replace the lock with a flint lock - $150 plus some minimal fitting.

Then you would have to have the touch hole drilled/tapped in the flint breech - and touch hole liner installed (if you opt for a liner).

If you are not familiar with these operations it's not something you are going to bolt together in the basement.

My best guess/estimate would be about 300 bucks all in...

 

The poster asked "flintlock to a percussion".

 

[stinkyfeet]

Its faster and easier to go to ebay and buy a percussion lock and barrel then its a simple one screw for the lock, and one wedge pin for the barrel likely cost ya around 200-300 to get it parts this way. Or u can have breech removed by gunsmith refitted and timed to your flint barrel, still have to buy a lock and be out the same money. The first way you will have a percussion and flint barrel and flint/percussion lock both and can interchange as see fit or sell the parts to recoop money. Or buy a whole other gun for the same price and have 2 complete guns..
All Tc hawken barrels that are 15/16 will interchange with your current 15/16 stock and be a virtual drop-in fit remove wedge pin pull barrel put new barrel in reinstall wedge key done. Lock is easy to remove lock screw remove lock, new lock on install screw. Now this is with TC factory parts, and some select after market parts and barrels such as L&R or Green Mountain drop-in barrels.

 

[galamb]

Yes, sorry, must be dyslexic.

The process is the same, the lock would be 30 bucks cheaper, all other prices would be typical.

 

[don hepler]

I agree, there are a lot of people that would trade your flintlock, for a percussion, considering that they would be equal in condition. Or might trade out a barrel and lock, also considering that they would be equal in condition. I don't think it would be that difficult to convert. The touch hole is 1/4-28 now, and this would have to be drilled and tapped for a drum. I believe the drum could be milled across the bottom to fit a percussion lock. In the end, it would be easier, to work out a trade. I think T/C had a Hawken that could be switched from flintlock to percussion, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else knows.

 

[Walks with fire]

Cheapest and probably the easiest is to sell the flinter and buy another in percussion. By the time you buy a percussion lock and convert the barrel it will be more expensive. For me I have little interest in percussion ignition but that's just me. You probably want to do it because the flint lock isn't tuned properly.

I bought a couple of percussion drop-ins with the intent of converting them to flint but after I talked with gunsmiths about the conversion I decided to just buy a Lyman Deerstalker in .54 flint. It's shooting well.

 

[galamb]

That's always the issue - cost.

To convert a production rifle the cost almost always adds up to the total value of the rifle.

Not worth if it unless it was "Dad's old gun" and you want to keep it.

Even though I can do the (gunsmith stuff) myself, I still couldn't see dropping 200 bucks on parts, plus shipping costs, to end up with a rifle that only sells for maybe 300 bucks, on a good day, on the used market.

 

[rpg3cornell.edu]

thanks to all. You answered my questions.