GM 15/16" 40cal IBS barrel opinions

[harryo]

Has anyone put a GM .40cal drop in barrel on a T/C Hawken or Investarms Hawken stock with a 15/16" barrel channel? I happened to come across one of each of the mentioned stocks that were new, from kits and had been slapped together with no sanding or shaping and stained pretty darkly. Some of the screws had the heads stripped and had been tightened too much and stripped from the wood. I bought them both for a bargain price and after a lot of work shaping, sanding, plugging and redrilling screw holes and refinishing, I have two beautiful stocks that need barrels.

I'm going to put a .45cal GM barrel on one and was considering a .40cal for the other but wonder about the weight of a 15/16" .40cal barrel and balance of the rifle. I already have a Hawkens with a .50cal 32" GM barrel and it is a bit front heavy. I haven't gotten the .45 barrel yet but it will be even heavier than the 50, which really makes me wonder about the .40, especially the 38" long one, although they also have a 32" one. Anyone have either barrel on a Hawkens stock and care to comment.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I don't have one, but I did some quick figuring and I would say your going to be in the neighborhood of 10.5 to 11.0 pounds with overall rifle weight using a .40 x 38" barrel...
That may be a bit consevative, as it could lean towards 11.25 pounds???

It should make for a good cross stick or light bench rifle, as well as a light chunk gun, and possibly offhand rifle.. Don't know if I'd want to carry the weight around on a hunt, but that is up to you.

The barrel has a 1 in 48 twist, and I believe .010 to .012 depth rifling. The 1 in 48 is the correct twist for a .40 caliber as I understand it...

 

[Donny]

:applause: Yep, seen one,. 40 cal 15/16 X 32". The owner liked it for for target work, some heavier guns hangs better. However, If a light .50 cal 15/16 32" is too barrel heavy for you, the .40 will certainly be. Don't even think of 38" .40 X 15/16 for offhand. :m2c:

 

[twsteven]

I have a 32 inch by 15/16" .40 calibre GM drop-in barrel for one of my T/C Hawkens and I really like it. It is a little barrel heavy but it shoots very well. I also have a 38 inch by 1 inch .40 calibre drop-in barrel and it is definitely not for off-hand shooting. But with it I have shot 3 shot cloverleafs at 100 yards from the bench using vernier tang peep sights and a globe front sight.

 

[jim gray]

That should do a number on grondhogs, tenthumbs, have you tried it on 'em?

 

[flaming canvas]

I would be proud of that using a scoped centerfire.

 

[76monza]

sabinajiles,
I have and shoot regularly just what you're talking about, A TC hawken stock with a 38" GM .40 cal. drop in. Yes, Ohio Joe is right the gun will weigh out just about 11 pounds. I start shooting the stations well, by the last two stations it is hard to hold the rifle on target. It starts heavy and the darned thing gets heavier the longer I shoot. The gun will shoot the sweetest groups benched. I'm very interested in the other post here about the vernier peep and globe sights. My long range (100 yard aren't that good, but that's my fault.) It's not much to brag about but when I first got my drop-in barrel and zeroed it in. at 25 yards I put seven shots in the 10 ring and all seven holes overlapped. The barrel and the results achieved can be very impressive. I have several other rifles that I could take shooting but Imy hand just seem to grab that TC everytime.
Smokeydays

 

[twsteven]

In answer to the question: No, I haven't used the .40 on groundhogs......yet. And while it consistently shoots good groups, providing I do my part, this is the best group I've shot with it. Wish I could do it every time. Here's a picture of the rifle taken the day I shot the above group.

 

[Ohio Joe]

Nice looking rifle, Thumbs! I have often thought about putting a drop in barrel in my T/C Hawken, but have yet to do so...

That looks like a nice shooting range setup there. Are you able to shoot in both directions? It looks as if there are shooting benches behind the concrete ones?

 

[76monza]

Hey 10 Thumbs,
WHat sights did you change too? i have been toyin with the idea of peeps and globe sights on mine for a bout a year now.

Smokeydays

 

[twsteven]

The shooting range fires only to the north. The white benches you see behind the concrete are picnic tables and some shelves. They hold shooting boxes and make good places for BSing. This range shares a single firing line and has 50 yard, 100 yard, and 200 yard back stops. There is a 15 yard, 25 yard, and 50 yard pistol range about 40 yards to the right. Both ranges are covered and it is a very nice place to shoot.

As for the sights, I have an old T/C vernier tang rear sight mounted on the tang and a Lyman 17A tall front sight on the barrel. For shooting bullseye targets I use an aperature insert in the Lyman sight. I use this combination on about 6 of my T/C Hawkens and also have Lyman 17A sights on several additional drop-in barrels. I used to be able to see the open sights but the eyes just don't seem to work as well as they used to.

Thanks for the interest and the inquires.

 

[twsteven]

Hey 10 Thumbs,
WHat sights did you change too? i have been toyin with the idea of peeps and globe sights on mine for a bout a year now.

Smokeydays

Smokey: I tried to private message you with the following picture but I don't think it went through. These are my sights of preference.

 

[rwwintx]

if you don't mind i really like those sights where might i find them

thanks rwwintx

 

[76monza]

Hey 10 thumbs,
I suppose that peep sight is out of production now? The lyman globe is it still available? I haven't checked Dixi yet.
Anyway I now have another new project I'll be starting... as soon as I finish that new dog house I'm gonna be livin' in, as soon as the wife finds out!

Smokeydays

 

[twsteven]

if you don't mind i really like those sights where might i find them

thanks rwwintx

The Lyman globe sight is readily available from most any gun supply store. The T/C vernier tang sight has not been available new for a number of years. You bnest bet is to keep an eye open on the internet auctions as occasionally one comes up. Usually there is some competition in the bidding. I'm not sure if there is a "substitute" tang sight out there or not. Good luck.

 

[kodiakemt414]

Found a pretty good tang in Dixie. They have the globe too. I will be ordering one of each for myself.