Good Hawken article in ML

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For those who don't know, the "ML" in the title refers to the JULY/AUGUST 2018 issue of the "MUZZLELOADER" magazine.

The article is in Mike Nesbitt's "SHOOTING THE BULL" column and is titled, "RE-VISITING THE HAWKEN".

It gives some history about the Hawken rifle but much of the article talks about some of the better, modern made reproductions of the originals Mike has seen or shot.

MUZZLELOADER magazine is perhaps the best magazine available when it comes to muzzleloading rifles, pistols and the history of them and our country.

The subscription price currently is $32/year or two years subscription for $57.00 (US).
Canadians get to spend $42 or $74 of their money for the same subscriptions.

Send requests for subscription to:

MUZZLELOADER, Subscription Services
PO Box 385
Congers, NY 10920-0385

The magazine is published every 2 months so a years worth of them amounts to 6 magazines.
 
Zonie said:
It gives some history about the Hawken rifle but much of the article talks about some of the better, modern made reproductions of the originals Mike has seen or shot.

This is interesting as I believe it was a couple of back magazines I read, and in the letters to the editor where someone complained that most of the articles were focused on custom guns, and a lack of articles on the modern reproductions.
The person who complained hit a good point in that most of the folks shooting muzzle loaders, can't always afford a custom made gun, and that entry level shooters are also being left out.
I'm not going to quote the magazines response, but I will say it was weak, and I'm glad to see that maybe the point was taken.
I personally enjoy the magazine. :thumbsup:
 
Each year at Friendship I buy a few back issue of ML and do enjoy them. But, overall I have avoided subscribing because it feels a bit like a coffee table magazine. However the three issues I bought this year have me reevaluating that and I may subscribe.

They do very good historical articles on F&I and AWI and early settlement, but they refuse to do the West and they say so. Just on this point you might see where I get the hint of a feeling that they are a little ”¦ ?? east coast snobs. (?) Sorry to put it that way, I know it is ineloquent. But their historical articles are so good I may subscribe after all, largely for them.

The hunting articles always involve traditional muzzleloaders, unlike Raychard in Muzzle Blasts who adamantly shoves his thumbs in our eyes by only showing inlines.

ML covers >artisans< in depth. Wonderful, talented artisans whose work is beautiful, instructive and inspiring. Somehow, although I enjoy those articles, they do add to the coffee table/east coast snob feeling of the magazine. It's a small thing, strictly my perception or prejudice, maybe I'm too sensitive? (Or too low class?)

They do give Nesbitt a bit of leeway to talk about Rendezvous type topics, so it follows that the Hawken article was his.

Overall it is a beautiful, entertaining magazine to which I am probably going to subscribe.
 
The magazine has made a dramatic change over the last 5 years.

Since 2013 when the new publisher took over the quality of photos and articles continue to improve with each article.

IMHO it’s the best magazine on Muzzleloading out there.

I’m seeing improvements in Muzzle Blast magazine as well.

My perspective on why certain things or areas are written about moreso than others is......
It’s better to cover a specific time frame, era , or regional location throughly than too dabble in several different locations of which your not as familiar with.
:idunno:
 
This past issue had a lot of historical articles in it covering WBW (way back when). It's far ahead of MB, which admittedly I haven't seen lately. It's chocked full of ads, got the neat alphabetized ad index in the back, and it's a lot thicker than MB.

I seem to remember a few issues back they covered the Lewis & Clark expedition. Maybe they don't cover the west because there wasn't so much time covered with MLs in the west. Maybe 40-50 years? I'm winging it here.

I also figure they won't cover mass production guns because of lack of mass production guns in ads, and they figure why give up four pages of free copy when one can go to Google and get all the reviews they want. And basically there are maybe a half-dozen Hawken replicas on the mass market, fewer than that of longrifles, and hundreds of shopmade guns.

It's not a magazine about shooting. Some mass guns shoot really well, some are kinda sketchy on materials but still shoot pretty well. I do relate to the "coffee table" magazine look; it's slick and bright and probably appeals to certain tastes. Overall, it pays for itself with ad money, something MB apparently does not.

I like it.
 
Talking about the price of custom guns caused me to look at the price of some of the modern rifles made by name companies that are factory guns. Some of them cost more than a custom MZ rifle. Look at the price of shotguns that people buy to shoot claybirds with. Certainly there are guns that cost less than the custom MZ rifle for those that just can't afford the cost, always has been, always will be. I just ordered a rifle to be built for over twelve hundred dollars. It won't be deliverable for about 8 or 9 months. I have scopes on rifles that cost more than the rifle I'm having built. I'm not rich either, I'm a retired cop on an annuity. The cost of custom MZ rifles isn't out of line with some of the so called medium grade shotguns or factory Kimber rifles. Happyness I being able to get what you want, sometimes you got to save for a little while.
 
I'm a big fan of ML magazine. I was buying it at the local bookstore but realized after missing an issue that I needed a subscription.

They did have a good article on the Lyman GPR that came out shortly after I got mine but, yes most of the guns featured I can only dream about at this point...putting things in perspective, however the other magazines I subscribe to are aviation related and those are REALLY full of things I can't afford.

What with the pictures of beautiful guns, crafts and the great history articles there's really subjects of interest for anyone who picks up the magazine, even folks who aren't really into shooting. My wife's homeschool group just used an article in the last magazine to do a primitive fire starting class.
 
I've owned my Cabela's Hawken since the early nineties, and I think I paid in the neighborhood of $300 and change, and that same rifle today is double what I paid.
I'm guess I'm pretty easy to please as long as the rifle shoots so good, it doesn't know that it's not supposed to since it isn't a custom build and didn't require a mortgage. :haha:
 
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