Green Mountain Barrel

[Stoner]

I received the correct barrel from Green Barrel Company as a replacement barrel for my Thompson Center Hawkins. I did not purchase the Green Mountain Barrel directly from Green Mountain Barrel Company but rather MidUSA. The box was incorrectly labeled as a 15/16-inch barrel. The barrel was a 1-inch barrel and would not fit the stock. Called Green Mountain and no questions ask said they would ship a replacement barrel before I even sent them the other barrel back to them. Great customer service. I did have to make some minor alterations to make the barrel compatible with my Hawkins stock. The spring clip that puts pressure on the ramrod to keep it from rattling was too long and kept the barrel from seating all the way into the stock. I bent the spring clip and ground the end to make it a little shorter. It works great and holds the ramrod snuggly in place. I took the brass thimbles off the old Thompson Center barrel to put them on the new Green Mountain barrel and found the old hex nuts on the Thompson Center barrel were not long enough so I ended up using the longer Screws that came on the Green Mountain barrel. The thimbles that come on the Green Mountain barrel are black steel so I use my old brass thimbles from my Thompson Center rifle so all the gun’s hardware would match. The only other problem that I had was that the head on the screw that was provided with the Green Mountain barrel to hold the spring ramrod clip that I mentioned above was too high and blocked the passage of the ramrod. I use one of the flatter hex nuts and it work fine for holding the spring clip in place and the ramrod passes over the screw easily. Minor problems and certainly recommend purchasing the Green Mountain replacement barrel. It looks great and shoots great. I like the faster 1:28 inch twist. The Thompson Center rifle had a 1:48 inch twist.

 

[Swampman]

You should try shooting round balls.

 

[Zonie]

Stoner: Thanks for the great post.

Too many times folks write about getting one of these Green Mountain Barrels and fail to mention the little things that don't fit just right or need to be modified with the new barrel.

This gives the impression that it truly is a "drop in barrel" so when the folks actually try to install it and run into these little snags they feel they came out the small end of the horn.

It's been my experiance that the only parts that are truly "drop in" are the factory replacement parts. All the others from the Green Mountain Barrel, the L&R Lock and the Pecatonica River stock require some work to get them to fit.

Thanks again.

 

[roundball]

I agree...on my three GM barrels I've had to do the following to make them match and fit my TC Hawkens that I installed them on:
1) All had black thimbles that had to be replaced with TC's brass ones;
2) All had black aluminum ramrods with chrome tips made by Knight, that I replaced with brass ones;
3) One had the same ramrod spring problem mentioned above;
4) One had to have the underrib removed to shorten it so it would clear the front of the nose cap;
5) Two of three barrels had to have their wedge pin tenons removed and sanded down smaller on a belt sander so they did not hang down into the ramrod channel so far and bind up the ramrods.

All were fixable problems, but certainly represent a lot of surprises to the unsuspecting when they're advertised as TC Hawken "Drop In" barrels...called GM and told them as much, but their attitude was pretty laid back about the whole thing...something to the effect of "well, they're not TC barrels ya know".

Suggested they at least make mention of those things in their catalog...also suggested they consider allowing a buyer to specify things like brass thimbles, ramrods, etc...but the suggestions slid off of them like water off a ducks back.

I don't buy GM barrels because they 'appear' to be $40 cheaper than a TC...because you turn right around and spend the difference, possibly more, making it match a TC Hawken...I just buy barrels from GM that TC doesn't make.

 

[walruskid1]

roundball, what do you think of adding a .58 gm barrel to my .56 renegade? i use prb almost always.

 

[Flintandsteel]

Stoner,
The barrel you had will shoot roundballs, but the new one would be a nightmare. It is defintely a bullet barrel. :v

 

[roundball]

roundball, what do you think of adding a .58 gm barrel to my .56 renegade? i use prb almost always.

I am awstruck by my GM .58cal barrel...I think if you got a GM .58cal you'd think so too.

Mine is a 1" x 33" x 1:70" Flint barrel, very deep cut grooves and it just seems to shoot like it's laser guided...just sort of get it pointed in the direction of the target center and the ball goes in the bullseye...a real tack driver and I think the barrel length helps with that.

I've taken 4 good bucks with it now and when it's unloaded on a deer it's all over right now...can't decide if I should name it "Sudden Death" or "Thunder". :grin:

If you get one, you'll probably find yourself in the same boat I did...that the .56cal SB would no longer hold any interest to you as a ball gun, only for shot loads...which is still fine if you have small game opportunities for it.

When I start winding down my shooting/hunting years and start selling off muzzleloaders, my .58cal will be one of the last to go.
:winking:

 

[mikee51848]

Do they sell them in the white? TOW only sells them blued.

 

[mikelange]

I've only built one .58 rifle, an early-style flinter using a GM 36"x1" tube. This was a wedding present for a good friend who happens to be ex-Marine and an expert marksman with most any modern type of firearm. He came back some time later, raving about the accuracy of a gun that he initially doubted would even fire reliably (not being an M-16, after all). I haven't seen him do it, but apparently he likes blowing up ping-pong balls at ranges varying from 15 to 50 yards. If the capacity for accuracy is the first and foremost factor to be weighed in selecting a barrel, I have no problem recommending GM's products.

 

[roundball]

Do they sell them in the white? TOW only sells them blued.

You could check around through their website...as I recall I think I have noticed some in the white for building, but I don't think any TC dropins are in the white...but...GM is pretty good to work with, if you ask them they'll probably pull one before it goes into the bluing process step.

IE: Both my .58 and .62 are normally only offered in caplock, but they made Flint versions for me.