Greetings, Hawkens, Trades, and Mike Lange

[necchi]

I hear ya,
It's always the way when it comes to guns an gun parts. Seems no matter what ya do there's always a step up, another grade better,,

I haven't heard anything bad about Numrich barrels,, and in this case I don't think there's a upgrade that has marginal cost. What I mean is there isn't anything for another $50-100 that will be any better, a significant upgrade would add $150-200.

An option I see he has on the order form is a hooked breech for another $20. Now that's something I'd do, it makes it easier to remove the barrel and give it the cleaning it needs. The breech can then be fully submersed in a bucket of soapy water and a pump method used to get a barrel sparkling clean.

 

[galamb]

Most barrels, even some of the cheap Spanish ones out there will shoot better than most of us will ever be able to shoot ourselves.

(I am staying away from rate of twist at this point - I shoot round balls so prefer slow twist barrels, but for a "starter" gun, 1:48 twist is fine until you decide what you want to shoot and then you may change up the twist in your second gun)

If you are a competitive bench shooter then it's definitely worth getting a custom barrel.

I started out with a Lyman Trade rifle. It shot great with the Italian barrel (again, more accurate than me).

I have since moved on to semi-custom guns. My Ohio has a $150 Green Mountain barrel - shoots fine but certainly no worse than my $265 Rice round bottom rifled barrel (which cost as much as I paid for the Trade rifle back in the day).

My point is, for the "average" guy/gal who takes their rifle out hunting and punches a few holes in paper targets in the off season just about all the production barrels out there are more than accurate enough for their/our use.

I do prefer just about any lock over the Thompson Center/Lyman/Traditions/CVA locks out there.

The production guns use locks with relatively weak springs compared to L&R, Chambers and Davis.

L&R does make a whole line of replacement locks for the major mfg's which I would go to IF an original wore out/broke - but as has been noted, the (factory) locks are sufficient.

Aside from the "cool factor" I have never really seen an advantage to double set triggers personally.

Target shooters love them but they are quite un-necessary for hunting (plus they are (complicated), need to be set up, tuned etc).

If you are going with a build, unless you have some overwhelming "need" (or you just think DST's are cool), I would opt for a single trigger. They are "correct" for a trade rifle and there is little to go wrong with them.

I own 1 of each and almost never use the set function on the DST.

 

[S.Kenton]

I JUST emailed Mike Lange a day or two ago about building a Tennessee/ Southern Longrifle, asking the price and expected delivery date..he said that he was no longer taking custom orders. Maybe it's just me?..I ordered a Reading Penn. Rifle from him and paid 75% up front and paid the rest 2 weeks before the rifle was finished..So I know on my end there isn't any bad blood.

 

[S.Kenton]

I too have turned my sights to his Western Trade rifle..and yes he offers a 36" inch barrel in a Colrain. I had him build a Reading Penn. rifle with a 42" Colrain barrel...I'll tell ya this, it was VERY accurate, as well as easy to clean.
I am thinking about getting my trade rifle in the " white" and doing the finishing work myself.

 

[oldarcher]

Everyone is new to something once...we all have had to learn from folks more experienced than we are.
That being said, I started shooting BP in the early 70's with a Thompson Center "Hawken" then moved up to a CVA with a Sharon Barrel. Since those early years I have built many true Hawken copies with super premium barrels. (I mean that a true Hawken copy is one that could conceivably have been built by the Hawken Shop). I currently shoot a true Hawken close copy with a GR Douglas Barrel. I prefer this rifle to my others with Large, Colerain, Sharon, GRRW, ETC barrels. I prefer the GR Douglas barreled rifle because of the way it feels to me as any barrel that I have mentioned will shoot far better than I can.
The only point that I am trying to make is that almost any barrel that you buy can be made to shoot far better than most offhand shooters can.
Message is: buy what you like and what feels good to you. If you stay at BP shooting your tastes will probably change and what you buy today will probably be traded or sold sometime so pick what you like!
If I had to pick a starter rifle I would pick a T/C "Hawken". Not because it is better than other competitors, but because it is reasonably well made and people like it so it is easy to buy a good one at a good price and easy to sell or trade when your are ready to move up. Good luck with your search, and WELCOME to the BP community.

 

[William O.]

My western trade rifle from Mike should be here in a few days

Pics and comments expected.
I'm sure you will be mucho pleased with the Numrich barrel.

I'm sure it will look even better in person than the photo's that Mike took already, just before boxing it up. One more plus when it comes to ordering from Mike is the shipping boxes that he builds around the shipping box. Yes, he builds a wooden shipping box around the foam and cardboard shipping box, then encloses all that in another cardboard box. It may be overkill or it may be completely unnecessary as he's had some bad experiences with various shipping companies, but
it will get to it's new owner in one piece.
One more thing about the Spanish locks that he offers, is that he tears all the locks apart, inspects and polishes what needs polishing so no reservations about his less expensive components unless you just don't like the style. Same with the Italian locks too.

 

[hanshi]

He really knows what he's doing and he does it with precision.

 

[Bugflipper]

About every post has just been Mike's work. Folks can't really argue about that. I didn't see the fellow's integrity mentioned. I have seen him post on srewing something up and it slipping by and him making it right without any exscuses paying shipping both ways. I have also seen adults try out his rug rat rifles, finding them too short and he takes them back with a full refund. I do not doubt the lifetime guarentee he puts on his actual work, plus covering the shipping if necessary to work on the whole thing and not just send a part because he is that type of guy.

 

[De_LaLonde]

Well after a few email exchanges I've decided to get a full stocked trade rifle with chambers/siler lock, and 36" Colerain barrel. Seems like it will be a good solid rifle to learn on and shoot a whole lot. Just need to scrape together the last of the deposit and get my name down. And BTW mike is very easy to deal with and very willing to answer any questions.

 

[rusty]

I would have him use the Chambers Late Ketland lock,more correct for the period,and it is a great lock..