Investarms Hawken in 58 caliber

[Griz44Mag]

Atsa way hooked butts were intended to be shot, but if a guy is shooting from the bench the tendency is to drop your arm, moving the butt onto your shoulder joint, or worse yet, your collar bone. Neither is a happy situation! :shocked2:

Well, while I am doing load workups and tuning for accuracy, everything is from a bench with a tall bag. I guess I could hang my tree hook on a post on the bench awing support and stand. If I was counting right, I pushed around 80 balls down it this morning, pretty much nonstop except to take quick breather and a quick chat with the only other soul at the range this morning. Usually the pace is much slower and even the recoil of a 3xx Wx (one of those others with a big punch) not bother me too much. Overall, a great morning, and I am very satisified with the way she shoots. I will start fine tuning, but the groups I am getting are much better than "minute of deer", which is the intended purpose for this gun. It's light and easy to carry, but still packs a big punch.
TX GRIZ

 

[Griz44Mag]

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[BrownBear]

Your results say you're right on the money, so in truth I wouldn't change a thing. I doubt I've ever put as many as 50 shots through mine in a session, so I'm likely talking out the top of my head compared to your experience with 80! :hatsoff:

 

[Griz44Mag]

I'm guessing at 80. I went through almost a full pound of powder. The bottle had already been opened, but I don't remember using more than 5 or 10 shots out of it the last time I used 2f, which was a month or so back. I was pushing through rounds fairly fast running through the patches to see where they land. If 85 grains per my volumetric measure of Goex really weighs 85 grains, then the math puts it about 80, maybe a few less. I did have just a little left in the 1# bottle. I was at it for 5 hours or so. I am curious now, so I think I will dig out the measure and actually weigh a charge. So far I have never done that.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Hi,
, or you are walking home with a broken ramrod or a ball stuck half way down the barrel.

So unless you have a mallet, brass ramrod, and sturdy ball starter, think what your .58 likes most.
Fred

LOL, thanks Fred. The ramrod that came in it is a Delron dark brown. Seems pretty tough. While at the range I loaded 10 balls with it, works great. I did wrap a folded cleaning rag over the end to cushion my hand, but it set the balls with no issue. And if I can find a second one for the right price, I will grab it. I like the bang-boing of that big 58 smacking a steel plate out there at 100.
TX GRIZ

 

[BrownBear]

I like the bang-boing of that big 58 smacking a steel plate out there at 100.

Oh yeah! You got the spirit! :thumbsup:

Roundball, a past member of considerable experience coined the term "whompability" for the 58 caliber. How right he was!

 

[Griz44Mag]

"whompability"

Dang, I like that! I'm gonna steal it....

 

[In Over My Head]

Continuing my post from above... My budget pool refilled from the SSA Spring and I resumed my hunt for a flintlock Investarms/Cabela's .58 Hawken to match the percussion one that I have become so fond of.

Every weekend I had been peeking in on one listed for $1000 on Gunbroker. "As-is", only photos were of the lock and triggerguard area, very difficult to get an answer from the seller for any question and, like I said, $1,000! For that price it wasn't going anywhere, certainly not to my house! Then, soon after Gunbroker changed its policy and made it costly to keep relisting unsold guns, I peeked at it on a Sunday and found a huge price drop. I pounced! I probably still paid too much, but these 15/16" .58s aren't popping up just everywhere - especially in flintlock.

I finally got to take it to the range last weekend. I got down there late and was losing light fast so I only took two shots with it. It sparked reliably and shot near to the sights with the same load I've been using in the percussion version. I am very pleased with it and, if I paid too much for it that's okay because I definitely paid too little for its twin.

 

[BrownBear]

I probably still paid too much, but these 15/16" .58s aren't popping up just everywhere - especially in flintlock.

I gotta say that I've never seen one in flint, so that's a score. Especially since it's a shooter. Well done at any price! :hatsoff:

 

[Griz44Mag]

Well done, and a unique find. I have never seen on in a flint either. I have worked up to loads for my percussion and it has (for now) become my favorite. I will be hunting with mine come fall season. Good luck and I hope it turns out to be a tack driver.

 

[lone rider]

Just got one of these. I always wanted a flintlock rifle, and was hoping it would be .50 cal like my percussions but nope it's a whopping big .58 cal. I'm not going to be shooting buffalo with it nor fending off commanches, so what is a good light powder charge for this rifle in 3f black powder? This particular one is an investarm flintlock hawken. Anyone know what is a good light target load of FFF powder? I've been shooting 45-50 grains of FFF in my .50 caliber.
Any info appreciated, new to this caliber. Thank you!