Plains Rifle Takes its First Deer

[Tizzy]

First deer taken on family land with shown rifle. I built the rifle in the pic from parts obtained on a budget build off of parts obtained off of Ebay. It is .50 cal and had 80 gr. FFFg pushing the ball. I would like to think the rifle has "Hawken" inspired features, but I am well aware that it misses the mark in authenticity. The rifle is a conglomerate of what I can best tell was intended to be a Sante Fe Hawken Walnut stock, (possibly a model for duplicator as ramrod hole was not drilled, and forestock rough shaped) a Navy Arms used barrel, and finishing parts from Track of the Wolf. Anyways, the barrel is rust blued and rubbed back to look somewhat used, the stock finished with a mixture of linseed and True Oil, and the lock..well the plate was made from a piece of iron from a barn on an 1800s farm, with the internals and hammer from a Davis lock. Hate to take a doe..but it made meat.

 

[Gtrubicon]

Nice rifle, Doe meat is as good as it gets!

 

[Walkingeagle]

Good job!
Walk

 

[Britsmoothy]

Wow

 

[Notchy Bob]

Outstanding! The rifle looks terrific! You followed a time-honored tradition in using available parts to assemble a functional weapon. It works, and it looks really good. Probably most of us see a scroll trigger guard like that on a plains rifle and think "Hawken," but it was actually a popular style that was used by a number of builders. Genuine Hawken rifles were not all identical, in that a few unusual ones exist. Besides, you identified it as a "plains rifle," and not a Hawken.

I would be proud to carry and show that rifle anywhere!

As for the doe, there are no apologies needed. A healthy deer herd that has a population maintained within the carrying capacity of their habitat should have a near-equal mix of bucks and does. Too many people focus too much on killing bucks, which can upset the balance.

Great post, @Tizzy ! You built your own rifle and "made meat" with it. You'll have some first rate venison, a nice hide, and even the sinews and hooves can be used for old-time projects, whether from a buck or a doe. All good!

Notchy Bob

 

[erhunter]

How about a story of the hunt? How far did you have to track, etc.? Congrats on your rifle and your trophy!

 

[bushytail]

Congratulations on a nice doe!

 

[Okie Hog]

Good shot on the doe.

 

[HighUintas]

Great looking rifle and deer! You're probably closer to Hawken than you think. There was quite a bit of variability in what they did.

 

[sb 54 cal.]

A gun you assembled a ball you cast and harvest that is used is the best anyone can do. Congrats.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Nice rifle, tell me about the shot, my friend is curious.

 

[ezekiel]

I saw ground venison at the local meat shop and the price was 7.49 a pound. So enjoy the harvest and the savings .Thanks for sharing your hunt.

 

[ezekiel]

I saw ground venison at the local meat shop and the price was 7.49 a pound. So enjoy the harvest and the savings .Thanks for sharing your hunt.

 

[ezekiel]

sorry for the repeat !

I saw ground venison at the local meat shop and the price was 7.49 a pound. So enjoy the harvest and the savings .Thanks for sharing your hunt.

 

[deermanok]

Congrats on a good doe.
Similarly to you, I put together a flintlock rifle from parts earlier this year.
I've gotten pretty good shooting it and hopefully I can take a deer with mine. Our muzzleloader season starts this coming Saturday.

 

[Mike in FL]

I've killed lots of does when legal. Meat is meat. Very nice rifle.
Not judging, but is the bloody area where you hit her?

 

[kemart17]

View attachment 169142
First deer taken on family land with shown rifle. I built the rifle in the pic from parts obtained on a budget build off of parts obtained off of Ebay. It is .50 cal and had 80 gr. FFFg pushing the ball. I would like to think the rifle has "Hawken" inspired features, but I am well aware that it misses the mark in authenticity. The rifle is a conglomerate of what I can best tell was intended to be a Sante Fe Hawken Walnut stock, (possibly a model for duplicator as ramrod hole was not drilled, and forestock rough shaped) a Navy Arms used barrel, and finishing parts from Track of the Wolf. Anyways, the barrel is rust blued and rubbed back to look somewhat used, the stock finished with a mixture of linseed and True Oil, and the lock..well the plate was made from a piece of iron from a barn on an 1800s farm, with the internals and hammer from a Davis lock. Hate to take a doe..but it made meat.

thanks for sharing !!!! so cool your rifle build, job well done!!!

 

[Herb]

Tl\izzy, you did very well. Ain't no flies on that rifle! I seem to remember a Sante Fe Hawken with a 15 1/2 inch trigger reach. Was yours that big?

 

[house]

Very nice. congratulations!

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Nothing wrong with doe meat! I've said before that's it's more fun to build a gun that fits your ideas of the period than it is to try to build a copy. At least for me anyway. Good job on both.