Range time with the Hot Rod Hawken

[Idaho Ron]

Today I got a chance to do some range work with my Hot Rod Hawken. The last time I shot was back in March. I was shooting 6" low at 150 yards that time. I wanted to shoot it at 150 and get that sight in perfect. The first shot was again 6" low. SO I adjusted the sight and shot again. This time I was a little over 3" high. I adjusted it and shot again. It wasn't a bullseye but close enough for me.

On this next target I started out with the last shot on the target above. My second shot after getting the sight perfect was good enough for me. So for shot number 3 on this target I moved up to 100 yards to check my 100 yard sight in. That one is close enough for a bullseye for me.

By this time the wind was starting to pick up. It wasn't real bad but enough to push my bullets off the paper. I went out to 200 and 250 yards to check for elevation. Both of them were good but they were off to the left just off the paper. I went out to 300 and shot a couple times there. I wasn't worried about windage just height. I was about 6" low. I will have to try to get that finished on my next trip.
One thing that the long yardage shows me is how much the wind comes into play with long shots. My max distance I will shoot at game is 150 yards on the first shot. I always have my guns sighted in out to 250 or 300 yards. That is just in case something went wrong with the first shot and I have a wounded animal. If that happens I know where to set my sights on a longer shot if I have to take that on a wounded animal.
Just about ready for the hunting season. Ron

 

[rafterob]

What makes it a "Hot Rod"? Wish I had a long range to try something past 100 yards. Are you using open sights?

 

[BrownBear]

I think you've done incredible good work Ron. I've read period accounts of shots out to 300 or so and always kinda poopooed them based on my own gear and abilities. You've put starch back into those old accounts. Easy to understand why longer shots were needed in the country you hunt and in those accounts, which is reminiscent of lots of country in the west.

 

[Idaho Ron]

What makes it a "Hot Rod"? Wish I had a long range to try something past 100 yards. Are you using open sights?

I have added fast twist barrels, Lyman 57 SML peep sights, Lyman 17 AML peeps and Lee Shavers BPCR inserts. I am paper patching big long bullets to shoot lang range. The "hot rod" part is due to getting more out of a Hawken than I could when it was stock. This is the gun and bullets. Ron

 

[Idaho Ron]

I think you've done incredible good work Ron. I've read period accounts of shots out to 300 or so and always kinda poopooed them based on my own gear and abilities. You've put starch back into those old accounts. Easy to understand why longer shots were needed in the country you hunt and in those accounts, which is reminiscent of lots of country in the west.

Thanks BB. Ron

 

[AllenHawken]

Man, I love seeing those big holes left by a big caliber Hawken.

However, I am not confident enough yet in my own accuracy to adjust a sight after just one shot. I will take at least three shots to get a central measurement before adjusting a sight, and usually take 5 because that's about how many I can get between cease-fires at the free outdoor public range I use.

How many shots do the rest of you guys take before adjusting a sight?

 

[Idaho Ron]

On this gun I shoot each yardage at least 20 to 30 times maybe more before I call it good. On this rifle the only hunting yardage I had left to test was the 150. Everything else was the same as the last range session. Remember the Lyman 57 has the vernier scale on the side. So going back to a set yardage is as easy as reading the sight settings from my last shooting session. I keep accurate range diary from each shooting. I add temp, load data and ever lead hardness. As far as time spent getting a gun ready for hunting I have spent 3 years perfecting this rifle. Ron

 

[rafterob]

Did you modify the butt also, or do you just have a pad over the standard buttplate?

 

[paulvallandigham]

Ron. By adding the recoil pad, you have lengthened the Length of Pull(LOP) and increased the Drop at Heel(DAH) of the stock. Those long heavy lead bullets also general more pressure within the barrel when fired.

1. Have you either relieved the wood behind the tang, and/or glass bedded the tang to keep the recoil from splitting that factory stock?

2. What is the weight of your bullet, and what is the sized diameter of the slug before you PP it/

3. What is the new LOP, and DAH of the stock? I understand that its necessary to alter the drop at comb and/or LOP and DAH( and sometimes the Pitch of the stock) to get your face down on these otherwise straight stocks, so you can use that tang peep sight and globe front sight, but other members here may have never struggled with these problems, much less seen the "cure"!

Thanks. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Nice shooting, BTW. I love those sights.

Paul

 

[Idaho Ron]

Did you modify the butt also, or do you just have a pad over the standard buttplate?

The stock was cut off and the Limb saver was installed with screws. Ron

 

[Idaho Ron]

Ron. By adding the recoil pad, you have lengthened the Length of Pull(LOP) and increased the Drop at Heel(DAH) of the stock. Those long heavy lead bullets also general more pressure within the barrel when fired.

1. Have you either relieved the wood behind the tang, and/or glass bedded the tang to keep the recoil from splitting that factory stock?

2. What is the weight of your bullet, and what is the sized diameter of the slug before you PP it/

3. What is the new LOP, and DAH of the stock? I understand that its necessary to alter the drop at comb and/or LOP and DAH( and sometimes the Pitch of the stock) to get your face down on these otherwise straight stocks, so you can use that tang peep sight and globe front sight, but other members here may have never struggled with these problems, much less seen the "cure"!

Thanks. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Nice shooting, BTW. I love those sights.

Paul

The stock was lengthened a little bit. The LOP is now 14 3/4".

The tang is glass bedded but not a great deal. Just enough to keep the tang in the same place if I take it off.

The Bullet is the RCBS 11mm bullet. It weighs 409 gr and drops from the mould at .446 I size it after wrapping to .446 and it is ready to go.

I never altered the stock in any way other than the recoil pad. I did add a shim under the Lyman 57 SML for more height. It helps mounting the sight and it gives me more vertical adjustment. Ron

 

[izzyjoe]

what kind on insert is it, and what does it do?

 

[Idaho Ron]

The Lee Shavers inserts are BPCR inserts. The one I like is the fine bead and post. They also come it cross hair and other styles. They are a definite upgrade for the Lyman globe sight. Ron

 

[Kapow]

That's great but how about you toughen up a bit and put that brass butt plate back on....??
:wink:

 

[junkman_01]

That's great but how about you toughen up a bit and put that brass butt plate back on....??
:wink:

I don't think that is possible since he has cut the butt flat for the recoil pad.....

 

[izzyjoe]

ok, now i'm with you. i did'nt know what you meant by inserts. that setup would be fun to shoot!

 

[Idaho Ron]

That's great but how about you toughen up a bit and put that brass butt plate back on....??
:wink:

I would gladly take it off and let you shoot it. :wink:
Ron

 

[Idaho Ron]

That's great but how about you toughen up a bit and put that brass butt plate back on....??
:wink:

I don't think that is possible since he has cut the butt flat for the recoil pad.....

Your right I cut it off no going back now. I didn't plan to ever go back since this had to happen. Ron

 

[Idaho Ron]

ok, now i'm with you. i did'nt know what you meant by inserts. that setup would be fun to shoot!

It is amazingly fun to shoot. I have taken friends out with my Hot Rod Renegade and let them shoot my steel gong out to 250 yards. They are amazed that a old school gun shoots better than their inlines. Ron

 

[Dogmann]

What caliber? What barrel brand and twist are you using?