You have a nice specimen there, Aussie Pete. it's true they are heavy, like a proper Hawken. Helps tame the recoil and make for a steady hold. I use the same load as you, 60 gn Swiss FF, .530 ball, pillow ticking patch for general shooting and 80 gn FF for hunting. They are great rifles not to mention beautiful eye candy also.
very nice. U DA MAN
Beautiful rifle! Nice work!
I have owned one of these for nearly 20 years now. It is my opinion that this is the top mass production gun made in both quality and in the effort to look like an actual Hawken. Mine is extremely accurate beyond 100 yards with both PRB or a short hollow based conical. Higher priced...yes...but very much worth it in the realm of mass produced rifles.
That's a beaut, Uncle Miltie! Wonderful lines for such mass. You go to the gym much, in the lead up to squirrel season
? That sure must go to sleep when sitting on the bench. How much does 'favoritist' weigh?
I'm not up on these heavy target rifles, so curious be as to caliber and to just what kind of accuracy is attainable with something like that. Also, PRB or conical?
It weighs 35 pounds, less bullet and powder which weigh 977 and 160 grains respectively.That's a beaut, Uncle Miltie! Wonderful lines for such mass. You go to the gym much, in the lead up to squirrel season
Kind regards, Pete
It is .56 caliber with a 1/18" uniform right hand twist. Shot this target last July at 220 yards in a match at Canal Fulton. While the group is not great, the score was pretty good.
I didn't even know that was an option!
Hi Frankie. You didn't mention whose post you are referring to, so I'll assume your question is related to my Brooks Colonial.
I use this rifle for hunting and fun shooting off the bench, Bushfire. Like you, I find it too heavy for a match rifle; we shoot three rounds of 13 in a comp here, and I get fatigued with the RMH. I have a Pedersoli Tryon for competition matches.
. I sure like shooting the Hawken when just relaxing, enjoying the pure joy of such pieces and the processes of delivering the shot to target.I use this rifle for hunting and fun shooting off the bench, Bushfire. Like you, I find it too heavy for a match rifle; we shoot three rounds of 13 in a comp here, and I get fatigued with the RMH. I have a Pedersoli Tryon for competition matches.
It took me a while to get a good load in the RMH, but it sure was fun getting there. While it shot well enough with Pedersoli's recommendation of .535 ball and a .010 patch, I felt it could do better. I have finally settled on a cast 530 round ball and .018 pillow ticking spit patch (60gns of FFG Wano real black) . I also found a greased over powder wad tightened the groups too. I'm at a consistent two-inch group, centrally, at 50 metres. I say two inches truthfully, as sometimes I can shoot a clover leaf of five shots, but realistically more often than not there are two or three that get a bit out of centre. The lads who advise they are getting inch and a half groups with open sights and round ball at 100 metres leave me scratching my head
That's a nice stable of arms you have there. My collection consists of the Hawken and Tryon, both Pedersoli 54's, and I have two Parker Hales as well, 1858 and 1853 rifled muskets (two and three band). These four keep me well satisfied.
Pete
Hunting with muzzleloaders I usually employ two methods. First, still hunting, or 'walking them up' as we say around here; walking in a scouted area until a target animal is spotted, then commence a stalk. Second, stand hunting or concealed in a hide. This matches well with my other joy, birdwatching. The benefits of this, is I get to observe what birds come into an earth tank or dam and often get to while the day away with a good book and a camera under a shady canopy. Also, when in a hide, appropriate ethical ranges are known right to the water's edge, certainly no more than 50 metres, often as close as 20 metres. The target species at the block I frequent are chital deer, feral pigs and wild dogs. I have spotted the occasional rabbit, but I have never been able to add one to the pot.
