Suggestions?

[dmacl]

I'm looking to buy my first bp rifle. I really like the hawken percussion style. Until this point my shooting/hunting has been done with bows and rifles, so I don't know much at all about bp. What I'm looking for is a good shooting .54 Hawken.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has suggestions for a good value Hawken. Not cheap, good gun for the money.

 

[Patricknwohio]

Hi,

I would think any of the following would be fine for what you are looking for.

Thompson Center Hawken or Renegade, or a Lyman Great Plains or Trade Rifle.

The above mentioned are Great rifles.

Good Luck,

 

[szihn]

Well, I don't know what dollar amount you would call "not cheep"------- but in a factory rifle a Lyman Great Planes is hard to beat for the money.

If You are talking about $750 or more, then a custom gun can be bought, and you can get what you order, depending on your budget

 

[cowpoke1955]

I agree. You can't beat a Lyman Great Plains Rifle. For looks, quality and price you can't go wrong. The Lyman looks more like a real Hawkens than any other factory gun in that price range. You can shop around online and find some good deals. Not so much with the T/Cs. T/Cs always seem to be on the pricy side. As others have said in this forum, it's Lyman Great Plains Rifle, hands down! I have been shooting a Lyman GPR .54 percussion for 25 years. Love it so much I just ordered a second one. My new one is a .54 flinter kit. Check them both out, but I think you'll find the Lyman GPR the best deal.

 

[Rebel]

For a more authentic look the Lyman Great Plains. If you just want a good shooting Hawken type rifle then the T/C Hawken or Renegade or the Lyman Trade rifle or Cabelas Traditional Hawken which is made by Investarms the same company that makes the Lyman guns.

 

[roundball]

I'm looking to buy my first bp rifle. I really like the hawken percussion style. Until this point my shooting/hunting has been done with bows and rifles, so I don't know much at all about bp. What I'm looking for is a good shooting .54 Hawken.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has suggestions for a good value Hawken. Not cheap, good gun for the money.

TC Hawkens are an excellent buy for the money, and unlike most other companies, have a real, lifetime warranty service that is second to none...more than makes up for a few dollars difference there may be in purchase price.
TC's store front operation at their plant site in NH is called Fox Ridge...800-243-4570, menu #3....54cal cap and flint rifles available...and if you specify it at order time, you can get the 30" x 1:66" round ball barrel instead of the 28" x 1:48" standard barrel...and the .54cal round ball is an excellent projectile

 

[Catof9tails]

Welcome to the forum. It would be my suggestion to first consider the type of bullet you want to shoot. Patch/ball or conical? Slow rates of twist are better for ball and faster twist for conical. Some folks have good results with 1:48 twist for conicals and others say the ball performs better. It just depends on the ML and finding that sweet combination of powder and bullet.

Lyman offers the option of fast or slow twist. I started out with a Lyman GP Hunter with fast twist and was very pleased. However, I later purchased ML's with slower rates of twist and went patch and ball. IMO you'll buy one ML, then another, and another and so on, till the wife says no more.

If ya have a chance to catch a BP club or other folks that own MLs, ask to shoot them and see what fits your comfort level and maybe it will help in your decision the type of projectile and/or ML you want to purchase.

I think you'll find this forum very helpful. There's lots of folks here that know their stuff. They have been a huge help to me in the past. Good luck in your decision.

Just my two cents worth.

Cat9
"Keep your powder dry and watch your six!"

 

[renovato]

My recommendations are the Lyman Great Plains Rifle, Thompson Hawken or Investarms (Cabelas, Dixie, etc.) Hawken.

Of the three, the Investarms is probably the best overall value. It's the lowest priced and comparable in quality and accuracy. I shoot mine side by side with my GPR all the time. The GPR is a little more accurate with round balls because of the slower rifling, but the Investarms is quite accurate and can shoot conicals well also.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

I just finished a Lyman Great Plains Rifle. This is my first BP rifle, so I don't have experience with other BP guns, however I am impressed with its handling.
Scott

 

[jethro224]

I gotta go with everyone else and recommend Lyman/Investarms and T/C. Any of these are a good deal on a good gun. Looke 'em over, handle 'em, shoot 'em if possible and go with what feels right.
Whatever you decide, you'll have fun! :thumbsup: