T/C 54 Cal Hawken

[nkbj]

The best approach is usually to determine the projectile that suits your purposes and then figuring out how to make it shoot good. Then have a barrel of fun trying out all the rest... there's only a couple of centuries to catch up on.
Let the fun begin!

 

[spitdog]

I use to pour my own REAL'S both sizes and use a felt wad,they just would not group tight out of my TC /1:48/54CAL.90gr. Goex.

The maxi ball did ok,but not like the RB.

 

[Drago]

If the powerbelts use a plastic holder, the plastic will melt it the barrel with black powder[or so I have heard] and is very hard to clean out. I think they are made for very fast twist too.

 

[Rat Trapper]

My TC Hawken shoots real well with 120 grains of Triple Seven 2F and the Hornady great plains 390 grain bullet with a Ox Yoke felt wad over powder. It also shoot pretty well with 90 grains of Triple Seven 2F and a patched round ball.

If you want to shoot conicals use a ox yoke felt wad over powder. If the groups are not good up the powder charge until it is accecptable.

Power belt bullets are a poor choice in any gun, and I don't think the twist is fast enough for them in your rifle.

Green Mountain makes some drop in barrels that will fit your rifle. They are made in a slow round ball twist and a fast twist for conicals and sabots.

 

[nkbj]

Going heavy on the FFg got my .54 GPR to shoot the Lyman heavy skirted minie so TC rifling might not be to difficult. Haven't tried with paper patch yet. Haven't got the REAL to work yet.

Gonna try out the Lyman heavy skirted .58 minie with paper patch in the Renegade when I gets my O2it in gear. Might finally fire a cap through that .58 GM barrel and see how she lobs waaaay out there. So much fun just waiting to be had!

 

[BrownBear]

TC's standard barrel has pretty shallow rifling. To get the most out of it with round balls, you need a tight patch/ball combo and a good lube. When you meet those criteria, they're outstanding with PRB.

Lotta guys get their panties in a bunch over that 1:48 twist, saying that's the cause of the accuracy problems. :yakyak: Mostly they're repeating myths and exposing their lack of knowledge or experience. Heck, the original Hawkens and a lot of others had 1:48 twists. Maybe if those old treasures had slower twists they might have been more popular in their day. :rotf: The distinction is that they had deep rifling.

Tinker with a tighter patch/ball/lube setup. You'll be glad you did, maybe even impressing yourself with the results.

 

[majg1234]

That's the idea...but it needs to be thick felt Duofelt is often bought and used,or you can buy some from several ML supply places already cut.I make my own from Duofelt or some felt I had left from a laminate flooring project

 

[spitdog]

Yep, that's all you need to do.

 

[Swede50]

The alcohol sounds like a good idea. Maybe I will put some in a small spray bottle.

Try Windex it will dry fast and not leave any wet residue in the barrel.
I have tried other types of lube for swabbing the bore but so far Windex works the best for me.
Your mileage may vary.

 

[kstillwa]

Do any of those all lead bullets leave lead in the barrel. I have been reluctant to try the lead bullets as I don't want to have to clean the lead from the barrel.

 

[GaCop]

The alcohol sounds like a good idea. Maybe I will put some in a small spray bottle.

Try Windex it will dry fast and not leave any wet residue in the barrel.
I have tried other types of lube for swabbing the bore but so far Windex works the best for me.
Your mileage may vary.

91% Isopropal alcohol works well too and evaporates quickly.

Tom

 

[GaCop]

Do any of those all lead bullets leave lead in the barrel. I have been reluctant to try the lead bullets as I don't want to have to clean the lead from the barrel.

I shoot a lot of Maxi-Balls and have never experienced any leading problems. :grin:

Tom

 

[kstillwa]

Sounds good Tom. I will pick some of them up to see how they shoot in my rifle. Thanks to everyone that answered my posts. I recieved a lot of good information. Now that I know what I want to buy the problem is finding the components. Is there a good online site that sells and has black powder components in stock? So far most places are backordered, out of stock, or do not list what I am looking for.

 

[GaCop]

Sounds good Tom. I will pick some of them up to see how they shoot in my rifle. Thanks to everyone that answered my posts. I recieved a lot of good information. Now that I know what I want to buy the problem is finding the components. Is there a good online site that sells and has black powder components in stock? So far most places are backordered, out of stock, or do not list what I am looking for.

Go to Dixie Gun Works, Track of the Wolf or Jeddiah Starr web sites, they should have everything you'll need. There are others but those are the ones I can think of off hand.

Tom

 

[kstillwa]

Thanks again Tom! I appreciate it.