What kind of accuracy should I expect TC Hawken

[AZbpBurner]

For the past several decades, I'd been using a blend of about 3 parts beef tallow to 1 part beeswax - use more beeswax for warmer weather & less for winter. Use it sparingly & work it into the patch material. Problem with most patch lubes is that folks tend to use too much.

After reading about Dutch Schoulz's "dry" patches, I decided to try my own recipe: 1 part castor oil to 5 parts denatured alcohol is my new patch lube. It soaks into the patch material & the DA evaporates, leaving a fine amount of castor oil evenly distributed throughout the patch. Again, less is better. Since it doesn't leave excess lube to accumulate fouling, you can shoot more times between swabbing.

 

[Artificer]

Robin,

I bought a .50 cal. TC Hawken brand new in January 1972 while I was home on boot camp leave. I had always wanted to shoot a ML, but that was my first. I bought the TC accessories kit with mine and used their 60 grain powder measure, their patches and cast balls in the mold in the kit.

I only had 10 days leave and did not want to wait to shoot it until my next leave. So at around 10 degrees above zero, we went out to shoot it. Had to brush snow off the ground and sat down in a solid sitting position to shoot at a target we measured off at 100 yards. First three rounds out of the gun gave a group size of a little under 1 3/4 inches. It got better after that when I did more load experimenting.

So bottom line, I would not accept a 3 inch, 3 shot group at 70 yards - unless it was from the Offhand.

Gus

 

[don hepler]

Bore Butter in "not" a no-go. I'm not talking about seasoning the bore. I use Bore Butter as patch lube and usually out shoot everyone in the club. I use it to pre-lube patches. The trick about Bore Butter, is to be very consistent in the amount applied to each patch. If you just gob it on one patch, then have the next patch almost dry, then it won't work as well. I really believe the way to achieve accuracy, is to be very consistent in whatever lube that use. Same for all the other aspects of loading. Do the same thing you get the same results. Other factors are what make bad groups. Such as wind, poor light, bad sights, flinching, poor rests, and on and on.

I'm not knocking other lubes, or even saying Bore Butter is the best, but I've had success with it. Zonie, gave some great tips as well as others.

I also shoot light target loads, which also might be one reason I have good results. Almost every rifle, that I own, has had the sights changed, filed, blackened, or something. The sight picture is critical to accuracy. 3" inches at 70 yards, is not that bad.

 

[coloradoclyde]

The trick about Bore Butter, is to be very consistent in the amount applied to each patch. If you just gob it on one patch, then have the next patch almost dry, then it won't work as well. I really believe the way to achieve accuracy, is to be very consistent in whatever lube that use.

Very true!
However you can say that about any lube.....Some lubes are just easier to consistently apply than others...This is where bore butter really fails. over time it separates in the tube making the whole mix inconsistent. Also, being in a tube makes it more difficult to apply with any consistency, IMO.
People are often to quick to look for easy solutions and miracle cures.....They go out and buy some "wonder" lube expecting it to solve their inaccuracy......When what they really need to do is focus on practice.

The single most limiting factor is behind the trigger........not in a plastic tube.

 

[coloradoclyde]

One more thing to add....
I have achieved good accuracy with virtually every lube I have ever tried....accuracy is on the bottom of my list of criteria when choosing a lube....There are many more important factors that come first when choosing a lube.

Price
Ease of loading
Ease of cleaning
Availability
Ease of applicability
Temp restrictions
Corrosiveness
Powder reactivity
Toxicity
Smell
Historical authenticity
The container
shelf life.
Etc....etc......

 

[Katahdin]

Well I read you have lots of "expert"/good intended advice/answers to chose from great base line ,now go shoot.
It isn't Rocket surgery ,secret is Practice then more practice.You will find what works for that one rifle,don't mean it will work in any other rifle or person.Then there are the days when you do it exactly like everyother time and it just will not work.That is why we shoot B/P, cause its fun/challenging and we have to do it alot.
The accuracy I'd expect is, all 10 X covered by a dime, at 100 yds for some unknown reason that doesn't happen to me,,expect and accept sound pretty close.

 

[LRB]

I bought a TC .45 cap lock in '74 that would consistently shoot 3 shot 1/2" groups at 50 yrds. Had a customer who was a local preacher who bought one like mine and his would do 3/8" groups at 50 yrd, but he may have had some outside help. Both guns were fitted with custom sights. both guns used a load of 60gr. Dupont 3fg, .451 ball, .011 flannel cotton patch, and Remington #10 caps. That was a tight load to get started, but once in, would slide right on down. For range shooting, I used spit patches. Plain gun oil if hunting.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The record books are filled with winners who were using TC Hawkens. If you do what is necessary you can run with the big horses out there.

 

[Old Sarge]

Has anyone here ever used Crisco as a patch lube and with what results. Friends use it and swear by it. Me...I am not so sure.

 

[BrownBear]

I've used it with good results. My only complaint is it was really easy to get too much and affect accuracy. A tiny bit worked best in my guns.

 

[Old Sarge]

Gonna have to try it. I will sneak some from the wife's supply under the sink. Thanks

 

[Grenadier1758]

Use the straight Crisco and avoid the mixes such as the butter flavored variety.

Yes, the less you use the better especially in the summer. When its hot the Crisco will turn liquid and too much on the patch can spoil the powder.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Has anyone here ever used Crisco as a patch lube and with what results. Friends use it and swear by it. Me...I am not so sure.

I have used it and swear AT it. :cursing:
In summer it is liquid and dirty and gets on everything everywhere. In winter it is hard and unworkable.

 

[Vaino]

My TC Hawken started out as a kit and was my first and only MLer at that time. So it was used for squirrels and big game, including deer and elk.

It head hit many squirrels using a PRB and killed a few elk and deer using a 410 gr Buffalo Bullet.

One of the most accurate and trouble free MLers that I've owned.

Don't do much target shooting, but on game it performed accurately.

My initial complaint w/ this rifle was that it smacked the cheek because of the cheekpiece and comb design. So I modified both and it's a very comfortable rifle to shoot even w/ the big game loads.....Fred

 

[wtilenw]

[

My initial complaint w/ this rifle was that it smacked the cheek because of the cheekpiece and comb design. So I modified both and it's a very comfortable rifle to shoot even w/ the big game loads.....Fred

How would you describe the modification you did to the comb and cheekpiece? About how much did you take off? where? etc. Thanks.

 

[Billnpatti]

With a muzzleloading rifle using open sights, especially the sights that come on a T/C Hawken, a 3 inch group at that distance is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps if you went to a peep sight, you might be able to tighten that group up just a bit but you are shooting about as well as can be expected with the sights that you have.

Let me highly recommend an excellent bit of literature on muzzleloading accuracy www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com You will never spend a better $20 on anything having to do with wringing the maximum accuracy from a muzzleloading rifle. Dutch Schoultz is the master.