[shiftyer1]

So what is the best way to get into blackpowder shooting with hawken style rifle. I don't want to invest to much in case I don't enjoy bp

[arcticap]

Start with a Traditions Deerhunter to shoot patched round balls and occasionally sabots. Plinking with patched round balls is a very relaxing blast! Using moderate 50 grain powder charges and lubed patches, a person can shoot 50 yard targets all afternoon without swabbing the barrel. Load it up with more powder for shooting longer distances, hunting or for just having more of a bang. And it will shoot 240 grain sabots and conical bullets reasonably well too! :)

Plastic stock:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00139R35108150

Wood stock:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00139R36108101

[mykeal]

The best way to ensure that you don't enjoy bp is to buy cheap equipment.

You don't need to buy a $3000 custom made long rifle, or a $1500 percussion revolver, but buying the cheapest gun available is virtually certain to result in poor accuracy, misfires, malfunctioning equipment and eventual frustration.

In order to guide you to the best value it's necessary to know what you'd like to do eventually. Are you a hunter - small game, varmints, deer, elk, hogs, ducks, upland birds? Do you do any match shooting? How about Cowboy Action Shooting - does that interest you? Are you interested in Civil War re-enacting, or mountain man rendezvous? Or just plinking at the local gravel pit? There are many, many different ways to go here.

The plains, or hawken, style rifle is a good start. I'm going to suggest the Lyman Great Plains Rifle. It's an excellent gun for the money; it can be had for less than $500 in two different calibers, left hand or right hand, kit or factory finished, flint or percussion. Other choices, although more expensive, are the Thompson Center Hawken or the Pedersoli Tryon.

Traditions makes some less expensive, but good equipment as well. Their version of the plains style rifle is called Hawken also; it's just a bit over $400.

You'll need another $150-200 for balls, powder, powder flask, powder measure, patches, jags, range rod, nipple wrench, etc.

[4v50 Gary]

Buy a decent rifle but you can virtually make everything else. Cheapsake. ;) Actually, most serious buckskinners make their own accoutrements including powder horn, powder measure, hunting bag and even knife and tomahawk. The cost is time and labor.

[arcticap]

I had a Traditions Hawken with a double trigger and its spurred trigger guard, and I enjoy shooting the economical Deerhunter's 24 inch "carbine" length barrel with its single hunting trigger more.
I also prefer the design of the Traditions drum/nipple more than the Lyman/TC patent breech when it comes to cleaning out the flash channel and for priming it with powder by removing the clean out screw whenever dry balling.

A used TC can also be a good value for $175 - $200+, but there's risks to be wary of whenever buying a used muzzle loader.
Also spending $150 - $200 for ammo & accessories shouldn't really be necessary, especially for someone looking for the most economical way to try out the sport.
I would compare the Deerhunter to a Marlin bolt action .22. It may not shoot the same as an Anschutz, but they're both dependable rifles that are fun to shoot.
The Deerhunter is even drilled & tapped for mounting a scope or red dot.

[Voodoochile]

I have the Lyman Trade Rifle "the little brother to the Great Plains Rifle" & a CVA Bobcat that I shoot PRB at up to 100 yards & hunt with, great rifles in my opinion.

The Cabelas Hawken rifle is the same rifle as my Trade rifle.

[Shultzhaus]

Another good buy is a Traditions PA Pellet flintlock. Comes either left or right lock. I never use pellets, though, I bought that one, because it is one of the few flinters with a removable breach plug. Use only real BP for best results. Sooner or later, you will load a ball without powder, or get a ramrod stuck in there, and the removable breach is a real grief saver. All of the other rifles mentioned are good beginners also.

[madcratebuilder]

Gunbroker is loaded with T/C hawken rifles in the $300 and under range, many are like new. CVA's are even cheaper. You should be able to put together all your supplies for around $75. Lot's of used shooters "kits" on GB and evil bay.