Opinions on this Pedersoli Traditional Hawken Percussion Rifle ? Its on sale

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Yea the wooden one seems.... flimsy.

Also the proof stamps on this gun. The date code is 2016 or CP. Thr box was unopened as well This would explain the really old looking oil on it and th3 thick layer of dust on the box. And the pretty heavily tarnished brass in places.

So the gun has sat in this Bass pro for 5 years and never once opened..

Wow
 
candymancan said:
Sure here are some pics. I just realized i got two boxes of 490 balls.. for 50 cal lol i had to go to my local cabelas and thankfully they had 5 boxes 9f .530 so i swapped my two for two of them. I also realized i needed one of those ball starters that get the ball in the barrel with the patch before you ram it down.

As for patchs. I got prelubed patchs. 100 count they are .15 in size.

Question. What tool do i need to clean th3 bore out with a a cleaning patch. That HOLDS the patchs ? So they dont get stuck in the barrel. Normally for my other guns i just put a latch over th3 brass brushes. But i have no 54 or 55 caliber brushes either. I didnt see any that size in cabelas either.

Thanks for info on 3f, i have about 3 lbs left of it for my 1851 navys. And tbh i dont feel like spending 150$ for 4 lbs minimum and hazard fees for 2f right now. I could go to cabelas i guess and get the pyrodex RS rifle and shotgun fake powder or tripple 7. But i really dont want to use the fake stuff. I want authentic boom and smoke.

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This is the ugly gun ?
 
candymancan said:
Okay on the rammer it came with has one of those honey comb looking Jags. So i guess ill try thwt one first..

Yes i noticed this rammer didnt have a stuck ball screw on it. So ill need to get one of those and one for patchs. Ive wondering what you do if a patch het stuck inside
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Make double sure the brass ends of
the ramrod are pinned
Learned that the hard way with my
first one
 
Thanks. Had no idea it got smaller at the end of the barrel. Ill be sure to take the barrel off every cleaning and use hot soapy water to clean it like i do my 1851 navys. And use a smaller brush/Jag of 30 cal to clean the barrel deep inside.

Thanks.
 
Yep...be sure to get asap a ball puller and a patch puller..you will need them, usually sooner than later. It is a good idea to get a range rod (think a longer unbreakable cleaning rod) and a T handle to pull on when things get tight. And save every old cotton T shirt...to spend time during movies, etc. cutting up into cleaning patches. A nipple wrench is another essential, and of course a powder measure. FF or FFF, no problems both will shoot fine unless you are doing ALOT of shooting and fine tuning things. Shoot what the gun likes best...you can probably start about 70 grains, work up to max 100...the gun will handle more, but it isnt necessary. BP ML shooting is about making the first shot count by putting it in the right place. Both my .54s like 80 grains.
 
candymancan said:
Okay on the rammer it came with has one of those honey comb looking Jags. So i guess ill try thwt one first..

Yes i noticed this rammer didnt have a stuck ball screw on it. So ill need to get one of those and one for patchs. Ive wondering what you do if a patch het stuck inside
Click to expand...
Sometimes you can get a stuck patch out simply by popping a cap. I have also removed balls loaded without powder by pulling the nipple. and slowly trickling powder in....15 grains or so will work BUT be damn sure the bullet is fully seated before touching it off. Always.
 
Nice looking gun but I prefer a bolster to a drum and nipple. Most Hawken rifles had the bolster and hook breech. Not a biggie as both work well
 
A lost patch can be easily retrieved with
your same ball screw. You don't need a
dedicated patch worm


JMHO- I'd recommend that unless you're
way back in the sticks somewhere on a
wilderness trip, that you forego using
your wooden ramrod to pull a stuck ball
and use a range rod that you're either
buying, or borrow from a friend or
acquaintance. You won't have any worries
about breaking your rod or pulling one
of the ramrod ends off
 
I bought a section of plastic rain gutter and two end caps for cleaning my BP rifles. Cut the gutter section so it is about a foot longer than your barrel and silicone or otherwise glue the end caps in place. You now have a real nice cleaning trough for your gun. Just fill with hot water and a little Dawn dish washing detergent lay the barrel in it and then start your pumping action with a jag and the breech end submerged. Works like a champ. Follow the usual drying and lubricating routine.
 
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If you like it, and think it is a deal, it's your money, go for it. But in the last year I've found several mint TC Hawken rifles for under $150 at estate sales. Used Hawken rifles don't have the prestige they use to have. Now, most people want in-lines. I don't understand why used Hawken rifles sell for so much on Auction Arms unless people get caught up in auction frenzy.
 
Welcome to the pickiest subforum on the site, @candymancan! :p

It's a fine gun at an unbelievable price. Some of it may not be exactly "historical" and some folks just like to nitpick anyway, but there's nothing about the gun that will keep it from doing its job for you. 3F is fine in it. Prelubed patches also are fine, as long as they fit - some people are against wooden ramrods because they can break when ramming down really tight loads, but in most cases, really tight loads are unnecessary and unhelpful, and easier-loading combos won't break your ramrod. If your ball/patch diameter is at least as deep as your grooves, the rifle most likely will be perfectly happy. (That statement is almost certainly going to get some pushback, but I have proven it over and over to my own satisfaction with many rifles. There are some guns which demand a tighter fit, but they have been a small minority for me.)

And finally, a screw and worm are nice to have, but you won't need the screw if you remember to put powder down first, and you won't need the worm if you use a brass brush to hold onto your cleaning patches. You certainly can spend plenty of money and time buying every little bit for the rifle - most BP enthusiasts, including myself, do exactly that - but none of it is terribly critical. If you just want to go shoot, I think you have everything you need. Get yourself a 50 caliber brass brush (a little undersize is good, when using it as a patch holder) which fits your rod (they do come in different thread sizes, so double check) and you will have the complete bare-bones setup!
 
If not mentioned already I’d insert the ram rod full into the gun and make a permanent mark on it at the muzzle. Sooner or later your going to wonder if you had loaded the gun or not.
I don’t own a long gun but my Patriot pistol is marked for an empty gun.
 
whughett said:
If not mentioned already I’d insert the ram rod full into the gun and make a permanent mark on it at the muzzle. Sooner or later your going to wonder if you had loaded the gun or not.
I don’t own a long gun but my Patriot pistol is marked for an empty gun.
Click to expand...


Yes i saw this on videos too from hickock45.

Question. The ram rod it comes with has a Jag on th3 end so i guess i dont need to buy one. But like someone mentioned and what i do to my other guns is use a brass brush with the patch on it to hold it.

But i cannot find 54 cal brushes locally. The max size is 45 cal. Then th3 bigger ones i see are for 20ga shotguns. Curious would a 20ga shotgun brass brush work in 54cal ?.


Tomorroq i plan to go to the range. Ill post some videos. If ny girlfriend goes to record anyway.

Honestly i cannot wait to shoot this thing.. way more anticipation than my other guns ive purchased.

I think my next purchase will be a flintlock. Ive been eyeing those pedersoli side by side flintlock shotguns.
 
I get worn 20 gauge brushes from a friend and they worked pretty good. As they wear down in my .54 GPR, I will wrap them with a flannel patch and continue to use them. If you want to try using a brand new 20 gauge bronze brush, I would suggest using a ram rod with a "T" handle grip or have a vice-grips handy. Slowly enter the muzzle and pull out completely to feel your way down the bore. 20 gauge as caliber = .615
 
Well just fired the gun 35 times today.. WOW this is my new favorite gun.. HOLY CRAP its fun to shoot.. not much recoil but boy it THUDS and smoked big time.

I bought 2f Scheutzen at therange 1 lbs for 30$ but if you buy ammo there they wave the 25$ range fee.. and i got to shoot for 2 1.2 hours.

Anyway with 3f it fired... but didnt have much of a BOOM. also after the 3rd shot. The side screw for cleaning the percussion nipple blew out. So when i fired the gun i lost compression and shot flames out the side lol.. i got videos of that hah.

Went in the shop and the gunsmith found a screw that fit. Went back out and continued to fire the gun.. every 2 shots i had to clean the bire good. If i do 3 shots the ball gets stuck really good midway.. also you guys are right that wooden ram rod.. broke on the 2nd shot for the day haha..

Luckily it broke at the brass top where the jag screws in.. so ill just super glue it together and use it for show like you guys mentioned. I had to go back. And buy a fiber glass ram rod. After that it worked much better.

Boy oh boy this is awsome haha.. pretty accurate at 50 yards too.. at 100 yards i didnt hit the targets. So i need a spotter to see where im hitting.

People at the range hated me... because my smoke was blocking their views... two people were shooting comletition guns.. little 22 or something.. wore a competition shirt and everything..


Anyway with the 2f powder i loaded 60 grains. Then 80 then went to 120. I fired about 15 shots using 120 the rest of the day. God i love this gun. One guy and his wife loved it as well and asked where i got it.. told him the basspro up north had 5 of em.. so i guess hes going up there lol he asked me three times haha

Videos coming soon... right now im at a live concert with my gf and drinking beer..
 
Range was crowded.. i m looking at ny pics in this thread.. it did have a side screw for the nipple.. but it must have been loose and im watching videos my girlfriend took.. 1st shot. It was fine.. 2nd 3rd 4rd 5th shot all had flsmes blow out the side of the gun where the nipple is.

It didnt hurt the gun.. but it was shooting unburned powder, smoke and flames towards people to my right. I didnt realize this until when i was loading the gun for the 5th time. It was lesking grains of powder out the side hole. I looked and saw threadings. And looked at pics online and realized it had a screw there, for cleaning purposes.

The gun smith put a new screw in. Its a blued hex screw so i need an allen wrench to undo it. But it works and stopped the fireball shooting out the side.

I guess lesson learned... before you shoot.. tighten the screws just in case. I wish i had the original screw.. i doubt id find it if i go back tomorrow.. lol. But hey.. haha

The one the gun smith put in will work so thats all that matters
 
My 2-cents.... hex-head is the way to go. Clean /secure leverage/engagement.
My $10 bill... clean the bolster/flash channel with a pipe-cleaner each range session and leave the threads coated with anti-seize ( or just grease)

Keep the screw "firmly-snug" tight ... not high-torque tight.
 
Got me wondering about velocity of blown screw and probability of this happening . I have seen missing blow out plugs on hi grade DB MLs and often wonder what happened.
 
"Probability" is vanishingly small (Reeeeeeeeaaally close to zero) w/ even a modicum
of pre-flight check, oil leaks, kicking the tires, tighten nipple and clean-out screw.
:neener: :D ;)
 
Yea lol... I didnt even know about the screw until i was blowing powder and flames on those people to my right haha..


Shot the gun again today and my two 44c 1851 navy.. i got three people to shoot them. And they said they are deff going to buy some black powder now.

One was an older guy like 65... said he hasnt shot black powder in 15 years... 1 hour after i let him shoot my hawkens. He said to me. You know what... since you let me shoot the revolvers and rifle i am going to get back into black powder i caught the bug again he said

So in 2 days i got 4 people very interested in it. Thats good. !!
 
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