Replacement Barrel for T/C Hawken

[anythingelse]

I just had a T/C Hawken Cougar passed down to me. Great looking rifle that shoots well. I think it's mid to late 80s vintage. I want to get into muzzleloading more and am considering a replacement barrel in a smaller caliber for range use. Is there a barrel out there that'd fit this in something like .32, .36 or .40? Which caliber would you recommend for paper and maybe small game?

 

[[email protected]]

You can't beat a .40 They are the the most popular caliber in offhand rifle
used at Friendship.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Get a Green River 45 or 50 1in 70 drop in barrel, it will shoot round balls with much better accuracy than the factory barrel. If you go too small on the caliber, you will end up with a heavy gun.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Track of the Wolf carries them:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/648/1
--DAwg

 

[anythingelse]

Yeah I was afraid it'd start getting heavy and it's already a bit much. I may just see if I can work up a light PRB load for the 1 in 48" that's on it now. From my reading I've ascertained the faster twist might actually be better for light target ball loads?

 

[josmund]

Generally speaking, slow twist for patched round balls, fast twist for conicals or saboted bullets.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

"Yeah I was afraid it'd start getting heavy and it's already a bit much. I may just see if I can work up a light PRB load for the 1 in 48" that's on it now. From my reading I've ascertained the faster twist might actually be better for light target ball loads? "

You got it, JJ! I've had very good luck shooting a .50 PRB with .010 patch over 30 grains of Pyrodex P. Every 1-in-48" .50 TC I've tried this in shoots it well. Loads easy, fouls little, quite accurate for a couple dozen shots without swabbing. Great way to spend a pleasant afternoon.

The slow-twist PRB barrels do best with full-power PRB loads.