Shooting my new Hawken

[TheWall]

In February my wife was good enough to get me a Thompson Center .58 Caliber Hawken (caplock).

I finally got a chance to take it to the shooting range last week.

After experimenting with several different loads, I settled on 90 grains of Goex FFG with a Hornady round ball and TC .015 patch w/bore butter.

Here is a picture of the target. All shots were taken from 50 yards.

Can't wait to get back on the range with this one!

 

[oneshooter]

Drop your powder charge and increase your patch thicknes to .020. This is assuming you are using a .570rb. T/C rifeling id very shallow and needs a very tight patch/ball combo to shoot well. Also the 1-48 twist will over stabilize a PRB at higher velocities( heavy powder charges). Start at 60gr and fire 5 shots, increase 5gr and fire 5, the group will be spread horizontaly at first, then tighten up, then besin to spread vertically. When that happens back down to the last charge and play with powder compression, lube, breathing, all of the little things that we all love. Between shots run one damp patch and one dry patch down the barrel. This is not to clean, but to keep a consistent amount of fouling in the barrel.
Have FUN and shoot a lot!

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[roundball]

"...After experimenting with several different loads, I settled on 90 grains of Goex FFG with a Hornady round ball and TC .015 patch w/bore butter..."


You've got a an excellent rifle there...mine will shoot .015" very well too, but it shoots even better with .018" Oxyoke or TC prelubed pillow tickinng patches for a snug fit...the tighter fit also results in a little less fouling.

I chose a mid range deer hunting load of:
100grns Goex 2F
Oxyoke wonderwad
.018" TC pillow ticking
Hornady .570
Just eats the center of the bullseye out and is a powerhouse on deer.

Worries about shallow rifling doesn't apply to modern 1:48" twists...the old 1:48" twist alarm has it roots in an imported military model from back in the 60's which had a configuration of only 3 very wide lands and 3 very shallow .003" grooves made for shooting military minnies...when patched balls were driven in it, group size would open up with hot loads and the supposition was the PRB was skipping the lands occasionally...has been handed down / repeated for decades as if it's a "1:48" problem across the board but it is not.

Doesn't happen in modern 1:48"s like TCs with .006" grooves or deeper...I also have them in .40/.45/.50/.54 calibers and they all group in the 1+7/8" to 2.5" range at 100yds using full power deer hunting loads that I normally use in my 1:66" RB barrels...and that's with 61 year old eyes.

Enjoy your new rifle...

 

[TheWall]

Found a nice load for my .58 caliber Hawken

Quick report...

went to the range last week. I did not have much time, but shot 10 rounds with the Hawken using 60 grains of Goex FFG with a .570 Hornady round ball and a .015 patch. Shot really well -- nice grouping at 50 yards.

60 grains seems about right. The next time I am at the range I will experiment a little more.

If I have time I will post picture of the target later.