.45 Cal TC Hawken

I got out this evening and Shot a new Barrel, new to me anyway It is a Thompson Center Hawken .45 Cal 1:48 Twist. I decided to try some Patched Roundball first, The Barrel did very well

Target is 70-80 Yards out, The Snow is Deep here (about 3 Feet)


Powder Charge was 70 Grains by Weight of Swiss 2F Powder, I was using a Well Lubed Over Powder Patch, Patches are my Home Made .020 Drill Material i get from Joan Fabric, The Balls are my Home Cast from an RCBS Mold Cast of PURE Lead


3 Shot Group is easily under 1 inch.

That it is .45 caliber, try FFFG grade blackpowder and check velocities. I got 1800 FPS on my friend's chronometer with a .45 caliber REAL bullet lubricated with Lee liquid alox over a pre-lubed felt wad and 90gr of Goex FFFG.

George remember Swiss powder granules are a bit finer and more uniform. In PA many years ago when the primitive season started and you could only use patch and ball and flintlock I would load with 100 gr of Goex FFFg and it was super accurate.
There was a group of about 7 or 8 of us that would shoot every Sunday afternoon. One of our "games" was to take a large cardboard box and put plastic spoons in the edge and shoot at them off hand at 50 yards. It was great fun and a lot of joking and harassing.

I have an older Traditions deerhunter rifle in 45 caliber, 24 inch barrel, 1/66 twist.
Last time at the range, I tried Lewis's double patch with a .445 ball and 75 grains of 3f Old Ensyford.
Very happy with my much improved groups at 50 yards.

Lewis, just noticed the butt-pad, looks like an IdahoRon original. Curious as to what pad you use for the adaptation?

I just noticed that butt pad now that you mentioned it. My TC Hawkens are too long for me and i cut about 1.25" off it and reinstall the original brass plate. Takes a bit of filing and sanding to get the fit right. The Renegades fit me fine?

JBushnell wrote:Lewis, just noticed the butt-pad, looks like an IdahoRon original.  Curious as to what pad you use for the adaptation?

I didn’t do this, I bought this Stock from a Guy that had it done, I know the Pad is a Pachmayr “Grind to Fit” The guy i bought it from had it done by a Gunsmith

I know Forum Member “Harleys Boss” here has done this before, and he did an AWESOME Job    I think he has a Jig for doing this? Maybe he will see this and Share some info

I don’t have a jig for the pad install but I did cut my hawken stock and installed a buttplate from a old shotgun stock. I also spliced in a piece of old gun stock into the small section that was left from the top of the original brass plate. I will pull the gun out and post a picture of it.

Nice work boss

I am a wood butcher only way I would have one done is by a gunsmith I just got a 45 Investarms Hawkin 1-48 I have never been recoil shy But the last time I shot a Hawkin was when I was 30 55 years ago

If I wasn't spending all of my funny money on house renovations I almost picked up a 45 cal Hawken at an ML store called Dixon's here in Hamburg PA for $350. It looked in good shape, the bore looked good at the muzzle, but naturally, I couldn't see all the way down the bore so I let it go.

I'm contemplating adding a pad to my Hawken. In my case I need the extra length of the pad. I need to determine what angle to cut the stock so that the pitch is correct.

Not sure but I do know that the angle can affect felt recoil. I'd say if you have a shotgun check the pitch on that and use it for your muzzy. I'd think it isn't more than a couple degrees.

Man, are you guys gonna catch hell from all those period correct traditionalists for that butt pad. They probably won't even let you in to a rendezvous.
My personal opinion is that it looks really good.

EdMehlig wrote:If I wasn't spending all of my funny money on house renovations I almost picked up a 45 cal Hawken at an ML store called Dixon's here in Hamburg PA for $350.  It looked in good shape, the bore looked good at the muzzle, but naturally, I couldn't see all the way down the bore so I let it go.

Ed that's why I always carry one of those little bobber lights when I go into a gun shop. They will fit down any size bore.

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