Just picked up a .54 caliber TC Hawken...

[willtill]

..for a pretty good price this morning. The rifle seems to be in very good condition. Whoever had it previously (from the seller) seemed to have taken care of it. New stainless steel nipple installed too. However... it has been stored in a safe for a long, long time, and the bore wasn't checked on a regular basis. I did purchase it with the understanding that the bore would may not be premier. I did scope it out (to verify it was not loaded) and knew there was rust and corrosion in the first few inches of the muzzle.

Spend the remainder of the morning taking it apart and cleaning it. Here are some pics of the first 3-4 inches of her muzzle:

The third picture below shows the general condition of the rest of the bore. These are pics after I used Wipe Out with Accelerator and then followed with G96 Gun treatment. Swabbed all that out until a dry bore was presented.

Here's the chamber:

I just finished her up with a swab of Bore Butter. I do hope it still turns out to be a good shooter. I'm finding out tomorrow morning at the AGC. I don't have a lot of money really tied up in it, but I hope she'll dance with me and make me love her.

I'd like to try to get the rest of that rust out of her bore; I'm thinking that sending quite a few rounds of .530 ball will help things shake up a little in her.

What do you guys think?

 

[IronEye]

I bet it'll shoot just fine. Good luck with it.

 

[John from MD]

..for a pretty good price this morning. The rifle seems to be in very good condition. Whoever had it previously (from the seller) seemed to have taken care of it. New stainless steel nipple installed too. However... it has been stored in a safe for a long, long time, and the bore wasn't checked on a regular basis. I did purchase it with the understanding that the bore would may not be premier. I did scope it out (to verify it was not loaded) and knew there was rust and corrosion in the first few inches of the muzzle.

View attachment 430245

Spend the remainder of the morning taking it apart and cleaning it. Here are some pics of the first 3-4 inches of her muzzle:

View attachment 430248

View attachment 430249

The third picture below shows the general condition of the rest of the bore. These are pics after I used Wipe Out with Accelerator and then followed with G96 Gun treatment. Swabbed all that out until a dry bore was presented.

View attachment 430250

Here's the chamber:


View attachment 430251
I just finished her up with a swab of Bore Butter. I do hope it still turns out to be a good shooter. I'm finding out tomorrow morning at the AGC. I don't have a lot of money really tied up in it, but I hope she'll dance with me and make me love her.

I'd like to try to get the rest of that rust out of her bore; I'm thinking that sending quite a few rounds of .530 ball will help things shake up a little in her.

What do you guys think?

The gun has a 1 in 48 twist unless it is a very early one. I would keep your ball loads between 50 and 70 gns of 2F or accuracy will degrade. A .530 ball in a TC .54 will take a .015 or .020 patch. Make sure you find as many patches as you can to see if they are getting torn up. The rifling in a TC is shallow and, unless badly pitted, the patches should come out intact.

What the do shoot well is the .54 Maxi Ball. I have taken a few deer using a Maxi Ball and 100 to 120 gns of 2f. Off the bench, I owned a TC that could make cloverleafs at 75 yards with a Maxi Ball. The best I could do with round balls was 2 inches at the same distance. That is perfectly acceptable for hunting but not good enough for MML matches back in the day.

If you want to come down to AAF&G on a weekday, I would be happy to spend the day helping you wring it out on our rifle range.

 

[willtill]

Thanks John. Especially about the info that the rifling in the TC is shallow. I was sort of wondering of the barrel was shot out, but was finding it hard to believe that would've been so.

As long as this weather doesn't degrade tomorrow, I'm just chomping at the bit to find out how she shoots!

 

[John from MD]

Thanks John. Especially about the info that the rifling in the TC is shallow. I was sort of wondering of the barrel was shot out, but was finding it hard to believe that would've been so.

As long as this weather doesn't degrade tomorrow, I'm just chomping at the bit to find out how she shoots!

Ok. The offer stands if you need it.

 

[Pale Ryder]

What powder will you use? I have a similar rifle made for Cabelas, forgot actual manufacturer. Mine does very well with 90 grns of Pyrodex R. Only complaint is cocking and setting set trigger is far from quiet. Easily spooks game if within 50 yds. Killed her anyway but far from ideal shot placement on my part. I kinda rushed the shot as she laser focused in on the noise. Nice thing about those big ole guns. Displacement can sometimes over come less than ideal shot placement.

 

[John from MD]

What powder will you use? I have a similar rifle made for Cabelas, forgot actual manufacturer. Mine does very well with 90 grns of Pyrodex R. Only complaint is cocking and setting set trigger is far from quiet. Easily spooks game if within 50 yds. Killed her anyway but far from ideal shot placement on my part. I kinda rushed the shot as she laser focused in on the noise. Nice thing about those big ole guns. Displacement can sometimes over come less than ideal shot placement.

There is no practical way to quiet the movement from half cock to full cock. That sear is snapping down on the tumbler and the routed out part of the stock where the action is helps to amplify the noise.

 

[Doco Overboard]

It'll clear up some after shooting.
Clean the barrel with boiling hot soapy water afterward. Scalding hot. Be careful handling at work bench pre cut patches etc. About 5-6 from an old T shirt.
Patch the bore bore right out as the water evaporates, and then load it up with oil/grease for longer storage.
I'm not much on bore butter for storage because it has water in it.
I do however like it for shooting PRb's.
You'll like it, great fun and exceptional accuracy.
Often, I see barrels for the 54's on Ebay but I wouldn't worry too much.
Ive got a T/C tang sight for the Hawken/Vintage muzzle-loaders, some of them have drilled tangs for that sort of thing.
Cant believe I'm saying that. Vintage but there it is.
A nice range rod is great for loading and cleaning.
Saves wear and tear on the one you would carry with it.
To adjust the set trigger, set it with the hammer cocked, and then turn the adjusment screw inwards until you hear the trigger un set.
Then back it out about a turn and a quarter then test for safety and function.
It-ll probably only wind up being a few ounces.
You should be able to download an owners manual online with a quick search.
Have fun its a great shooting opportunity that you will enjoy for sure.

 

[willtill]

What powder will you use? I have a similar rifle made for Cabelas, forgot actual manufacturer. Mine does very well with 90 grns of Pyrodex R. Only complaint is cocking and setting set trigger is far from quiet. Easily spooks game if within 50 yds. Killed her anyway but far from ideal shot placement on my part. I kinda rushed the shot as she laser focused in on the noise. Nice thing about those big ole guns. Displacement can sometimes over come less than ideal shot placement.

I use FFG Triple 7 in all of my revolvers and my TC Omega inline. I have used Pyrodex before, but like Triple 7 for the easier cleanup. Yesterday though, did order some Swiss black powder from Graf & Sons..

 

[willtill]

It'll clear up some after shooting.
Clean the barrel with boiling hot soapy water afterward. Scalding hot. Be careful handling at work bench pre cut patches etc. About 5-6 from an old T shirt.
Patch the bore bore right out as the water evaporates, and then load it up with oil/grease for longer storage.
I'm not much on bore butter for storage because it has water in it.
I do however like it for shooting PRb's.
You'll like it, great fun and exceptional accuracy.
Often, I see barrels for the 54's on Ebay but I wouldn't worry too much.
Ive got a T/C tang sight for the Hawken/Vintage muzzle-loaders, some of them have drilled tangs for that sort of thing.
Cant believe I'm saying that. Vintage but there it is.
A nice range rod is great for loading and cleaning.
Saves wear and tear on the one you would carry with it.
To adjust the set trigger, set it with the hammer cocked, and then turn the adjusment screw inwards until you hear the trigger un set.
Then back it out about a turn and a quarter then test for safety and function.
It-ll probably only wind up being a few ounces.
You should be able to download an owners manual online with a quick search.
Have fun its a great shooting opportunity that you will enjoy for sure.

Thanks for the info.

 

[wilcam47]

I use this

Hoppe's #9 Black Powder Bore Cleaning Lubricant 8oz Liquid

The Hoppe's #9 Black Powder Bore Cleaning Solvent is made especially for black powder shooters. It lubricates as it cleans fouling from the bore and...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[hobiecat590]

I use FFG Triple 7 in all of my revolvers and my TC Omega inline. I have used Pyrodex before, but like Triple 7 for the easier cleanup. Yesterday though, did order some Swiss black powder from Graf & Sons..

I started out with CVA 50 cal that liked Maxi balls and Pyrodex that was replaced w/ a TC Encore in 50 cal that likes 777 pellets and Powerbelt sabots. I would load about 90 grains of Pyrodex and try to knock some into the priming chamber w/ a few taps before tamping it down to help those #10 or #11 caps, (that often fell off the nipple at the worse time) to help ignite the powder. I never tried 777 pellets in the CVA because a cap is not the same as a 209 shotgun primer and might not have enough ass to ignite 777 pellets. I would also recommend using a safety pin to clear the nipple channel and snap a cap or 2 before loading it the first time. In addition to the storage tips mentioned earlier, I would always use a piece of plastic baggie or similar to insulate the hammer from the nipple to prevent excess corrosion between dissimilar metals and the nipple in particular. Good luck.

 

[John from MD]

I use FFG Triple 7 in all of my revolvers and my TC Omega inline. I have used Pyrodex before, but like Triple 7 for the easier cleanup. Yesterday though, did order some Swiss black powder from Graf & Sons..

That buttstock will teach you some serious lessons in physics.

 

[willtill]

That buttstock will teach you some serious lessons in physics.

My major is in steel plated buttstocks. I think of myself as well schooled, but apparently haven't learned a damn thing 'cause I keep coming back for refreshers.

 

[John from MD]

My major is in steel plated buttstocks. I think of myself as well schooled, but apparently haven't learned a damn thing 'cause I keep coming back for refreshers.

It's not the steel, I used to do 8mm Mausers all day long. It's the curved butt stock that gets you.

 

[linkstate]

When shooting my Lyman Great Plains rifle standing up, which has a similar stock shape, I stand with my feet basically shoulder width apart and inline with each other. Chicken wing that arm straight out and maybe even up some.

Place the curved buttstock on the shoulder joint on the bicept side or even further so the points curve around your upper arm. No pain. Adjust your feet position to get a good cheek weld.

Now shooting sitting from a rest, I usually place a towel between me and the butt plate if I’m gonna shoot more that a couple shots.

ETA: maybe I have skinny shoulders/arms…

 

[Huckleberry]

Jeremiah Johnson Approves

 

[Melnic]

I had a TC Hawken in .50 and I think it had the same twist. Pawn shop find and was in similar condition.
Also shot well w/ sabots.

But it was a fun enough learning experence that I built up a Lyman 54 kit that I still have to this day.

 

[Doco Overboard]

While I own two T/C Hawken's my favorites are the New Englander's.
Their a little lighter for off hand shooting/carry and upgrade them with the Hawken double set triggers making wonderful off hand guns.
Ill use 60 Pyro and 320 lee bullets for plinking 80 for hunting.
I like the RS grade granulated powder.
You can feel the crush when seating the bullet easier I think.
Shoot all day without hardly cleaning too.
Cheap to shoot as well. Thats how you really learn them.
Pull a ball and look for the thread pattern transferred from the patch, into the lead.
That'll get you about right real quick without too much fuss.
Below is the 50 standing target we use for the annual black powder shoot.
Tons of fun out there every year.

 

[tjiann]

Congrats! Nice gun. If you don't shoot the rest of the rust out, I've found a little Kroil with some steel sponge wrapped around a bore brush works for me. Have a great shoot tomorrow.