Hawken 54 Cal Questions

[mg66]

For a bit of history ... I shoot BP C&B pistol extensively and this year I shot an in-line for the muzzleloader season in Illinois, 2 shots, 2 deer. I want a more traditional muzzleloader to satisfy my BP addiction and to hunt with. To be axact I am looking at a Traditions 54-Cal Hawken Woodsman, preferably a left hand model.

Any views on Traditions quality and reliability?

Or is there other alternatives in a 54-Cal?

Also they have a 1:48 twist ... Is that too much or should I be looking at 1:60 for patched ball?

[lonewolf5348]

http://www.dnrsports.com/acatalog/D___R_Catalog_Lyman_Muzzleloaders_1529.html
tradition firearms are not bad but I think upgrade to a t/c or lyman in the way to go.

[S.S.]

CVA makes a robust rifle that is (In my experience) as accurate as any !
Less of a bite in the wallet too.

[Rum River]

In my personal opinion........

I think you may want to check out the Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .54.
(The Great Plains Rifle has 1-60 twist, the Great Plains Hunter has 1-32.)

Both Lyman and T/C will have better wood to metal fit than the Traditions.
The T/C does not have the 1-60 twist that is better for patched ball.

For all the above reasons I have both the GPR and the GPH in .54. While the hunter
will shoot patched ball ok, it will only do it to 50 yards. If you wish to shoot ball accurately
out to 100 yards, you will need the slower twist.

[mg66]

Thanks for the input. I actually had not looked at the Lymans GPR. Not a bad looking rifle, so I ordered GPR .54 Cal 1:60

Now any suggestions on RB size, patch thickness and powder amount.

[Snowshoe]

My Lyman and the few others I know of all like the bigger .535 ball, and a 15-18th patch. I would try working around the 80-90, of 2 or 3f black powder. An old hunting partner had the same rifle and he used 90g of 3f under the .535 ball, and it was very accurate out past 125 yards.

[mg66]

Thanks.

I will start off around here to start working on loads. That was about what I was looking at to start with and should be a good starting point to begin work.