Author Topic: Advise for .54 (Read 1503 times)

greenrivers · « **on:** June 27, 2011, 05:57:52 AM »

Over the years I have used and enjoyed the front loaders to the point of owning several. Though not of higher quality. Presently I have owned for a number of years a T?C Hawkens in .54 that I have shot not more than fifty rounds through. Recently I tried it and found the accuracy a Little lacking though not bad. Just wondering what others are using for projectiles in theres to get best accuracy. I will be and do cast all my own bullets in a large number of calibers. So that is not an issue. Also looking for a source for a tang mounted peep to help older eyes.
Thanks for any help!

lakota · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2011, 08:47:06 AM »

T/C makes a tang mounted peep. If your tang has three holes in it then it will be a drop in fit. My buddy has one on a .50 T/C Hawken and it is a tack driver.

I shot a T/C Renegade for a few years with a .54 GM round ball barrel on it. I used .530" swaged round balls over 75-80 grains 2F Goex with pillow ticking patches and Crisco as patch lube. She was a good shooter. I stripped the bluing off the hardware and barrel and cold browned it all. Refinished the stock and added a few brass tacks. Was a nice looking gun after all of that. I had to sell her for a car repair

Rangr44 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2011, 08:49:40 AM »

If "T/C Hawken Tang Peep Sight" is googled, you should be able to locate multiple sources for both new, NOS, & used sights, usually from $25-$60.

My .54 T/C has the comprimise 1:48 twist, so I've gotten my best results from a Maxi-Hunter & FFFg Holy Black.

.

bubba.50 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2011, 10:29:32 AM »

maxi-balls and 70 to 90 grains powder has always worked for me.

Landngroove · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2011, 11:15:55 AM »

In my .54 T/C Hawken, I get good results with 90 grains Goex FFG, .530 Hornady roundball, with my own patches made from Wal-Mart red stripe pillow ticking, which measures at about .018". I use Hoppes Black Powder Solvent And Patch Lube as my lube.

greenrivers · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2011, 11:58:34 AM »

I have not tried round ball in the rifle and was hoping to get some stats as to what accuracy was being attained by them and maxi's. The tang mounted peep that T/C offers is the newer styling made of aluminum and I would like to find a manufacturer that has something in a vintage look to fit the rifle even if I have to drill and tap it. It is not ever going to be sold as it has proven itself "minute of deer". i would also like to find a source for an upper en kit rifle in a squirrel caliber.
As much as I love my cartridge guns, I do miss the smoke pole shooting. Now that I am retired, I may have to find an active club or matches that I can travel to.

Landngroove · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2011, 12:30:23 PM »

Does your Hawken have the earlier style open rear sight? If so this is a very good and accurate sight. The way the rear "leaves" sweep down to a definate notch. Paint a white dot on your front sight, and you will be able to sight right in. I use a toothpick to dip in white paint, and then dab it on the front bead. Several of my traditional T/C sidelocks have the T/C rear tang sight, but I have found the older style open rear sight, to work quite well for me. I prefer it. The newer style T/C open rear sight, (has Thompson Center in white letters on it) is not nearly as accurate, nor has the quality of the older sight. This sight can be changed out to the older style. Barrel is drilled the same for both. If you do change from the newer to the older, remember the .54 Hawken is 1" across the flats, and a sight from a .50 Hawken which is 15/16" across the flats will not fit properly. Make sure of the correct size. All T/C Renegades (.50 & .54) are 1" across the flats, and these sights will work on your .54 Hawken.

bubba.50 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2011, 12:36:50 PM »

if you put a renegade sight on a 54 hawken you'll probably hafta go with only one screw to hold it on as the spacing is different unless you lucked up with one from t/c's cheap period when they used the same sights for both. renegade sight holes are probably less than an inch apart whereas most hawken's are about an inch and a quarter. for what it's worth and luck to ya, bubba.

Swampman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2011, 12:59:18 PM »

I really like patched round balls in the T/Cs. .520s work best with a thick patch.

You don't need a roundball barrel to shoot them.

Landngroove · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2011, 01:09:48 PM »

Check the T/C catalog. The rear sight part number for .54 Hawken, all Renegades, .54 White Mountain Carbines, and .58 Big Boar is the same. Also I have swapped out and changed rear sights on my T/C Hawkens (2), T/C Renegades (2) and T/C White Mountain Carbines (4). All are interchangeable, and the mounting holes are the same. The only difference is whether it is 15/16" across the flats (.50 Hawken, .45 White Mountain Carbine, .50 White Mountain Carbine), or 1" across the flats, ( .54 Hawken, .50 Renegade, .54 Renegade, .54 White Mountain Carbine, and .58 Big Boar)

Swampman · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2011, 01:34:20 PM »

Some early T/C Hawkens had a different rear sight and the hole spacing is different.

Landngroove · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2011, 02:13:35 PM »

I know some early Hawkens did not have T/C barrels. I believe they were Douglas barrels. I believe "Hawken" was not stamped on the barrel either. Maybe these are the ones. I stand corrected.

bubba.50 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2011, 05:00:51 PM »

i have a first year production 4 digit# 45 hawken and a 50 that is a couple yrs newer and 5 digit#. a friend has 3 that are newer with high 6 digit#s. i also have 3 renegades one of which also has a 5 digit#. the spacing on the sight holes is different on all the hawkens than the renegades. i've never had but always wanted a 54hawken with the 1 inch barrel but it makes sense that they would probably use the same sight/hole spacing for both. so, like the blind men with the elephant maybe we're all kinda right and kinda wrong. luck to ya and have a good'en friends and neighbors, bubba.

greenrivers · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2011, 02:09:23 AM »

I am quite sure that my rear sight is of the older manufacture and has been in the past a very accurate and acceptable sight. I was very lucky in that a Pastor friend who temporarily worked for T/C hand picked the rifle for my wife as a present for me. Unfortunately older eyes need help and I have been converting to either scopes or peeps to continue enjoying my rifles. I do not want a scope on this rifle so it looks like I will be making my own peep if nothing is available. I made a call to Green Mountain as their plant is not far from me with hopes of buying a .31 or .36 cal. barrel but found they no longer produce them. Looks like a new rifle will at some point be added to the safe. Any recommendations for a company or kit form that is a bit better quality than the newer T/C's? Thanks for the help guys!

Swampman · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2011, 03:27:01 AM »

Track of the Wolf has quite a selection of Green Mountain drop-in barrels for the T/C Hawkens. On some of them they will allow back orders if they aren't in stock.

greenrivers · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2011, 10:01:03 AM »

Swampman, thanks for the lead, but I just got off their sight and found that all the .54 calibers have a one inc he barrel and that means I can go up in caliber but not down. This is what I was told by Green Mountain as well. They indicated that they did at one time make smaller caliber barrels and that is what I hope to find.
Thanks for the help.

shakey · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2011, 10:27:23 AM »

Greenrivers, Regarding peep sights. ...I've been down that road trying to make-do with aging eyes. Well, ...still on it I guess. I have about past the peep sight stage and approaching scopes only. Anyhow, you are on the right track. A good peep sight will help a lot.

My favorite peep is a Lyman 57. It is basically a receiver sight with a base that attaches to the tang. I have had one on a T/C Hawkens for nearly 40 years. It looks a little fragile sitting up there but I am careful with it and, so far, have had zero problems. I generally sight in with a medium or large aperture and hunt with the aperture removed. I have looked at the Lyman web site and they no longer list this sight but it looks like they are using it or something similar on their Great Plains Rifle. There's probably some used ones floating around somewhere. It would be worth looking for.

I have one of the T/C tang peep sights on another ML. It is a serviceable sight but not so easy to adjust as the Lyman and the aperture is non-standard, limiting you to what T/C supplies. I drilled mine out as far as possible and it works OK.

I have not used one but Skinner Sights (http://www.skinnersights.com/index.html) makes a peep sight you may be interested in. It mounts on the barrel and not the tang but it looks rugged and they have a variety of apertures available.

By the way, for those not familiar with using peep sights. A small aperture is great for shooting in good light but, in dim light, you may not be able to see through the aperture AT ALL. It can look like a solid disk with maybe a light grey spot in the middle. It has to do with your pupil dilating larger than the aperture.

With regard to projectiles, ...I have never used a .54 ML, only .45s & .50s, so can only offer general observations. I cast my own T/C maxiballs for many years and they were always accurate and reliable. Best accuracy seemed to come with maximum loads of real black powder.

-------------------------------------------------
I Googled around a bit and Track of the Wolf has the Lyman sight here... http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/partdetail.aspx?catid=14&subid=167&styleid=770&partnum=rs-57-sml&as=1

Content edited, please read the sticky on what can't be discussed in this forum. quickdtoo

OOPS !!! My sincerest apologies. I just got rambling along and did not realize that discussing sabots was forbidden. I'll pay more attention in the future. I hope I have not offended anyone.

keith44 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2011, 11:55:05 AM »

50 rounds and the accuracy has fallen off? When you're tired of trying different sights, try really scrubbing the bore. I'd be willing to bet there is a slight build up of lead and hardened lube (especially if you use bore butter) that's throwing off the accuracy. Also I find the best accuracy comes from using real black powder, not the substitutes. Just my 2 cents.

ratdog · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2011, 09:32:16 PM »

my 54 and 50 cal shoot real good with the lee bullets i have cast tried sabots didn't work much to brag about.haven't tried round balls only in my new englander it likes round balls. 80 grn's pyrodex pistol powder real good deer load done a good job for me.the 54 is my favorite.

greenrivers · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2011, 02:53:42 AM »

Kieth44, the statement of accuracy I made was misleading and I apologise. The rifle is still capable, I am afraid that IT is my eyes and open sights that are not. Though a good scrubbing would likely do no harm as I have used bore butter since purchasing the rifle. But that is another and the next quest as I am catching up with the help you guys are offering. For the moment I need to get a better sight picture. I recently put a Marbles tang sight on one of my rifles and found that my ability was restored. This as well as bullet, powder and load weight was my question.
Shakey seems to have done me great service with his research. I agree that the Lyman 57 is a sight that seems to be of the quality for this fine rifle. Thank you for your effort Shakey. That purchase will be made today after pricing around a little.

keith44 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 29, 2011, 06:22:08 AM »

hmm, well I feel a bit silly. I'm sorry I mis-understood. Yes the tang sight should help, if you keep the apature small you can get some amazing groups in full sun, as it gets less light the apature needs to be opened a lil. Also in hunting a larger opening is easier to find game in.

Best wishes on your quest.

greenrivers · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2011, 04:22:36 AM »

Hey guys, apology needed. I finally looked up the T/C peep and found it to be quite differant than what I thought. I had asked for a peep in a shop that specialised and was handed one of Williams painted aluminum sights. I just could not do that to a rifle as pretty as a Hawkens. Not a problem for others that do, just not my taste. It seems that I now have to decide between it and the Lyman. The Lyman would serve for both target and hunting, just a bit more money.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2011, 07:15:12 AM »

The Lyman 57 is a great sight for the target shooter who wants to dial in exact corrections for range and windage and be able to return to an exact zero. They are a bit bulky and to my eye they look out of place on a traditional muzzleloader, not as bad as a scope but somewhat similar. For the hunter who zeros it once and leaves it alone I prefer a simple lollipop sight as seen on many original muzzleloaders from days past.