T/C Thunderhawk

[KJNBASSER]

Does anybody on here shoot a thunderhawk? If so what kind of loads have you had the most success with?

[toytruck]

What caliber do you have?  I had a TC FireHawk in .54 caliber which is basically the same barrel/gun except for the plunger safety. I have a friend also that has a .54 ThunderHawk.  Both rifles have a 1:38 twist and we both used the Knight red sabot/.45 lead bullet in 260 grains pushed by 100 grains of pyrodex select.  I killed alot of deer with this load and my friend still uses it today.

[Graybeard]

I have a .50 Thunderhawk SS I've had for a great many years. I use the Buffalo Bullet or Hornady Great Plains Bullets (385 grains) over 100 grains equivalent of Pyrodex. Puts them down rat now as long as you do your part. Never seen any reason to alter that combo.

[Sgt Mike]

I have been shooting a 50 Cal Thunderhawk for a number of years. 90 Gr. Goex, Nosler 240 Gr. 44 Mag HP, TC Breakaway Sabots. Got my buck this week at 75 yards, he dropped on the spot. I especially like the weight of the Thunderhawk. The Hollow point makes pulling the bullet easy and blowing the Sabot out with my air compressor makes unloading easy.
Note There will be powder left in the barrel which needs to be cleaned out.

[toytruck]

I should have added in my post that the .50 caliber ThunderHawk has a 1:28 twist barrel. Correct me if I am wrong on that, Graybeard.

[Graybeard]

I think that's correct from memory but it's been a long time since I really read it. I've tried sabots in mine some but sure wasn't pleased with results. I'll stick with the old pure lead conicals.

[msdh]

I owned a  stainless thunderhawk in .50 cal.  The twist of those rifles was 1- 38.

[lonewolf5347]

SOME SAY IT WAS T/C BEST INLINE ,I HAVE A 54 THUNDERHAWK OVER THE YEARS IT HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN,USING RWS 1075 PLUS CAPS AND PYRODEX SELECT 110 TO 120 GRAIN CHARGES SEEM THE BEST MEAL TICKET ,WHEN IT COMES TO POWDER.I ALSO HAVE TRIED PRECISION SILVER LIGHTS IN 300 GRAIN,45QT'S IN 350 GRAIN AND NOW USING THE HORNADY 240 GRAIN MAG SABOT.

[Graybeard]

I believe there are some differences in these rifles in the Thunderhawk and FireHawk series during the time they were made.

Mine is labeled Thunderhawk but is SS with the plastic stock. I think the only difference they listed at the time I bought it between it and the Firehawk was the Firehawk came with scope bases which I bought extra and the ramrod and I also bought it extra. I've long since lost the bases but never used them anyway.

It has a Timney trigger on it that is fully adjustable and comes off with a single screw for dunking in hot water to clean. There is no remove able breech plug which I've read some have. I've also read not all came with the Timney trigger.

Sure is light for a .50 and when fired with those big 385 grain conicals and 100 grains equiv. of Pyrodex it sure comes back at ya.

[lonewolf5347]

THUNDERHAWK THE SAFTEY IS ON THE BOLT BEING LIFTED TO FIRE
FIREHAWK HAD A DIFFERENT SAFTEY PUSH BUTTON TYPE TO FIRE
I THINK?

[Greybeard]

THUNDERHAWK THE SAFTEY IS ON THE BOLT BEING LIFTED TO FIRE
FIREHAWK HAD A DIFFERENT SAFTEY PUSH BUTTON TYPE TO FIRE
I THINK?

Not so. At least NOT in all cases. Mine is clearly marked Thunderhawk and yet it has the push button safety.

I still say these two guns left the factory in a buncha different configurations. Kinda like they were drunk when they put them together and didn't do all the same.  :-D