Rifle suggestons for a newb

[DC]

Prior to the recession, lay off's and health problems I have owned a few black powder cartridge rifles which sadly are gone now.
I am beginning to recover and want to get back to shooting and muzzel loaders really fill the bill.  I don't plan to hunt so paper punching
will be my thing.  I have a friend that will sell me a nice TC Hawken in .45 for a couple hundred dollars and that will include some stuff to get started and a couple pounds of Goex.
My question is first, is this a good entry rifle?  How about those with peep tang sights like the Lyman Great Plains?
Any thoughts you might have would be much appreciated.

[quickdtoo]

Post your questions about the breech loader in the BPCR forum which is located directly above this forum on the index page, this is a traditional muzzleloading forum only.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/board,35.0.html

[Bigeasy]

DC-

Your questions are about traditional muzzle loaders, so this should be the proper forum.  The TC Hawken is a fine rifle, as is the .45 caliber, for paper punching.  You don't need a .50 or .54 for that.  Most TC Hawkens come with a 1/48 twist, which will work well with patched round ball or conical.  A tang mounted peep sight will increase your accuracy.  The $200 price seems fair, as new ones are around $400.  I would start out with round balls patched with patches lubed with a natural lube like bore butter, or pyrodex nayural lube.  It will keep you fouling soft, and enable multiple shots between barrel swabbing with good accuracy.  Experiment with patch thickness and powder charges for best accuracy.  I like Pyrodex RS, as I think it burns a little cleaner then regular black powder.  Good luck

Larry

[quickdtoo]

DC-

Your questions are about traditional muzzle loaders, so this should be the proper forum.  

The questions I removed weren't about muzzleloaders or I wouldn't have posted the reply I made!!  

Tim

[DC]

I will go with the TC most likely the whole paper cart deal seems too complicated for now.  If a person really got into long range muzzle work, I saw the Pedersoli Gibbs which while spendy seems to winning some long range shoots.  After I get used to the TC, what should I be looking at for the next long range rifle?

[DennyRoark]

From 20+ years of "meat and money" shoots with the identical rifle, I would recommend keeping your powder charges in the 60-70gr range with a PRB.  Also, keep your PRB's as tight as you can.  Mine shot best with 60gr 3F Goex and 70 Pyro RS, a .445 ball and  .015" Oxyoke All Day Wonder Patches.  Groups started falling off at 75 yds.  For the 100 yd shots I used 90gr and a Maxi-ball.  Shot to the same POI as 60gr PRB at 25 yds.  $200 is a good price for a T/C Hawken in good condition.  I spent $200 on a never shot Kit barrel last year.   Check the bore out good with a drop in light.  The rifling on them is very shallow, hence the light charges.  Clean it as soon as you get home EVERY time and it should last a lifetime!  Go make some smoke!

[necchi]

Ya can't go wrong with a $200 TC. The Hawkins can be cheek bashers for some folks, it's all about your hold. The curved butt plate is made to fit the upper arm not the shoulder.

After I get used to the TC, what should I be looking at for the next long range rifle?

Just What do you call long range? And what are your goals? Paper for fun, compition, varment?

[DC]

My next goal would be long range target shoots.  I would love to shoot some of the rendevous and maybe at the Quigley.
So what ever would work in that genre would be the answer I am looking for.

[coyotejoe]

For Rendezvous shoots it would be hard to find a better choice than a .45 caliber like the T/C and 200 bucks is a steal if the bore is good. New T/C Hawkens are retailing over $700 these days.
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/department.asp?dept=%4D%55%5A%5A%4C%45%4C%4F%41%44%49%4E%47&dept2=%4D%55%5A%5A%4C%45%4C%4F%41%44%49%4E%47%20%52%49%46%4C%45%53&dept3=%35%30%20%43%41%4C&dept4=%54%43%20%48%41%57%4B%45%4E
 Plus the .45 caliber was discontinued about 25 years ago and there is a demand for them. A .45 patched ball can be driven fast enough to shoot flat for those targets set at random unknown distances without distracting recoil. A conical of 250-300 grains will also shoot well from the 48" twist of the T/C barrel. For long range work, over 200 yards, you'll need a fast twist barrel but that can be easily added to your T/C to give you the best of both worlds. Snap that deal up man!

[DC]

Done and done.  It is on the way to me!  Should take a couple of days to get to Idaho from Maine.  Anticipation!!!!!!

[DC]

What size round ball does the TC Hawken in 45 use?  Also how about Maxi's.  Unfortunetly the TC web site only has information
about their 50's and 54's.  It is alomst like they are pretending that they never made 45's.

[SHOOTALL]

I know with the 50 cal. you can add a 1 in 66 twist bbl to shoot round ball . Maybe also in the 45  ? If ya ever want to .
I shoot the Renagade and love it. Got it as a kit , in a trade 25 + years ago.

[bubba.50]

my t/c manual shows .440 roundballs with 50 to 110gr powder for .45 hawken and 240gr as the weight of the 45 maxi and loads of 80 to 100gr. good luck and good shootin', bubba.

[DC]

As always, you guys are the best!

[DennyRoark]

I shoot .445 and a .015" patch. 

[DC]

After reading all the suggestions about barrel twists, if I wanted to buy a spare barrel with a faster twist where would I look?
the TC web site doesn't list any Hawken replacement barrels, much less mentioning anything in .45.
I know the Pedersoli's in target configurations are around 1 in 16 for long range shooting.