Author Topic: T/C Hawken Troubles  (Read 3668 times)

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Offline Peevie

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« on: November 26, 2002, 11:23:16 AM »
Does the barrel sit well in the stock?....Does the muzzle crown look ok?
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that buying a rifle is like buying a used car..either you get a good one or you don't. May be something loose somewhere or the muzzle crown isn't as true as it should be.
Have you tried patched round balls in the Hawken? Depending on your barrel twist, which usually most Hawkens are made for conicals or sabots, it could be your projectiles. How old is the rifle and do you remember what the twist rate is on the barrel?

Offline bubba

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2002, 11:31:00 AM »
when was the last time the gun had a good thorough cleaning? Are the sites tight?  Have you tried roind balls? They usually seem to shoot when some other things don't. Just a few suggestions. Are you shooting Back Powder or a substitute?
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Offline savageT

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2002, 03:12:17 PM »
From the on-line catalog.........
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In .50 and .54 Caliber Cap Lock or .50 Caliber Flint Lock.
Undoubtedly the most copied rifle in the history of firearms, the T/C HawkenTM was designed for the American shooter. This is a top quality firearm - every bit as fine as the one your great, great granddaddy carried across his saddle pommel or packed along on the wagon train. It captures the romance of the original but it is manufactured to standards of quality control that were unheard of in the early 1800's. The proper use of the investment casting, improved methods of hardening parts and deep hole drilling, the use of continuous Magnaflux process to guard against imperfections in the steel itself coupled to our constant attention to min./max. tolerances is what allows us to offer a Lifetime Warranty! Inspect a T/C HawkenTM at your local dealer and compare it to all other brands before you purchase. We manufacture the finest quality muzzleloading firearms available.

                                                       Click on images for larger view
 
Specifications:

Barrel: Length 28", Octagon, polished & blued. .50 caliber models are 15/16" across the flats. .54 caliber is 1" across the flats. 1 in 48" twist. QLA® Muzzle System.
Breech: Hooked Breech System.
Lock: Internal springs are heavy duty coil type.
Triggers: Fully adjustable for a light crisp pull. Triggers function either as double set or single stage.
Sights: Fully adjustable open hunting style rear sights with bead front sight.
Trim: Solid brass trigger guard, patch box, butt plate and forend cap.
Stock: Made of select American Walnut. Tastefully contoured cheek piece on left hand side.
Weight: Approximately 8 1/2 pounds.
OA Length: 45 1/4".
No. 5024: .50 Caliber Cap Lock.
No. 5071: .54 Caliber Cap Lock.
No. 5043: .50 Caliber Flint Lock.
savageT........Have you hugged a '99 lately?

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most.

Offline KING

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2002, 04:26:42 PM »
:D If it helps any..i gots one of them also....same caliber....like everyone else has already said,there could be a number of problems...with mine,it would not shoot worth a crap untill i really got into the bore and cleaned it really well....mine was cutting patches i found after shooting,if i remember right,probably 2 pounds of 2f otta it..i tried rb and conicals,probably everyone that was available at that time...but..after the cleaning and lapping the barrell  a litttle it shoots rb well..3 inches at 50 yrds.....and a minie about the same with 90 of 2f..at least that what my notes say...good luck...its not a 100 yrd rifle,but it shoots minute of deer good enough for a 50 yard shot...
THE ONLY FEMALE THAT I TRUST IS A LABRADOR.......AND SHE DONT SNOORE,AND DONT COMPLAIN ABOUT MY COOKING...THE ONLY GODS THAT EXIST ARE THOSE THAT HAVE ONE IN THE CHAMBER,AND 19 IN THE MAG.......

Offline MAINER1234

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2002, 12:06:39 AM »
SEND IT BACK TO TC , THEY WILL PROBALLY PUT A NEW BARREL ON THE GUN IF THEY CANT GET IT TO SHOOT ! THIS WILL BE DONE FOR NO CHARGE .

Offline simonkenton

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TC not accurate
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2002, 03:08:12 AM »
I am sending in to Green Mountain for a drop in barrel for myTC. I don't have a choice as my TC barrel is ruined and I have to get another. But I have talked with 15 guys who have put GM barrels on their TC and they all say that the GM barrel is much more accurate. TC is building some crummy barrels these days, but is building some good ones as well. gmriflebarrel.com   Look you can get one for $137.  Just go ahead and bite the bullet and you will have a better rifle than TC ever built.
Aim small don't miss.

Offline MAINER1234

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2002, 03:49:54 AM »
WHY IS YOUR BARREL RUINED ?
MAINER

Offline simonkenton

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« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2002, 08:37:11 AM »
I lent it out to an ex-friend, it looks like he didn't clean it.
Aim small don't miss.

Offline fredj

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2002, 11:34:26 AM »
Quote from: simonkenton
I lent it out to an ex-friend, it looks like he didn't clean it.

   SimonKenton- I agree about the Grn. Mtn. barrels I have 2 drop in BBl's
and have put Grn. Mtn. barrels on 7 rifles I've built and they all shoot
very accurately a couple took a while to come up with the right load
but they're all considerably more accurate than I am. I think the T/C is
a quality rifle but I think thier barrels leave a bit to be desired. You might try some steel wool wrapped tight around a jag and some clenz oil or
automatic transmission fluid, if the bores not actually pit corroded it might shoot fine and you could keep it for launching slugs for hunting.
   The barrel off my original BP rifle a very early T/C Renegade was full of tool marks and never shot worth a damn it's now a crawdad habitat in a nearby lake, if you opt for that alternative debreech it and degrease it
before throwing it in. fredj

Offline savageT

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2002, 11:47:31 AM »
fredj,
Interesting comments about that T/C barrel.  I have a Cabela's/Traditions (Spanish made) Lightning Fire side-hammer 50cal. that I have yet to get decent results with.  I noticed that the bore is full of tool/machining marks also.  Is that common in these inexpensive models?  If so, might I (again) complain to Traditions about the condition of the barrel?

savageT
savageT........Have you hugged a '99 lately?

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most.

Offline savageT

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2002, 02:12:48 AM »
Quote from: Anonymous
savageT ,I have Cabelas Hawkin Hunter and it's an Investarms made gun.Did Cabelas also have Traditions make weapons for them under their
logo?Or was the gun you refer a Traditions sold by Cabelas?


Yes!

savaegT
savageT........Have you hugged a '99 lately?

Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most.

Offline bfoster

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2002, 01:06:01 PM »
Some years ago T/C made barrels specifically for round ball use and conical use instead of one-twist-fits-all. Its worth checking the twist.

Check the fit up of the barrel into the patent breech and the stock. If it's possible to wiggle anything more than a very little bit I'd cure that problem before I went to the range again.

Then try going back to basics:

1. Insure a reasonably clean bore.

2. Use a reasonably consistent powder charge. You might also try a different lot or brand of propellent. Most rifles do well reasonably well with many flavors of bp, you may have a rare one that shows strong preferences. Your powder hasn't absorbed moisture has it? You're not using a powder charge beyond the capacity of the rifle to shoot well are you? If this might be the case, back off and see what the rifle "likes" to shoot.

3. Consider the use of an over powder wad. Some rifles dote on these, some don't much care.

4. Start the ball or bullet with care. If using a ball, center the patch carefully. It's easy to deform a muzzleloaded projectile enough to compromise resilts. If a ball starts too hard, change patch thickness or ball size. If a conical starts too hard, discuss swaging dies with a seasoned bp shooter, or consider changing bullets.

5. Seat the projectile  firmly, but do not "whang" it or beat it with the loading rod! Again, it's easy to deform soft lead.

6. Seat the cap consistently.  One thing to consider: I once ran into an inconsistent lot of RWS caps. Simply changing lots solved a mysterious accuracy issue.

regards,

Bob

Offline S.B.

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2003, 01:57:49 PM »
A lot of good help here. Did you notice if the wedge secures the barrel or leaves it loose to flop around?
"The Original Point and Click Interface was a Smith & Wesson."
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Offline peter nap

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2003, 04:01:57 AM »
Well I think you have gotten a ton of good advice already. Let me add that every gun is different. I've had some that a simple change from Goex to Swiss made all the difference. One thing about TC barrels. They come in different sizes for the same Cal. I would suggest you slug it to find the true bore size. It could be that you just have one of the larger ones and need to go to a larger bullet/ball/sabot.

I do like Green Mountain barrels though. You may consider just getting the GM barrel and working up loads for it. If you do, don't forget to lap it. That's SOP for every new barrel here!

Offline Real Bow

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T/C Hawken Troubles
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2003, 03:23:13 PM »
Veeery Interesting!!

I just picked up a T/C Hawken in .45 cal on one of the gun auction sites for $200, I rekon I got lucky. Well, I haven't shot it yet, but I am already itching to call Kerrie over at Green Mountain or Track of the Wolf and order a GM .45 cal 1:60(GM) or 1:70(Track of the Wolf) drop-in barrel.

I'll keep the orginal barrel for my homemade cast 225 grain T/C Maxi's and use the GM barrel for my homemade cast 0.440" PRB's at our BP shoots this year.

Anyone know when T/C stopped making their Hawken in .45 cal., just curious. I could call T/C up and give them the serial number.
If it shoots.....it must be good!