Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Updated optics on the Hawken

Well, not only is the Hawken updated with new steel trim " Still a work in progress" I got some new contacts and wanted to see how well she " the lady that did my eyes" got them as far as open sight shooting goes.

Im using a 32" deer creek barrel with 1:66 twist in .58 caliber shooting patched round balls.

90gr Olde Eynsford 2fg
.018" patches
Frontier's anti-rust & Patch lube
Home cast .570" round balls
Hot Shot Nipple
CCI #11 caps

No swabbing or cool down was needed today as the sun was down and quite comfortable.

Distance: 100 yards. Masking take over the rear sight is basically a sun shade to cut the glare of the sun as it was over my back left shoulder.

Steel Hawken style trigger upgrade. I hated that brass hooked finger thing!



First 2 shots,

4 shots total,


I am using a thinner .018" patch for testing its accuracy and while its extremely accurate, I see small signs of my 90gr 2fg load being boarder line from gas cutting. This load I shoot out to 170 yards with great accuracy, so I am not worried about using more powder. Olde Eynsford is like T7 in the black powder world, a hotter more powerful powder which lets you cut back in grains to achieve the same FPS as you would if you use normal goex/pyrodex.


Damn right I am thrilled!

Another change was the wedge key. The steel wedge key plates used the thicker "height wise" wedge key and I had to file fit the plates for it to go through. My barrel and tang is completely bedded so I was worried about some wiggle room between the barrel and wedge key. All appears to be just fine as it is.

Thrilled would be an understatement if I shot that group with a front stuffer!

WOW !~!~! I wish my older CVA Hawkens shot that well !!!

Just curious, BigBlock... is your Hawken an older CVA Hawken? The firing lock, the area around the lock and the triggers certainly look like those on my 2 older CVA Hawkens.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Yes its an older version. Yours can shoot that well, its all in the bedding and in the sights. Those original screw on adjustable sights are no that solid.

HOOOBOY!!! That is dang good shootin' no matter WHAT the rifle is! Mine will shoot about as good as I can see and hold. I am the limiting factor.

whats funny, with these new contacts being so clear, I can actually see that I filed my front sight at an angle. I will have to clean that up before hunting season so its flat.

Very nice....again who made the barrel?

Doc